GREEN CHAI TEA AND MATCHA

We have now talked about GREENS COD LIVER OIL RAW HONEY HEMP HEARTS CHIA SEED GOJI BERRIES PSYLLIUM SEED and CELTIC SEA SALT.

Next on the list of the BASICS is Green Chai Tea. I am also going to talk about another form of green tea called Matcha in this blog.

As I said many writings ago, I believe there are a few very important items that we would all do well to include in our lives either daily or a few times a month or a couple of times a year. I have called these items THE BASICS. There is a complete list in one of my first blog writings. What I have written about so far are included in the DAILY LIST! Green Chai Tea and Matcha are a part of that DAILY LIST as well.
I drink between 3&5 cups of Green Chai Tea a day, sometimes mixing in Matcha. The following will explain to you why.

Tea consumption had its origin in China almost 5,000 years ago. Green tea has been used as traditional medicine in areas such as China, Japan, India, and Thailand to help everything from controlling bleeding and helping heal wounds to regulating body temperature, blood sugar and promoting digestion.

The Kissa Yojoki (Book of Tea) written by Zen priest Eisai in 1191, describes how drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, especially the heart. The book discusses tea's medicinal qualities, which include easing the effects of alcohol, acting as a stimulant, curing blotchiness, quenching thirst, eliminating indigestion, curing beriberi disease, preventing fatigue, and improving urinary and brain function.

How does Green Tea work?
Green Tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, particuarly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. the reason Green Tea and White Tea have more polyphenol antioxidants than other teas is because of the way they are processed. The process prevents the degradation of the cell membranes by neutralizing the spread of free radicals (which occurs during the process of oxidation.).
The health benefits of these teas are derived from the light processing of the leaves which maintain the ingredients like Catechin that research is now demonstrating to be beneficial. White and Green tea are often steamed or pan fired rather than being semi-fermented (oolong) or fermented (black tea). Fermentation leaches out some of these beneficial ingredients in the same way that frying food tends to reduce nutrient value that steaming does not. It should be no surprise that steamed green tea also maintains more of its polyphenol antioxidant profile than pan-fired green tea as well.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)has rejected claims of health benefits for green tea!
"There is no credible scientific evidence that drinking green tea reduces the risk of heart disease".
The FDA previously has said that green tea likely does not reduce breast, prostate or any other type of cancer risk.

In spite of the FDA's claims, Green Tea's medicinal benefits have been described for over 1000 years. Objectively speaking, skepticism of green tea's medical benefits would not be the first time an ancient medical remedy practised successfully in Asia was initially called into question by the Western Medical establishment.

RISKS: 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 to eight ounces of tea compared to over one hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
I am quite caffeine sensitive and cannot drink stimulating beverages past early afternoon. I do not have a problem going to sleep when I drink Green Chai Tea in the evening, which I do most evenings.

Chinese Green Tea has been researched and linked to help all of the following conditions.

* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cardiovascular disease
* infection
* impaired immune function
* cognition ( a study in the February edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded "A higher consumption of green tea is associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment in humans.")
* stopping certain neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimers
* treating arthritis
* treating MS

Preventing lowered T-Cells due to HIV
In lab tests, EGCG found in green tea, was found to prevent HIV from attacking T-Cells. Scientists in Japan have found a component of green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells, which is how the virus spreads. Their laboratory tests suggest a chemical called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) protects cells. Writing in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the scientists said the discovery would lead to new treatments to fight the disease. It is not known if this has any effect on humans yet.

Cancer
In 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. In fact they said many laboratory studies have demonstrated inhibitory effects of tea preparations and tea polyphenols against tumor formation and growth. This inhibitory activity is believed to be mainly due to the anti-oxidative and possible anti-proliferative effects of the polyphenolic compounds in green and black tea.

Weight Loss
New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo. Green Tea increases fat oxidation (helps the body use fat as an energy source) and raises metabolism. These two things are predictive of weight loss.

Teeth and Skin
Meanwhile skin preparations containing green tea- from deodorants to creams, are starting to appear on the market. Scientists have even discovered that applying green tea to the skin can help cure and prevent some forms of skin cancer and other skin disorders, protect the skin from long and short term damage from the suns ultraviolet rays and act as an antibacterial agent when applied to skin infections. Many of the broad health benefits of green tea are derived from its rich supply of plant nutraceuticals called polyphenols, of which EGCG is the most powerful.
The consumption of green tea has been linked to reduced incidence of tooth decay.

WHY CHAI GREEN TEA ???

