Food and Drink Articles

Many people enjoy sipping a cup of green tea with the knowledge that having a daily dose poses numerous advantages for the body. While some are totally aware of the benefit of green tea, others plainly love it for its taste. For those who arenÂ’t in the know, here are some of the benefits that green tea offers.

1. One benefit of green tea is that it lowers your bad cholesterol and increases the good ones. This is the reason why a lot of tea drinkers can still enjoy eating almost twice the food that contains cholesterol as non-tea drinkers and yet still have equal cholesterol count.

2. Another benefit of green tea is that it is one of natureÂ’s most potent antioxidants. The all-natural green tea extract contains catechins that have been shown to ward off viruses. It has also been proven that catechins destroy free radicals that damage the bodyÂ’s cells and leaves the body prone to cancer, heart diseases and other degenerative diseases.

3. Another benefit of green tea is its capability to boost the bodyÂ’s immune system. Green tea has high concentrations of polyphenols and flavenoids that make the body resistant to certain diseases.

4. Dieters also stand to gain from drinking green tea. Research revealed that men who were given a combination of green tea extract and caffeine were able to burn a greater number of calories compared to those who were given caffeine or a placebo only.

5. Another benefit of green tea is that it stimulates metabolism and quickens the process of burning calories. This is why green tea is often touted as a vital part of a healthy diet.

6. Green tea is also known to reduce high blood pressure. By inhibiting angiotensin II, green tea prevents constriction of blood vessels that lead to high blood pressure.

7. One other health benefit of green tea is its ability to fight cancer. A study has found that an anti-oxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea represses the growth of cancer cells and destroys some existing cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. There is evidence that a daily diet that includes green tea helps in the reduction of esophageal, stomach, bladder, colon, pancreas and rectum cancer by up to 60 percent. EGCG has been shown to be at least 100 times more effective compared to vitamin C and 25 times more efficient than vitamin E in protecting cells from harmful factors.

8. The antioxidant EGCG in green tea is also reported to prevent the formation of blood clots. This is one benefit of green tea that helps prevent thrombosis, the main cause of heart attacks and stroke.

9. The ability to lower blood sugar is another benefit of green tea. Polyphenols and polysaccharides, the two main antioxidants found in green tea, are effective in reducing the levels of blood sugar in the body, helping to prevent and relieve type-two diabetes.

10. One other benefit of green tea is the promotion of oral health. Green tea has components that help prevent tooth decay and bad breath. Green tea also suppresses the process of plaque formation by destroying bacteria that cause it.

Even though it hasn’t been one hundred percent backed up by science yet, there has been a lot of good research done on the base of the green tea. So one know fact is that green tea does help in weight loss, particularly by speeding up your metabolism. I personally have met people who have lost a considerable amount of pounds by introducing green tea into their daily usage.

And this is how it works. It was found that green tea does raise your metabolic rate and that it also has a lot effect on fat oxidation (that is actually where green tea helps). Many believed that these effects were due to caffeine in green tea, but today it has been proven that caffeine has nothing to do with it. Green tea has even less caffeine then coffee, so that is certainly not the case.

It was even proven by many researches that those people who drank green tea during their diet plan lost pounds quite considerably faster then the ones that drank coffee. So green tea really does work, but be carefully it will work as long as you are restricting yourself with proper diet and exercise plan. The best thing about green tea is that there are no known side effects that have been reported.

According to some research, green tea helps you to speed up your metabolism by 3 percent, or additional 67 calories a day. However, it all depends on the individual, off course if there is more weight involved the more calories you would be burning and vice versa.

Off course, it is absurd that green tea alone can help you lose weight, you still need to have a regular healthy diet plan! It can work only as your daily supplement to your new diet plan. So if you have already undergone a good weight loss plan, together with exercise and diet, then try drinking two to three glasses of green tea a day. Even if you do not believe in its help to speeding up your metabolism, no bad thing can come of tea. First, it is highly healthy and it is better to drink tea then soda or coffee for that matter.

Because it has been proven to have no side effects, and still a lot of people claim that it is helpful not only in losing the weight, but also in many other health problems, like heart attacks, it is worth to try. There is a good chance that green tea will help speed up your metabolism!

Chai Tea is gaining popularity in North American culture. This Indian spiced tea (pronounced ch + eye) originated in India. Chai means tea. Masala Chai is another term that is used which translates to spiced tea. Chai is the lifeblood of Indian culture. It is ingrained in the everyday life of an Indian household. Most people in India drink about 5-6 cups of tea a day.

The history of Chai dates back to over 5000 years ago. Legends have it that the concoction was created by a king in an Indian court. The concoction was made from a variety of spices and was known to have healing properties. The King was said to use different spices, depending on the ailment. If there is any truth to the legend, that may explain the many variations to chai and chai mixes. It may also explain why chai recipes vary from town to town and from households and neighbourhoods.

