Tea Side Effects

Green Tea Side Effects

Does the all natural blend of green tea have any side effects? Get the facts straight as the fog is lifted in our information guide…

The popularity of green tea has made it the second most commonly consumed drink after water. This is not without good reason. The amazing brew is loaded with many health benefits that the Chinese and Japanese have been using for eons and now the rest of the world is also hooked on to the drink.

The healing properties that green tea is endowed with are many. This makes it an ideal choice for health conscious individuals in place of their daily black tea or coffee. Green tea can help recover cellular damage and prevent deadly diseases from cropping up. It also helps to reinforce the immune system and make it strong enough to shun off many illnesses on its own.

Green tea is being heavily advertised as the best all natural alternative to chemical medication in many cases. It is true that green tea does serve as the best alternative to chemical medicines but even this all natural remedy has its downsides.

Catching the culprit

Like coffee, green tea too has caffeine. Although the caffeine content in green tea is much lower than what you would find in coffee it is this particular ingredient that is to be blamed for the side effects that green tea reportedly has. This is the reason why the energy boost that you get from drinking green tea is sustained as compared to what happens when you drink a cup of coffee.

It is only amongst people who have certain sensitivity towards caffeine that green tea poses any real threat of side effects. Generally it does not even raise your heart rate in the way coffee does. People that are sensitive to the caffeine content found in green tea can always opt for a decaf version of the blend available in different forms.

The most common decaf version of green tea is available in the form of tablets that can be eaten in order to reap the benefits of the plant. In this way you can rest assured that you will be safe from the potential side effects of the caffeine in green tea.

The most common reaction to caffeine has been palpitation and nervousness. Some people have also complained about unrest in the stomach. These are not very serious problems anyways and there are plenty of alternatives available for such people who fear they could suffer from these side effects.

There is yet another way in which some people have developed certain side effects by consuming green tea. This however has nothing to do with the constituents of green tea. In their eagerness to avail the health benefits of green tea many people have gone to extremes and consumed excessive amounts of the drink.

The thing to remember is that anything irrespective of how beneficial it may be, it needs to be consumed in a regulated manner. By overdosing on green tea or any of its related products you are bound to develop undesirable effects in your body.

Tea Ice Cream

Green Tea Ice Cream

The thought of green tea ice cream still comes as a shock to many people who have not yet been exposed to this unique delicacy. The seemingly strange creation is actually quite a treat once you get your selves to try it.

The ice cream is prepared using a mix of certain different types of green tea powder. The most popularly used leaves are from the maccha and matcha plant. Like the drink itself the ice cream treat also has its roots firmly established in the Japanese culture. Today we find that Japanese ice cream distributors are exporting the ice cream to all corners of the world.

The Japanese tradition

The Japanese have a very unusual way of serving green tea ice cream. There are times when you will find them to be enjoying it in a normal bowl like we all normally do. At other times it is actually served in between a monaka. This is a special Japanese sweet that consists of two sweet tasting wafers and have a special paste inside them. These wafers are then filled with the ice cream and the end result is somewhat like the ice cream sandwich, only this one has a green tea flavor.

The ice cream is made using traditional ingredients such as sugar, water and egg yolk. Milk and cream is an obvious addition to the making of the ice cream. The main ingredient however is the green tea it self which is obtained from the maccha tea.

Green tea ice cream does not only taste great rather the maccha leaves provide a very beautiful green hue that is very appealing to the eye. The green tea powder used to make this ice cream is something that is found in almost every home kitchen in Japan. In fact you will find green tea ice cream to be ready and kept frozen in many homes of Japan.

Homemade Green Tea Ice Cream

In recent years the popularity of green tea has escaped the boundaries of Japan. Amongst the various green tea products that are now flourishing on a global scale is green tea ice cream. This is probably one of those green tea products that is not as commonly available as others are.

This is the reason why we find many people trying their luck at making the ice cream themselves. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make green tea ice cream at home and you can easily accomplish the task if you follow the right guidelines.

