I distinctly remember the moment I decided to add green tea to our daily routine. I had just read a study that involved small remote villages where there had never been a native diagnosed with cancer (fascinating—right?).
As the researchers studied these regions, “diet” (of course) was one of the key factors attributed to the health and vitality of the native people. Very specifically, intake of green tea, mushrooms, and plants.
Research recognizes the correlation between green tea consumption and the longevity of the people in Okinawa (Japan)
Know the Facts to get Benefits
My continued research taught me that reaping the benefits from green tea isn’t as simple as tossing a tea bag in some hot water. There are many important things to consider:
The type of green tea
Origin of the tea (where it's grown)
How long its brewed
Brewing temperature
Etc.
Don’t worry—I’m gonna give you the whole (yet simple) lowdown so you can be a "Green Tea Master"!
Benefits
Helps you to unwind, meditate, & de-stress
Contains powerful antioxidants called catechins (EGCG, EGC, ECG, and EC), found in superfoods like berries, cocoa, and red wine
May be more powerful at fighting free radicals than Vitamin C
As much as 17x more antioxidants than blueberries.
Anti-inflammatory
Lowers cholesterol
Prevents osteoporosis
Boosts immune function
Anti-aging
Helps maintain healthy weight/weight loss
Prevents cognitive decline
Lengthens telomeres (on the ends of chromosomes) which lengthens the life span
Prevents diabetes
Lowers risk of heart disease
Prevents rheumatoid arthritis
Prevents Alzheimer’s disease
Anti-cancer
Types of Green Tea
Sencha
Hojicha
Tencha
Gyokuro
Kabusecha
Genmaicha
Matcha
Our Favorite Green Teas:
Matcha
Concentrated Japanese "powdered tea"
Rather than steeping and discarding the tea leaves, you consume the actual powdered leaves (and all those nutrients)!
Can also sprinkle in smoothies, yogurt, baked goods, etc.
Strong “earthy” flavor.
Contains chlorophyll which detoxifies the body
Prepare matcha by adding hot (almost boiling) water to the powder & whisking until frothy
Sencha
Can have a mild or bold flavor & is often flavor-infused
Can get bitter if brewed at too high of a temperature or for too long
We like to brew it with fruit (mango/lemons) and/or reishi mushroom tea (delicious & so good for the body!)
Rules for Maximum Benefit
Buy reputable organic brands. Teas can be highly contaminated (pesticides, lead, etc.), so it's important to buy only certified organic products.
Chinese teas are more likely to contain dangerous pesticides and lead, so always buy Japanese teas to reduce these risks.
White tea has similar antioxidant potential and ECGC levels as green tea.
Use loose tea leaves, rather than tea bags when possible.
If using tea bags make sure the bag is non-toxic and the leaves are high quality.
Use a non-toxic teapot (stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic, cast iron) to prevent leaching into the tea.
Use 4 teaspoons of loose tea for every 4 cups of water.
Brew it traditionally (kettle) or use an automatic pot, which will brew the tea at the optimal temperature and for the perfect amount of time to get the most antioxidant benefit.
To release catechins it's critical to use hot water (but not boiling) and steep for 5-10 mins. We steep for 10 mins at 175 degrees F, using an automatic pot (so easy).
Properly brewed green tea contains about 180 mg of EGCG per cup
decaffeinated contains about 60 mg
bottled tea has about 10 mg
Drink tea while it's still warm or you lose some of the benefits.
Adding milk may reduce catechins, while lemon may boost benefits.
Store in a cool/dry cupboard; tightly sealed (airtight) in an opaque container to protect it from light, heat, & moisture.
Brewed Tea vs Green Tea Extract
There are mixed opinions on whether green tea extract is as good as drinking brewed green tea.
So what’s a girl to do?? Well, when there is not a clear path, I simply try to apply a little logic and follow my gut.
Generally speaking, I’m a “whole food” kind of girl. I tend to believe that food in its most natural form (meaning, God’s food—as it grows in nature) is best. That said, we (my family & I) also take many targeted supplements to fill nutritional gaps and specifically for their anti-tumor effects.
So, when it comes to green tea we choose to drink a morning cup as part of our daily routine. But because we just can’t drink enough each day to get the full anti-cancer benefits, we also take organic green tea extract twice daily. This supplementation also allows us to take advantage of synergy.
Synergistic Anti-Cancer
Very specifically, we take green tea extract, grapeseed extract, and curcumin together for their synergistic anti-cancer effect. For more information about our anti-cancer supplement routine click here.
Green Tea Side Effects
Green tea does have caffeine but is still less than a cup of coffee.
Matcha shouldn’t be consumed on an empty stomach, as it can cause stomach upset/nausea.
Green tea can cause a decrease in the absorption of iron from food.
Can interact with some prescription drugs
Brands/Where to Buy