Green Tea for Healthy Aging
Green Tea Is Healthy
By Dexter Yarbrough. Green tea is a beneficial drink that helps to ensure that we live healthier as we age. All of us are getting older, but natural products help us to age well. People have been brewing tea for about 5000 years. After water, tea is the most popularly consumed beverage around the world. North Americans, North Africans and Europeans mainly drink black tea. Green tea is popular in China and Taiwan.
Tea Color
All true "teas" are produced from the leaves of the tropical evergreen plant, Camellia Sinensis. So as not to bore you with the technicalities, I will try and make this simple. When tea leaves are converted into black tea, the harvested leaves are allowed to ferment before and while drying. This is an oxidation process that changes both the color of the leaves and the nature of their phytochemical contents. In contrast, the leaves for green tea are steamed to prevent oxidation and phytonutrient change during drying.
Phytonutrients?
Phytonutrients are nutrients derived from plant material that have been shown to be necessary for sustaining human life. Brewed hot tea contains the largest amount of phytonutrients, "instant" teas have lost about 80% of their phytonutrients and "iced" and other ready-to drink tea products contain even less. It is important to be aware of this because even though drinking tea is an extremely healthy practice, hot or cold teas prepared from either loose dried leaves, powdered leaves or "bags" are less reliable sources of tea phytonutrients than are standardized powders used in the highest quality dietary supplements.
Heart Healthy
Green tea is great for the heart. It helps keep arteries clear, the heart pumping strong and high cholesterol at bay. Coronary artery disease is the precursor to heart attack. Scientists have found that the incidence of coronary artery disease is inversely proportional to the consumption of green tea. As such, the more green tea we consume, the lower our odds of having clogged coronary arteries that either require surgery or cause heart attack. Studies have found that first heart attacks are unlikely among green tea drinkers, but nonfatal first heart attacks are more survivable among green tea drinkers.
- Benefits of Green Tea
By Dexter Yarbrough. Green tea is a beneficial heart healthy beverage. Green tea also can be helpful to your oral healthcare. - Why Drink Green Tea?
Green tea offers many health benefits from fighting cancer to helping weight loss. Drink green tea regularly to promote good health. - Lose Weight with Green Tea Weight Loss Tips
Green tea provides many amazing health benefits including the ability to aid in weight loss.
Reduce Belly Fat
In men and women, the degree of body fat, whether expressed at the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference or as percent body fat, decreases as green tea intake increases. Green tea contributes to the maintenance of healthy body weight in several ways.
One of the least appreciated properties of green tea is its ability to limit the absorption of the fat we eat. Green tea interferes with the fat-digesting enzymes in the stomach and small intestine. This interference with the normally highly efficient digestive system and the absorption of dietary fats figures prominently in any effort to manage weight effectively.
Moreover, evidence suggests that stress, anxiety and depression are associated with increased abdominal fat storage and a larger waistline. As you know, stress, anxiety and depression increase the secretion of a hormone called cortisol. This hormone increases the rate of fat accumulation by abdominal fat cells.
Green tea contains an amino acid - L- theanine. This amino acid efficiently enters the brain from the blood. Within the brain, L- theanine exerts sedating physiologic effects. L- theanine acts to reduce the perceptions of stress or anxiety, thus by helping to keep stress under control, green tea makes an important contribution to healthy weight maintenance.
Green Tea for Oral Health
Just putting green tea in your mouth has benefits. Yes! The phytonutrients in green teas are partially absorbed through the soft tissues of the oral cavity and attach to every surface, including the surfaces of the teeth. The phytonutrients in green tea inhibit plaque formation on tooth surfaces and the tiny amount of fluoride in green tea helps strengthen tooth enamel.
How to Buy Green Tea
You can purchase bagged green tea in most grocery and health food stores. Make sure it is a high quality green tea. Decide if you like a fruity, floral or sweet green tea. Loose leaf green teas are becoming more and more popular. In my opinion, quality fresh green tea simply tastes better.
If you decide to try loose leaf green tea, I would suggest going to a tea store or other location that sells it so that you can see, smell and taste the green tea you plan to purchase. Buy the smallest amount at first, try it out and then purchase more later.
Preparing Green Tea
The scent of green tea can be an indicator of taste. Green tea with a strong scent will have a strong flavor. The color of your green tea leaves will also indicate flavor. Light colored green tea will taste light and crisp, with floral or herbal undertones. Dark green teas will taste more robust. Roasted green tea (having a brownish-green color) will taste bitter.
