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Expert Q&A
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| By Christina Pirello Christina Pirello is the host of public television's Christina Cooks series, and the author of Cooking the Whole Foods Way (HP Trade, 1997), Christina Cooks (HP Trade, 2004) and Glow (HP Trade, 2001). | ||
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Is green tea good for you?
Where do I begin to list the benefits of green tea? Dating back more than 4000 years, green tea has reached legendary status as the key to good health. Today, science has confirmed the legend. What makes it so great? Green tea contains dense concentrations of polyphenols, some of the most powerful plant antioxidants known in nature. Catechins, which make up 92 percent of polyphenols, are the most important constituent, since they have the most beneficial health effects. And then there are tannins, some of the most powerful compounds known in nature for mental clarity and heart health.
But what about caffeine? Well, while green tea does contain it, the levels are less than oolong and other teas. It also must be understood that the naturally occurring caffeine in green tea works in conjunction with other natural compounds to create the balanced tea that we know to show such benefits to health. However, if you are sensitive to caffeine, simply enjoy green tea earlier in the day.
Here are just a few things that green tea can help us with in our day-to-day health and well-being:
- Boosts energy
- Mental clarity
- Lifts our mood
- Eases digestion
- Improves skin texture
- Boosts immune function
- Reduces risk of cancer
- Lowers blood pressure
- Stabilizes blood sugar
- Reduces total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol
- Increases HDL cholesterol
- Promotes weight loss
And it is even said to promote longevity – and with all these benefits to our health, it's no wonder!
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