Do you drink green tea? Are you aware of the many health benefits of drinking green tea? I go in spurts with my beverages of choice. Prior to my second pregnancy I was addicted to coffee … again. However, during the first trimester, I  was repulsed by the smell, sight, and though of coffee. So, I had to look for other options. I turned to tea! One of my gym clients drinks a green tea every morning, so I started looking into the health benefits.

According to WebMD, here are some of the numerous benefits of drinking green tea:

• Green tea has powerful antioxidants
• Green tea is good for your heart
• Green tea can help fight obesity and lower cholesterol

And here’s one other big reason that I have considered making the switch to green tea. Many of you know that I have a history of high blood pressure. Not just high blood pressure … dangerously high.

My mother-in-law, who is now the principal of the elementary school I attended, recently found my blood pressure readings in the nurses office. The blood pressure readings (right) are from when I was ON blood pressure meds. I have since done a “180” in terms of my food intake, and weaned myself off of blood pressure meds. Green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. That is reason enough for me to drink it.

I have read other research studies that mention the prevention of tooth decay, Alzheimer’s, wrinkles, and depression as health benefits of drinking green tea.

The jury is out on how many cups of green tea should be consumed to enjoy the benefits listed above. However, in most articles that I read, one cup did not seem to suffice. The recommendations ranged anywhere from two to five cups of green tea per day. Considering all of the health benefits, drinking a few glasses of green tea in hot or cold form doesn’t seem too difficult … and is certainly worth sacrificing my daily cup of joe 🙂

What is your beverage of choice? Do you drink green tea for the taste or the health benefits?