Simply Sweet~ green tea

The green tea benefits were discovered 4,000 years ago and since then has been considered a wonder drink!

Green tea acts as an antiviral agent. This beverage contains a mineral called fluoride that prevents cavities as well as strengthens tooth enamel. Did you know that drinking a cup of this tea everyday can help reduce plaque formation and bacterial infections in your mouth? This is because this beverage acts as anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, it maintains a healthy, active metabolism and circulatory system on your body. This proves that this drink is indeed a miracle in a cup!

What happens is that our body utilizes the defensive antioxidant molecules which are present in our system as a response to the negative effects of free radicals. This is done to detoxify the harmful effects.

This is the main reason why health professionals are encouraging you to increase the levels of antioxidants in your body. There are various food available that contains high levels of antioxidants such as fruit and vegetables.

The antioxidant levels of green tea is hundred times more effective than vitamin C and twenty-five times better than vitamin E in protecting our immune systems. Another great reason to drink several cups everyday.

The green tea ingredients are the ones responsible for the green tea benefits. They are called catechins!

Catechins are considered the most effective of all antioxidants and the amounts as well as the effects are far higher compared to black tea. This is because green tea has less processing compared to other teas.

Asian population are experiencing the green tea benefits long before other countries have. Statistics have shown that Asians have a lower risk of acquiring diseases because of their healthy lifestyle.

One of the green tea benefits is it's potential to protect against heart disease and cancer.

It's believed to reduce cholesterol as well as LDL-cholesterol. This results in lower platelet aggregation, which then helps keep your blood pressure in check.

Other green tea benefits are the following:

• helps against formation of cancer

• controls diabetes

• helps prevent heart disease

• makes your complexion acne-free, healthier

• aids in weight loss regimen

• retards the aging process

• calms your digestion

• helps with your bowel problems

• excellent and safe during pregnancy because it provides you with a mild stimulating effect.

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Hello sweet ladies..

tell me - have you ever tried green tea?

We've been drinking it for some years and though it tasted a little (ok-a lot!) strange at first..

we gradually got used to it's flavour and quite enjoy it now.

We heard about how good it is for us and how it improves your health and thought it was worth experimenting with.

We found it to be good but we don't drink it as our regular tea..more as a general health aid.

I think brewing loose leaves is probably better than using teabags, but I guess the health benefits are pretty much the same no matter which you choose.

Did you know that the used leaves can added to kitty litter to eliminate odour?

The left over tea is great to pour onto your house plants too.

The powdered form of green tea can be used for cooking as well as drinking.

Here is one interesting recipe idea -

Green Tea & Banana Loaf Cake

Adding Matcha to your favourite loaf cakes is a great way to add a fun healthy twist to your baking. This recipe is adapted from an easy to bake banana cake, but you can try any cake recipe and simply add between 1 tsp to 2 tsp of matcha or more too taste.


INGREDIENTS     
150 grams caster sugar
1 beaten egg
125 grams of butter
2 very ripe mashed bananas
190 grams self raising flour
1-2 tsp of matcha
60 ml milk

Grease pan Melt butter, sugar, and vanilla in a saucepan over a medium heat.
Remove from heat add bananas and mix well.
Add the egg, mix well.
Stir in the flour, matcha and the milk.
Pour into the cake tin, sprinkle with a tablespoon of demerara sugar to give a crunch topping if liked.
Bake at 170 C or Gas mark 3 for 35 mins or until ready.
Leave to cool
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The weirdest thing I've ever tasted with green tea in it was ice-cream (would you believe?!)

I'm pretty game to try new foods but that just did not work for me.

Give me a good old Rum'n'Raisin ice-ream anytime and I'm a happy girl, lol!

I've always liked Japanese style things like tea ceremomies, cherry blossom festivals, Godzilla movies and ninja tv serials.

In fact, when I was a  schoolgirl I would hurry to get through my homework just so I could watch my hero, Shintaro!

Do you remember The Samurai?
I still love  it - and so do my sons :-D

No - it's not a scene from The Samurai..

just my youngest son celebrating his birthday with a sakura party 2 weeks ago!lol!

Eating Sushi and Bento while wearing kiminos and "posing" as ninjas made for a night of great fun!

I guess it's not hard to entertain us ..ha!

Sayonara  ;-D

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I'm joining Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday
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