Green Tea Addict

Green Tea,
originally uploaded by AyanD.

Ok I'm guilty! been drinking green tea for almost a month now and have started to develop a sort of addiction to the substance. Hehehe! Green tea (Camellia sinensis) have been commended for it's health benefits way back 4000 years ago by the Chinese people and this year green tea is getting more hyped up I guess mainly because of the growing population of health conscious Filipinos. Everywhere you look, everywhere you go you'll see promotional materials on the benefits or drinking green tea. (Take for instance the whopping billboard for C2 Green Tea along EDSA in Guadalupe)


Although Green Tea has not been officially recognized as a medical agent, it is known to be effective against diarrhea, fatigue, indigestion and upset stomach while boosting mood and energy. Green Tea also fights cavities and plaque and it is also known to fend off certain types of cancer, particularly of the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, breast, lung, and pancreas.

While it has so many benefits it is also suggested to take it in moderation or even avoid by people with weak heart, kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, susceptibility to spasms, or a tendency to anxiety or panic attacks. If you have a weak stomach, Green Tea may cause acid stomach, stomach irritation, and poor appetite. Intake of large amounts can lead to constipation or diarrhea. Adding milk to the tea will usually eliminate these side effects by reducing the potency of the tannins. People who are under alkaline medications should also ask their doctor's go signal cause it can also interfere with its absorption. As for pregnant and breastfeeding women it is advisable to limit its intake to no more than 5 cups daily during pregnancy due to it's caffeine content. For nursing mothers it should be taken in small amounts because, like other beverages containing caffeine, it can cause sleep disorders in infants.

To prepare as a beverage, steep a teabag or teaspoon of tea for 3 to 10 minutes. When taking Green Tea for diarrhea, allow extra time. The longer Green Tea brews, the stronger its antidiarrheal effect. Commercial extracts of Green Tea are available in tablet and capsule form. (The usual recommendation is 3 to 4 cups of tea a day. If you are taking Green Tea extract, a dosage of 300 to 400 milligrams is typical. Because potency may vary, follow the manufacturer's instructions whenever available.)
Although it is impossible to drink enough tea to be fatal, drinking of excessive doses (1,500 mg. of caffeine (about 5 cups of tea) can cause restlessness, tremors, and exaggerated reflexes. The first signs of outright poisoning are vomiting and abdominal spasms. It could also cause irritability, sleeplessness, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and headache.