Green Tea - An Ancient Natural Elixir

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 24 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #7,067 in Health, #90,014 overall

A Quick Introduction

If you are worried about your health and wellbeing then you really should consider drinking green tea as part of your daily routine.

Green tea is a very simple drink to make and is easily swapped in for coffee or regular tea.

An ancient health drink, passed down from generations, green tea can be useful not only for its preventative aspects but also as an aid to dieting and even as a mouthwash.  More uses are being found for green tea every day, gradually science is catching up with the hidden secrets of this herbal drink.

If you are concerned about disliking the flavour of green tea then be assured that there are many flavours other than just plain old green tea itself. 

If you enjoy this lens then please take time to vote (above, where it says 'your rating'), it's nice to know if I am being helpful to you.

So what exactly is green tea? 

How green tea differs from ordinary tea

As its name suggests green tea is one of the varieties of the already popular drink of tea, loved by a lot of people around the world.

Green tea has been a very popular herbal remedy for centuries particularly favoured by the civilisations in the far east.

Green tea is actually made from the same plant as ordinary black tea, it is just the actual moment and method of cultivation that vary compared to other tea varieties.

The difference is in the processing, green tea is dried but not fermented and undergoes a much shorter processing time. This preserves more of the 'goodness' for you.

This reduced processing time allows the tea to retain more of its beneficial qualities, in particular the antioxident chemical EGCG which is believed to be responsible for a lot of the health claims made about green tea.

However, you will find that green tea does taste different from ordinary tea but if you wish to try it you do have several varieties to choose from. In addition it is not usual to add add milk like you might do with ordinary tea.

A good starter flavour that I would recommend is green tea with orange and lotus flower. I think this provides a soft introduction to green tea consumption and certainly worked for me.

Go on try it, see if it changes your life, you will never know what you have missed if you pass it by.

If you really like it then have a taste of some white tea. This is even more healthy as it is made from the young buds of the tea plant and contains even more antioxidents.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Green Tea? 

The claimed green tea benefits are:

Relief of certain medical conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, low immune system, cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol and research goes on into others on an ongoing basis.

High in antioxidents the main one being epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). It is this that enables the relief of the conditions above but also helps in limiting damage caused to tissue by free radicals. Particularly important for people who are physically very active.

Can help eternal dieters by increasing the body's metabolic rate, in fact there is now an industry built up around a green tea diet with green tea extract and green tea pills being sold as stand alone products.

Can be used as a mouthwash because green tea can actually destroy plaque-forming bacteria, this is a new idea to many people but there is a keen number of people that use green tea just for this purpose.

Other uses these are increasing all the time but include skin creams and deodourants and I'm sure, a few more that are being discovered s time goes on.

Perceived Benefits Of Green Tea 

Do you believe all the health claims made for green tea?

There are so many scare stories and medical claims and counter claims as to what food is good for you that it seems nothing is safe to eat nowadays!

I ask how many of the benefits of green tea that are claimed to be true do you actually believe?

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Decaffeinated green tea 

A Less Beneficial Version Of Green Tea?

Decaffeinated green tea gives lovers of this herbal remedy all the antioxidants and the other many beneficial qualities of green tea, without also giving them high levels of caffeine.

Some people worry that the process of removing the caffeine also takes away some of the anti-oxidents, however this is just not true.

It has been scientifically proven that decaffeinated green tea has exactly the same amount of the active ingredient EGCG as a regular green tea extract.

If you need to be certain or just want to be sure then check the ingredients listing on the product wrappers before you buy and compare them to other green tea products it's simple enough to do.

A cup of regular green tea contains anywhere from 15-30mg of caffeine. Although the caffeine is not to some people's taste, it is actually necessary in green tea as it provides the bitterness for your palate.

Additionally, caffeine also raises your metabolism which is of particular interest to dieters and potentially helps them to lose weight, if they use it as part of a controlled diet of course.

Don't forget that decaffeinated doesn't necessarily mean the same thing as 'caffeine free', also that decaffeinated does not mean caffeine free, usually just a reduced level.

