Did you know that green tea is believed to be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet?
A shot of green tea is an easy way to get a dose of all those nutrients quickly, and can be enjoyed either hot or cold. It also works well when combined as part of an iced or hot latte.
Originating in China but popularized in Japan, another form of green tea that has grown in popularity lately is matcha. Matcha tea is a more concentrated form of green tea, available in a powder, making it a great option for your green tea shot. If matcha doesn’t suit your preference, don’t worry! Green tea is available in a variety of different blends. If you’ve tried green tea and were turned off, chances are that it was steeped incorrectly (using boiling water is too hot for green tea and will lead to bitterness!) or another variety may be more palatable for you.
Ready to jump into green tea? Here are the benefits you can expect to reap from a green tea shot:
ANTIOXIDANT BLAST
Because green tea hasn’t been oxidized, it contains the most antioxidants out of any type of tea!
These polyphenols are powerful for your system, helping to fight free radicals and prevent cancer. They can also help to prevent chronic illness and heart disease, helping to provide your body with extra protection against environmental and internal stressors.
ALL THE L-THEANINE
L-theanine is one of the components of tea that makes it so awesome, and green tea naturally contains L-theanine. This compound balances serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, which is helpful for managing stress, mood, and sleep.
In fact, relaxing effects of L-theanine in combination with the energizing effects of caffeine actually help to increase mental clarity and alertness, so you’re able to focus without feeling wired like you might with an energizing drink like coffee.
ENERGY UPLIFT
While green tea contains caffeine, it contains about half as much caffeine as black tea, depending on the blend. This means that a green tea shot can help to provide you with a natural energy boost and promoting concentration without potentially leaving you feeling jittery.
It also contains Vitamin C, which can help protect energy levels. You can even do a matcha and espresso fusion if you’d like an even better boost!
METABOLISM INCREASE
Green tea is often promoted as being a supportive tea when trying to lose or maintain weight, as it helps to boost your metabolism. This is thanks to its content of caffeine and catechins.
What’s more is that the caffeine and the energy boost that you get from green tea can help to boost physical performance, making your workouts more effective. It also helps to even out blood sugar levels, which can help to prevent you from feeling hangry, while green tea’s ECEG’s can help to even out your appetite, preventing overeating.
DETOXIFYING
Green tea is also well-known for being a detoxifying beverage. It helps to reduce inflammation, which can have harmful effect on both your skin and body, helping to ease chronic skin issues and reducing pain caused by inflammation, such as arthritis. Green tea also supports the liver in its natural detoxifying process.
HEART HEALTH
There are a few different reasons why green tea is beneficial in supporting heart health. First of all, it contains natural beta blocking compounds. It’s also been shown to be helpful in balancing LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, further supporting your heart. The antioxidants that green tea contains can also work to prevent plaque from building up in your arteries, helping to keep your heart healthy.
BRAIN BOOSTER
In addition to support your mood, green tea has been shown to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, which can help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Thanks to the flavonoids that green tea contains, it also helps to protect against oxidative stress and free radical damage, which is beneficial for brain health. Plus, the natural energizing process of green tea can help to gently boost your mood while also provide wellness benefits that can help you to feel your best.
ANTI-AGING
Because of its antioxidant content, green tea is also helpful in slowing down the effects of aging. This is because it helps to fight the effects of UVA damage to the skin while also helping to promote your skin in repairing itself.
Green tea can also help to reduce inflammation, which has beneficial effects on slowing down the effects of aging as well as the progression of disease.
Still looking for something with a little kick? These cocktails have actual green tea in them, providing an extra nutritional boost:
Love green tea? Sign up for our tea subscription box at sipsby.com