When preparing green tea, DON'T BOIL THE WATER. Even the best green tea can be ruined by using boiling water. It will leave it with a mediciny (is this a word?), bitter taste. The water should be warm to the touch.
DON'T OVER-BREW! Green tea should be brewed no more than five minutes. Once brewed, remove the leaves from the water and refrigerate. Most green teas can be brewed up to four times.
Enjoy
Now that you have plenty of information on green tea, enjoy! There can be no doubt that for good health and healthy aging, green tea is among your strongest allies.
Copyright 2011 - Dexter Yarbrough
- Dexter Yarbrough Health Organization
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Comments
Dexter,
No one's ever explaind this the way you did. I actually get it! Thanks my man, now we need another "Breakfast with the Obama's" blog. I love em. lol
jim
Hi Dexter,
I start my morning off with green ginger tea and drink it in the evening as well.
I find it relaxing and it prevents me from snacking.
Voted up and awesome.
Hi Cardisa! Yes, it does! Thanks for your valuable insight!
Hi Jim! Thanks, sir. More to come soon! Thanks for gracing my hub with your presence!
Hi Sueswan! I haven't tried green ginger tea but it is now on my list. Thanks so much!
Great hub, Dexter! i love drinking green tea, especially with a little honey. You've really done your homework on this one, I am impressed! Voted. Up and interesting,
Cloverleaf
Thanks, Cloverleaf! I really appreciate your kind remarks.
I really like hubs like this one – packed with useful info, simple explanations, and most importantly, I don’t need to take a day off to read it. Great job, Dexter! Rated up and useful.
Hi iZeko! I like to make it simple. Sometimes it is difficult to read and understand those technical terms. Writers should know they're audience! Thanks so much!
This is informative.I have heard a lot about the benfits of tea and especially green tea. However, I have never acquired a real taste for it. I'll try it again.
Hi Dahoglund! Thanks for commenting. You might want to try the green tea leaves. A little honey works as well. Delicious!
Hello Dexter
I love your article and its very healthy for your body, I've been drinking green tea for years now and the onlyest time I go to the Dr. often is when I am pregnant.. lol
Hummn I wonder why the Asian people are so healthy and live so long... There you go people!
Hope people start drinking lots of green tea after reading this article.
Thanks for sharing Dexter!
Another well done hub.
Such a nicelooking hub! I'm a big fan of green tea and must get in my winter stash. When I am without my usual cup of green tea I do feel a bit lost. I'm sure green tea is one of the reason for my good health - and I can only recommend leaves, the tea bags just don't do it like the leaves. Thanks for such a visually stimulating hub.
Rated up and more. Yay!
Thanks Dexter - It's so healthy but on the few occasions I drink it, I always add sugar or honey.
I hope it doesn't affect the benefits of it.
Hi Sharon! It is always so good to hear from you! Thank you so much. The benefits of green tea are remarkable. I hope all is well with you and yours!
Hi BKCreative! It is a pleasure having you to comment. Thanks you so much. I agree, the leaves are the best and better for you. Thanks again!
Your hub is very convincing. I'm off to the store to buy some green tea! Up useful, interesting and awesome.
Hi Lady E! Thank YOU. Actually, a little sugar or honey doesn't hurt. Thanks for commenting. Great to see you!
Hi Pop! It really is great for you. Maybe you can introduce it with many of your fine breakfast recipes? Thank as always for your support, Pop!
Great hub, Love green tea i have been drinking it for years . Great stuff with lots of good benefits for drinking it .
Hi Dex, I have never drank green tea nor did I know the benefits of drinking it, so I found your article really interesting and informative.
So well done Dex, I am off to buy some and I will give it a go!
Voting up and thank you for sharing.
Hi Kashmir56! Thank you so much. Not only is it good for you, it tastes good as well!
Hi Movie Master! I have no doubt you will enjoy it. Mix in a little honey if you must. I am glad you found the hub informative. Thanks a million!
I love green tea! You have listed so many benefits. I have had the dentist ask me if I drank green tea because of the stain on the back of my teeth, though. All your points are interesting and reinforces my love for my green tea. :-)
Hi Sholland! It is a pleasure to have you comment. Thank you so much. Green tea is a wonderful beverage!
Hi Dexter, I love green and black tea and iced tea...I'll take tea anyway I could get it. Very informative hub! I just heard for the first time yesterday that green tea helps reduce plaque on the teeth...who woulda thought that?! Fantastic hub!
Hi Sunshine! Good to see you. Thank you so much. I knew about the other benefits of green tea but while doing more research, I learned how it reduces plaque on the teeth! Hooray!