If You Are Looking For An Inexpensive Way.... 

to try out green tea

Are you unsure as to whether green tea is really for you? Maybe you are a bit worried that the taste might be not to your liking?

Or perhaps you have heard some comments that suggest it has an odd taste that needs getting used to?

If that is the case, then why not try a sampler pack from Adagio Teas? This is a cheap and easy way to find out if green tea is for you.

The pack has a variety of green tea flavors and you can try them out before deciding upon your favorite.

Green Sampler


Once you have decided of course then Adagio can offer you a regular supply and are always introducing new varieties.

Green Tea Elixir Is Featured Lens For August 

In The Time For Tea Group

Many thanks to PatinKC for making me her featured lensmaster of the month for August!

It is always very welcome to have your hard work recognised.

Pat runs the Time For Tea Group and I recommend you pay it a visit to find out more quality information on many other teas to try.

Green Tea Skin Care 

Heard of green tea skin care cream?

Applying green tea directly to your skin is probably something that many people do not immediately think of when considering green tea.

Our skin is actually the largest organ of our body and it needs a great deal of care to keep it looking healthy and functioning well.

A lot of good skin care comes from eating the right foods of course and this includes green tea, but many people use lotions to compliment this care.

Given the importance of the well being of our skin it is therefore vital that we care for this outer portion of our body which is after all, the largest organ. Which brings us back to green tea skin care cream.

Green tea will can be used to tackle the problem of ageing signs by protecting the skin and helping to fight off the effects of time.

Who says you can't turn back the hands of time? Check out the Anti-Aging formulas available from Botanic Choice!

Green Tea Retailers 

Where to get some green tea

If you need a bit of help locating green tea products for sale, or would rather order online, then try looking at the following.

There is more information and you can order some green tea online without leaving the comfort of your own home:

Adagio Teas

As well as having a large range of teas including green tea you can also discover a lot of interesting information about tea and the many varieties available.

Botanic Choice

Botanic have an enormous range of healthcare products of which green tea is just one component but here you can get green tea in its other varieties such as green tea extract and green tea diet pills.

Iced Green Tea - The Fashionable Drink 

With its health benefits iced green tea is a super drink

Iced green tea is becoming a very popular drink nowadays. You get all the benefits of green tea with its high levels of anti-oxidents mixed in with a thirst quenching chilled drink.

In fact I am a slow drinker and so I also drink my green tea cold as well as hot - tastes just as good!

Iced green tea is great for parties - especially for those who are not allowed to consume alcohol or who are driving home that night. They feel they can at least drink something special.

I would suggest that you make your own though if you are going to try it as, with many other commercial products nowadays the manufactured version is never as healthy or tasty.

There is no substitute for knowing the exact ingredients used to make your food and drink, so go on give it a try!

Green Tea Antixoident Rich Tea? 

Antioxidents and why green tea helps

What are antioxidants? Well they are substances in food such as fruit and vegetables and in particular green tea, that are thought to protect the cells in our bodies from damage by free radicals.

Okay, so what are free radicals?

Well free radicals are by-products of metabolism, the body's energy making process.

They are unstable molecules that move around at high speeds and have the ability to damage cells in the body.

It is thought that free radical damage is a major contributory factor in diseases such as Alzheimers, various forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Metabolism is vital for us to make the energy we need to live but the more we metabolise the more harmful free radicals we can produce, it's one of those sad ironies of living - it kills you!

This is worth noting if you are a very energetic person and take regular exercise. Are you getting your daily recommended allowance of fruit and vegetables?

It is important to consume a good quantity of antioxidants to neutralise the harmful free radicals. This is where green tea is so good.

Green tea contains antioxidants in abundance, in particular the polyphenols which are thought to be very effective at controlling free radicals.

If you cannot get your 'five a day' portions of fruit and vegetables why not make use of green tea and its antioxidants to supplement your positive energy diet?

Where To Buy Green Tea 

Green tea is becoming much easier to find nowadays.

