Green Tea Nutrition

When you are offered between black coffee and green tea, choose the green one.

A recent study confirms that green tea, which is very popular among Asian nations, can protect the heart arteries by making them relaxed, which is helpful to allow the heart to withstand the ups and downs created by blood pressure.

In a research leaded by Dr. Nikolaos Alexopoulos, it was revealed that among 14 subjects, the people who were asked to drink green tea showed higher dilation of their heart arteries. This data was gathered through an ultrasound, which was conducted 30 minutes after drinking the tea.

This finding is no longer shocking because the Chinese culture already holds great esteem to the many health benefits of green tea. However, for this finding, the researcher speculated that the tea works within the lining of blood vessels. This will relax the vessels and permit the blood to freely flow.

The flavonoids in the tea allow the vessels to remain pliable. This same flavonoids work to furnish the body with antioxidants and stop inflammation. The same substance can stop blood clot, which often leads to heart attack.

How much Tea to Take?

All it takes to enjoy all the benefits of green tea is to take about 3 to 4 cups per day.

However, some experts caution that this study is not enough to praise green tea for the effect it can possibly bring the heart. These experts further say that while green tea has its great effect to the heart, but this does not mean that everybody should start drinking the tea. Above anything else, proper diagnosis and medication is needed to prevent stroke and heart attacks.

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Japan holds green tea so preciously that serving it became a ceremony that will take years to master. They hold this practice for too long already, that the Japanese tea ceremony is known to date back about hundred years already.

Through the passing of times, the tea ceremony includes 4 ceremonies that are highly upheld up to these days. These are harmony, purity, respect, and tranquility.

Knowing the Elements of the Japanese Tea Ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony is a ritualized serving of powdered green tea, also known as matcha. Among the most common ceremonies are the Urasenke and the Omotensenke. Among the two, the Urasenke is commonly performed, especially outside Japan.

The attire of the guests and the hosts are formal, since the ceremony is formal too. The host must wear an authentic kimono and the guest should wear the same or at least any formal wear. Guests who will participate in the Japanese tea ceremony must know the customs and the rituals followed in the said event.

There are many locations where a tea ceremony could transpire. The ceremony could happen both inside and outside the house. In an outside ceremony, guests are provided with seats. For important guests, the ceremony is usually held inside.

The Ceremony

Upon guests take their seats, the host will create a charcoal fire which will heat the water used for making the tea. In some occasions, a meal can be served. However, if there is no meal, a host can choose to give light sweets instead. Once the tea is ready, the guest can come forward to take the bowl. In some cases, the bowl will be brought to a prestigious guest first. Conversation is kept minimal since the Japanese Tea Ceremony should enjoy the stillness of the occasion. One must also make it a point to enjoy the smell and the feel of the incense that is normally burnt during the occasion.

The host together with the guest will bow as the other guests rotate the bowl and take a sip. One must bow and raise the bowl as a sign of great respect. The guests will take more sips, wipes the rim, and rotate the bowl to its original position. Then, it will be handed down to the next guest.

This procedure is repeated until the host gets back the bowl. Most commonly, a thick tea is served first before a thin tea. The thin tea is served in a usual manner although the atmosphere is more casual.

The host will clean the utensils used in making the tea. The guest of honor will pass the utensils to each guest. Everyone must be very careful since most ceremony items are antiques. After which, the items are put in their original place. The guests can now leave the house while the host bows at the door. Indeed, this is how beautiful and formal a Japanese tea ceremony is.

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An iced tea is not your ordinary drink! Interestingly, the first iced tea started by accident during a hot day at the celebration of World’s Fair. In the year 1904, a man named Richard Blechynden added ice to his hot tea to make it more enjoyable. After which, a new craze was born. Obviously, some households are already serving iced tea prior to this event. However, it was only after thousands of people tasted the ice tea during the World’s Fair that it became an instant favorite.

As of this day, there are hundreds of ways to prepare an iced tea, although the simplest method is to mix commercially packed tea drinks to cold water. However, some people never settle for less, that is why they make it a point to work on their own concoction of iced tea.

Preparing iced tea is highly similar to making hot tea. The only difference is that iced cubes are added to the tea to turn it cold. An iced tea drink is always served with ice and a lemon as garnishing.

There is good news for people with sweet tooth because iced tea can be served sweet. Like the usual preparation, the tea is boiled then sugar is added later on. Once the tea turns cool, ice can be added together with some selections of garnishing like mint, lemon, or raspberries. It is easy to find recipes for sweet tea. There are even restaurants that bring customers back because of their delightful iced tea recipe.

Green tea is normally enjoyed hot, although it can also be served cool. This pushed people to ask— what is better, the hot or cold tea? Experts believe that the antioxidant capacity of green tea tends to be lower than the hot green tea.

More Facts about the Leaves

The leaves that are made into green tea came from Camellia sinensis, which is a plant that is highly available in Asian region. Experts found out through studies that the compound in this tea could support the body in so many ways. The antioxidants for example can neutralize free radicals. It can lessen problems of heart disease and various kinds of cancer.

Green tea can stop the growth of cancerous cells. This is why the Asian especially the Japanese tend to have less likelihood of developing cancer. By taking freshly brewed tea, this can lessen the aging process, regulate cholesterol level, and lessen tooth decay. The tea can even stop liver damage. There are so much wonders in green tea, that the tea is enough to promote the overall health of a person.

The big question now is, should you drink cold or hot tea? Although we can find a vast number of green tea products, studies still show that the green tea that is freshly brewed would give the highest level of antioxidant. Studies further say that about 7-hours lapse after post-brew, the antioxidant content of the tea tends to drop by as much as 20 percent.

The antioxidants found in green tea are very much reactive that it tend to quickly oxidize once exposed to oxygen. So the thing is, you can still drink cold green tea just as long as you do not wait for too very long before drinking it. Adding a slice of lemon does not just give you with a refreshingly good drink but it also manages to help slow down the process of oxidation.

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