The Antioxidant Power of Green Tea

Green tea enjoys a well-deserved place in the superfood Hall of Fame. One of the healthiest plants on the planet, green tea leaves can be steeped to make tea or ground up to make Matcha.

So what is it that makes green tea so great? Antioxidants.

 Antioxidants are stable molecules that have extra electrons to offer up to free radicals without becoming unstable, to balance the harm that a free radical does in the body. And a free radical is basically an oxygen containing compound with unpaired electrons, making it highly unstable, wreaking havoc on things like DNA and causing premature aging in our cells. Because they lack electrons, they constantly steal them from other molecules, damaging them in the process.

So how do you mitigate the harmful effects of daily living and the oxidative stress that comes with it?

The damage caused by free radicals can be easily prevented by increasing your level of antioxidants, including green tea. Green Tea contains plant nutrients (polyphenols), such as catechins and flavonoids, which function as antioxidants, helping the body to clear out free radicals, molecules that cause oxidative damage to cells. Green tea’s polyphenol antioxidants actually protect your cells from free radical damage and reduce inflammation in the body, a known cause of telomere shortening and premature aging.

One of the potent compounds in Green Tea is the antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG). Studies conducted on the health-protective benefits of EGCG show that people who frequently drink Green Tea have lower rates of illness, including many types of cancer. While additional research is needed to understand the mechanisms that contribute to the medicinal properties of Green Tea, EGCG supplements have been used in clinical trials to help treat certain cancers, inflammatory diseases, and diabetes.

The wonderful thing about Green Tea is how the leaves retain their biologically active nutrients from the time of harvesting to the moment you brew and then sip this verdant liquid elixir.

There are many ways to enjoy Green Tea. The best varieties of tea will be loose leaf, organically harvested from GMO-free crops. To maintain the potency of the antioxidants in your tea, do not add milk, which alters the tea's health-boosting properties. Be sure to follow the steeping directions. Steeping longer than directed can make the tea bitter. As a general rule, if you prefer a stronger tea, add more tea for the same steeping time. To sweeten, add locally sourced honey or a splash of fresh squeezed lemon, orange, or even watermelon juice!

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