The Best Time to Drink Green Tea
Recent research has revealed several health benefits of taking green tea. Green tea helps to improve metabolism and boost the bodyís fat burning mechanism and helps you to keep fit. It also contains a powerful antioxidant called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help in fighting cancer, removing free radicals and unwanted toxic substances from the body. In addition, green tea contains other antioxidant compounds such as catechins and polyphenols that boost the immune system.
However, green also contains other substances that can have adverse effects on your stomach and other parts of your body. Therefore, it is very important for you to know the best time to drink green tea. Then you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of this amazing tea without experiencing any side effects.
When Is The Best Time to Drink Green Tea?
The timing for your green tea depends on the purpose for which you are taking it. Green tea is taken for various reasons. Some people drink green tea in order to lose weight while others simply take it because of its antioxidants and other health benefits. Here are some recommendations based on various research findings.
Taking Green Tea for Full Antioxidant Power
To obtain the full benefits of the antioxidants in green tea, you should take green tea in between meals. First, this will ensure that catechins, which is one of the major antioxidants, does not react with casein that is present in milk and other forms of animal protein. This reaction usually reduces the effectiveness of green tea.
Also, green tea is known to inhibit the digestion of calcium and non-heme iron (the iron derived from plant).[1] This can lead to problems for those who are prone to anemia. Chinese studies on green tea have also discovered that green tea reduces the absorption of macronutrients such as fat and protein. Therefore, you should take your green tea at least two hours before or after your meals.
Taking Green Tea for Weight Loss
Green tea promotes weight loss in two ways: by boosting the body’s metabolism and by inhibiting the absorption of fat. If you want to use green tea to lose weight, you can take it along with your meals. However, you should only do this if you don’t have a very sensitive stomach. Green tea is alkaline in nature and it stimulates the secretion of extra gastric acid.
If you have an urgent need to lose weight, you can drink oolong tea anytime you eat fatty food because it boosts the excretion of lipids. Drinking tea in this manner, however, should always be done with moderation.
When to Take Green Tea without Side Effects
Here are some recommendations[2] on how to take green tea with minimal side effects:
* Do not take your tea very early in the morning on an empty stomach. The caffeine in it can lead to dehydration and it could stimulate the release of gastric acid which can cause stomach upset or even ulcer. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that taking tea on an empty stomach make the lungs and stomach become “very cold”.
* Avoid taking green tea at meal time because it can reduce the absorption of thiamin (vitamin B1). A deficiency of this vitamin leads to a condition called beriberi.
Does Green Contain Caffeine?
Most users of green tea are usually concerned about its caffeine content. Green tea contains caffeine-like every other type of tea. But the caffeine content in green tea varies from one type to another. It also depends on the quantity you brew and the number of minutes you use to steep it. The larger the quantity and the longer you steep the tea in the cup, the greater the amount of caffeine you will have.
A study done on the amount of caffeine present in tea showed the following figures for a 7-ounce cup of green tea steeped for just 3 minutes[3].
* Chinese Oolong green tea – 37 mg.
* Kenyan green tea – 58 mg.
* Indian green tea – 59 mg.
Should You Take Green Tea Before Going to Bed?
Finally, let’s address another common question about the best time to drink green tea. The answer to this question depends on the reason for which you are drinking the green tea. If you want to use green tea as a weight loss stimulant, it is good to take one cup of Oolong tea which has relatively lower caffeine content than other types of green tea. But take it about 1 hour before you sleep so you will not have to wake up to urinate. It will help you to burn fat even while you are asleep and it will not prevent you from sleeping deeply.
Try out the perfect Organic Matcha Green Tea with antioxidants and FAT Blocker
However, if you do not intend to take green tea for weight loss, you may discover that the caffeine content may affect your ability to sleep. In this case, you should avoid taking it just before going to sleep at night.
It the topic excites you please read more about green tea here!
