Fall is here, so snuggle up during brisk nights with a warm and soothing cup of tea. Actually, enjoying a cup of tea at any time of day can be beneficial for your health! People have been drinking tea for centuries and now science is beginning to support the tradition.
All tea is healthy, but Green tea tops the charts. Green tea has the highest level of polyphenols, or flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are important because they help inhibit free radicals (from our stress, our diet or environment) from causing damage to our cells. The antioxidants from tea have 20 to 30 times more cell-protecting power than vitamins C and E.
Here are some of the benefits of tea:
□ Improve immune function
□ Improve cholesterol levels
□ Lowers blood pressure
□ Thins the blood, reducing the risk of heart attack
□ Lowers the risk of stroke
□ Lowers the risk of cancer
□ Aids in digestion
□ Prevents dental cavities and gingivitis
Remember, just like coffee, the health benefits are in the tea itself. Adding cream and sugar can quickly turn a healthy beverage into something with excess calories, sugar and fat. Try to drink tea without adding any "extras" to it. Be careful when steeping tea, if steeped for too long a bitter taste can result.
1/2 each ~ Banana