What makes Chai Tea

The basic ingredients are a chai mix, black tea and milk.

Chai Mix: A traditional chai mix is a combination of spices that are grounded and or used whole. It can be a powdery mix that is available in Indian stores or you can make it at home quite easily. The base for most mixes include cloves (can be used whole or crushed), cardamoms (very flavourful when crushed and grounded just before use) and cinnamon. Additional ingredients that make-up the different variations are ginger (fresh grated ginger is best), peppercorns, fennel and star anise.

Black Tea : A full bodied black tea is used. It is preferable to use tea leaves as opposed to tea bags for their freshness, taste and aroma. Darjeeling tea, Assam or a full bodied Ceylon Tea are some of the popular teas for making chai.

Milk: Use whole or skimmed milk. In some parts of Asia, a combination of skimmed milk and/or evaporated and sweetened condensed milk is used. The evaporated and condensed milk give it a very milky flavour. The sweetened condensed milk can also be used as a substitute for sugar.

To make chai tea, the chai mix is boiled in water. After allowing it to simmer for a few minutes, tea is added to the mixture and allowed to boil gently for about 5-10 minutes. Milk is then added and allowed to simmer for about 5 minutes. The tea is then strained into a teapot and is sweetened with sugar or honey.

Chai is good for you!

Here are some of the ingredients that make up the tea mix which explains why this brew is good for health.

Cloves

Used in Ayurvedic medicine as an analgesic, cloves are most often used to soothe toothaches and remedy halitosis. It also has antiseptic qualities, and can be used to kill intestinal parasites, fungi, and bacteria. These latter qualities have also led cloves to be used for treating diarrhea and similar digestive ailments.

Cardamoms

Relieves flatulence, harmonises digestion and eases nausea. Useful for combating colds & chills.

Fennel

Fennel has aromatic and carminative properties. Tea made from the fennel seeds is used to ease flatulence of infants and is used by women to ease menopause symptoms.

Cinnamon

Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes. It has also shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

If you’re looking for a special tea, perhaps for a special event, or just to give yourself a special treat, give Sinharaja tea. This black tea is one of the most unique and flavorful you’ll ever taste, and it’s sure to become one of your all time favorite teas.

Sinharaja is a black Ceylon tea, grown in an area of Sri Lanka that borders the rainforest. Sri Lanka’s Ceylon teas are world famous for their flavor, enhanced by the cool mist that surrounds this area of the countryside year round. These cool moist conditions create a tea that is unique, with a reddish color and a flavor that is robust, yet milder in flavor than some other black teas. Ceylon leaves are longer than many other tea leaves, and are very wiry. This tea is as interesting to look at as it is to drink. And, really good Ceylon teas, like Sinharaja, never go bitter, even if over infused.

Sri Lanka is known for making great tea. In fact, this small island is the third largest tea producer in the world. Tea production employs over one million people in Sri Lanka, making it the country’s largest industry. But, Ceylon tea is still fairly rare in the United States. Only about 19% of the tea consumed outside of Sri Lanka is Ceylon.

Sinharaja tea has a unique flavor, even among Ceylons. It has a very warming flavor, with notes of molasses and caramel, and just a hint of sweet berries. You’ll find no better black tea for waking you up on a cold morning or helping you relax when you’ve had a long day. This tea has it all; it’s rich, yet mellow and without even the slightest bitterness.

Ceylon teas are not easy to find in the US, and many that you do find are of inferior quality.

Quality assurance is becoming more and more important in the tea industry. For years, it seemed that Americans weren’t all that interested in drinking tea, but all that has changed. In part, changes have happened because we’ve become increasingly aware of the health benefits of drinking tea. In addition, it seems to be the latest trend, following on the heels of the popularity of coffee houses.

One of the biggest trends in tea is flavored and specialty tea, since these teas open up a whole new range of flavors for the palate. So, it seems that everyone is getting into the tea market. But, as you might imagine, not everyone is making high quality tea. And, for the consumer, it can be difficult to judge whether or not the tea you’re purchasing is high quality.

There are no international tea grading standards. Each country grades their tea by their own standards, and often green teas are graded differently than black or white teas. So, determining the quality of the tea you’re buying by looking at the grade can be quite confusing. The best bet for getting really good teas consistently is by finding a tea company that has a reputation for quality.

There would be no one in this world who would not have at least heard about tea. Since olden time people use to exchange tea for any kind of favor in barter. Even today tea is quite precious a commodity. There are many ways tea is prepared along the length and breadth of world. My recipe is one amongst them. This preparation might be different than the traditional way tea is prepared in most part of world but it’s worth trying once. I am saying once only because after that you won’t need to try it again, you will just love it. It is having medicinal value in it too.

