It’s called “the mushroom of immortality” and not just because it’s been used medicinally for over 4000 years.
So where can I get this unique, ancient mushroom? How do I use it
exactly? How much should I take a day? What are the benefits? Can it
really make me immortal?
As much as I’d like to believe it, unfortunately that’s a no on the
last question. However, it does have anti aging properties, as well as
numerous other incredible benefits that you won’t want to miss out on.
So without further ado, let’s dissect this mushroom and see what it’s got to offer!
What Are Reishi Mushrooms?
The reishi mushroom
is a fungal growth with a fan-like shape and a toasted orange, red and
brown color. When in the wild, it grows in humid areas on dead or dying
hardwood trees. Although it can be found in Asia, Europe, Australia and
North and South America, it’s actually a rare mushroom to come across.
Even in ancient times it was reserved only for royalty. Luckily reishi
mushrooms can be cultivated, which gives us much easier access to its
amazing qualities!
It is a common Chinese belief that all mushrooms are nourishing to
the spirit. The Chinese names for “reishi” even translate to “spirit
mushroom,” “divine mushroom” and as mentioned before, “mushroom of
immortality.” It’s no surprise then that the first known uses of reishi
are in China. And in addition to being used for “immortality” throughout
Chinese history, it was also commonly used for insomnia, cough, fatigue
and asthma.
The taste of a reishi mushroom is definitely bitter. Some describe it
as pleasantly bitter or earthy while others say it tastes like tree
bark. Regardless of how you choose to describe it, reishi mushrooms
aren’t famous for their taste.
Why Is Reishi Mushroom Good For You?
You would think that a bitter, tree bark flavored fungus discovered
in ancient times would have long been tossed out of the medicine
cupboard. If this fungus isn’t delicious, why have people been using it
for over 4000 years?
Mushrooms rise to the top of the most beneficial superfoods. And the
most researched and praised of all superfood mushrooms is the reishi.
Benefits – What Reishi Mushrooms Are Good For
1. Detoxification
Reishi can help to regenerate healthy liver cells more quickly, which
means more effective detoxification. It is also known to help remedy liver diseases and liver damage.
2. Cognitive Ability
The reishi mushroom can help protect the brain from seizures. It can also stimulate both cognitive ability and nerve growth.
3. Immune System Boost
Reishi mushrooms contain beta-glucans, as well as other compounds that can help strengthen the immune system.
Reishi can help improve blood flow and reduce the amount of oxygen
used by the heart, which leaves more oxygen for the rest of the body. It
may also reduce the amount of bad cholesterol.
6. Inflammation Reduction
Reishi is well known to have inflammation reducing
properties. It increases the amount of blood flow to the brain and can
help when your body is suffering from a headache or recovering from an
injury.
7. Respiratory Support
Reishi can reduce irritation and allergic reactions that occur with asthma and bronchitis.
8. Anti-Aging
This mushroom can help boost immune system and blood vessel health.
It can neutralize free radicals, which helps reduce the risk of chronic
diseases and premature aging.
9. Mental Energy
By helping to balance hormones in the body, reishi mushrooms can help boost your mental energy.
10. Cancer Prevention
Reishi can help prevent and reduce tumor and cancer cells, even in advanced stages.
How To Use Reishi Mushrooms
There are many ways to prepare reishi mushrooms. After all, we have
had 4000 years of practice. No matter your preferred method, any way you
do it will still give you a large amount of reishi benefits.
Fresh Reishi Mushroom
Finding fresh reishi mushrooms at a store can be difficult. You will
have the most luck in organic health food stores and markets. If you are
able to cultivate it or live near a forest of hemlock trees that is
also ideal!
The benefit of using fresh reishi mushrooms is that they are softer
when in this form and can be more easily cut, chopped, grated, or
ground. However, the only edible part is the outermost white edge, which
when cooked is only about as soft as chicken. The rest of the reishi
can be boiled to make a tea. Most often it is sliced to dry out and use
later.
How To Cook Reishi Mushrooms
If you are wanting to try a fresh reishi mushroom, get a whole reishi
and slice off the white outer edge. It’s important that the mushroom is
very fresh, because as soon as it hardens you will hardly be able to
slice and chew through it.
