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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

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Green tea: the answer to all of your problems?

I have a confession to make. I don’t like the one thing that will make me svelte, reduce my cancer risk, beautify my skin, steady my blood pressure, keep me youthful and preserve my memory. Wait, what was I just talking about? Oh, right—dang that short-term memory problem--I don’t like the taste of green tea. Ick. But I’m going to start spiking it with honey, soy milk, caramel syrup, tequila, whatever it takes to make the stuff more palatable since according to the sages at Beauty Eats the stuff really is all that and more. Here are some of their top reasons why we should drink green tea...


1. "CUT YOUR CANCER RISK
Several polyphenols - the potent antioxidants green tea's famous for - seem to help keep cancer cells from gaining a foothold in the body, by discouraging their growth and then squelching the creation of new blood vessels that tumors need to thrive. Study after study has found that people who regularly drink green tea reduce their risk of breast, stomach, esophagus, colon, and/or prostate cancer.

2. SOOTHE YOUR SKIN
Got a cut, scrape, or bite, and a little leftover green tea? Soak a cotton pad in it. The tea is a natural antiseptic that relieves itching and swelling. Try it on inflamed breakouts and blemishes, sunburns, even puffy eyelids.

3. PROTECT YOUR SKIN
In the lab, green tea applied directly to the skin (or consumed) helps block sun-triggered skin cancer, which is why you're seeing green tea in more and more sunscreens and moisturizers.

4. STEADY YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
Having healthy blood pressure - meaning below 120/80 - is one thing. Keeping it that way is quite another. But people who sip just half a cup a day are almost 50 percent less likely to wind up with hypertension than non-drinkers. Credit goes to the polyphenols again (especially one known as ECGC). They help keep blood vessels from contracting and raising blood pressure.
[-beautyeats]

Check out beautyeats' full list for more reasons why you should drink green tea.

Debunker’s verdict: Green tea really is a magical elixir—but if you have any tips for making it go down a little easier (a spoonful of sugar?), please share.
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From the Community…

Comments 171-180 of 184
  • Rene's Avatar
    Posted by Rene Thu May 8, 2008 5:39am PDT

    I did'nt care to much for the taste of green tea so I make it with Kool-aid. Some times I make Kool-aid for the kids and put in Some green tea and my grand kids say it taste fruitier. Love that green tea!!!

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  • sfs's Avatar
    Posted by sfs Thu May 8, 2008 5:52am PDT

    Try making iced tea out of it with Splenda sugar. It is the best thing. My kids love it!

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  • Shannon W's Avatar
    Posted by Shannon W Thu May 8, 2008 5:57am PDT

    I get the flavored green tea. Lipton's mixed berry is my fave.

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  • auntie's Avatar
    Posted by auntie Thu May 8, 2008 6:13am PDT

    Try using raw (turbinado) sugar to sweeten your green tea. Delicious! c morris

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  • maka's Avatar
    Posted by maka Thu May 8, 2008 6:29am PDT

    You might try green chai or green jasmine. Do not steep too long! 2 or 3 minutes are plenty.

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  • Susan's Avatar
    Posted by Susan Thu May 8, 2008 8:26am PDT

    Green tea is very good for you: we drink a lot of it in our house, but we drink a lot of regular tea anyway - because we like it all. Try the flavored types, natural of course, adding honey instead of sugar to sweeten, much better for you. Also, try it over ice on a warm day. Add a few slices of fruit (orange, apple, strawberries) to make like a punch. For soda fans, you could make the tea strong, and add soda water, with or without the fruit. To your good health!

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  • Susan's Avatar
    Posted by Susan Thu May 8, 2008 9:17am PDT

    Speaking of healthy drinks, has anyone actually tried the new Purple Beverage, made with 7 of nature's most powerful antioxidants (acai berry, pomegranate, blueberry, cranberry, and more). The manufacturers claim that it is already available in the northeast, but I haven't been able to find it in Maryland, as yet. Also, according to their studies, adding alcohol to the drink actually enhances the antioxidant properties. Cocktails, anyone? See for yourself at www.drinkpurple.com. I'm really anxious to give it a whirl, and would be interested in your feedback.

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  • Starr's Avatar
    Posted by Starr Thu May 8, 2008 3:08pm PDT

    I guess I'm lucky...I love green tea. In fact, I don't like it with anything in it and the stronger the better (I opt for the powdered green tea vs. tea bags!) There are companies that offer flavored green tea (stay away from bottled tea...esp. diet or sweetened. That defeats the purpose.) and that should give you a good dose without grossing you out. Adding milk, sugar or honey just adds calories.

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  • Nichole's Avatar
    Posted by Nichole Sun Dec 7, 2008 1:41pm PST

    I have a peppermint green tea called Candy Cane Lane...it is a holiday tea and delicious because it only tastes like peppermint which is also known for its medicinal properties so the benefits are two-fold!

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