On this very winter-esque winter day, I made myself a pot of green tea. This morning, to be honest, I was mostly concerned with warming up a little. But green tea is a daily ritual for me, and I started thinking about why.
If you research the benefits of green tea, prepare to be overwhelmed with a bombardment of information, sometimes contradicting. It’s been touted as a cancer fighter and praised as a weight-loss tool. It’s been said to improve blood vessel and heart health, as well as lower “bad” cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Sceptics have said that there isn’t enough research, or real-life evidence to fully support these claims.
So what should you believe? Is it worth adding to your diet?
Well, one thing that everyone seems to agree on is that green tea is very high in antioxidants. Because the leaves used to make it are steamed, the antioxidants found in green tea are more concentrated than those in other teas.
On webmd.com, I found a great quote from Diane McKay, PhD, a Tufts University scientist who studies antioxidants. She says, “Taken altogether, the evidence certainly suggests that incorporating at least a few cups of green tea every day will positively affect your health. It’s not going to cure anything and it shouldn’t be consumed as a drug, but it can complement the rest of the diet.”
The biggest reason green tea is a daily ritual for me?
It makes me feel good! The warmth of the cup and the act of sipping are very soothing and calming on a stressful day. I drink my tea without additives or sugar of any kind, and it gives me more energy than any other so-called “energy” drinks, and the effect lasts much longer! I find that on days when I am struggling to find motivation for a workout, a cup or two of green tea works every time.
Plus, I love Yogi tea, and am further motivated by the inspirational qoute on each teabag:
Kerry's Tea Collage
I plan to continue my daily treat of green tea to get a nice healthy dose of antioxidants, wam up, calm my nerves, gain some energy- and add on to my growing motivational collage!