Once you have your white slices, put them in a pan on medium heat.
You can cook them with olive oil, salt, pepper and/or garlic. Let them
cook until lightly browned. Enjoy!
How To Grow Reishi Mushrooms Outdoors
If you want easier access to reishi
mushrooms and all their glory, you’ll be happy to find that you can grow
them right in your own back yard! The process takes time, but it’s very
simple.
Supplies Needed:
A 3 foot log, about 6 inches in diameter (oak and maple are best) with the bark still intact
Reishi dowels/plugs (can be purchased online)
Drill with a 5/16th bit
Hammer
Wax (beeswax, soy wax, or cheese wax)
Paintbrush
Instructions:
Take your log (freshly cut is best) and drill holes about 5 inches
apart over the entire log, the same depth as your dowels (usually about
an inch long). Once the holes are drilled, gently hammer the dowels into
the openings so they are completely flush with the log.
Use the paintbrush to seal the holes with wax, which will keep bugs
and other competing predetors from entering the log. Once the log is
sealed, place it upright in a year-round shady area. You can lean it up
against a wall or fence if needed.
Wait 6 to 8 months for the reishi to colonize in the log. It’s
important to keep the log moist at all times. Depending on the weather
and humidity of the area, you may need to spay the log 3 to 5 times a
week, or only a couple times during the hot summer months. After the log
has been colonized and the reishi start growing, the log will produce
reishi annually for the next 4 to 5 years.
How To Dry Reishi Mushrooms
Because reishi mushrooms are too tough to eat when fresh, it is most
effective to slice them into strips soon after harvest and then dry them
for later use. You can also dry them whole, but they are a lot more
difficult to work with in this form. Thin strips are much easier to
break or grind.
Dashboard Drying. The easiest way to solar dry reishi
mushrooms is to lay the strips out on a pan or towel and set them on the
dashboard of your car. It’s a great place for the mushrooms to get the
full power of the sun through closed windows that keep bugs away.
Herb Drying. Reishi can also be dried like herbs by
hanging them on a string and positioning them in the sun. Make sure to
give them ventilation as well.
Box Drying. Another great way to dry reishi is to place
them in a ventilated box and set them in the sunlight. A black colored
box is best to attract more heat from the sun.
Reishi Mushroom Tea
The most popular way to consume reishi is in a tea. You can purchase
reishi tea online and in organic or health food stores, but you’ll see
it’s just as easy to buy (or harvest!) reishi strips and make some
yourself. Just break up 2 or 3 reishi slices into small pieces, thow
them in a quart of boiling water for 20 minutes and you’re done!
Making reishi tea is an easy way to get the benefits of this amazing
mushroom. The best part is it that you can make a large batch and then
bottle it up, refrigerate and drink it cold!
Again, it may not be the best tasting tea in town, but the benefits
are tremendous. So even if you have to gulp it down quickly, IT IS WORTH
IT!
Reishi Mushroom Extract/Tincture
Reishi can also be taken as an extract or tincture, to really squeeze
every drop of nutrients and medicinal properties from it. Reishi
extract can also be purchased, but here is how you can make it
yourself!
Start by filling a mason jar with broken strips or ground reishi.
Pour 2-3 cups of whisky or vodka into the jar and set it somewhere out
of the way for a couple weeks. During this setting time be sure to take
it out once a day to shake.
After 2 weeks, strain the tincture and set the alcohol aside. Add the
remaining reishi to a quart of boiling water and let the water
evaporate until you have 1 or 2 cups left in the pot. Strain the
mixture. At this point you have extracted all you can from the reishi
and you can throw it away or compost it. Add the reishi water to the
reishi alcohol and shake it up to make your tincture.
You can take your reishi tincture daily with a dropper or you can add it to water to drink it down that way.
Reishi Mushroom Powder
Another way to prepare your reishi mushroom is to make a powder. If
you are wanting to grind it yourself, make sure you have a strong
blender or grinder because reishi is extremely tough when dry. The best
way to grind it would be to take thin, dried strips and break them into
smaller pieces first. Or you could just use Organifi Red Juice; reishi is one of the 11 superfood ingredients!