Virtually every supermarket seems to stock it and most cafes or coffee shops, at least in the UK, now serve green tea, I know, I always ask for it!

My favourite brand is Clipper, available here in the UK and hopefully wherever you are in the world too.

Clipper do a nice organic tea range and I have even moved onto their white tea. White tea is even more beneficial than green tea being made from the buds as opposed to the leaves of the tea plant

However, white tea seems to be only available in blackcurrant or ordinary flavour so there is a limited choice.

Which brings me back to green tea. With the many health scares reported every day it is reassuring to know that you can choose an organic tea that is not only nutritious but incredibly good for your health.

Green Tea Extract Provides All The Benefits For Less 

Did you know people are taking green tea extract as an aid to weight loss?

According to scientific research this herbal supplement can actually help the body ward off fat by revving up the its metabolic rate.

Metabolism is the bodily process which burns fuel and creates the body energy you need to live. Increasing the metabolic rate requires more fuel to burn and this is where the body will usually draw on its fat reserves to enable the process, thus reducing your weight, if you eat properly.

Green tea extract is available in tablet or liquid form and serves as a supplement that will aid in your weight loss, it suppresses the appetite and tricks the brain into thinking you are full thus decreasing food intake.

The end result, as desired is of course, is achievement of weight loss. But naturally this only happens as part of an overall effective weight loss program. You still need to eat healthily and take regular exercise.

Personally I prefer drinking green tea and enjoying it that way! But if you do not like the taste then this is a good way to still take advantage of the health benefits.

One word of caution regarding green tea however, it does contain caffeine and as with coffee you should keep an eye on how much you consume. However, like coffee there are decaffeinated versions of green tea available too.

To find out more about green tea, visit my dedicated site that includes information on green tea extract as well as the other varieties of this great drink.

Green Tea and Weight Loss 

So the important question is "can green tea really help you to lose weight?"

There are a multitude of diets out there all offering their own unique selling points as to why they are best at losing weight.

To me the honest truth is that there is only one way to lose weight, the traditional one, consume less calories and exercise more.

This may be boring but green tea can help you along and think of the other health benefits you are getting for free!

Research has shown that the substances contained in green tea can actually raise your metabolism. The main ones being catechin polyphenols and caffeine.

An increased metabolic rate leads to more breakdown of fat and consumption of calories.

Another benefit of using green tea for weight loss is that green tea can so easily substitute for other hot beverages such as coffee consumed every day, and can be added to your daily routine.

In addition to this, the essence of green tea has been captured in tablets and extracts and can be conveniently taken in those forms as well. This method was pioneered by the western world when it discovered the health benefits of green tea.

However, there are many cons to relying on green tea and green tea alone for weight loss.

The first is that some people do not like green tea, and may not want to drink the number of cups recommended to see an actual effect.

In addition, many may find pills or liquid extracts a hassle to ingest and cannot keep the routine going for long enough.

While green tea may assist you in your weight loss campaign, there is no evidence to show that green tea can dramatically lead to dropping pounds on its own.

There are numerous studies, on the other hand, that show the importance of diet and exercise in losing and maintaining weight loss.

Hence, using green tea for weight loss may help, but it is not the ultimate cure for weight loss.

Make Some Green Tea Ice Cream 

To Cool You Down

Green tea ice cream is not something you find in your average supermarket, not here in the UK at least.

Although I am told that the larger department stores in London with food halls and of course the restaurants in China Town have it readily available.

Supermarkets here are only just getting round to offering organic ice cream on a regular basis so the green tea version may be some way off yet.

Popular in the USA, green tea ice cream represents yet another way to enjoy and take advantage of the health benefits of green tea.

It is common practice to prepare your own recipe.

This you can do by adding green tea leaves to a saucepan of boiling water and then straining the contents, after say, 15 minutes and then using the enhanced milk to prepare your usual ice cream recipe.

But why stop there? You could make any number of lattes, milkshakes, iced drinks, mousses, whatever you fancy. All with healthy ingredients.

