Green Tea

Green tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis, the same as black tea. The difference between black and green tea has to do with the harvesting and production process. Green tea is made from the fresher, unwilted tea leaves. Black tea leaves, on the other hand, are allowed to oxidize and wilt, which results in a darker color and different flavor. Tea is composed of several types of polyphenols called catechins. One type of catechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is abundant in green tea and has been studied for it’s anti-cancer and general health benefits. Green tea has significantly higher amounts of EGGC than black tea. EGGC is a powerful anti-oxidant which can help prevent DNA damage, reducing tumor formation, and may also protect cancer that has already formed from spreading into surrounding tissues. EGCG has also been shown to stimulate the immune system.

The exact amount of green tea needed to enhance health and protect the body from cancer has not been determined. Most experts recommend between 2-6 cups of green tea daily. It is important to remember that green tea is caffeinated and is therefore not right for everybody. Individuals respond to caffeine differently. Please be mindful to reduce your tea intake later in the day if you find that the caffeine interferes with your sleep. Decaffeinated green tea can be found at most health food stores if you prefer that. One way to naturally decaffeinate green tea is in the brewing process. Caffeine is rapidly extracted from the dried green tea leaves into the tea water. This means that a first steeping of green tea for several minutes will extract the caffeine. You can then discard that tea and re-steep the same leaves. The catechins, including EGCG, will now be extracted without caffeine. You can re-steep the same dried green tea throughout the day to continually extract the medicinal catechins.

Keep in mind that the temperature of the water for brewing green tea should be between 140 – 180 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scorching or destroying beneficial properties.