Reishi powder is great to have around because it has more surface
area to extract all the nutrients from. You can also use this powder to
steep and make a tea, add it to your morning shakes, or cook it into a
soup or stew.
Reishi Mushroom Recipes
Red Juice Popsicle
Reishi mushrooms are just one of the amazing ingredients featured in Organifi Red Juice, which is used in this delicious popsicle recipe!
Unicorn Toast
A unique way to eat the Organifi Red Juice for breakfast: spreading it on toast! This recipe also includes the incredible reishi mushroom.
Reishi Oatmeal
Ingredients:
1/3 cup oats
1 cup of milk, water, or a mixture to your liking
1 tbsp ground reishi mushroom
1 handful of goji berries
1 dash of salt
Honey to taste (optional)
Instructions: Boil your milk/water in a saucepan
then set the heat to low. Add oats, reishi, salt and goji berries.
Simmer and stir for 5 minutes, then remove from the pan, drizzle on the
honey and eat up!
Morning Reishi Mushroom Shake
Ingredients:
1/3 cup oats
1 cup coconut milk
1 tbsp ground reishi
2-3 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp ginger
3 dates (pitted)
1 cup hot water
Yogurt and honey to taste (optional)
Instructions: Soak the dates in hot water for 5-10
minutes, or as much time as it takes to measure and add the rest of the
ingredients to the blender. Add the dates last and blend until smooth.
Pour mixture into a cup or mug and spoon in yogurt and honey if desired.
Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How does reishi mushroom work?
A. A reishi mushroom’s purpose is to break down
dead or dying trees into components that are more edible for bugs,
plants and humans. It is basically decomposing the tree and taking the
nutrients into itself, which we can then harvest and consume. It is the
nutrients in the mushroom, taken from the tree, that are extremely
beneficial to us and which we wouldn’t be able to consume any other way!
Q. How much reishi mushroom should I take?
A. As most medicinal foods, the daily dosage
depends on what you are using it for. It is always best to see a doctor
and find out just how much you should be taking personally. However,
generally it is said that 1 gram of raw reishi mushroom a day is
sufficient.
Q. What is the best way to take reishi mushroom?
A. There isn’t one way that’s better than the
rest, so it really is up to preference. Some really enjoy the earthy and
bitter taste of the tea, while others can’t take reishi unless it’s
hidden in a soup or shake. When it comes to the reishi, you really can’t
go wrong!
Almost Immortal
So, reishi mushrooms. They are a great help when it comes to energy,
blood pressure, respiratory support, anti-aging and possibly even the
prevention of cancer. The secret to immortality? Not quite. But the
ancient Chinese emperors were right to think that it’s probably about as
close to it as you can get!
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The Cannabis flower is a special
one for many reasons. Not only for the relaxed, joyful, euphoric and
creative sensations it brings, but for how it specifically expands our
consciousness.
When the user (i.e. receiver) is tuned into the cannabis frequency, that
is, tuned into the plant’s intention aligned with our own, awareness
often grows into areas of the unknown which instantly changes our
vibration.
The reason cannabis does this so well is due to its alliance with Gaia and the human template. It’s why THC, the primary psychoactive component in cannabis is so welcomed by the endocannabinoid system of the brain.
That system is innate to the cannabis plant. It’s familiar and this instantly harmonizes the frequency within our DNA field and the pineal.
This means that cannabis can interact in a multi-dimensional framework
within the human’s field and change its own consciousness in the
process.
Psychoactive plants are particularly exceptional at changing their own awareness by using the human being as a conduit, but cannabis is one of the best hence its widespread use throughout the world.
This is how incredibly aligned it is with the human. But if the user
doesn’t tune in, all that is experienced is a buzzing which travels
though the head and body with nowhere to go.
Nature’s psychoactive components are designed to transition our current
reality, and they do this while synchronizing perfectly with the human
field to send the user down another path that is quite different from
everyday life.
It can shift those seeking other levels of consciousness through portals
to experience a different reality, one where common interactions are
enhanced, especially since all senses must shift up.
Sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, and extrasensory perception are all enhanced.
