Marketing gimmicks of makers of bottled products and social media health centers have popularized the fact that Green tea is a healthy way to prevent cancer. I am having tea. Why not change to Green tea instead?

Beverage experts are of the opinion that adults should restrict tea consumption to 40 ounces or 5 cups per day so as to enjoy its beneficial effects. Consuming 5 cups of tea may be a challenge for some people, but people who are focused on improving their health can definitely manage it. However, consumption of green tea in excess quantities can cause mild to moderate headache, sleep problems, nervousness, vomiting, irritability, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness and irregular heartbeat because of the presence of caffeine.

Tea is produced from the leaves and leaf buds of the plant species Camellia Sinensis.  The different types of teas such as white, green, oolong, pu-erh and black are harvested from this plant. However, they are processed differently in order to achieve different oxidation levels. Green tea, made from the leaves is subjected to only a minimal level of oxidation. Green tea extracts are used in many beverages, dietary supplements, health foods and cosmetic products.

Green tea is rich in antioxidants and studies indicate that bottled varieties of tea have substantially lower levels of antioxidants compared to the tea brewed at home. Whereas bottled tea contains only about 3 milligrams of flavonoids, home-brewed tea is seen to contain nearly 150 milligrams.

Over the past few decades, scientific as well as medical studies have been carried out to understand the health benefits offered by green tea. Evidence suggests that regular consumption of green tea lowers the risk of heart disease as well as some types of cancer. It has also been observed that green tea extract that is rich in caffeine and polyphenols induces thermogenesis and stimulates fat oxidation. This in turn boosts the metabolic rate by around 4% without any increase in the heart rate.

So, list your priorities and you have to decide- to have it or not to have it.