Summertime heat and cool beverages, have you tried iced green tea? For some it is the health benefits of green tea, for others it stirs memories of cold nights by the fireplace or perhaps its gallons of sun tea brewing on the back porch. Of all the teas available, it appears green tea is number one in growing popularity.
Research around the globe continues to provide hard evidence supporting the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. Studies such as Journal of the National Cancer Institute and Perdue University conclude green tea is helpful in health conditions or diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, infection, impaired immune function, and dieting.
Midlife Green Tea Binge
The onset of this green tea diet phenomenon really sparked my interest. After all, reports claim the Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times. Upon reading the research, and the hype, on how green tea is healthy, a six-month tea binge ensued. In addition, approaching midlife proved coffee to be off limits after five pm, unless of course insomnia was the goal!
Not eliminating my beloved coffee, a cup of green tea replaced coffee at five and beyond. During the day, iced green tea with lemon or orange slices replaced a few cups of java. The iced green tea was not only delicious but also extremely refreshing. It seemed lighter and cooler than the typical sun tea I was so used to consuming. My assumption was by drinking green tea a higher antioxidant intake and less caffeine would improve my sleep patterns and overall health.
Green Tea Results
Green tea really did curb my appetite just as the reports claimed. After just a few days, the cravings for snacks and sweets almost completely subsided. I point this out knowing many women struggle with eating between meals. Drinking green tea is better than taking those so called diet pills that work and is a great weight loss supplement helping to curb the snack fix.
Yes, I was definitely feeling more energetic throughout the day and healthier too. A resilient kind of healthy and less stressed for sure. Life’s circumstances remained stressful but I was changing. This was not“buzzed on caffeine” energy by any means. The iced green tea was definitely refreshing and flavorful. When consumed hot, it was quite a relaxing experience. Perhaps I found the replacement for the after five cup of coffee.
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six – eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee. source: about.com Chinese Food
Not a chance, my insomnia was worse! In fact, drinking the green tea increased the insomnia two fold. A portion of that insomnia may have been attributed to midlife hormones I’ll give you that. However, one would think with less caffeine intake, sleep patterns would improve. This was very disappointing. Not prepared to give up the wellness and energy benefits along with the refreshing flavor green tea provided, a limited intake resulted especially during the summer.
As for the after five cup, I gave it up and never looked back. My sleep, while not perfect, has improved greatly.
Have you ever tried a green tea regiment?
Thank you for a great article. You hit upon something very few people do about green tea — it’s ability to suppress the appetite and prevent binge eating. Very well done! You also related the mental clarity green tea gives throughout the day very well. I’m so impressed, you can’t believe it. Most miss those two points ENTIRELY!
I am a little confused by your lack of sleep however. Green tea has considerably less caffeine than coffee. In fact, at my site we chose only the green teas Americans like best, and the average amount of caffeine is only 25 mg, which makes 6 cups of green tea during the course of a day about the same as one cup of coffee. If this continues, may I suggest that you switch to white tea? White tea has only 15 mg of caffeine, and the antioxidants in white tea are also reported to be especially good for the skin. The oolongs and gunpowder varieties do tend to have higher levels of caffeine. White tea is taken from younger plants and steamed to stop enzyme activity immediately upon harvest, thus the higher antioxidant power.
I’m assuming of course that you’re using a high quality loose leaf tea and not a bagged or prepackaged green tea. Those are a lesser grade that include a lot of stuff not intended for people. Anything that just says “green tea” is suspect, because there are between 200 – 300 varieties of green tea, so which one are you getting? God only knows when you buy those other types, and the premixed brands are a disaster. Green tea is usually the fifth or sixth ingredient after sugar and a whole lot of other nasty stuff.
Also loved that you included the lemon and orange slices. There’s evidence that citrus juices combined with green tea increases the absorption levels of the antioxidants. I like to include mint too.
We’re publishing the Official Green Tea Diet at green-tea-depot.com next week. Please stop by to read it. It’s free to anyone who wants to lose weight and improve their health. Thanks again for one of the best articles I’ve read about green tea. Great site too!
Green tea is making the news everyday about the wonderful health benefits it contains. It is important that if you are really concerned about your health, drinking loose leaf tea will give you the maximum health benefits.Tea bought in a store in tea bags is a low grade product.
BTW, if you add milk to your tea you loose the health benefit.
You must also consider what you put into your tea. Drinking green tea will not make you infertile.
Hi Kathy, I drink green tea all of the time I love it. Unfortunately I’ve never lost any weight from it. But I still always enjoy it. It is my go to ice tea drink. Big Hugs!
Did you read the first comment?? I was using bagged green tea. Wonder if that has more caffeine thus my continued insomnia and curbed appetite?
Very interesting! I have a couple of yummy green teas in the house, but I haven’t made iced tea in ages. Think I’m gonna brew some up right now!
Hi, I drink tea all of the time, I love Sun Tea the best. I grow mint just to keep my tea flavored (I don’t use any other sweetener). I Stumbled and Liked you on Facebook too!
I’m not a big green tea fan. But, if I thought it was going to keep me from eating too much ‘bad’ foods, I’d give it a try.
stumbled for you. My post is at http://www.daybydayinourworld.com/2011/07/movie-marathon-option-2-star-wars.html
I’m a big fan of green tea! Thanks for the great post, stumbled!
Stumbling you from the Stumble Through Thursday Hop. My post is //practicalfrugality.blogspot.com/2011/07/review-global-game.html
Interesting article! Thanks for sharing!
Stumbled you…my post is: keenlykristin.com/2011/07/nutrisystem-week-12-going-strong-and-in-love/
Thanks for linking up!
Kristin 🙂
I tried to like green tea, I really did. I just can’t see to get into it. I know it has huge health benefits and I really should work on a way to get it into my diet.
I stumbled you and my post is http://www.mamamommymom.com/2011/07/greek-inspired-pasta-salad.html if you want to stumble back!
I believe green tea is very good for your health.I drink green tea in the morning with my breakfast and a cup or 2 in the afternoon. Never at night, because, like you, I would get insomnia.