Here are nine reasons to start drinking green tea...

AmandaEdward

Here are nine reasons to start drinking green tea or continue drinking it if you’re already hooked.

1. Green tea is a superb fat fighter. Its active ingredient, EGCG, increases the rate at which fat is burned in your body.

2. It targets belly fat. Research at Tufts University indicates that EGCG in green tea, like other catechins, activate fat-burning genes in the abdomen to speed weight loss by 77 percent.

3. Green tea keeps energy stable by balancing blood sugar levels. EGCG improves insulin use in the body to prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes that can result in fatigue, irritability, and cravings for unhealthy foods.

4. Research shows it may be helpful against lung cancer. In an April 2010 study published in Cancer Prevention Research, EGCG was found to suppress lung cancer cell growth.

5. Green tea may halt colorectal cancer. In numerous other studies, EGCG appears to inhibit colorectal cancers.

6. In research, it appears to cause prostate cancer cells to commit suicide. A March 2010 study in Cancer Science indicated that EGCG aids the body by causing prostate cancer cells to commit suicide.

7. Green tea may prevent skin damage and wrinkling. EGCG appears to be 200 times more powerful than vitamin E at destroying skin-damaging free radicals. Free radicals react with healthy cells in the body, causing damage, so lessening their numbers may help reduce wrinkling and other signs of aging.

8. It contains a potent antioxidant that kills free radicals. Because it is a potent antioxidant green tea can positively impact a lot more than skin cells. Free radicals are increasingly linked to many serious chronic illnesses like arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.

9. Green tea tastes good. If you’re not wild about the flavor, try a few different kinds. Try it iced or hot. Add some of the natural herb stevia to sweeten it if you want a sweeter drink. I wasn’t crazy about green tea the first few times I tried it, but now I love it with a fresh squeeze of lemon and a few drops of stevia over ice -- et voila! Green tea lemonade. Mmmmm.

Reap the rewards
Add one or two teaspoons of green tea leaves to a cup of boiling water, preferably in a tea strainer. Let steep for five minutes. Pour over ice if you prefer a cold beverage. Most experts recommend three cups daily. And, don’t worry, green tea contains a lot less caffeine than coffee or black tea.

valleyp

Green tea is also a natural diuretic and will help to flush out the extra fluid in your body caused by eating high sodium foods.

foxyforce

people can also have an allergy to green tea.

indybrown

Great information! Is there a certain amount you have to drink daily in order to receive all the benefits of the tea?

fowlmeli1093

Thank you for posting this!!! I posted a question about Green Tea's benefits, but didn't get any responses. Thanks!!!

msciccone1

I love love love green tea with a hint of honey...it really makes a difference in my diet. Thanks for posting :bigsmile:

KellyBurton1

I used to drink green tea last year when I started my journey and found that my belly fat was getting smaller. When I gave up on myself for a while and gained back 20 lbs I joined mfp and back on track I found that my belly fat wasnt going away as much as last time. I guess the reason is not drinking green tea. I guess Im going back to green tea again. Time to get the pot out again! Thanks for the info!

LadyLorax

My mother is an herbalist and we grew up drinking green tea so I can attest to the benefits of daily consumption.

As a side note, the stuff you buy at the grocery store like Lipton isn't that good of quality and most have been chemically altered to add flavor. If you can find a tea shop or a natural living store like Whole Foods or a co-op and buy your tea in bulk, loose leaf form it is the best.

In the summer I make mine in a large pitcher and add mint and a little lemon for a nice iced tea.

Thanks for the post!

ladybug91254

I don't personally care for the taste of green tea. Do you know if the green tea supplements have the same benefits? And any bad effects other than I saw one person posted that some people can be alergic?

jo69

I've been a green tea drinker for the last 7 yrs. now and I love it, I've order from Republic of Tea, which has many organic teas, and a variety of flavored green teas. Love it, Thanks for posting!! :drinker:

Jennwith2ns

I love green tea! One of my favorites. Tazo makes a good one. It's good with a little bit of honey or even milk (even soy milk is good in it, or almond if thats what you like)

Michellerw1

I just bought some grapefruit green tea at my health food store. It is very good! Has just a subtle aroma of grapfruit. I have replaced my daily coffee with green tea. One in the morning and one in the afternooon!

naturebaby

bump for later

donya35

You know, I've always heard that Green Tea is the best, but I've never tried it....but I think I will now!! Thanks for the info!!:drinker:

AKosky585

I have always heard of the benefits of green tea, but think tea in all forms is absolutely disgusting. I am starting to rethink though...maybe adding some cinnamon or honey or even milk, like somebody suggested, will kill the taste that I cant stand and can still get the benefits of it.

Thanks for posting!

Nina74

I don't personally care for the taste of green tea. Do you know if the green tea supplements have the same benefits? And any bad effects other than I saw one person posted that some people can be alergic?

