The Beverage That Blows the Whistle on Stroke
Friday, October 3rd, 2008
You can blow the whistle on “brain attacks” by turning on your teapot.
That’s right. If you’ve got green tea brewing in there, it’s one celestial seasoning that can extend your earthly stay. If you drink enough, you just might lower your risk of dying from a stroke by up to 42 percent!
Holy Teacup, Batman
In a large study of women, those who sipped at least five cups of green tea a day had a 42 percent lower risk of death due to stroke, compared with women who drank less than one cup a day. Other research shows that just two 8-ounce cups of tea daily can dramatically reduce the risk of dying from heart disease — most likely because of the artery-friendly polyphenols in tea.
A Brew for Your Brain
Green tea is not only good for your body, but it also may be good for your brain.
In a study, older people who drank at least 2 cups of antioxidant-rich green tea per day were about 50 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment compared to the people who drank 3 or fewer cups per week. Exercising regularly and keeping your brain busy with puzzles, books, and problem solving are other good ways to stay sharp.
Correct water temperature and steeping time are important when making a flavorful cup of tea. Black and herbal teas should be prepared with boiling water and steeped for 4 to 6 minutes. However, these conditions are too harsh for delicate green tea and may affect the flavor and potency. When preparing green tea, heat water to approximately 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a thermometer, just bring the water to a boil and then remove it from the heat source for about a minute. Pour the water over your green tea bag or leaves and steep for 2 to 3 minutes, the optimal infusion time for this kind of tea.