Thanks again for your wonderful comments!
Thank's Dexter. I drink green tea daily. I really like it better. Now that i know how good it is for you, i'll enjoy it more....
Hi Always Exploring! Green tea really is great isn't it? Thanks for your comments!
Very informative - best article I've read about green tea! Makes you drink more of it.
Your Hub is packed with good information. Thanks for all the research.
Hi Caltex! Thanks! It really is a great beverage!
Hi Mckbirdbks! Thanks for checking it out. I hope it can be beneficial to you!
I drink green tea everyday. I knew some of the benefits, but did not know it was good for your teeth too. Thanks again for another well written hub. :)
Hi AEvans! It is always good to hear from you! Yes, it is good for the teeth as well. Thank you so much!
Nicely done Dex - great HUB!
Hi Miss Olive! Thanks and I did read yours as well!
Hi Dexter - I'm a big believer of tea of all kinds. This was an informative Hub. Thanks - rated up!
Hi Suziecat7! Thanks for the visit and vote up. Green tea has many great benefits, as you well know!
Nice hub and intersting details... i love drinking green tea everyday. it really helps to keep my body in good shape :)
Hey, Dexter,
Thank you very much for writing and publishing this very informative and useful hub.
For me, this post is very educational and it has prompted me to add green tea to the beverages that I consume.
Hi wmseo! Yes it does. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Feenix! Yes, sir! I have found green tea to be an exceptional beverage! I always appreciate your comments!
I just finished making tea! I love tea and fix up a few days worth, with green, white, grey, camomile, you name it, but mostly green and always with honey. Thanks for all the info about the benefits!
Oh and I love your photography! I never photograph people,just nature. You are really good.
Hi Pollyannalana! Thank you so much for your kind and wonderful comments about my photography! And I love green tea as well. Great health benefits and a delicious taste - with honey!
OK, I just put green tea on my grocery list. That's the easy part. Getting myself to drink it will be difficult. I used to be a tea drinker but had to stop because I was getting a bad reaction. Maybe the green will be different, though, so I'm going to try it.
Hi Sheila! Great for you. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised!
Very informative, Dexter!
I wish I could drink green tea but it always makes my stomach cramp. I have been turned onto white tea, however, and it provides many of the same benefits without the cramps.
Hi Beth! Well I am just glad the white tea works for you! Thanks a million!
...dammit Dexter you always say I'm the man but we all know here at the Hub - you're de Man ! I look up to you and yes I drink green tea everyday at this time with my afternoon break - sometimes flavored with mango or mint.
lake erie time ontario canada 3:51pm
Epi! Thanks so much for the visit. Isn't green tea great? YOU ARE da Man!!!!
This a great hub I am off to buy some green tea in the morning, voted up.
Hi Eileen! Thank you! You will enjoy green tea!!
I love the taste of green tea and its health benefits, but I usually make it from tea bags. I really must get more loose leaf tea! Thanks for an informative and interesting hub.
Hi AliciaC! Thanks for your great comments. Yes, loose leaf tea is much better. You will gain better benefits from the tea.
Greatly informative hub Dexter.
Hi Alladream74. Thank you. I appreciate you checking it out!
Interesting hub, and most of all useful ....i really love my green tea. vote up
one love
annie
Hi Darknlovely! Thanks for reading. Green tea is the best! Thanks for voting up!
So very interesting/useful so thank you for sharing.
A vote up up and away is a must.
Take care Dexter and have a geat day.
Eiddwen.
Hi Eiddwen! It is always a pleasure when you visit my hubs. Thanks so much for the nice words and vote up!
Thank you so much for the great hub. I've just started drinking green tea and now I'm glad I did! Very useful hub! Voted up!
Hi Gryphin423! Thank YOU for reading! I hope you find the benefits of green tea to your liking. Thanks for the votes up!
Dexter Yarbrough: The opening photo of a glass of green tea is inviting and beautiful. It's the way I love to drink green tea: in a glass cup almost exactly like yours. The glass sparkles and reflects rainbows; the tea shimmers and exudes oceans of peace, health, happiness. All of your photos are spectacular. And I love the green heart!
Thank you for your beautiful presentation of one of nature's lovely gifts.
Hi Stessily! Thank you so much for your lovely words! I really appreciate your kindness. I am glad you enjoyed the hub.
Great topic...I must say I drink a lot of organic green tea, and I can attest to the fact that it helps with shedding unwanted fat, after three babies I went from a size 12 back to a size 2 and I attribute that to drinking green tea, and eating a lot of Japanese food.
