12 Reasons to Drink Green Tea

Green tea has been prized for its taste and medicinal powers for nearly 5,000 years, with good reason. It really is good for you.

More than 3,000 studies have examined the benefits of green tea and have found that it lowers the risks of many ills, including:

1. Heart disease

2. Type 2 diabetes

3. Osteoporosis

4. Gum disease

5. Alzheimer's disease

6. Parkinson's disease

7. Age-related mental decline

8. Some cancers

9. Flu

10. Blood clots

11. High blood pressure

12. Obesity

One study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at how much green tea people drank in Japan and their health during an 11-year period. The total number of people tracked was sizable – about 40,000 – and there were some interesting findings.

Compared to men and women who drank less than one cup of green tea per day, those who drank five or more cups were less likely to die prematurely from any cause, including:

• Less likely to die from heart disease: men by 22 percent and women by 31 percent

• Less likely to die from a stroke: men by 35 percent and women by 42 percent

Granted, there were probably many differences between the diets of the Japanese people in the study and typical American fare, and no single beverage can eliminate the pitfalls of unhealthy processed food. But still, it’s a much better choice than soda.

How to Prepare Green Tea

There are plenty of bottled green teas with lots of sugar and other additives but if you’re looking for health benefits, it makes sense to brew your own.

Green tea brews at a slightly cooler temperature than black tea, so as soon as water starts to boil, take it off the heat and let it cool slightly. Pour it over green tea leaves or a tea bag and let it sit for 30 seconds to one minute. For iced tea, use half the usual amount of water and let it cool before pouring over ice cubes. Some varieties have specific brewing times so check directions.

Hot or cold, you can add lemon slices, ginger, mint, or spices and a touch of honey or agave syrup if you prefer more sweetness.

If you’re game for a bit of gourmet sipping, green tea leaves or tea bags with fruit, spices, and other natural flavorings are another option. Some interesting brands worth checking out include Ineeka (www.ineeka.com), which offers leaves in unique, easy-to-brew pouches, and Republic of Tea (www.republicoftea.com), whose selection includes green tea with various fruits such as pomegranate, blueberries, acai, goji, and pink grapefruit.

Regardless of the type you choose, consider taking a moment to sip, relax, and enjoy. It’s an age-old healthy experience.