If You Have Tried Green Tea Then Why Not Try 

White Tea - Something Even More Healthy

It's hard to believe I know, all this information and fuss about green tea and there is actually something even more healthy, a nice cup of white tea!

I first discovered this in my local supermarket Clipper do a nice organic white tea - recommended!

Whereas green tea is made from the fresh shoots of the tea plant, white tea is made from the buds of the flower. Younger and more packed with good nutrients for you.

White tea is thought to be even moe beneficial for your health and may be worth a taster next time you are in your store.

Green Tea To Control Weight Gain? 

Not Sure What The Mice Make Of It

I'm not sure that I agree with this method of research but I saw a news report today where mice have been fed green tea as part of a weight management study.

The effects being studied are those of the weight loss properties of green tea and very preliminary results (for the mice!) suggested:

Lower occurence of fat retention and an increase in weight loss;

Lower levels of fat in the liver and also lower cholesterol levels.

Although at a very early stage the preliminary findings seem to confirm, at a basic level anyway, common theories that green tea is good for you!

A New Green Tea Experience For You 

Green Tea Perfume

Here is an unusual use for green tea - try using it as a perfume!

Green tea ice cream is not something you find in your average supermarket, not here in the UK at least.

I have never tried it myself! But am told that it has a fragrance that is hard to describe. Light, grassy, invigorating? I will leave that one up to you to decide.

I suspect that in order to make it more commercially viable they mix in other fragrances.

A quick search on the internet reveals two possible sources of green tea perfume for you to try:

Elizabeth Arden - green tea perfume for women - which evokes the freshness of the moment, whatever that is supposed to mean!

Green tea ice cream is not something you find in your average supermarket, not here in the UK at least.

ABvlgari Eau Perfumee (green Tea) - a unisex scent - described as a refined, oriental fragrance. Details are given for this one that it is a blend of green tea with Jasmine, Rose and Citru.

In ages past, many cultures have relished the scent and taste of green teas and use them in various forms including, green tea soap, green tea mouthwash, iced green tea as well as the more common green teas to drink and green tea extract.

A new experience for you to try, leave a comment below if you do, I would love to hear what you thought of it.

What Can Go Wrong With Green Tea? 

Can You Drink Too Much Green Tea

At the end of the day, green tea is a herbal remedy and as with all herbal remedies it is possible to consume too much, or even worse experience a nasty reaction.

So What Can Go Wrong?

- Some people can develop hypersensitivity after long term use;

- Swelling of certain parts of the facial areas such as the lips, tongue or cheeks;

- Swelling of parts of the windpipe, which in extreme circumstances may even lead to cancer developing;

- Various side effects such as insomnia, interrupted sleep, headaches, heatburn and digestive upset.

As with all things in life it seems you must take everything in moderation. If you drink 8 cups of green tea a day then yes, perhaps you are pushing it and asking for a reaction to occur, limit it to 2 or 3 and maybe you are taking the safe route.

The problem is that everyone is individual and what affects one person adversely does not harm another.

The best option as always is to check with your doctor first before consuming any form of herbal remedy.

Green Tea To Fight Breast Cancer? 

Breast Tumors In Mice Significantly Inhibited by Green Tea Component

One of the components of green tea thought to be beneficial to health is the antioxidant EGCG.

Well, new studies at the University of Mississippi have found that consuming EGCG significantly inhibited breast tumor growth in female mice.

These exciting findings could bring us one step closer to better understanding the disease and developing potentially new, natural therapies.

Click below to read the full article.

www.newswise.com/articles/view/538984>

Strawberry-Red Iced Green Tea 

A New Green Tea Recipe!

Came across this recipe for something called Strawberry Red Iced Green Tea.

This is packed with goodness both from the green tea of course but also from the other main ingredient, the strawberries.

It is certainly worth a try in those hot summer days the link for the recipe is:

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=208743

Cheers!

