Green tea is a favorite beverage, especially by those who want to shed a few pounds.
It was found to be rich in vitamins and minerals that increase its ability to reduce your risk for certain types of cancer and heart diseases.
Since ancient times, the health benefits of green tea have been sworn by Chinese traditional medics. It promotes oral health and has anti-aging and antibacterial properties.
Best Time To Drink Green Tea
Two To Three Cups A Day Is The Limit
Drinking green it high amounts can cause trouble to your body. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that a person should only have two to three cups of tea a day or 100 to 750 mg of standardized green tea extract per day.
Not As Your Early Morning Cuppa
Yes, it’s true that green tea has many health benefits. However, experts claim that it’s not a good idea to have green tea first thing in the morning. This was based on a study done on a dietary supplement with green tea extracts. Its results showed that taking green tea on an empty stomach can have adverse effects on the liver.
At Least Two Hours Before Bedtime
Green tea is not a bedtime drink because of its caffeine content. Caffeine is a scientifically proven stimulant and disrupts sleep. Furthermore, it also has the amino acid L-theanine which makes you more alert and helps you focus and concentrate better.
Take Tea Two Hours Before Or After A Meal
According to a fact sheet published by the National Cancer Institute, a person should avoid drinking green tea along with a meal because the catechins in the beverage hinder the digestion and absorption of iron from your diet.
It is recommended to drink it two hours before or after eating in order to allow the body to absorb iron from the food. But, if ever you still want to drink the tea along with your meal, include vitamin C-rich foods as it improves iron absorption. You can also add some milk or lemon to your green tea.
Since the beverage is diuretic, it will urge you to make frequent toilet visits and this can disturb sleep.
More In Summer, Less In Winter
You need to have green tea in moderation. Chinese medics recommend green tea during the summer months and go easy in winter. The reasons for this is that Chinese medicine categorizes lightly oxidized teas like white and green teas as cooling beverages and the red and black teas, which are fully oxidized, as warming.
Regular Consumption Along With Exercise Aids Weight Loss
If you are in a weight loss mission, drinking green tea alone won’t help you. According to nutritionist, trainers, and doctors, green tea works best if combined with adequate exercise.
Studies Proving The Effectiveness Of Green Tea
In a study involving 132 men, it was found that when they were given green tea catechins every day alongside an exercise training program of 180 minutes per week, there was a decrease in fat, both total and abdominal, and fasting serum triglyceride levels.
In an experiment published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the results revealed that a high intake of green tea can have a positive effect within 24 hours. For the study, a group of men was divided into two groups. Twelve men were given a capsule containing green tea extract, equivalent to about three-and-a-half cups of green tea, 24 hours before exercise. Meanwhile, the other group received a placebo. The two groups were then made to cycle at 60% of their heart rate. During the workout, it was found that the green tea-consuming group burned 17 percent more fat.
Always remember that all you need is proper timing when it comes to the consumption of this healthy beverage. By knowing when you should drink it, you’ll be able to reap most its health benefits.