It took me awhile to find a brand I liked. I tried A LOT of them, but found I like the Yogi green tea (forget the name, used to be Simply Green, no caffeine in it). Green tea should be brewed for a much shorter time than black, otherwise it gets bitter. I made that mistake a few times.

I drink a daily cup o'tea with stevia. It also makes your skin look GREAT! (My acupuncturist got me started on Green tea).

leeslim4life

Thanks for the Great post! I drink Stash Chai Green tea & it taste fantastic, it's the 1st tea I can drink w/o adding anything in it!

Shy1979

Thanks for this post!
I used to live of Diet Coke. I could drink a whole 2 liter every day. When I decided to stop drinking soda all together I replaced it with green tea. I make me a big pot of it in the evening, (only let the tea soak for 5 min, or it will get bitter) then add ice and basically make it a ice tea. I would sweeten it with honey, or agave syrup or truvia, just a little bit, ... you don't want it sugary sweet. I just love it.

Breathe_Glamour

Well, I must say that this is really all I needed to make me start drinking green tea lol

cycloneace

Will have to try this! Thanks for all the suggestions and stories of personal experience.

WonderNoodle

I'm assuming that the green tea drinks, such as Lipton's Diet Green Tea doesn't hold the same value as a cup of steeped tea from a tea bag does it?

kspeach

I don't like tea either. But I did make some 'iced' green tea a couple of weeks ago.

I'm going to try to drink more of it. It counts towards the glasses of daily water too, of which I already drink.

Does anyone know if you can make it the same way you make sun tea?? Maybe use less bags per gallon than my mom used to use for regular tea? Otherwise, I'll make it a glass at a time.

TIA!

Heather75

For those who don't like it, if you add some lemon or lime, or even a splash of fruit juice, it might make it a bit more palatable for you. Myself, I love it.

theartsymom

I've tried the green tea mix that goes into your bottled water and I feel like it tastes like paste. I drink it because I know it will help a bit, but I hate that it tastes like paste. I also dislike (strongly) hot tea. Blahhh. lol I feel like I'm the only one in the world who hates green tea.

jtotheno

I'm going to go make a huge pot right now! I've had some sitting in my cupboard for months. Seems like a waste now!

PLUMSGRL

BUMP for later

sassyg

And, don’t worry, green tea contains a lot less caffeine than coffee or black tea.

Actually, it contains just about as much as black tea, and more than some instant coffees.

msh0530

I don't personally care for the taste of green tea. Do you know if the green tea supplements have the same benefits? And any bad effects other than I saw one person posted that some people can be alergic?

I used to feel that way. Now I drink Celestial Seasonings decaf Green Mint tea. The mint helps a lot!

HealthyChanges2010

And, don’t worry, green tea contains a lot less caffeine than coffee or black tea.

Actually, it contains just about as much as black tea, and more than some instant coffees.

I found that to be true when I compared boxes at my Health Food Store. I love the taste of Decaf Green Tea with Lemon Grass, for those that don't care for the flavor of green tea plain, you might really enjoy this one. Smells wonderful and has a light taste of lemon. Can't think of the brand at the moment but I'll add that later. Green box, hmmm

Even decaf green tea contains slight amounts of caffeine (I don't know if all decaf green tea does) but several brands I noticed do.

Becca

sassyg

And, don’t worry, green tea contains a lot less caffeine than coffee or black tea.

Actually, it contains just about as much as black tea, and more than some instant coffees.

I found that to be true when I compared boxes at my Health Food Store. I love the taste of Decaf Green Tea with Lemon Grass, for those that don't care for the flavor of green tea plain, you might really enjoy this one. Smells wonderful and has a light taste of lemon. Can't think of the brand at the moment but I'll add that later. Green box, hmmm

Even decaf green tea contains slight amounts of caffeine (I don't know if all decaf green tea does) but several brands I noticed do.

Becca

Just be aware, the decaffeination process also removes a lot of the antioxidants and other goodies from green tea.
You'll still have some, but not as much as in it regular.

AKosky585

And, don’t worry, green tea contains a lot less caffeine than coffee or black tea.

Actually, it contains just about as much as black tea, and more than some instant coffees.

I found that to be true when I compared boxes at my Health Food Store. I love the taste of Decaf Green Tea with Lemon Grass, for those that don't care for the flavor of green tea plain, you might really enjoy this one. Smells wonderful and has a light taste of lemon. Can't think of the brand at the moment but I'll add that later. Green box, hmmm

Even decaf green tea contains slight amounts of caffeine (I don't know if all decaf green tea does) but several brands I noticed do.

Becca

Just be aware, the decaffeination process also removes a lot of the antioxidants and other goodies from green tea.
You'll still have some, but not as much as in it regular.

On the box of green tea I just got, it has a comparison....the green tea has half the amount of caffeine as black with the brand I bought.