If there’s one thing that can comfort and energise many people across the world at the end of a day, it is a warm cup of tea. And if it is green tea that you choose for your daily cuppa, the health benefits are many to follow. While the beverage has its origins in China and was largely an Asian concept, green tea has now become quite a global phenomenon in the past few years, owing to countless health benefits that the world woke up to. It is derived from Camellia sinensis leaves and does not go under any oxidation process; thus, it is packed with greater number of antioxidants, making it a much healthier drink to sip on. No wonder shelves in the market are filled with many flavours of green tea- Chamomile, Tulsi, Honey, Peppermint, Jasmine and so much more.
Health Benefits of Green Tea
With many nutrients packed in, there are several health benefits one can reap from green tea. From promoting healthy heart to aiding weight loss, choose your reason to load up on it.
1. Boost Immunity
Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids that not only boost immunity but also protect us against seasonal infections that causes cough and flu.
2. Weight Loss
As per experts, green tea is low on calories which facilitates weight loss. Besides that, the presence of certain polyphenols aids in faster metabolism that can further aid in speeding up the process of burning calories.
3. Healthy Heart
A regular consumption of green tea includes a reduced risk for heart disease, as per many studies. The antioxidants in green, black, and oolong teas can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve artery function. As per a Chinese study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, regular consumers of oolong or green tea showed a 46%-65% reduction in hypertension risk as compared to non-consumers of tea.
How To Make A Perfect Cup Of Green Tea
Brewing a perfect cup of green tea is not a big task but requires a little patience and precision. Here is a 4-step method to go about it.
1. Boil a cup of water
2. Take a strainer, measure and put one teaspoon of green tea leaves in it.
3. Now pour hot water into the cup through the strainer. Pour till the bottom strainer is immersed completely. If you are using a tea bag, then dip the tea bag directly into the cup of water for about 2 minutes. Sip to check how strong you would like it to be and you are done!
4. Steep again for 30 seconds if you feel the tea needs to be stronger.