For one thing CHAI turns wonderful for you GREEN TEA into WONDERFUL GREEN TEA!

The CHAI ingredients individually offer their own health benefits. There is an amazing synergy when you put them all together. I will give you my own recipe.
I buy ground organic spices and mix them together in large batches in order to have lots on hand for my household and for sharing.

Traditional Chia Spice Mix:

CARDAMON- This spice relieves indigestion and aids in the digestive process as a whole as well as cleansing the kidneys and bladder. Cardamon is so good for the colon.

CINNAMON- I have spoken at great length in a previous blog called HONEY EVERYWHERE about the benefits of cinnamon. Cinnamon is another natural health booster! Studies have shown that 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon per day can help to lower "bad" cholesterol and may help to regulate blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is also believed to have an anti-clotting effect on the blood and a study from Denmark showed that when combined with honey (another ingredient in traditional Chai Tea), it can reduce the pain caused by arthritis. Cinnamon is good for the bones.

CLOVES- 'eugenol' is the active compound in cloves and it may help to prevent digestive tract cancers and joint inflammation as it is a natural anti-inflammatory substance. Cloves are also a source of anti-oxidants. Cloves is also noted for its benefit to the nervous system.

GINGER- For thousands of years, ginger has been used in alternative medicine. It is known to be beneficial for the digestive system and to help reduce nausea, motion sickness and morning sickness in pregnancy. Ginger is also believed to improve cardiovascular and artery health as well as helping to fight the common cold and flu.

NUTMEG- This spice is believed to be able to lower blood pressure, soothe upset stomachs, relieve stress and help remove toxins from the liver. Nutmeg can help relieve gas in the digestive system. Nutmeg can be toxic in large amounts but you would have to drink a lot of Chai Tea to reach that level!

PEPPER- Another spice that is beneficial for the digestive system. In addition pepper contains several powerful antioxidants which fight free radicals with in the body. Pepper is a known blood purifier.

HONEY- I have shared at great length on my site regarding the benefits of honey, please feel free to go back and read from the archives if you haven't had a chance to already. The proven health benefits of honey are growing all the time and it contains many ingredients we should not live without. We use abundant honey in our Green Chai Tea!!

CHAI SPICE RECIPE:

Cardamon 50 g
Cinnamon 50 g
Cloves 25 g
Ginger 30 g
Nutmeg 50 g
Pepper 10 g

Purchase non-irridated spice powder, organic if you are able to.
Mix spice powders together and seal in jars or bags.

For each pot of CHAI SPICE GREEN TEA:
2-3 teaspoons of green tea leaves
1 teaspoon of spice mix
1 tablespoon or more of raw honey
Put leaves and spice in a mesh basket. Steep tea for 10 minutes or more with honey in pot as well. Stir a couple of times while it steeps. Enjoy!!!

ABOUT MATCHA

Matcha Green Tea contains 137 times more EGCGs than normal green tea. Remember EGCGs are potent anti-oxidants that promote good health and longevity.
Unlike normal tea leaves, Matcha tea is prepared by grinding full tea leaves into a fine powder. When you drink a cup of Matcha tea, you're drinking the entire nutrient -rich leaf! In other words, you ae getting ALL of the health benefits that tea leaves have to offer.
MATCHA green tea is the healthiest tea on the planet.

One cup of Matcha tea has about half the caffeine of one cup of coffee.

Green tea contains a compound called tannin. Tannin slows down the absorption of caffeine into the blood. This means that the caffeine from green tea is gradually released over the course of 6-8 hours, unlike the short burst from coffee.
ON top of that, green tea also contains L-theanine, which has a relaxing effect that reduces stress. L-theanine has been shown to promote alpha brain-wave activity, a sign of relaxation.

Thanks to the combined effects of caffeine, tannin, and L-theanine, Matcha tea provides:
+ Improved alertness and focus
+ Improved mood
+ Relaxation and reduced stress
+ Increased feeling of well being
+ Cleansing of toxins from the rich chlorophyll

How to use Matcha-

I actually whisk a teaspoon into my cup of Green Chai Tea on occasion.
Other than that, a simple way to use it is to put a teaspoon or more into a drinking dish or cup and whisk or stir hot water into it. Add milk and honey to make it yummy.
There are actually lots of wonderful smoothie recipes and other ways to use Matcha out there. I will consider adding them to my blog sometime!

Ancient Chinese Proverb:

BETTER TO BE DEPRIVED OF FOOD FOR THREE DAYS THAN TEA FOR ONE