Amazing Green Tea+Lemon Benefits!

So most of you probably heard how green tea can help speed up your metabolism, but there are so many other AMAZING benefits you might have not known about. Adding lemon to green tea boost its antioxidant properties, since lemon and green tea antioxidants complement each other. Read further of green tea and lemon benefits, and the fantastic benefits of combining the two together! If you don't have time to read it all read the sections called "BENEFITS IN SHORT".


***GREEN TEA BENEFITS***
What makes green tea special apart from other teas is the way it's processed, it's steamed. It has a valuable compound EGCG, EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.



BENEFITS IN SHORT:

-EGCG compound helps inhibit growth of cancer cells
-Inhibits the abnormal formation of blood clots: lowers your chances of heart attach, stroke and heart disease
-Helps lower LDL cholesterol levels
-Its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning and tooth decay!
-Helps rheumatoid arthritis
-Helps fight infections
-Helps to speed up your metabolism
-Green tea can also aid in digestion, and it has astringent properties that help cleanse the body.


FURTHER EXPLAINED:
Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. Catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder.

The antioxidants in green, black, and oolong teas can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve artery function.

The usual amount is three cups per day. Allow tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins. The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink tea preparations, and instant teas have less of these compounds.
Tea can prevent the absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables. Adding lemon or drinking tea between meals will counteract this problem. Do not add milk like some sites may say, it reduces and destroys the antioxidants.



***ADDING LEMON TO GREEN TEA BENEFITS***
But a new study indicates that adding citrus juice or vitamin C can significantly boost the bioavailability of those compounds, which have been linked to lowered cancer risk as well as improved heart and brain health. You can make your own lemon green tea by brewing green tea and squeezing one-quarter of a lemon.



BENEFITS IN SHORT:

-Lemon is also rich in antioxidants, including flavonoids, which have been shown to aid in the prevention of cancer.
-Lemon juice is rich in ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid has cleansing properties, which is beneficial to the body.
-Helps to slow down symptoms of arthritis.
-Helps strengthen the immune system
-Lemon juice can also act as a stimulant that can help increase your energy level

FURTHER EXPLAINED:
Lemons are a rich source of ascorbic acid – or vitamin C – and researchers from Purdue University demonstrated that catechins can be absorbed up to three times as fast by human intestinal cells and get to the bloodstream in the presence of the vitamin.



Sources:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/benefit_of_drinking_green_tea
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea
http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02914/How-to-Boost-Green-Tea-Benefits.html
http://www.ehow.com/about_5415438_benefits-lemon-green-tea.html