Get Energized with Green Tea!
Okay, I’ll admit it, tea is not defined as a herb, but this is my blog and I feel that tea is such useful component in healthy living, that it qualifies as healthy for the same reasons that spices and herbs do. Besides, so many teas are flavored with spices, they just go together! it’s pretty hard to write about my passion for spices and not include tea, my other passion as well.
We all get the afternoon slump, especially if we sit at a desk all day. Let’s face it, any job is tiring, pretty much because we’re doing the same thing over and over. Your mind becomes stagnant and when the mid-afternoon slump arrives, we just feel the need for something. Green tea will help you get back on track and finish your day with a bang!
Try Green Tea! I treat tea as a herb in this instance because you can add different spices, fruits and herbs to any tea to make it your own.
Green tea is rich in antioxidants and catechins which may even help to prevent cancer. Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage. EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) is one of the most powerful compounds in green tea. EGCG, the most abundant catechin in tea, is a polyphenol being researched for its potential effects on human health and disease.
Kick your soda habit!
Try brewing a cup of green tea. Besides the health reasons, there’s something about sipping a hot cup of tea that calms and soothes you and lifts you up too! Just holding the warm cup in your hands is like a hug from a dear friend. The reason behind this opposite attraction is L-Theanine, an amino acid that occurs naturally in the tea plant and certain types of mushrooms. This is the reason why tea has a tendency to both calm you down and energize you at the same time. That’s thanks to L-Theanine.
Afternoon tiredness may also be caused by dehydration. Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. 
Green tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have minimal oxidation due less processing than black tea. Green tea extracts are being used in various beverages, health foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. You can even find green tea in soaps and shampoo! Healthy from the outside in!
One of my favorite afternoon pick-me-ups is an Iced Green Tea Matcha Latte, see below for easy instructions.
So simple to make. You can purchase high quality Matcha from many reputable vendors. Just do your research because you may pay a high price for an inferior product. Matcha is powder from finely ground green tea leaves. These are specially grown leaves, made for Japanese Tea Ceremonies. These are revered as a ritual, therefore they must be the best!
You can use matcha in other ways, not just drinks. Add a spoonful to muffins, cookies, smoothies, pancakes. Use your imagination, sneak some in for the kids. They’ll love that crazy green food. Dr. Seuss knew what he was talking about!
There are many matcha mixes coming out in the market now that spout all the health reasons to drink matcha, but in the long run, they are pretty expensive rather than buying a tin of tea. Yes they are convenient, (they usually come in single serve packets) but you can save money and make your own with only a tiny bit of effort. So you have to use a spoon, open a canister and add sweetener, not that big of a deal, right?
To make your own:
Matcha Green Tea Latte
Add a teaspoon of matcha to 1 1/2 cups of milk. I like almond milk, vanilla is good, but you can use any milk you like. (If you use sweetened, don’t add as much of your own sweetener). Add some sweetener, 1/2 to 2 tsp depending on how sweet you like it. Use anything from honey, Agave syrup, sugar, Truvia, or Monk Fruit which can be bought in powder form. Monk Fruit is a super food that is really sweet, totally natural, and adds nutrients also.
The best container to use is a shaker/blender bottle to mix it in or a mason jar. You need something with a tight non-leaking lid. Add ice and shake it really, really well. Check the bottom of your shaker, and make sure there are no green lumps. If so, keep shaking! It will get a little frothy and will be cold and refreshing. Add a straw and sip away. You may find it easier to add the matcha powder first, then add a couple tablespoons of hot water to get it emulsified before adding the cold liquid and ice.
Give yourself a pat on the back for saving money and treating yourself to a healthful and energizing beverage. You never know, a few excess pounds might drop off just by drinking green tea!
Please let me know what you think of this post. Green tea is awesome. If you don’t like green tea, or tea in general, let me know. What is your favorite healthy energy drink?