Ingredients :

Water - as much as you need.

Tea - leaf! No, dust… one tea-spoon per glass of water.

Milk - an absolute no no… [:)]

Sugar - 2 tsp per glass of water

Black Salt - around 1/4th tsp per glass of water. You can experiment around it and after 2-3 trial you’ll know how much you need to add.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaves - 6 leaves per glass of water.

Lemon Juice from yellow ripen lemon - two tsp per glass of water. You can experiment around this too and after 2-3 trial you’ll know how much you need to add.

Methodology:

Heat water in a pot as per you requirement. Calibrate in terms of 200 ml glass.

Add entire quantity of sugar. Add Tulsi leaves to it. Then add tea leaves. Keep on boiling at high flame for about 5 minutes. Then reduce the flame to a medium. Add Lemon juice to it. Boil further for half a minute.

Now add black salt and stir once.

Take the pot off flame

Sip it…. slowly… feel the warmth and enjoy.

[PS: you can choose not to add salt while on flame. Rather you put the salt in the tea cup and then pour the tea over it, stir well and enjoy.

Tea is drunk all over the world, and is the second most popular drink after water. So why is it so popular?

1. Teas are available in different flavours and varieties. In the same way that not all red or white wines taste the same, not all teas taste the same. Green Tea is made from only the leaves of the tea plant. Black Tea is more oxidised and stronger than Green Tea. White Tea is fast dried whereas Green Tea is roasted. Oolong Tea is a Chinese tea that is in between Green and Black Tea. Herbal teas or fruit teas are strictly not teas, but infusions. This means that there are many types to choose from and so something for everyone.

2. Tea is refreshing and invigorating, but isn’t overpowering or bitter like some coffees can be. Tea is also much healthier than fizzy drinks, and can be drunk all day without the well known side effects of fizzy drinks.

3. Tea contains far less caffeine than coffee. This means that tea drinkers can enjoy more cups of tea as it is less stimulating than coffee. It is therefore the perfect drink for the evening as it is much less likely to cause sleep problems unlike coffee.

4. Tea is easy to make and specialist equipment is not vital. A cup, kettle, water and tea bag are the bare minimum requirements for a cup of tea. However, a lot of people prefer to use a teapot to make the tea in, and will take milk and / or sugar in their tea. Connoisseurs usually prefer to use loose tea and a tea strainer rather than tea bags. This is the equivalent of using fresh ingredients rather than having a microwave ready meal.

5. Different teas require different brewing times and water temperatures. Getting the time or temperature wrong will mean that the tea won’t taste as it was intended. This learning process ensures that each cup of tea is more than worth the effect.

6. Although traditionally grown in China, India, Japan, Kenya, and Sri Lanka, less obvious countries such as Iran, Brazil and Turkey also produce tea. Each country’s tea will taste different because of the climate and the way it is prepared.

7. Tea is well known as a relaxing drink, and when sweetened, can help to reduce the effects of shock. This is another reason why people are often offered it if they have been involved in an accident.

8. Despite being grown in warm countries, tea can be used as a warming drink when it is cold. Alternatively, and quite surprisingly, a nice cup of tea is very refreshing when it is warm

9. Over recent years the health benefits of tea, especially Green Tea, have become more apparent. From use as a weight loss aid to helping to lessen the effects of Alzheimers and Parkinson’s disease, Green Tea could be called a “super drink”.

10. The process of making and drinking tea is steeped in tradition, and can be a social event in itself, and a “cup of tea” is rarely just that. Japanese tea ceremonies are very formal, and the ceremony is almost a spiritual event as much as a social gathering. Afternoon tea can range from a mug of something lukewarm and wet with a slice of dried out cake in a café in a department store, to a much more lavish affair involving many types of sandwiches, cakes and biscuits, and tea served in the finest bone china in a posh restaurant.

Now you know why tea is so popular, why not put the kettle on and enjoy a cup of the most popular hot drink in the world!

When someone says green tea, we usually will think of the Asian culture and how this type of tea relates to it. However, when we look deeper into the cup of these teas, it can be noticed that different types of teas and the processes that are used to produce the drink are used. If you are trying out the different teas for size, you might want to consider Chinese green tea to see what this extract can do for you.

Chinese green tea is well known mostly because it is the oldest type of tea that has been used. While other cultures in this area have produced the tea for one or two thousand years, the Chinese have produced it for over 4,000 years. In the world of tea, this gives them a strong running start with their ability to produce different flavors and stronger teas for those who are interested in the health benefits.