Your writing skills are amazing, I enjoy reading your work.
Hi BeautifulNatural! Thank you so much. I agree - green tea is a miracle drink! It is good to see you here. You have been missed.
Hey there Dexter. Hope all is well. A great useful article you have here. up, useful, and interesting. I really didn't know that there was so many benefits from green tea. I never knew it helped with diet like benefits. Well done.
Hi Thelyricwriter! I am actually drinking green tea as I write this. Yes, the benefits are overwhelming! It is always a pleasure to have you comment on my hubs! Thank you!
Fantastic hub-Dexter!
I'm a huge tea lover and enjoy any tea as long as it is high quality loose leaf tea. Because of the great health benefits from green tea I drink at least three cups of green tea a day. However I do like to add some honey and a piece of fresh ginger into my tea.
Thank you for a very informative Hub! Rated up!
Take care,
Sannel
Hi Sannel! I am so happy you commented! I drink about three cups a day as well. It is fascinating how well green tea benefits the body.
Thank you so much for your kindness and the votes!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience. Be blessed
Hello my dear friend! Thank YOU for reading. I always appreciate your kind remarks!
This is an interesting article on green tea. I learned I am doing a few things I should not do, boiling water and brewing the tea longer than I should. I enjoy the robust taste of my green tea. Thank you for this informative article. Keep up the good work!
Hi 6Hotfingers! I am glad you learned something and enjoyed the hub. I always appreciate your kind comments! Thanks!
Enjoy this simple, well organized yet informative hub of yours. Thanks Dex, you have done a great job. Appreciate much...
Hi Injured Lamb! I am so grateful to get a visit and heartwarming response from you! Thank you so much!
I love green tea and drink it every day. I even have a green tea hub. Your hub is very comprehensive and I totally agree with you on the health benefits. Awesome and interesting.
Thanks for this great hub Dexter. i am using Aiya matcha green tea since a long time. It is great and keeps me healthy. And i have done some research about Matcha tea. 1 cup of Matcha green tea is worth 10 cups of regular green tea.
Hi Anglnwu! Thank you so much. I have read YOUR hub on green tea and it is outstanding! Thank you!
Hi NancyYoung! Thank YOU! Matcha tea is so much better. Thanks so much for reading. I appreciate it!
Great subject. I love green tea. the regular kind anyway. The diet green tea has a nasty taste to it. This has helped me with my thyroid problem. I voted up because it was useful! :)
Hi Jo! Thank you so much. Green tea has great benefits I have found!
Great post! I am a regular green tea drinker myself. There are just so many health benefits to this amazing drink. You are right to say loose tea leaves is one of the best ways to make quality tea and green tea should never be brewed at boiling water temperature.
Hi Bangingbeauty! Yes, I love the benefits of green tea. I wish that I had known about it sooner in life. It is an amazing drink. Thanks do much for reading and your kind remarks!
I've only recently gotten into tea. I was missing out. tea is amazing
Hi PDXKaraokeGuy! I was blown away when I read the benefits of green tea! Yes, it is amazing!
I started drinking green tea a while back because I saw some weight loss studies involving it. It really did make a difference. I hadn't quite realised the extent of all of the benefits though until I read your hub. Thanks for the great hub!
Hello Icountthetimes! Thank YOU for reading! I was also unaware of all the benefits of green tea until did the research. It is a delicious drink and full of health! Thanks again!
yes. and very very tasty. Once again, good hub
Thanks!
Great hub. I love tea and now I'm going to add more green tea to my repertoire.
Hi, Lori! Green tea is fabulous! Thank you!
Great hub, this morning for the first time
i had mint and hot chocolate, never knew it would of taste so delicous.. Green tea
is good, somehow, it doesn't likes me(:)
too many bathroom moment.
Hi Darnnlovely! Well I am glad you liked my hub. I am sorry that green tea doesn't agree with you. :-)
I absolutely love drinking green Tea, It keeps my appetite curbed so I can work out and not eat so much, its my all time favorite, great hub, so much information :-) Voted up
Hi Cherrycrime! Long time no see! I'm glad you liked it. I love green tea as well!
This is a very interesting hub, I have mentioned the benefits of green tea before on my metabolism site, but nice to learn that it has so many other benefits. Voted up, great read!
Hi Steve! Thanks for the great comment and the votes. I would like to check out your metabolism site. Thanks for the votes!
Cardisa 8 months ago
Thanks for an informative hub Dexter. Green tea help increase metabolism by providing extra energy and that is why the Weight loss industry uses tea with shakes as a weight loss plan. It works!