This makes food taste better, visuals appear more alive, heightened
sexual experiences, and a nose that will track down your most desired
scents. This is all completely dependent on the user’s intention to
align with the cannabis frequency, one that requires permission to show you its beauty.
On the flip side, it can also allow other less pleasurable frequencies
to internalize, hence paranoia. So it can both expand and contract
consciousness depending on the user’s alignment and intention.
This is one reason why adults above 30 years of age (who are new to
cannabis), can have very different experiences than those consuming it
for the first time at a much younger age.
This relates to differences in the maturity of sexual energy, wisdom
attained, intentions, relationships, and many other lifestyle factors
that influence how the cannabis frequency is integrated within.
Getting high recreationally and expanding our awareness with cannabis in
meditation can be two very different things. When the consciousness of
the human being is in a state of expansion, cannabis brings a sense of wisdom that is unique because it delivers concepts through Gaia.
These concepts end up being intimately related to our lives, since
nature reflects a part of itself onto every aspect of us, just as we do
to nature.
It goes deeper than that. It can connect with not only our own lives,
but other lives recorded on the planet through consciousness imprints
while it gathers conceptual data.
This includes data from those present on the planet and those who have
past. Meaning it can retrieve information relevant to concepts it seeks
to illustrate from today or from thousands of years ago. All
psychoactive plants can do this through their unique interface with our
field.
Cannabis brings the underlying operating system to the surface.
Shamans have used it for thousands of years for this purpose, to bring
mindfulness where there is none so that we can see the world through an
upgraded landscape that connects people to something more beautiful than
what they know. Many of the shamans of today, those all around us, are just starting to realize it.
So let us welcome what is now the full expression of cannabis,
marijuana, weed, pot, ganja, etc, imprinting its consciousness on the
world, embracing all the beauty it provides if we choose to tune in. Are
we ready for new lessons?
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Aloe Vera is one of the most powerful
natural miracles, with countless healing properties that have been
valued for centuries. Due to it, the ancient Egyptians called it The
Plant of Immortality, while the Native Americans referred to it as The
Wand of Heaven.
This miraculous plant is commonly used
nowadays as well, but you should know that its uses are not only limited
to topical application on wounds, scrapes, and burns, as it can also be
taken internally and thus improve overall health.
Aloe Vera has potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties that cleanse the body and boost the immune system.
“The enzymes present in aloe Vera
break down the proteins that we eat into amino acids and turn the
enzymes into fuel for every cell in the body, which enables the cells to
function properly. The bradykinase in aloe Vera stimulates the immune
system and kills infections. Zinc is also an important component in aloe
Vera — making it a great source to combat zinc deficiency — because
it’s essential to maintain immune function.
It helps us ward off diseases, kill
bacteria and protect the function of our cell membranes. Zinc is also a
key structural component for a slew of hormone receptors and proteins
that contribute to healthy, balanced mood and immune function.”
It contains more than 200 biologically active, naturally occurring constituents, such as minerals, vitamins, polysaccharides, enzymes, and amino acids.
Its minerals, such as zinc, iron,
potassium, copper, calcium, magnesium, chromium, selenium, sodium, boost
metabolic pathways. Moreover, it is high in important enzymes like
amylase and lipase which can help digestion by breaking down fat and
sugar molecules.
Among the other vitamins, Aloe Vera is a
rich source of contains vitamin B12, which is needed for the production
of red blood cells. It is also abundant in vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3
(niacin), and B6, folic acid, choline.
When it comes to amino acids, this plant
contains 20 of the 11 essential ones, as well as salicylic acid, which
destroys bacteria and fights inflammation in the body.
Aloe Vera is a potent body cleanser, as
it eliminates toxins from the liver, colon, spleen, stomach, kidneys,
and bladder, and soothes joint inflammation. Additionally, it relieves
ulcers, indigestion, upset stomach, and gut inflammation.
If used as a mouthwash, it removes plaque, soothes canker sores, and improves dental health in a natural and safe way.
How to consume aloe?
The easiest way to consume it is in the
form of aloe juice, which can be bought in all health food stores. Yet,
make sure it is made from the whole leaf or only the inner filet. You
can also juice aloe Vera leaves at your own, at home. Add the juice to
smoothies or drink it straight up.
