It's time to go green...tea, that is

Everything is supposed to be green these days. Your car, your home, your overall lifestyle. Sorry to say that I really can’t offer any advice on where to find energy saving light bulbs or reasonably priced eco-friendly furniture, but I can tell you where to find one of the healthiest drinks you could ever put into your body. Just head to the aisle in the food store where you can find the coffee and hot chocolate…then skip those items and grab yourself a box of green tea.

It’s been around since the beginning of time (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating just a bit) but experts claim that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. And it’s no wonder since numerous studies have proven that each tiny teabag is loaded with health benefits, all thanks to a large group of protective plant-based chemicals known as polyphenols—otherwise known as antioxidants.

Now for the nutritional part of the blog I turn to Jonny Bowden Ph.D., C.N.S., a nationally known expert on weight loss and nutrition. I have been fortunate enough to have interviewed him a handful of times over the last few months for various articles. When I need to get technical, Jonny is always my go-to person, which is why I immediately pulled his book from my stash. “After water, tea is probably the most consumed beverage in the world,” he states in his book The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. “Not counting water, it’s also probably the healthiest.”

So here are just a few reasons why you should go for the green stuff the next time you’re looking for a warm pick-me-up:

It helps you lose weight: Green tea contains a plant compound called EGCG (epigallpcatechin gallate), and it’s this compound that speeds up the metabolism. “Some researchers have theorized that EGCG blocks the action of an enzyme that breaks down noradrenaline,” says Jonny. “And noradrenaline stimulates many metabolic functions, including the release of energy from fat.” And if your body isn’t affected by caffeine, go for the extra jolt. “Caffeine keeps the metabolism moving,” he adds. 

It fights cancer: In 2004, researchers from Harvard Medical School reported that the EGCG in green tea may help lower the risk of esophageal cancer, one of the fastest growing cancers in Western countries. Jonny also found a study from experts at University of Purdue who concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. “The studies showing the anticancer and antioxidant effects of catechins in green tea are numerous,” he says.

It wards off heart disease: Researchers from a medical school in Japan concluded that “the more green tea patients consume, the less likely they are to have coronary artery disease.”

It makes you happy, dammit!: Theanine is a substance found in green tea that can actually improve mood and increase a sense of relaxation. “Theanine also triggers the release of dopamine, one of the main brain chemicals associated with well-being,” adds Jonny. “The calming effect of theanine may be the reason why drinking tea—even with caffeine—doesn’t tend to produce nearly as ‘jittery’ an experience as drinking coffee.”

Kermit sang that it’s not easy being green, but in this case I think he would even have to disagree.