Foods That Fight Fat #6: Green Tea

Hello everyone!  Only two more to go in our list of fat fighting foods!  Number six on our list is Green Tea. This tea packs caffeine and antioxidants called catechins,  a dynamic duo believed to stimulate your nervous system and increase fat-burning!  Allow tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins. The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. 

Other suspected benefits of Green Tea are cancer prevention, lowered risk of Parkinson's disease, and help keeping your heart healthy!

There are four main types of tea.  Black, green white or oolong.  All are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.  Other types of "teas" are usually herbal brews, which are infusions of other plants with different nutritional characteristics.  If you are not sure what kind you're drinking, check the ingredients for the word "tea".

Ok, so back to our 4 main types of teas.  What makes each of these different from the other is the way the leaves are prepared and how mature they are.  This can affect both the flavor and the nutritional contend of the tea.  Black tea is made from leaves that have been wilted (dried out) and then fully oxidized (meaning that chemicals in the leaves are modified through exposure to air). Green tea's leaves are wilted but not oxidized. Oolong tea is wilted and then only partially oxidized, and white tea is not wilted or oxidized at all.  All four types are high in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that seems to protect cells from the DNA damage that can cause cancer and other diseases. 

Experts agree that a daily cup of tea or five, won't hurt you, and may even help fight disease. (If you're trying to limit your caffeine intake, go for decaf—it has antioxidants too, though fewer than the caffeinated kind.)  

Spiced Green Tea Smoothie

3/4 cup strong green tea, chilled
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Juice of 1 lemon (2-3 Tbsp)
2 tsp agave nectar
1 small pear, skin on, cut into pieces
2 Tbsp fat-free plain yogurt
6-8 ice cubes

Put all ingredients into a blender.  Blend until smooth.  Drink Cold.