Perhaps not as “cool” as the latest cold brew fad, but Tea has been having it’s own surcharge, especially with the likes of Matcha.
But why should you care? Because aside from drinking water (don’t forget this), tea is a bit of a superpower — especially green teas. According to Today – “The green teas are the least processed and tend to have the highest amounts of polyphenols, and the only type that contain the polyphenol, catechin, which is why many studies have been done using only green teas. Certain herbal teas are known for their medicinal values, including soothing the digestive system.”
Sounds like a bunch of science, but basically it can only help you. The teas that aren’t going to be as much bang for your buck are the ones with added sugars, and are basically dessert, versus actual organic teas.
My go-to’s include:
- Green Tea
- Peppermint Tea
- Ginger Tea
- Early Grey
They’re simple yet always relaxing or motivating. The Ginger and Peppermint are great to unwind after a meal as they help settle my stomach.
So there’s a Matcha craze…but why is it better?
According to Health.com “Because matcha is made from high-quality tea, and the whole leaves are ingested, it’s a more potent source of nutrients than steeped green tea.” But remember, “…with matcha quality is key, and it comes at a cost.” Don’t just grab the cheapest matcha at your local grocer. Do your research, and pay the extra charge for the quality. The sugared, powdered milk versions are not real matcha. They’re a fun dessert though.
I am definitely in the Matcha camp, and I feel that it’s better to make it at home then running to your local starbucks for a green tea latte (i.e. Matcha dessert). You can get some easy mixing tools from Teavana or David’s tea to ensure your matcha blends and you can sip knowing your tea is giving you a true benefit.
And on days you want to breathe a little easier, according to Mind Body Green, “If you’re looking to have cortisol levels drop back down to normal faster after a stressful event, a 2006 study suggested daily consumption of tea for six weeks will do just that (as compared to placebo).”
For me, I drink tea about 5x a week, 1-2 times a day. Weekends I usually take a break and and only drink water or hot water and lemon. Ok an occasional glass of wine too, duh.
Just remember that with everything we do in our lives, it comes with ensuring the rest of your diet and life are in order too. Tea isn’t going to solve everything for you. According to Harvard Medical School – “Tea consumption, especially green tea, may not be the magic bullet, but it can be incorporated in an overall healthy diet with whole grains, fish, fruits and vegetables, and less red and processed meat,” says Qi Sun, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.”
Cheers to some yummy green tea.
#radiatedaily
image source – pixabay
