Green Tea is a Great Source of Antioxidants

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Our diet should consist of rich antioxidants to help body safe from free radicals. This is an important part in our healthy diet, otherwise we are vulnerable to get sick.

Free radicals are the natural byproducts after body's processed foods that leave waste substances. While some external factors that create free radicals, such as poisons in smoke, cigarettes, pollution, alcohol and ultraviolet ray.

Free radicals originating from outside the body are more dangerous and sometimes are hard to be overcome by the body itself. While antioxidants are substances that have excess electrons and they can tame free radicals.



If the body doesn't consume foods contain sufficient antioxidants, as a result it can not release the free radicals and oxidation out of the body.

Fruits, vegetables and green tea are the top sources of antioxidants than can combat free radicals. Even though both green tea and black tea are gained from the same plant, whereas in green tea, antioxidants are much higher.

Green tea leaves are made without being fermented, therefore it is rich of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This is a prevalent antioxidant to reduce the risk of some diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and more.

In addition, green tea also comprises many substances which are beneficial to human health - catechins, caffeine, theanine, vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin E, folic acid, B-Carotene and some minerals.

While during the fermentation process of making black tea, the essential EGCG is much lessened or lost its quality and quantity.

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To get the best benefit of green tea. Brew two grams of green tea leaves with 220 ml water of 80 degree Celsius. Do not add anything. Leave to stand for three minutes. Then you may strain it. Finally the healthy drink is ready to be served.

Regularly drinking three to five cup of green tea per day seems to be perfect to get the optimum health benefits. However, if you are risk of iron deficiency, you should not drink it between meals or you can drink it one hour after having food.
(helloiamaris.blogspot.com)


Sources:

1. merdeka.com: "Yuk, kenalan lebih dekat dengan radikal bebas dan antioksidan!"
2. timesofindia.indiatimes.com: "Which is Better: Green Tea vs Black Tea"
3. healthline.com: "How Much Green Tea Should You Drink Per Day?"
4. itoen-global.com: "Major Components and Health Benefits of Green Tea"