How Natural Is Green Tea?

Historically Green Tea leaves have been used across Asia as a remedy to aid poor digestion, releive body aches and pains, prevent headaches and offer a tonic for general improved health.

To make Green Tea very little processing is required. Normally after harvesting the leaves are dried immediately after harvesting or briefly treated with steam prior to drying. There are a few types of green tea that are also lightly roasted. Because of this minimal processing, the leaves keep their green color as well as keeping the very valuable ingredients that contribute to its healing properties. Green tea leaves contain some caffeine, tannins, essential oils, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements such as fluoride, zinc and potassium, which make a valuable addition to your diet.

Green tea is known to be rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are required by the body to protect cells from free radicals (unstable molecules found in our cells) which cause damage. Too much free radical damage, over time, often leads to diseases which can include cancer. As part of our regular cell renewal, antioxidants attach themselves to these free radicals and this leads to the neutralization of these molecules. Enjoying drinking green tea regularly has been linked (via much research) with the prevention of cancer; it lowers the risk high blood cholesterol, harmful blood clotting and stroke.

Green tea is very good for arthritis sufferers because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

As reported earlier, Green Tea has some caffeine which helps invigorate and improve concentration.

Green tea is also antibacterial. The tea contains the trace element fluorine whichs helps to fight tooth decay. It is suggested that just one cup of tea a day will be beneficial in the prevention of decay. Green tea is also ideal after dinner as a palette cleanser.

Many Alternative Practitioners prescribe green tea in order to help their pateints to cleanse the body. A must in all types of detoxification diet. Happily it contains no calories, no carbs and is known as the 'fat eater' in Traditional Chinese Medicine due to its cholesterol-lowering properties.

Green Tea is fantatic for quenching your thirst, and can be enjoyed at any time of the day - either hot or cold. Sometimes lemon juice is added, or the tea is poured over ice to produce a really refreshing drink.

Usual Preparation of The Tea: Use one level teaspoon of tea leaves per cup. Boil your water and then let the water sit for a couple of minutes - to cool slightly. Boil to 70 degrees Celsius if you have one of those fancy kettles. Pour the water over the tea and leave the tea to brew.

Allow the tea to brew for a couple of minutes.

Brewing the tea for longer gives a less stimulating and stronger tasting tea.

Important: The caffeine in green tea may cause heart palpitations in some sensitive people. To reduce the amount of caffeine in your tea, put one teaspoon of leaves in your cup, pour a little bit of hot water over it and allow it to stand for 30 seconds then strain. Now use the leaves to prepare your tea as usual - or of-course buy non-caffeine Green Tea, which is available in many health food stores.

Article Source: Main Articles

Keith Woolley is Herb Advisor to Boots Herbal Stores. The following link gives valuable info on Green Tea Capusules such as Solgar Green Tea

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