The Power of Green Tea

Your body is made up of mostly water…

With the endless choices avaiable to modern consumers we have become addicted to drinking our weight in sugar on an annual basis.  The catch 22 of this dangerous cycle is that sugary beverages cause our blood sugar to crash, leaving us fatigued and addicted, so we unwisely return to more sugary beverages to get through our slumps.  Drinking green tea, either hot or cold is known to regulate blood sugar and hydrate.  Often times when we have a craving for a snack, we are actually dehydrated and looking for energy.  The average North American eats more than is necessary or healthy, what we actually need is more hydration, which green tea provides!  Recent studies have concluded that tea supports healthy microbiome in our guts so that we can better absorb the nutrients from the foods that we eat.  The trick is, have a cup of tea 30 minutes before a meal to rule out whether you are hungry or thirsty and try not to drink liquids with your meal as this dilutes the digestive enzymes your body needs to utilize all of your fuel while eliminating whatever it does not need.  

Why choose green tea?

The Mayo Clinic & the American National Cancer Institute have linked polyphenols in tea to cancer prevention as studies have shown the reduction of tumors when treated with green tea extract.  The high content of antioxidants found in green tea are responsible for fighting free radical damage.  Green Tea also has a variety of other health benefits making it one of the most studied herbs within the medical community.

Tea is one of the best sources of flavonoids, and has been used in homeopathic medicine for thousands of years due to the therapeutic amount of antioxidants contained within.  Flavonoids are especially potent antioxidants, removing metal from our system and protecting our cells from oxidative damage.  Flavonoids are chemical compounds produced by plants to protect themselves from parasites, bacteria and cell injury. 

Matcha is the champagne of teas

Drinking 1 cup of Matcha is equal to drinking 10 cups of regular Green Tea.  Matcha green tea is the unprocessed leaves of the tea plant, stone ground, so that the consumer ingests the whole tea plant with a heightened content of chlorophyll.  Chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for the green colour of plant tissues and can help cleanse the bloodstream while providing sustained energy without the crash associated with caffeinated beverages.  Matcha green tea is ranked among the top foods containing antioxidants and is therefore considered a Superfood, (think vitamins in your cup) full of magnesium and trace elements that support the bodies various functions.

If your not fond of the bold, sweet-grass flavour of matcha tea, but love your flavoured green teas, you will still benefit (in lesser doses) 
from traditionally processed dried green tea leaves.

In Dr James F. Balch’s book Perscription for Nutritional Healing 3rd Edition, he tells us that ‘Green tea contains compounds known as polyphenols, including phytochemicals that have antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and health-enhancing properties. Tests on epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a particular type of polyphenol in green tea, have shown that it is able to penetrate the body’s cells and shield DNA from hydrogen peroxide, a potent free radical.  Green tea protects against cancer, lowers cholesterol levels, and reduces the clotting tendency of the blood.  It also shows promise as a weight loss aid that can promote the burning of fat and help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.” p 56

Sounds like we’ve found the fountain of Youth, doesn’t it!

Natalie Gilday is owner of Honey & Tea, an Oshawa based loose leaf tea retailer. They source the freshest teas and introduce the tea enthusiasts to an exotic array of premium teas, while educating a growing populous of health conscious consumers as to the lifestyle benefits of tea consumption.  Honey & Tea is determined to define Canadian Tea Culture and improve the quality of their clients lives through natural RemeTeas.