GREEN TEA - BENEFITS, RESEARCH AND WHERE TO BUY
In these turbulent times of coronavirus spreading around the world I am receiving a large number of messages asking me what are the best teas to drink during these times, and why, what do I drink personally and where to buy these teas. Here I will try to answer all these questions.
I have to say that I personally continue to drink the same teas as before, because I strongly feel that all living organic Tea is a medicine to us, especially if we take it in a mindful way - which also promotes peace and balance in our Minds. And that’s something we need more than ever now. However, there are certain teas, like green tea, that have been praised to possess certain antiviral and antibacterial qualities. More than other teas. And here we will explore the effect of these teas on our body and mind.
RESEARCH ON GREEN TEA
To read scientific papers, you can go here. I took these from Lalani and Co (another tea company in London) newsletter and they are really amazing PubMed papers on green tea. Of course even in science we need to be careful about who paid for this research, and how it was conducted, there are so many factors involved in this. However, it’s a great way to gain more understanding about the effects of green tea on our human system.
Effect of Tea Catechins on Influenza Infection and the Common Cold
A Review of the Antiviral Role of Green Tea Catechins
From my experience, when I created my tea tours 7 years ago, I did an extensive research on Japanese green tea - read books, found scientific papers, and read on health reports of tea on our human body. And I remember reading several things (I don’t have resources with me as it was such a long time ago, but in my own words and memory that’s what comes to me):
In one historical book on the history of tea and coffee, there was one sentence that stayed with me forever. The talk was about Great Plague and how many people died, and how it affected London and tea trade afterwards. But at the very end of it there was a sentence: But Japanese even 600 years before that knew that if you drink green tea every day your chances of getting plague when everyone is sick around you are reduced.
Catechins in green tea have an effect of coating our cells. Viruses that come towards us have certain hooks, with which they attach to our cells. However when this coating is there from catechins they cannot do that and drop into our stomach where they die.
Japanese tea because of how it’s processed - shaded and steamed - has higher levels of antioxidants and amino acid called L-Theanine. While antioxidants in tea are great for anti aging, anti viral and antibacterial reasons, L-Theanine makes our brain release alpha waves and dopamine - which is associated with meditation, relaxation, stress reduction and motivation, inspiration and enthusiasm. This has a calming effect on our minds, releases stress from our body and because of that we are more prone to assess things in our life adequately.
So at the moment I drink a lot of greener teas - and have a few matcha cans and kabusecha teas that I drink daily.
WHERE TO BUY THEM?
If you followed me for some time you will know that my heart belongs to Chikitea teas. I first started drinking their teas and then met Holly Heli, the founder , and fell in love with them even more. Her teas are incredible, and quality vs quantity vs price is amazing too. But the business itself, and her as a person with the huge heart and soul, won me forever. The main ingredient in her business is LOVE, and that’s the most important ingredient. If you ever get to meet her you will know what I am talking about.
Holly and I decided to team up and offer a 5% discount on all the teas to my followers and readers.
So if you go through this link:
https://www.chikitea.com/intro/t-lovers
And add promo code:
TLOVERS if you are paying in £, and TLOVERSEUR for €, or TLOVERSUSD for $ payments
You will get the discount on these teas. I know it’s not a lot, but it can be useful during these times, and because Chikitea is a very small business their profit margins are extremely small too.
My favourite teas there are MUSE, LUSH and SILK matcha teas, FUSHIGI, SAE and GUOKURO.
If you have any more questions please let me know and I will be happy to answer them for you!
DRINK TEA AND STAY HEALTHY