Monday, July 20, 2009

White vs Green Tea

Not all teas are the same. Some are oxidized (bleached) which removes all of the leaf’s valuable nutrients, while others are not which gives them a nutritional benefit over everyone else. And then there are some who are similar to one another, but with a few exceptions. Let’s do a comparison of white vs. green tea as an example.

Both can be found in its true form, so their leaf’s valuable nutrients remain untouched. However, because the leaves of whites are harvested when they are still young, they’re actually much higher in antioxidants than greens.

Also, Whites are lower in caffeine than greens. Yet, greens are higher in vitamin C and contain polyphenols, which are very beneficial. Of course these are only a few of the differences. Really when it comes down to white vs green tea, both are exceptional in their own way. It’s just a matter of choice for the consumer.

Drinking Green Tea

I don’t know about you, but I love drinking green tea. As a matter of fact, I’ve even managed to get my son hooked on the stuff. It’s amazing what a parent can do without even really trying and what’s even more amazing is all of the nutritional benefits that come from this drink.

If you find that it’s extremely hard to get your child to drink beneficial teas like this one, why not try adding some flavor them. And by flavor let’s not even let the words sugar or sweetener pass our lips. You know darn well those are artificial and bad for your kids, so why encourage them to drink sweetened teas. Instead, try adding fresh fruit such as lemons to it. Or for an added twist why not try limes, oranges or even strawberries. Any fruit is pretty much game as long as the kids love it.

So the next time you consider drinking green tea, offer your child a glass. You just might find they’ll like it as much as you do.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Green Tea Vitamins Liquid vs Pills

Sometimes it isn’t easy to drink a lot of liquids when you have a small bladder or kidney problems. Still, we need good nutrition like antioxidants to help our bodies stay healthy and strong, so options like green tea vitamins are a wonderful alternative to keeping our health in tip top shape.

Of course there are many choices available on today’s market, so it can be a little confusing to know which vitamin is a good choice for you and your family. I have found that a
liquid vitamin that is 100% natural is a great choice.

The reason is because capsule and pill forms have a binding agent, which is actually a man-made chemical. Plus solid forms are hard to swallow no matter how old you are.

And as far as natural, well isn’t it obvious? Do you really want to put anything that isn’t from Mother Nature into your body? So when it comes to green tea vitamins, I’d much rather go with a liquid one that’s all natural, wouldn’t you?

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Green Tea Vitamins

Green tea, which originated from China, is known for its health benefits and more specifically its rich antioxidants. The leaves are made from Camellia sinensis and are not stripped from its nutrients unlike other teas.

One of the most powerful antioxidants that the leaf contains are Catechins. Catechins are polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolites. In simplier terms, they are the compounds found in teas and some cocoas. Catechins may reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Some people believe they may even help slow down the age processing when combined with a nutritional diet and exercise.

One of the most obvious and common ways the leaves are used is by steeping them in hot water and then drinking the liquid. Many people suggest drinking at least 5 ounces or more of the drink per a day in order to benefit from the antioxidants it contains. It is suggested that high a quality tea leaf should be used and that the leaves shouldn’t be oversteeped.

Drinking isn’t the only way to benefit from the leaf’s nutritents, however. The Chinese have been known to use the leaves to make desserts like ice cream and jello. Some even use it in soups and rice dishes.

If consuming the leaf doesn’t sound very appetizing to you, some have found that a good liquid nutritional supplement containing the leaf is much easier to swallow. If you do choose a liquid supplement, look for one that is 100% natural. Anything else and you may end up putting manmade chemicals into your body.

And of course the same rule should apply when you’re looking for the leaf itself. While green tea nutrtion is 100% natural, not every product on the market is the same. If you choose cheap, you may not reap as much of the antioxidants the leaf contains in a better product. Generally the better the leaf is, the more nutrients it contains.
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