The following dose recommendations are
based on scientific research and publications, but it would be wise to
always read the label on your aloe Vera products before using them:
“For constipation take 100–200 milligrams of aloe Vera daily.
For high cholesterol, take one capsule of aloe Vera containing 300 milligrams twice daily for two months.
For inflammatory bowel disease, take 100 milliliters twice daily for four weeks.”
Consult your doctor or a natural health expert to find instructions on specific dosing in the treatment of other health issues.
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Recent studies have found that the antioxidants
in green tea can prevent cancer, help fight heart disease, and even
reduce your risk of developing type two diabetes. For some,
this comes as no surprise, since cultures throughout Asia have been
consuming green tea for thousands of years for its benefits of promoting
good health throughout the body.
Health factors aren’t the only reasons for introducing green tea into your daily lifestyle. Consuming green tea can also add a therapeutic ritual
into your everyday life. Even the process of steeping and enjoying
green tea can be a relaxing touchstone for those looking to promote a
more healthy lifestyle.
Chinese Origins of Green Tea
The origins of green tea date back to 2737 BC.
By legend, the Emperor Shennong was resting from travel when leaves
from a burning tea plant fell into his cup of hot water and steeped to
delicious results. Green tea became a part of Chinese culture for its health benefits,
where it is offered as a drink of respect, often carrying an
interpersonal element with it to establish care between different
people.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, green tea can relieve aches and pains throughout the body while also detoxing and aiding digestion. It is a staple in Chinese diets for its ability to enhance an individual’s quality of life.
While
green tea is originally from China, smaller-scale green tea production
has spread throughout many countries in Asia, with Japanese styles of
green tea being almost as widely known in the western world as Chinese
green tea. Producers throughout South-Asia and Africa primarily excel in
mass-produced, lower green tea varieties that find their way into
bottled products, diet tea blends, and other products where quality
isn’t the focus. The vast majority of loose leaf or higher end green teas on the market will come from either China or Japan.
Types of Green Tea
While green tea comes from the same plant (Camellia Sinensis)
as black tea, green tea leaves aren’t subject to the same withering and
oxidation processes as black tea or oolong. Instead, the leaves are
fixed. Fixing refers to the process of roasting the leaf, steaming it,
or pan-frying it so that the leaf retains its green color. Since green
tea is associated with being fresher than other varieties, it can be surprising to know that it is picked after black tea and oolong varieties have already been harvested.
Common Green Tea Flavor Profiles
The flavor profiles involved in green tea come from a few different aspects of its production. The first is where it’s grown, often referred to as terroir. Different locations impart different flavors to the tea plant. The second is whether it’s grown in sunlight or shade, with shaded plants having a sweeter flavor. The third is the processing method,
which is used to halt the oxidation process while influencing the
chemical and aromatic properties. Common methods are steaming or
pan-frying.
Some green tea
varieties, such as Genmaicha, which has puffed rice among the leaves, or
a fruit-and-nuts sencha blend, derive flavor from additives and blended items. However, most
of the flavor in a single-origin loose leaf green tea comes from just
the leaves and the processing that they have undergone.
Common green tea flavor profiles include:
Nuts
Grass
Cooked Vegetables
Charred Greens
Toast
Citrus
Sweetness
Seaweed (particularly with steamed green tea)
Chinese Green Tea
Chinese
green tea comes in a very wide range of different varieties, so you’re
likely to come across unfamiliar names when picking your tea. Here are a
few of China’s most popular exported teas (All prices are approximate
and will fluctuate with market value):
Biluochun
($5.50 per ounce): This variety has distinctive leaves that are curled
up like snails when dry. This tea is known for being fruity and mellow.
Chun Mee (Precious Eyebrow):
($2.60 per ounce) This the among the most popular green teas outside of
China. It is more sharp and full than many of the teas coming from
China.
Gunpowder
($2.30 per ounce): This strong and slightly smoky green tea is rolled
into small pellets to resemble gunpowder. This is a great affordable
daily tea.
Huangshan Maofeng
($6.30 per ounce): This is a rare variety of wild tea that is harvested
from the specific microclimate of Huangshan Mountain. It’s a sweet and
mild brew that is popular among western tea drinkers.