For starters it is a good idea to make green tea ice cream using normal vanilla ice cream as the base and then adding green tea powder to it. Although you may not conceive this to be the authentic green tea ice cream, it is the closest possible rendition of the ice cream that you can manage on your own.

Green Tea Extract

Tea is one drink that the world is addicted to. Some like to start their day with tea while others like to sit back and relax with a cup of tea on a lazy afternoon. It all actually depends on the kind of tea you drink. Green tea for instance is a whole lot more than a day time addiction; rather it is a medicinal herb with tons of beneficial qualities.

With modern science attesting to the medicinal benefits of green tea we find that green tea extract has made its way all around the world. Having originated from China and Japan where the use of green tea has been present for many centuries today the world is reaping the benefits of green tea extract.

Green tea extract has multiple benefits both for health as well as beauty. Tons of research has been conducted on green tea extract and the results have shown clear indications of the vast potentials that the extract has. Having taken advantage of green tea extract for centuries China and Japan are now exporting the beneficial extract to all corners of the world.

Green Tea Extract Composition

What exactly is green tea extract? Basically the extract obtained from green tea is loaded with bioflavonoids. This is a substance that has the potential to combat free radicals. The presence of free radicals can be very harmful for the body as they can even lead to cancer. Hence green tea extracts aid to curb the free radicals that have developed in the body’s system.

What is EGCG?

Another important and beneficial substance found in green tea extract is EGCG. This is an extremely powerful antioxidant that is very powerful against free radicals. It is considered to be 200 times more powerful than Vitamin E when it comes to rounding up the free radicals.

Apart from the antioxidants present in green tea extract, the blend also helps to regulate the digestive system making sure it stays in tune. The extract also carries the potential to provide a remedy for respiratory infections and can also be used to keep the body’s cholesterol level in check. Liver failure, heart diseases and all sorts of cancers can also be prevented by making use of green tea extract.

It is an amazing fact that one part of the world has been reaping the benefits of such a drink while the other half had no knowledge of it whatsoever. It is only after hundreds of years that the west has now come to know of the great many benefits of green tea extract.

Even today the bulk and the best of the green tea extract is obtained from Japan and China. Although there are many local companies selling the product as well but if you want to make sure that you get the authentic thing then it is always best to go for a Japanese or Chinese brand.

Loose Oolong Tea

What Is a Loose Oolong Tea?

Loose Oolong Tea comes from Camellia Sinensis. It is processed as loose semi-fermented loose tea. It has two varieties; Loose Green Oolongs or Loose Dark Oolongs. If you looked at the Oolong Tea, it looks dark red brown green color. It is graded as seventy percent green color and thirty percent red color.

Loose Oolong Tea Grades

It has different grades from first grade to 5th grade. The first grade is highest in quality and the 5th grade has still the power of a Loose Oolong tea, but may have a different shade or grade during the fermentation process. It is graded according to its appearance, taste, and color.

Loose Oolong Tea as Aperitifs

Loose Oolong teas are famous aperitifs in Chinese kiosks and restaurant in ancient China. Usually people take it after a heavy meal to end the meal properly. The drinking of Loose Oolong tea was not as ceremoniously done in Japan as in China, but one thing is for sure, they drink loose Oolong tea drink to eliminate cholesterol through active polyphenols real block busters against those evil free radicals.

Now, Loose Oolong tea can be found anywhere as more countries are exporting it from China, because of health benefits such as the healthy polyphenols. Chinese doctors for centuries have used Loose Oolong teas as medicines.

Loose Oolong Tea is available in cans and packets. The best are those which are propagated in China, however many countries are following suit in its production as these variety of tea is getting popular by the day.

Many manufacturers like Lipton, Robina Corporation and Nestea are using Oolong Tea for their drinks. Some pharmaceutical companies have concocted dietary supplements which includes loose oolong tea.

The best however, is to buy it as loose oolong tea, boil and drink it, as polyphenols are easily taken in when drank. Its compounds are easily mixed with our body chemicals naturally.

