Why Mel is Obsessed with Green Tea
Summer is almost over, and before we know it winter will be on its way. So along with the cold weather, instead of ordering a hot chocolate—try replacing some of those hot comfort beverages with a nice mug of green tea every once in a while. There are so many benefits!
Sipping green tea has been a healthy habit of the Chinese culture for thousands of years. The amazing thing is that modern science has proven what the Chinese knew all along. It is packed with flavonoids, which are compounds that help prevent cancer! Green tea has been shown to protect against several different types of cancer including skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal and bladder cancer according to Harvard Medical School’s Research Division. And that is just the beginning—green tea helps to lower badLDLcholesterol and increase good cholesterol and artery function, as well as reducing the risk of heart hypertension by up to 65%. And if that wasn’t enough, green tea also BOOSTS the metabolism—meaning it helps your body burn fat! It even helps you to increase the absorption of antioxidants and vitamins from your food! So the benefits are incredible, and backed by detailed research.
The best way to drink Green Tea is when it is freshly brewed—steep time will depend on the variety. Try to get organic tea, as it has the highest amount of beneficial compounds. Some say adding lemon or milk to it will enhance the benefits even more. Drinking three cups a day is the way to get the maximum benefit from it, but start out by drinking one cup a day. This beverage is a diuretic, so expect some extra trips to the bathroom and remember to replace what you drink with pure water. Give it a try for two weeks and see how you feel! You won’t regret it! Subscribe to Smarter Body’s newsletter to get more healthy living tips!