Five Reasons to Drink Green Tea
We all make choices on a daily basis, and it's these choices that define us. Some of us like dogs, and others like cats. Some of us are fitness fanatics, burning calories with a vengeance, and some prefer a more horizontal lifestyle, one where cake and chips feature heavily.
There's one lifestyle choice, though, that seems to define us more succinctly than either our fondness for certain domestic creatures or our exercise habits ever could. It's a choice that is less obvious on the surface, but that is, at its core, utterly divisive. And that is our choice of hot-water-based beverages. Are you a tea or a coffee drinker?
In this post, we will make no attempt to change your mind about your own beverage of choice. Instead, we'll offer a few reasons why green tea just makes sense sometimes. If you're a dedicated coffee drinker who can't be convinced, stay tuned for our upcoming feature on the benefits of sipping java.
1. When in Rome
We live in China, where drinking tea is something of a national pastime. The tea here is widely available, and it's some of the best in the world. So tip up your cup and get a little Chinese culture in your belly.
2. Caffeine Without the Drama
Green tea packs a healthy dose of caffeine, albeit a slightly smaller one than coffee does. But, unlike coffee, it’s gentle on the stomach, won’t stain your teeth, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
3. It's All in Your Head
Studies have shown that green tea can help stimulate the parts of the brain engaged in memory, and that it can help stave off diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Drink several cups a day to help keep your brain sharp in old age.
4. Be Cell-fish
Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins, which fight cell damage. Some studies have even linked a high rate of consumption of catechins with low rates of cancer.
5. Listen to Your Heart
These very same catechins that fight cell damage also lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and can help keep your heart and circulatory system strong. Catechins are present in much higher levels in green tea than black tea because they are easily destroyed during processing.