No doubt you've heard of Green Tea and the health benefits you

can experience from drinking it.

Are you giving your family this powerful antioxidant daily?

Here is a refresher on some of the benefits you can experience

with Green Tea.

Historically, Green Tea has been one of the world's most

popular beverages. The Chinese have been drinking it for

thousands of years. It is now the second most popular beverage

in the world, after water!

Green tea is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant...as is

black tea. The difference is that Green Tea is unfermented,

which means that the powerful antioxidant properties are fully

intact.

The power of Green Tea lies in its catechin polyphenols,

particularly something called epigallocatechin gallate (say

that 5 times fast!). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: not only

does it inhibit the growth of tumors, it kills cancer cells

without harming healthy tissue.

Green Tea has been reported to:

*Assist in weight loss.

According to a a study conducted at the University of Geneva in

Switzerland, Green Tea seems to help the body burn more

calories.

Green Tea also slows down the release of carbohydrate in the

body, preventing sharp rises in blood sugar.

I know a couple who lost ten pounds each in the first few weeks

after drinking Green Tea every day, with no other changes in

their diet.

*Boosts the immune system.

Green Tea is one of the most potent antioxidants available. It

also contains some vitamins and minerals. Green Tea lowers the

risk of 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.

A study in September 1997 by the University of Kansas reported

that Green Tea has the highest amount of any known antioxidant.

EGCG (that tongue twisting antioxidant found in Green Tea) is

100 times more effective than Vitamin C, and twice as powerful

as resveratrol (the antioxidant in red wine).

*Lowers cholesterol

University of California scientists discovered that the

caffeine in coffee is bound with coffee bean oils, which raise

cholesterol levels.

In contrast, research indicates that drinking Green Tea lowers

total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of

good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Green Tea Benefits Moms

*Helps with morning sickness

There are no studies that confirm this, this is a personal

observation.

I had severe, prolonged morning sickness with all 3 of my

pregnancies.

With my third child, I discovered Green Tea and noticed that

when I drank it, not only did it ease the nausea, but it seemed

to have a mildly stimulating effect on my appetite and it helped

me keep the food that I ate down. My guess is that the

astringent effect of the polyphenols caused this.

Historically Green Tea has been used as a digestive aid. That

can certainly be helpful to a pregnant woman.

*Natural energy boost

Again, I could find no studies that proved this, but I drink

Green Tea primarily for the natural energy boost it gives me,

without any unpleasant side effects. I used to drink a coffee

in the afternoon, get shaky and hyper, only to crash later on.

Green Tea doesn't cause those unpleasant side effects, and it

also gives me the same feeling of "clearing the cobwebs" from

my brain.

What Mom doesn't need this?

*Lowers the risk of blood clots

Green tea has been shown to be effective in preventing abnormal

clotting of blood, which is especially important during

pregnancy.

Green tea is non-toxic and safe. It doesn't cause birth defects

and has no adverse affect on pregnancy or breastfeeding.

In fact, a study conducted at Kaiser Permanente Medical Care

Program of Northern California, researchers found that women

who drank more than one half cup of green tea every day doubled

their odds of conceiving.

No significant association was found for other beverages,

researchers concluded that some chemical component of tea might

have been responsible for the increase in fertility.

Green Tea Benefits Kids!

*Helps prevent tooth decay

Green Tea can kill the bacteria that causes plaque. Does your

child's juice do that?

Having a hard time getting your kid to eat his veggies?

A cup of Green Tea has more antioxidant ability than a cup of

broccoli or spinach!

*Helps prevent illness

Previous tests prove Green Tea can neutralize germs, including

some that cause diarrhea, pneumonia, cystitis and skin

infections.

New research by Milton Schiffenbauer of Pace University finds

that Green Tea deactivates viruses.

Recent research at Harvard indicated that tea chemicals

stimulated T-cells that bolster immunity against bacteria and

viruses.

Would fewer illnesses make life more pleasant in your home?

*Ok, so why aren't you drinking Green Tea already?

If you're like me, it's because the Green Tea you've tried

tastes terrible. I've tried many brands that reminded me of

diaper rash ointment...no I'm not kidding!

My favorite brand of Green Tea is manufactured by Sunrider

International. (For more information visit

http://www.diana2.com.) My kids and picky husband even love it.

Here's to your health!