Longjing (Dragonwell)
($4 per ounce): Dragonwell is considered one of China’s top teas,
treasured for its sweet taste and calming properties. It is a pan-fried
green tea that’s popular outside of China.
Xinyang Maojian
($5 per ounce): This variety has a fresh aroma and a slightly floral
flavor. It has a stronger and more distinctive flavor than the average
green tea, grassy, savory, and sweet all at once.
Japanese Green Tea
While green tea production in Japan is more recent than its origins in China, it does still date back to the 12th century when the elite would drink the tea for its health reasons. To this day, green tea is the only tea variety commercially produced by Japan. Production of tea in Japan is heavily mechanized, using modern technology and processes. Most varieties are also produced by steaming, which is said to create a sweeter and more grassy flavor profile.
Bancha ($2.5 per ounce) Bancha is produced by roasting sencha leaves with high heat. This tea comes out brown and has a nutty flavor.
Sencha
($3 per ounce) Sencha is a standard Japanese green tea that brews
yellowish in color and can range from mellow to very strong in flavor.
Kukicha
($4 per ounce) Kukicha is a blend of sencha leaves and stems. This
allows for little waste in the tea harvest. Sencha and kukicha appeal to
black tea drinkers, since they offer a woody, sometimes smoky flavor.
Hojicha
($4.60 per ounce) This variety is made with sencha and kukicha twigs.
It is different from most steamed Japanese teas because it is roasted in
porcelain over charcoal. It offers a toasty and nutty flavor that is
more earthy than most Japanese green teas.
Genmaicha ($1.50 per ounce) Genmaicha is an interesting and toasty blend of grassy sencha and toasted rice puffs.
Kabusecha ($5.50) Kabusecha is a shaded mid-range tea, considered just a step below gyokuro in quality.
Gyokuro
($7.50 per ounce) This variety is at the highest grade of Japanese
green tea. It is shaded before harvesting, giving it a sweet and rich
flavor.
Tencha and Matcha
($8.60 per ounce) This variety is a high-grade shaded tea that is most
often ground into a fine powder known as matcha. Matcha is the tea used
in Japanese tea ceremonies, where it is whisked using a special bamboo
tool with hot water in a bowl.
Culinary Grade Matcha
($2.60 per ounce) Culinary grade matcha often has a lower price point
as it features a blend of teas from lower grade harvests. For faster
production, it is often subject to high-temperature baking. It is meant
for cooking or drinking with sweeteners.
Shincha
(fluctuates with market price) This is a first flush, or in other
words, a first round of harvest, young tea that is highly prized within
Japan.
Benefits of Drinking Green Tea
Benefits of green tea range from helping individuals meet their weight loss goals to helping prevent cancer, heart disease, lowering blood pressure and diabetes. All of these studies have a correlation percentage, meaning that the green tea does not always help everybody fight these diseases.
However, many people find green tea to have so few side effects that it
is worth trying it out for the possible preventative and good health
measures.
These
beneficial properties come from polyphenols and catechins which act as
antioxidants. Particularly important is epigallocatechin-3-gallate
(EGCG), which has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Alkaloids including caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline allow the
tea to have stimulant effects. Additionally, amino-acid compounds,
including L-theomine, give the tea calming effects.
But let us break all that down for you.
Studies
have looked into green tea’s effect on the body’s markers of oxidative
stress. This refers to those time your body might not be able to
neutralize free radicals with antioxidants. Free radicals are unstable atoms that cause illness and aging in our bodies.
These
studies have shown a strong correlation between the polyphenols in
green tea and the reduction of several chronic illnesses. In other
words, although green tea isn’t a cure for disease, it may help to prevent illnesses like cancer and heart disease while improving the body’s quality of life with antioxidants. You can recognize the polyphenols in your tea because they are responsible for giving the brew its slightly bitter flavor.
Mental Alertness
Caffeine enhances mental alertness. One of the benefits of green tea over other caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, is its more moderate caffeine content,
which is enough to stimulate without causing a lot of the negative side
effects of caffeine, such as jitteriness and decreased attention spans.
