Three Reasons to drink green tea this winter from McHughTea

Coffee may have its place as a healthy beverage in small doses, but organic green tea is often touted as the miracle drink for your mug. That’s especially true with busy holiday schedules; here’s why you should drink the green stuff regularly this holiday season.

Weight-loss wonder: For many, the holiday season is the worst time for maintaining diet goals. During the season of indulgences, then, every little bit helps. Drinking green tea regularly has been shown to help suppress appetite and increase your metabolism — both of which can help you save or burn a few calories while you celebrate this season. At McHughTea, we have a choice of 9 organic green teas to chose from.

Sickness prevention: Nonstop shopping, traveling, and socializing can mean the combination of cold-inducing pathogens and a weakened immune system, so give yours a boost with green tea. Several studies have shown that green tea has antiviral properties; one study found that taking green tea catechin capsules helped prevent health-care workers from catching the flu, and another found that Japanese schoolchildren who drank green tea for six days a week or more were less likely to catch the flu. For guidance on which Tea is best for you, come along and speak with our Tea-Master, Kim McHugh

 Stress relief: Curling up with a warm beverage can be relaxing, especially when the rest of your day is hectic, but drinking too much caffeine has its downsides. Too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, stress, and trouble sleeping, so if you find yourself running out for a coffee break or having friends over for a cup several times a day, switch to green tea. Not only does green tea contain only half the amount of caffeine than a normal cup of coffee, but many people also say green tea’s fresh, grassy flavor helps them relax.

Is Green Tea as Good as they say it is?

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Is green tea really as great for you as they say?
Yep, it is. Without a doubt, green tea is probably one of the best beverages you can consume, next to water. While it comes from the same Camellia sinensis plant as all other tea varieties originate from, green tea is processed from unfermented leaves and therefore contains the highest concentration of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that give green tea all its wonderful health benefits.

Brief Health History
Green tea is considered to be the most natural tea. It is created simply by seeping the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant in hot water and was the only form of tea for centuries before black (fermented) and oolong (semi-fermented) were developed some thousands of years later.
Green tea has a long history of use, especially for health purposes. It was first brewed and consumed back in 2737 BC during the reign of Emperor Chen Nug. Traditional Chinese and Indian medicine prescribed green tea for various ailments in order to aid in wound healing, bleeding control, and improving heart health. It was also used traditionally to regulate body temperature and blood sugar and help with digestion.

Health Benefits
Over the years, green tea’s health benefits have been extensively studied and so you can find an overwhelming amount of research that falls in green tea’s favor. Green tea drinkers have been documented as being less susceptible to a wide range of diseases from your everyday bacterial and viral infections to more serious conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. We’ve went ahead and compiled the research results for you, so just sit back, pour yourself some green tea and read about some of its many wondrous benefits below that you’re getting with every sip.
1. Boost immunity. The polyphenols and flavonoids found in green tea help your body stay strong and fight against infections.
2. Thwart cardiovascular disease. Green tea helps by preventing build-up in arteries and blocking the oxidation of bad cholesterol (LCL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL).
3. Guard against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Green tea may help protect brain cells from deteriorating and restore damaged cells.
4. Keep asthma in check. Green tea can help reduce the severity of asthma. It contains theophyline which acts as a relaxer for the muscles that support the bronchial tubes.
5. Reduce tooth decay. The antioxidant “catechin,” found in green tea, has been linked to the destruction of bacteria and viruses that cause various dental conditions and throat infections.
6. Lower blood pressure. Green tea has been found to repress angiotensin, which spikes blood pressure levels.
7. Fight ovarian cancer. Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate or EDCD, a potent antioxidant that has been observed to suppress the growth of ovarian cancer cells and stimulate apoptosis (cell suicide).
8. Reduce the risk of colon cancer. Numerous studies have concluded that green tea helps halt colon cancer cell growth and regular green tea drinkers are 50% less likely to develop colorectal cancer.
9. Promote longevity. Polyphenols, which are green tea’s primary antioxidant, fight against free radicals which helps your body fight against aging.
10. Kick breast cancer. Green tea has been found to inhibit cancer cell metabolism in breast tumors.
To fully reap these benefits and others, scientists suggest drinking green tea regularly, citing three cups a day as the optimal amount. While there are many drinks that now contain green tea, it’s best to consume green tea the way people have for years—fresh, seeped in hot water—if you want the real benefits. Recently, it has been recommended to avoid drinking green tea while eating as it can hinder nutrient absorption from other foods. Drink at leisure, but use your best judgment.

So, the answer is an overwhelming YES to the health benefits of Green Tea. McHughTea, a  Houston Tea Room has 9 flavors and types of green teas for you to try. Come along and find out which one or two are best for you.