HERBAL ADVISOR

green tea

Straight from a cup or added to a favorite dish, drink in the healing properties of this global beverage every day.

The world’s second-most consumed beverage after water, green tea has vast health-giving potential, thanks to a substance in it called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Studies show that EGCG lessens the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. It reduces the digestive tract’s absorption of cholesterol, lowering Did You LDL (bad) cholesterol, and Know? interferes with cancer-cell A longer, hotter steep releases more growth rates, decreasing antioxidants from the the risk of adult leukemia tea leaves. and the spread of breast cancer cells. EGCG also impedes bone-eroding molecules that cause the joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis.

Choose It & Use It

Aim to drink 5 cups of green tea, steeped for 5 minutes, daily. Longer, hotter steeps add bitterness, but up the antioxidants. Grind green tea into spice rubs, infuse it into drinks, or use it as a cooking liquid or marinade. If you’re not a fan of its grassy flavor, try a blend with a stronger flavor, such as pomegranate, or sneak the brew into smoothies, sauces, and grains.

Green Tea with Pomegranate Juice

Serves 6 This health-giving beverage is packed with antioxidants from both green tea and pomegranate juice.

7 green tea bags 3 cups pomegranate juice ½ cup orange juice 2 Tbs. honey 1 medium orange, thinly sliced, optional 1. Bring 6 cups water to a boil in large pot. Remove from heat, add tea bags, cover, and steep 5 minutes. 2. Remove tea bags, and stir in pomegranate juice, orange juice, and honey. Transfer to teapot and serve immediately, pouring into cups with floating orange slices, if using..

Per serving: 102 cal; 1g prot; 0g total fat (0g sat fat); 25g carbs; 0mg chol; 15mg sod; 0g fiber; 24g sugars