My Caffeine of Choice

I have never been much of a coffee person...and black tea hasn't been a favorite either...but a caffeine induced pick-me-up I do enjoy is Green Tea...preferably iced with a squeeze of lemon...or even the Jasmine infused variation as it gives it a nice perfume and taste.

Lately I have taken to drinking at least a cup a day both for pleasure and health purposes...nothing beats sipping on tea as you curl up and read a book...it melts the daily stresses away...and the fact that it is good for the health too is simply an added bonus!

I was reading about the benefits on this site and thought I would share them with you:

Benefits of green tea and its effects were discovered 4,000 years ago and since then has been considered a wonder drink. The green tea ingredients are the ones responsible for its amazing health benefits. They are called polyphenols. Polyphenols are considered the most effective of all antioxidants and the amounts as well as the effects are far higher compared to black tea.

The Asian population are experiencing the effects and benefits of drinking green tea. Statistics have shown that Asians have a lower risk of acquiring diseases because of their healthy lifestyle. Another health benefit of green tea is it's potential to act as a protective agent against premature death from heart disease and cancer.

Drinking this tea is said to lower the levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, thereby reducing platelet aggregation, and helping keep blood pressure in check.

Other health benefits of drinking green tea are the following:

• fights against cancer

• helps stabilize diabetes

• prevents cardiovascular disease

• it keeps your skin acne-free, making it healthier and prettier

• assists in weight loss regimen

• slows the aging process

• aids your digestion

• encourages bowel regularity

• provides you with a mild stimulating effect without causing sleepless nights or nervousness especially during pregnancy

Apart from the few things listed here I also read somewhere in a magazine a few years back that green tea can help clean your teeth and prevent cavities. The article suggested rinsing your mouth out with green tea after brushing it...I'm sure there are many more uses for this powerful tea especially since it's being used in all kinds of cosmetic products these days...

So I say more power to Green Tea! And even if it didn't provide all these benefits...it's still a healthier option to a few cups of coffee a day...so I'll stick with it :)