General Indication

Loose oolong tea is not given to persons who have severe heart palpitations, who are taking weight loss prescription drugs like Phentermine, Orlistat, and Paxil.

It is also not given to people who are suffering from an overdose of caffeine and those who are under the influence of drug like ecstasy and marijuana.

It is not good to take coffee and loose oolong tea at the same time, as it can overdose your caffeine intake for the day, and will make you awake almost the whole day.

Benefits of Loose Oolong Tea

Polyphenols are power engineered blasting oxidants chemical compounds. They helped the body get rid of free radicals, which causes all types of diseases and infection in the body. It also prevents the onset of some neuro diseases such as Parkinson's disease and it also prevents depression it can activate your dopamine happy hormones.

Polyphenols found in Loose Oolong tea also prevent inflammation and it has anti-allergy compounds! People who has undergone surgery may find Loose Oolong Tea help them improve quality life.

Loose Oolong Tea as Weight Loss Supplement

Studies from European Journal Clinical Nutrition (2006) shows, how it can prevent a person from turning obese! It can also release cholesterol naturally out of the body. Most Loose Oolong Tea drinkers knows when to take there tea. Usually, its' every after meal, with the maximum of three cups, otherwise, if you drink it towards the evening, you might end up wide awake!

The good thing about the drink is if you really need to lose fat, it does not hamper your growth. It means it does not take away nutrients which are necessary for your body. Some medicines which are really necessary for obese patients, releases fats with the nutrients, which means you have to take vitamins supplements if you are on weight loss.

Loose Oolong Tea does not release nutrients but only the cholesterol which can endanger your health.

Oriental medicine however, teaches, loose oolong tea is effective if you combine it with Tai Chi or Karate or healthy exercises. This is to help polyphenols move faster in your body, creating a healthy circulation, making your brain manufacture happy hormones like serotonin, and dopamine. Dopamine is the hormone naturally activated in the body of people, who are happy and cheerful; it activates the natural production of these hormones.

Overdose of dopamine or artificial intake of dopamine is dangerous to one's health. Some medications however are strictly regulated by doctors for highly depressed patients caused by chemical imbalance in the brain.

Diabetes and Heart Disease

One cause of type 2 diabetes is the presence of dead fat cells in the body. They are like small glass splinters trash which causes havoc in our heart, blood circulation, and blood pressure. Diabetes is a dangerous disease as it can also cause gangrene at the onset of a wound.

Scientists like Chong Zhi Wang, Sanpete R. Emendable, and Chun Su Yuan studied how Loose Oolong Tea polyphenols can help people avoid chronic heart disease and all other diseases attach to it. They discovered how polyphenols are great natural oxidant blasters and thus taking out free radicals outside our body. (5)

Bacterial Infections Caused by Streptococci Virus

It can prevent bacterial infections, flu, and other viral infections, especially when it is mixed with Vitamin C drink.

Some cocktail enthusiasts concoct Loose Oolong Tea, lemon juice and honey for a powerful streptococci blaster drink.

Strong Teeth

Loose Oolong Tea polyphenols are unfriendly to cavities, so when you take your drink it will help you prevent tooth cavities as well.

Other Benefits

It is also helpful for patients who have undergone surgery, people suffering from Parkinson's disease, as laboratory studies shows, how the degenerative process of dopamine neurons are managed and stunted. It is also helpful when you are studying, as it activates your brain neurons and it also has a natural caffeine contact to make you wide awake when you need to work on intense studying.

It also serves as powerful cancer prevention, as the University of Tokushima Japan research study of the Graduate School of Health Sciences with the cooperation of the International Public Health Nutrition last 2006 shows, how polyphenols destroys free radicals causing cancer.

How to Buy Loose Oolong Tea Without Getting Duped

It can be bought in Fujian Province in China, Japan or local supermarkets anywhere in the world selling Chinese products. You can also buy an online product, just be sure to double check the merchant selling.

