I always thought green tea tasted like barf…in fact I was never all that crazy about tea in general. I remember being really, really, disappointed with tea as a child. The boxes were always labeled with really tasty sounding names: “Strawberry Fields” or “Lemon Zest.” I think I expected the tea to taste like Kool-Aid. Tea would always show up when I was sick so I developed an association, (other foods that remind me of illness are apple juice, honey, and Campbell’s chicken and noodle soup).
Since embarking on becoming a teacher of small children, I’ve faced new levels of illness. For weeks at a time I’ve experienced agonizing sore throats and runny noses. I won’t go into the level of disgustingness I’ve viewed with my students picking and digging away at blood crusted nostrils, let’s just say we’re all sick. The little ones are dropping like flies left and right. A new health notice goes out every time an illness circulates, last week was strep throat…this week: pinworm.
When I’m not sick, I’m furiously exercising, sleeping, or eating apples. All of these steps will help combat the barrage of germs I face daily. And I’ve found tea…yes, the green tea craze has finally reached me. Ever since a doc on Oprah bragged about how one could lose 10 pounds in 6 weeks by replacing coffee with green tea I’ve been intrigued. I tried green tea at an Asian restaurant and thought it tasted like dirt. I’ve had friends (specifically other teachers) tell me, “I’ve recently discovered tea” and secretly thought they were frou-frou. My father goes through periods were he forgoes coffee for tea to remedy a heart condition and I’ve pitied him. My love for coffee has only blossomed and become snooty: I prefer to make cappuccinos with Peet’s Espresso Forte only. Yes, I waste time every morning around 6:45am steaming soy milk into my coffee mug. I appreciate regular coffee, but I have an internal fear of my teeth becoming yellow and my addiction reaching to preposterous heights.
Recent health problems have led me away from coffee on a regular basis. Several months ago, when I was just starting to come down with something, another Resident Teacher slipped me a little green tea packet. I initially rejected it but realized the time had come to try something other than orange juice and vitamins. To my surprise, the green tea made me feel amazing and I was able to finish out my school day. Lately, I’ve been drinking green chai in the morning and decaf green tea in the afternoon. It still tastes a little like moss but I’m getting used to it. The health benefits are hard to ignore:
1) Green tea has high levels of polyphenols. Polyphenols prevent the oxidation of cholesterol, thereby reducing blood vessel damage. This makes green tea a potent weapon against stroke and other cardiovascular ailments.
2) Green tea stimulates the immune system and helps defend against dental plaque–and it gives you great breath!
3) Green tea protects against liver damage. New research shows that it may help decrease liver transplant failure in patients.
4) It has a thermogenic effect that aids in weight loss.
5) It helps hormone activity and decreases acne.
6) Green tea has been proven to prevent certain types of cancer including colon, pancreatic, and stomach cancer.
7) Green tea also acts as a mild diuretic, ridding the body of excess water.
8) Regular consumption of green tea can reduce overall cholesterol levels as well as levels of LDL (harmful) cholesterol.
9) A reduction of overall blood pressure and heart disease is one of the most important benefits of green tea consumption and studies have proven that, for those who consume several cups daily, the risk for stroke and heart disease may be reduced by one-half.
Supposedly, the above list has all been backed up with recent scientific research. I’m a bit of a health nut, and despite sounding frou-frou myself, I can’t resist: Green tea here I come!