Benefits of Green Tea Consumption and Recommended Brands

There are many benefits of green tea consumption. Green tea has been consumed for thousands of years, originating in ancient imperial China. Legend has it that a tea leaf accidentally fell into an emperor's boiling pot of water; the emperor liked what he tasted and thus tea as a global beverage was born.

Green tea, in particular, is noteworthy for its health benefits and energizing properties. Much like coffee, green tea contains caffeine-so it can be an excellent stimulant to use before an exam, or long shift, or important presentation. Unlike coffee, however, green tea will not stain your teeth and the "dose" of caffeine in each cup is generally much lower than a regular cup of coffee.

Green tea is widely available at supermarkets and convenience stores, it is easy to prepare, and it is affordable. To brew a cup, generally you want to place a bag of green tea in a mug of hot water-allow it to steep for 2 full minutes.

My favorite brands of green tea are TAZO Green Tea, which is the brand usually available when you order tea at Starbucks, and The Republic of Tea, which is known for its trademark circle-shaped teabags. Republic of Tea has a great blend called Daily Green Tea Honey Ginseng which I would also recommend; the ginseng gives you an extra boost of energy (it is a popular herbal supplement used for energy) and the honey flavoring "softens" the sometimes overpowering flavor of straight green tea without sweetener.

Green tea not only energizes body and mind, it also contains an important group of antioxidants-flavonoids. The flavonoids in green tea are potent antioxidants; it is widely believed that antioxidant-containing foods can improve general well-being, lengthen lifespan, and reduce visible signs of aging. Antioxidants, in general, combat the cumulatively harmful effects of free radicals on cells within your body.

I don't recommend drinking Honey Ginseng green tea after 5pm if you have to go to sleep at a regular hour, as the caffeine (and ginseng) will most definitely keep you wide awake well into the late hours of the evening, or possibly even early morning.

I find a single cup of tea in the morning keeps me energized until around 3 or 4pm, and this is when I usually drink a second cup for the day. I drink my second cup later than this only if I know I need to be up to work on a project or finish a paper.

Adding actual honey to your tea is another great way to make your morning tea ritual more enjoyable. Honey is nature's best sweetener and it has a number of possible health benefits. In general, one teaspoon of honey is sufficient for a regular-sized cup. If you like your green tea especially sweet, use two teaspoons, and then stir so that the honey does not simply settle at the bottom of your cup. Enjoy-and drink each cup in good health, my friend!