An Introduction to the Types of Tea Processing

A lot of people tend to believe that different kinds of tea are taken from different kinds of tea plants, but oolong, black and green teas actually all come from the same evergreen plant, Carnellia sinensis. The mere difference would lie in the plant's processing. Some common terms of processing include withering, oxidation, firing or drying, and rolling. Here is an introduction to the types of tea processing out there.

During this introduction to the types of tea processing, the leaves that are newly picked will be spread thinly to dry first; this is called withering. If the climate isn't suitable, heated air will also be forced onto the leaves. The goal here would be to lower the overall water content, and once the process is over, the leaves have to be pliable so they can be rolled.

After the withering process, the leaves get rolled and twisted to break up the leaf cells either by hand or with machines. Shaking is sometimes done, too. During rolling, oils get released to give the tea a distinctive smell. The released juices stay on the leaves and a chemical change occurs shortly thereafter.

During oxidation, oxygen gets absorbed. This process starts after the leaf membranes break during rolling. Because of oxidation, the leaves become bright copper and this process chooses whether the tea will be oolong, black or green.

During firing or drying, the leaves are evenly and properly dried without getting burned. This stops the process of oxidation. The end of the tea processing depends on what kind of tea you are making, but for now, this concludes the introduction to the types of tea processing. Keep in mind that oolong and black tea end quite similarly, though, while green tea is the very shortest process of them all.

Three Teas to Try

Walking down the tea aisle of my local supermarket puts my head in a tizzy. I love tea and I've been drinking it for years, but I still am overwhelmed and amazed by the sheer amount of choices I face when selecting a kind of tea. If I was the sort who never tried anything new, this situation of course wouldn't cause me any problems. I am, however, easily tempted by that which is novel.

Perusing the teas offered makes my mouth water. Some of the varieties conjure up images of decadent desserts, with names like Caramel Apple or Chocolate Raspberry. And of course I'm intrigued by teas claiming to be infused with the flavors of pomegranates, passion fruit, or Goji berries. Sometimes, though, I am in the mood for simpler, more unadorned beverages, so I seek out back-to-basics teas that I haven't tried. I've happened upon three that I recommend every tea lover sample at least once.

Rooibos (red tea): This does not fit the strict definition of tea because the leaves do not come from the tea plant (known botanically as Camellia Sinensis). Instead, rooibos comes from Aspalathus linearis, a plant that grows exclusively in South Africa. Rooibos is Afrikaans for "red bush". Though it is not a true tea, it is a popular herbal infusion with many of its own reported healthful properties. First, it is chemically different from true tea in that it contains no caffeine. As such, it will not cause insomnia if you're like me and enjoy sipping a warm calming beverage before bedtime on cold winter nights. It also contains antioxidants like true tea, in addition to minerals like calcium, and a mild sweet flavor devoid of the bitterness one sometimes finds with true tea.

White tea: Made from the very young leaves of the tea plant while the buds are still covered in white hairs, this tea undergoes minimal processing and hence retains more of its natural antioxidants than does green or black tea. Given that the leaves used in white tea are harvested at an earlier time in their development cycle, there is less caffeine in this tea than others. It also will not stain your teeth and is reported to actually be beneficial to oral health. Last, its flavor is delicate, vaguely sweet, and far less bitter than green or black tea.

Oolong tea:
Oolong tea is tea that is basically somewhere between green and black. The green tea leaves undergo partial fermentation but before they become black tea leaves the process is halted. Like both green and black teas, oolong tea has antioxidants that can be beneficial to health. Oolong tea can vary in its taste depending on the brand you get. Some brands make oolong tea that is very robust and woodsy in taste, and other brands of oolong are lighter and sweeter.

Though I may never find it easy to choose a tea, I know that if I'm truly at a loss I can always opt for one of these three teas for a refreshing and healthy treat. I encourage you to try them, ponder their flavors, and enjoy the calm and sense of well-being they can bring to your life.