Get Up and Go Green

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As the kids return to school to start afresh with a new academic year, follow their lead and start afresh by kick-starting your own healthy living.

First on the list; ditch the coffee and reach for green tea. This earthy-tasting tea is still going strong in the Western world, where it has become a wellbeing fad over the last few decades. Originating from China, green tea has many different varieties, which vary in taste and consistency due to variable growing conditions, horticulture, production processing and harvesting time. The tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that has undergone minimal oxidation.

Beneficial qualities
Although the taste of the drink can take some getting used to, the list of long-term health benefits is incredibly lengthy providing a solid reason why we should gulp away on a daily basis.

Those who drink the tea regularly may have a lower risk of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer. Additionally, the natural vitamins and ingredients are linked with all kinds of illnesses; for example, the tea is thought to protect against forms of dementia, kidney disease, it thins the blood and prevents blood clots forming and assists in building bone.

There has also been links made to weight loss as an included extract containing polyphenols has been shown to stimulate fat oxidation which then boosts the metabolic rate. Another bonus is the amount of anti-oxidants jammed into the drink, assisting in both cleansing the body internally and externally. Wrinkles and signs of ageing will be minimised due to the anti-inflammatory qualities in the tea.

Furthermore, if you apply the drink to sun burn, the damage will be reduced.

Ditch that coffee
Experts suggest that we should all swap our morning cup of coffee with the tea. It also contains caffeine, but a lower quantity reducing the risk of heart disease and other caffeine-related ailments. Plus, a mug of green tea is faster to make and won’t stain your teeth!

Improve the taste
If you really can’t stomach the sharp taste of the tea, try out these simple tips;

  • Add lemon, honey, or both for a more satisfying taste.
  • Opt for loose leaf tea, which tends to have a noticeably superior quality.
  • Mix it with a splash of fruit juice for a sweeter taste without using sugar.
  • If you are making your green tea yourself, blend it with some mint leaves for a fresher aftertaste.
  • Begin by drinking it relatively weak and make it stronger week by week as you become accustomed to it.
  • Try it iced, or in ice cream form!