Green tea offers 24-40 mg of caffeine per cup, which is less than
coffee (95-200 mg) or black teas (14-61 mg). The average adult can
safely consume 300 to 400 mg of caffeine a day, check out this calculator if you’re wondering about your own limits.
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Studies have shown that drinking green tea daily speeds the burning of LDL cholesterol. Additionally, the antioxidants in green tea strengthen vascular health,
including that of the heart and lungs. Studies show a correlation
between daily consumption of green tea and a five percent reduced risk
of death from heart disease.
Type 2 Diabetes
This study shows daily green tea consumption to allow a 33 percent reduced risk of contracting type 2 diabetes.
Anti-inflammatory benefits could provide you with a nice calming effect, as well as some extremely minor pain relief.
Additionally, green tea is anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and it contains antioxidants as well as astringent properties. Green tea is commonly used as an ingredient in facial masks to clear the skin of blackheads and acne.
Lifestyle Benefits
Green
tea’s greatest strength when it comes to changing your life’s rhythms
comes from its ability to offer an enjoyable experience. Among the real
benefits of green tea is that it is enjoyable, can lift moods, and enable a healthy lifestyle.Healthy rituals
can empower you to disrupt bad eating habits and help you introduce a
better diet and more exercise into a daily routine. Tea can add a
nutritional energy boost and some therapeutic relaxation to an
early-morning routine.
The Truth About Green Tea and Fat Burning
Aside from its caffeine content, green tea does not have any direct weight loss benefits. This may come as a shock considering how often green tea extract (GTE) supplements are marketed as weight loss products.
Green tea is caffeinated, meaning that it can raise your metabolic rate. Caffeine stimulates
the body’s mechanism to start burning calories. This does not mean that
green tea burns calories just by drinking it, but it does mean that it
could help to make calorie-burning exercise sessions more effective.
Green tea also makes for a better source of caffeine than many alternatives such as sugary sodas, overly caffeinated coffee, and bottled iced teas with unknown additives.
Other
considerations for tea’s weight loss benefits include its ability to
enable good lifestyle choices. Drinking green tea throughout the day
could replace the urge to snack, therefore reducing
calorie intake. Increasing the volume of your liquid intake overall
could decrease your appetite. In this way, green tea could allow for a
healthy disruption to your diet, changing the way that you eat as well
as allowing you to reexamine other unhealthy daily rhythms. True weight loss, however, still requires proper dieting and exercise.
Green Tea and Green Tea Extract Side Effects
Green
tea’s antioxidants make it the perfect balance of healthy and
appetizing, but what happens when you consume too much of it?
Fortunately,
it takes a lot of green tea before most people feel negative side
effects, and many people don’t encounter these effects at all when they
drink green tea. For those experiencing negative side effects, it’s best to limit your green tea intake to five cups a day or less.
Green Tea Extract
On the other hand, the consumption of green tea extract makes it much more likely for individuals to encounter negative side effects, since this extract means consuming concentrated doses of green tea, often with unknown additives and other supplements.
Rather than directly affecting weight loss, green tea extract
can actually pose significant health risks. The American Heart
Association warns that supplements, such as green tea extract can pose a
danger to heart patients to the point of weakening heart muscles and
increasing fluid and sodium retention. When taken as a supplement, high
doses can cause liver toxicity.
Rarely,
certain medical conditions could experience worsening symptoms from
drinking green tea. These conditions include anemia, glaucoma, heart
conditions, or bleeding disorders.
Over-Caffeination
The first side effect that you’re likely to feel from green tea consumption is over-caffeination.
Drinking too many caffeinated beverages has been known to interfere
with sleeping. This might also cause you to experience a raised heart
rate and an unsettled stomach. Consuming high doses of caffeine also
leads to caffeine addiction, which could cause headaches, exhaustion,
anxiety, and irritability, when someone who is addicted experiences a
disruption in their caffeine habit.
Decreased Iron Absorption During Meals
Flavonoids are an antioxidant found in green tea that is responsible for strengthening the body against disease. However, having too many flavonoids in your system could reduce your body’s ability to absorb iron from the food you eat. This could cause iron deficiencies and exacerbate anemia.
For this reason, it’s best to drink green tea between meals.