Green Tea and Brain Damage 

Damage of Sleep Apnea Can be Helped With Green Tea

There is some interesting research going on at the moment into whether green tea can help limit the effects on the brain of obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition where suffers actually stop breathing during the night for a few seconds then suddenly draw breath gulping in the air, usually to the horror of their partners.

In fact the symptoms of sleep apnea are usually worse for the partner as the suffer is unaware of their lapses in breathing, it happening whilst they are in deep sleep.

Well the new research relating to green tea and brain damage shows that in mice, where they were given green tea in a specified dosage, memory and learning abilities were maintained, ewven though they were depreived of oxygen for intermittant periods.

Well, if you add green tea and brain damage issues to the growing list of problems that green tea is shown to help with this simple drink is really turning out to be quite a powerhouse of positive health enhancing goddness for us all.

Green Tea and Heart Disease 

Now green tea can help your heart too!

A new study by the Athens Medical school reveals that green tea can be effective in preventing heart disease.

Apparently green tea can vastly improve the functioning of endothelial cells lining the cells of your circulatory system.

Dysfunction of these cells is a key event leading to heart disease.

Studies are at an early stage but the inital results look promising on the condition of the large arteries.

Personally, anything to do with keeping your heart healthy has my vote.

I think it must just be my time of life, but I am becoming very conscious of the wonders of my heart. Keeping it healthy is high priority for me at the moment.

Green Tea and Caffeine Content 

A question arose the other day when somebody asked me how much caffeine green tea contains as compared to black tea and coffee.

An interesting question and one with a good answer, green tea has about a fifth of the quantity of caffeine comparede to coffee with about half of the quantity found in black tea.

Weird advert for green tea! 

curated content from YouTube

Green Tea In Reflection 

Green tea is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East. Recently, it has become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally consumed. Many varieties of green tea have been created in countries where it is grown. These varieties can differ substantially due to variable growing conditions, processing and harvesting time.

Over the last few decades green tea has been subje...

Green tea guides on Amazon 

Great little information resources to review

The Green Tea Book

Amazon Price: $11.01 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Green Tea: 50 Hot Drinks, Cool Quenchers, and Sweet and Savory Treats

Amazon Price: $11.07 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Cooking with Green Tea: Delicious dishes enhanced by the miraculous healing powers of green tea

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Please Consider Donating To A Very Worthy Cause 

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Recognized for our commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to Save the Children from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

Cancel

Try Using The Green Tip of the Day 

Want a Link to Your Site? 

Sign My Guestbook

Thanks for coming to visit my green tea site. Feel free to sign a quick hello and send some traffic your way! (Thanks, Tommy)

submit

Complimentary Medicine And Green Tea News 

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Green Tea and Food and Drink Reviews 

Here's what Yelpers have to say about Food in 10016

S&S Cheesecake (Bronx)  
"I have to confess that I've unfortunately never actually been to the S&S factory (something I intend to rectify eventually). But I've been a big fan of..." more
Di Palo's Fine Foods (New York)  
"Great service and awesome foot at low prices... that's why New Yorkers like me have fallen in love with Di Palo's." more
Sorriso Italian Pork Store (Astoria)  
"As always, THANK YOU Yelp for helping me find the best of NYC. Lately, this place has been #1 on the best of yelp restaurant list... and after trying it..." more
Big Gay Ice Cream Truck (New York)  
"Not just great ice cream with fun and innovative toppings that constantly surprise and delight you, but one of the nicest guys in the whole world. If you..." more
Hemispheres (New York)  
"Free food? As in...FREE FOOD? Woohoo! I mean, splendid. The food sounds incredibly good, too. Basil-flavored ice cream with strawberries...definitely worth..." more
powered by Yelp

The SquiDirectory 

The Squidoo Directory is an independent list of quality lenses at Squidoo.

Certainly worth a look to hunt down that great lens!

Links To Other Useful Sites 

Golf and The Many Lessons It Teaches
Golf tricks and tips
Photography Basics
Articles and information on photography in general.

by tommy64

I'm converted to green tea now. 


It's helping me lose weight and the high level of antioxidents help keep me safe from free radicals after...

(more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!