The Goodness of Green Tea

-
One of my favorite things about waking up each morning is that inexplicable feeling that something miraculous and wonderful is waiting to happen. Every day is a new adventure; in the words of Titanic's Jack Dawson, "I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand your gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count." But no matter the day or the new opportunities that come with it, I can always be counted upon to do one thing: have a mug of steaming green tea. Tea time is almost meditative for me. I can forget everything else, even if it is just for ten minutes, and enjoy the deep, earthy flavor of the drink. I call it a deep, earthy flavor, but my mom... well, she would say it tastes like dirt. Everyone has different tastes, I suppose. But I, if you haven't quite gotten the hint, think it is delicious.

Apart from being relaxing and yummy, green tea has many fantastic health benefits! This works in my favor, and is a splendid excuse to have multiple hot beverages a day. So please, brew a cuppa, sit back, and join me in learning about the Goodness of Green Tea:
  • According to "10 Proven Benefits of Green Tea," "Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet. It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body." Whoa! The healthiest drink on the planet? Even healthier than water? My sister will be pleased to read this (I don't think she actually reads my blog, but you know). When she was little, Abby found the taste of water - or rather, the absence of taste - disgusting, so she always added artificial flavorings. It looks like she could've just had tea instead.
  • Green tea can reduce inflammation and cancer, and boost your brain! The author of "10 Proven Benefits of Green Tea" Kris Gunnars states that "Tea is rich in Polyphemus that have effects like reducing inflammation and helping to fight cancer." Inflammation is bad. Cancer is bad. Green tea can help to work against inflammation and cancer! Isn't this an additional superb reason to turn on your Keurig? He adds that "Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but enough to produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can work synergistically with caffeine to improve brain function." I know what I'll be sipping during intense study sessions next school year. 
  • A Healthy Heart. WebMD's article "Health Benefits of Green Tea" tells us that "Green tea has been shown to improve blood flow and lower cholesterol. A 2013 review of many studies found green tea helped prevent a range of heart-related issues, from high blood pressure to congestive heart failure." Wait. A. Moment. Not only is green tea excellent for your brain, but it is also great for your heart? Looks like my body will be as happy as my taste buds when I have my next mug. 
  • Have you seen the new trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald? If so, you know that we meet the famous alchemist Nicholas Flamel, who created the Philosopher's Stone. The Philosopher's Stone can turn metal into gold, and make the drinker immortal. Now, green tea is not going to make you live forever. But the article "Top 7 Benefits of Green Tea: The No. 1 Anti-Aging Beverage," explains that "According to dozens of studies, regularly drinking green tea may reduce your risk of developing heart disease or Alzheimer’s, help you maintain better bone mineral density, ward off eye diseases that affect vision in older age, prevent strokes, and even extend your life." These benefits are almost as good as the new trailer! 
  • Finally, the latter article elaborates that green tea may prevent diabetes or insulin resistance: "Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea is believed to be beneficial for those who are at-risk or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Green tea’s catechins, especially EGCG, appear to have anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects." 
Even if you are intrigued by its health values, some of you, like my dear mother, just won't like how green tea tastes. And I'm here to tell you that this is completely okay. After all, despite the new research on coffee, I still can't tolerate it. It's too bitter! If you are willing to give the beverage another shot, you are just a Google search away from finding ways to enjoy green tea and its benefits. Maybe you can find a recipe that you like! Whip up a matcha latte with monk fruit, or a Starbucks Copycat Ketogenic Matcha Frappuccino. You can even make a green tea marinade for fish. 

And on that note, reader, I'm off. It's time for a cup of tea.

Have a lovely day!
- Maya

Photo by Maya Epstein, Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash,
Photo by Alisher Sharip on Unsplash, Photo by Maya Epstein

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

You don't hate the summers/ You're just afraid of the space: May Favorites

-
Image
I sort of feel like I'm wading through a giant vat of chocolate pudding. Hot, sticky, sweaty chocolate pudding. That's how summer always feels to me, but hey, I will endure scorching sunshine and wasps flying into my bedroom if it means fall will come. There's a lyric in one of my favorite songs from this month (Maine by Noah Kahan) that goes something like this: you don't hate the summers/ you're just afraid of the space. Chocolate pudding aside, this lyric really struck a chord. I think what I dread so miserably about the next three months is all of the hazy monotony that comes with leisure. Drifting has never been something I'm particularly good at, so I'll have to create projects for myself, but that seems like a lot of work. And so my cycle of purposelessness continues; misery, realizing that misery can be easily remedied, and deciding that the easy remedy requires too much effort. Maybe I just don't like who I become during these months. Maybe i
Read more

My Life's Purpose Is A Bamboo Plant

-
Image
...and it ain't even a real bamboo plant. Hey, everyone. I'm Maya - welcome back to The Avocado and Me.  Before we begin today's post, I want to take you all on a little road trip back to July 2nd, 2018. On this day in history, I drank a lot of iced chai tea while writing a blog post titled, "1,000 Page Views!" Let me tell you - I was so freaking excited to write that post. One-thousand views was a really big deal for this little speck of a teenage girl. I felt so accomplished, and so proud of how far The Avocado and Me  had come. Now, a little less than a year from July 2, 2018, there have been approximately 7,068 page views on this here blog. Everyone, we septupled the number of page views on The Avocado and Me  in less than a year. That is insane. I am so incredibly grateful for you, for the time you dedicate to reading my words, and for this journey we've gone on together. You mean the world to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And now, my loves,
Read more