Summer is a great time to began a healthy habits. We’re doing all kinds of activities outside, like playing with the kids, washing the car, cutting the grass and even out there having some real fun. So, to enjoy those activities why not top them off with a cold glass of iced green tea. Did you know that green tea can be brewed and sweeten to taste fantastic and the bonus is it really is good for you. It has something called antioxidants. Soda does not have any. What are antioxidants you ask? Vitamin C, E, Beta-carotene, selenium, lutien and lycopene, those are the more well known ones.
Green tea has EGCG which has 25-100 times more antioxidants than Vitamins C and E. It is a an accepted source of antioxidants. Powerful antioxidants called polphenois (catechins). Now these antioxidants are protecting our cell tissues from the damaging effects of oxygen. They also help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Let me tell you in this day and age we need all the ANTIOXIDANTS we can get. Free radicals really start to get us as we age, but if we have a diet rich in antioxidants, they can neutralize those terrible free radicals.
There are a number of cancers linked to free radical damage. Scientific studies suggest that antioxidant effects in green tea have anti-cancer benefits for skin, stomach, colon, breast, ovarian , pancreatic, liver, prostate, bladder and leukemia. Now that’s a pretty good reason for drinking green tea in its self. You might be asking what’s the difference good old regular tea will give me some antioxidants won’t it? Actually, yes all tea has some antioxidants, but green tea is processed by a different method. The leaves are steamed, not exposing them to oxygen like black tea, which is fermented and exposed to oxygen. The black tea is for this reason not as healthy.
Served hot or cold the best way to prepare this tea is with loose leaf tea. But even tea bags is better than nothing. They just want give you as much benefit. When brewing with loose leaf tea, use the directional amount on the package for making a large pot. Watch the leaves create a very rich color and aroma. Remember, your mixing a strong tea mixture to make iced tea, so you want it to brew along time. When it has cooled, add water, some sweetener, and lemon if you prefer. I use Splenda, being a diabetic. and it really is delicious. Try it, you will be healthier and happier this summer.