Like other types of green teas from other cultures, it is not the green tea leaf that causes the flavor or difference. Instead it is the processes that are used in order to present a tea that has stronger health benefits, different flavor and the ability to affect one differently. The Chinese green tea market has this understanding, with the production of over fifty different processes and flavors that are used for the market.

If you want to know where to start when investigating the various Chinese green teas that are available, it is best to begin with your taste buds. Many of the teas that are offered from this culture will be divided first by process, then by the result that the process makes. For example, some of the teas will produce a sweeter taste, or the opposite, a bitter taste. Other times, the teas that are offered will be mixed with other beneficial fruits or herbs, such as oranges, in order to give an extra tang.

The next types of teas that are offered from this culture will vary because of the plant that is being used. You may find that you like the flavor of one plant over another; something you will notice with time. The plants that are produced are mostly different because of the places they grow. Some will have the ability to have longer buds, while others will darker plant. Other tea leaves will be picked in different seasons, giving a slightly different texture and taste to the leaves.

No matter what your preference becomes, the Chinese green tea can make sure to take care of your taste bud needs. Through mixtures and different types of growth, this type of green tea is sure to settle well with you. You can begin to explore the different offerings that can be made by simple taste tests that will offer you the best of this world.

There are copious amounts of advertisements today boasting that that there are many magic potions or pills that will allow us to circumvent diet and exercise and at the same time achieve enormous weight loss. All in an incredibly short period of time at a very reasonable cost that anyone can afford. How pretentious these claims are! If they are true, why is there the obesity problem that we have in the United States? In part I of this series we saw that green tea by itself can be a catalyst to accelerating weight loss, but not a magic bullet. In this article I want to show other ways that green tea may be a positive force in weight loss as well.

• In part 1 we showed that the addition of green tea by itself to a persons diet may be able to cause weight loss of about 8.5 pounds per year, all other things equal.
• A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that green tea extract resulted in a significant increase in energy expenditure. The researchers also indicated that over a 24 hour period, green tea extract increases the metabolic rate by 4%. Increased energy means that your chances of exercising are better. For those who do regularly exercise increased energy means better quality exercise. Muscle does weigh more than fat. A person is more toned, in better condition, feels and looks better even if he/she gains a little weight from exercising. This might tend to counteract the weight lost from drinking green tea, but it’s still a win/win situation.
• Experts tell us that green tea may also act as a glucose regulator. It helps to slow the rise in blood sugar after a meal. This prevents high insulin spikes and the subsequent fat storage.
• Scientists at the University of Chicago found that green tea caused rats to lose up to 21 percent of their body weight. Rats injected with a green tea extract lost weight and experience an appetite reduction.
• This nation is hooked on java, frappucino and coffee, often with a couple scoops of sugar or other sweetener. If you want to save on calories but still get a caffeine fix, try substituting your special morning drink with green tea.
• Green tea by itself has shown to be a small factor in accelerating weight loss. How about trying to add some other good practices along with it? How about an exercise program or a piece of fruit for your morning or afternoon snack?

Summary

Green tea alone most likely will not produce massive weight loss as quickly as it is advertised by some unscrupulous marketers. But, if you are serious about losing weight, I think it is a good idea to add green tea to your diet. It will compliment a sound, nutritious diet and a good exercise regime. Not only for the small metabolism boost it will give but also for the many other documented health benefits it provides.

If you are like me, you probably don’t want to be having too much caffeine each day, or you go into hyper mode! Green tea caffeine content varies from product to product, and depends on whether you use loose green tea leaves or bags.

The worst offenders are bags, which can contain as almost much green tea caffeine as normal tea, and are generally much poorer in quality. The loose tea leaves are a better option, and it is recommended to reuse the leaves 3 times, after discarding the first infusion as it contains so much caffeine.

So what’s the best way to get all those fantastic benefits that include prevention of many types of cancer, lowering of your cholesterol, and seriously boosting your immune system to name a few.

More and more health benefits are being found all the time and another popular one is that it has been proven as an aid to dieting. It does this by naturally increasing your metabolism, and therefore burning off more fat. One of the best and most popular ways is to take a tea extract in the form of a health supplement. The good news is that the green tea caffeine content of these pills is almost zero as they are decaffeinated.

The high quality ones normally contain the same amount as you would get from drinking five cups of tea per day, which is some task especially if you’re not keen on the bitter taste.

You should also be aware that it is advisable to take green tea extract as part of a multi supplement as the many ingredients will work synergistically with each other. That basically means that when mixed together, the individual ingredients will perform much better and give greater benefits than if you took them separately.

So now you have this information, what’s your next step? Well now that you know a little more about green tea caffeine content, I hope you will go and do some more research, especially on supplements that contain green tea and make it a point to improve the quality of your health now and help safeguard your future health as well.

If you would like to learn more about the high quality nutritional supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.