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Green Tea: Wonder-Drink?

Posted: Monday, January 23, 2006

TAMPA, Fla. -- For centuries, the Chinese have sipped green tea. Now, Americans are catching on to the second most popular beverage in the world.

Tired of the same old vegetables in your diet? Maybe it's time to head to the tea aisle. .

Registered dietician Cynthia Sass says green tea works because it is not fermented, or dried out, so antioxidants are preserved. "Antioxidants are really like little bodyguards inside your body that protect your cells from disease," Sass tells Ivanhoe.

There are so many options now, making choosing the right green tea to buy confusing. Sass, however, says green tea you brew yourself is the most beneficial. The flavored teas are fine too, but she says avoid ones that add extra antioxidants or herbs. "We really don't know the safety of adding these in a supplemental form."

The taste may not be your cup of tea but Sass says bypassing the taste factor with a pill is not the answer. "There's really no guarantee of quality there. There's no guarantee that what's in the pill is really what it says."

If you don't care for the taste of green tea, try sweetening it. Adding sugar means extra calories; as many as soda, which can add up fast if you're trying to hit the recommended six cups of green tea a day.

Sass says This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Cynthia Sass, R.D.
ADA Spokesperson
Sass Consulting Services
4230 S. McDill Ave.
Tampa, FL 33611
(813) 679-6450
foodcoach@hotmail.com
http://www.cynthiasass.com