Go Green…Tea Green
Move over “red, white, and blue”, it seems GREEN has become our nations’ new favorite color! Everywhere you turn, someone is telling you to “Go Green!” Well, I must jump on that same bandwagon, but not for the sake of the outside environment, but rather for the sake of your internal environment—For Heaven’s Sake! Today I am suggesting you begin including a cup of green tea into your diet on a daily basis. Let me explain why.
Green tea delivers a huge nutritional punch because it contains a great deal of antioxidants—ten times more so than a serving of vegetables! So, what’s so exciting about anti-oxidants? Anti-oxidants benefit the body by “neutralizing” destructive particles called free radicals. Free radicals damage your cells, hasten the aging process and fuel disease processes, such as cancer. When these free radicals are stripped of their “freedom”, your body’s internal environment becomes a better place to live.
While both green and black teas are made from the leaves of the Camellia plant which originated in China, green tea leaves are picked a younger stage, and are not crushed or fermented as is the process with black tea. This method yields a tea which sports a greenish, rather than the traditional brown, hue.
Time for some truth-telling on my part: The first time I sipped some green tea, I thought it tasted like a brew of lawn clippings! It took reading about the benefits of this tea (over and over again) to convince me to try it again. I began ordering it at sushi restaurants, where for some reason it seemed more palatable, but still not fully enjoyable. But then the best thing happened—I discovered green tea was available in a variety of flavors! Mango, mint, orange; now we’re talking! All the benefits of green tea, with that not-so-special taste hidden beneath a veil of pleasant aromas and flavors. (Green teas are also available in decaffeinated varieties as well, which is great for nighttime tea-drinkers.)
Let’s you and I drink to good health—green tea, that is!
Recipe for minty, iced green tea: Brew mint-flavored green tea by seeping it in just-boiled water for 5-10 minutes (for full flavor), sweeten with a bit of Agave nectar, chill, then serve over ice for a refreshing treat!