Additionally, the effects of flavonoids, both good and bad, can be
partially neutralized by using a squeeze of lemon in your green tea.
How Much Green Tea Should You Drink
Studies
have shown that when it comes to cancer prevention, drinking three to
five cups of tea a day is better than drinking a single cup a day. Many
studies on cancer prevention, including the prevention of prostate
cancer, stomach cancer, and pancreatic cancer were based on five or more
cups of green tea a day.
Studies found that six or more cups of green tea a day lowered the risk of type two diabetes by thirty-three percent. One to three cups of green tea a day were found to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
When
it comes to battling disease, drinking three to five cups of green tea
daily introduces enough antioxidants into the body to help prevent many
forms of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Drinking tea more often should not cause you to decrease your water intake. Water is still more important than tea when it comes to keeping your body functioning properly and even elevating your mood.
When Should You Drink Green Tea (and Why)
A good rule of thumb is to drink your green tea between your meals. This gives you the added benefits of decreasing your appetite for weight loss,
while also preventing the antioxidants in green tea from blocking your
iron absorption during meals. In this case, it’s recommended to drink
your green tea two hours before or after you eat.
For those with a sensitive stomach, it’s best not to drink your green tea first thing in the morning, since it can be rough on an empty stomach.
If you’re drinking green tea for its potential weight loss benefits, then it’s best to drink it before you go to exercise, so that the caffeine can aid your fat burning routine.
It’s best not to drink caffeinated beverages right before bed since caffeine can cause sleeplessness and insomnia.
How to Brew Green Tea
Three Ways to Make the Perfect Cup of Green Tea
To get the truest flavor out of your tea, it’s best to use fresh, cold-filtered water.
The ideal tea is brewed in short infusions at 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, for reference, that is about 30+ degrees under boiling (around 212 degrees).
Scorched green tea will taste bitter and more astringent. An electric kettle
can help you control your water heat to get the perfect temperature for
brewing your tea. If you do not have an electric kettle available, you
can also boil water for the tea, and then allow it to sit a cool a bit
before pouring it over the leaves.
The
standard measurement of how much tea to use is two grams per eight
ounces of water. Delicate teas may steep for short periods of time such
as 2 to 3 minutes. Special early harvest teas, such as Shincha, should
only steep for about thirty seconds.
Most tea leaves will be able to steep multiple times
before they become too weak to impart a refreshing flavor. Most mid- to
high-quality loose leaf green tea leaves will be able to steep 2-3
times. If you steep them too hot initially, it will produce a weaker
flavor on the second steep. To steep them multiple times, add water
again on top until the leaves are too weak to provide a good flavor.
1. Tea Ball
Some individuals prefer to use tea balls when they don’t intend to make a whole pot of tea or for easy removal and cleanup. Tea balls are handy for use at work or in situations when the full teapot process would be too cumbersome.
Tea
balls do have a downside, however, when it comes to enjoying the full
flavor or nuance of your tea. They do not allow the tea leaves to spread
out as far as they would in the bottom of your teapot. This could lead
to a weaker flavor when the tea ball is so tightly packed
it has difficulty fully permeating the tea leaves. In some cases it
could lead to the opposite problem, giving you a more bitter flavor.
To get the best flavor from using a tea ball, use the proper steeping container for the size of beverage you intend to steep.
In other words, don’t use a tea ball that can hold 2 grams of tea to
steep for 32 ounces of water, or a very large tea ball meant to steep a
whole pitcher of iced tea in your 8 oz cup. Additionally, only fill the tea ball halfway, so that the leaves have room to spread out.
2. Steeping in a Teapot
Talking
about temperature and steeping time can make the idea of brewing loose
leaf tea seem intimidating to someone just giving it a try. Brewing
loose leaf tea in a teapot is actually the recommended way of steeping tea while also being really easy.
Begin with heating your water.
Pour a little bit of hot water into the teapot and swirl it around.
Then pour it out. This warms the steeping container ahead of time so
that the tea doesn’t immediately cool while you’re steeping it.
Sprinkle a thin layer of tea leaves over the bottom of the teapot.
Remember that these leaves will expand quite a bit as they steep, so
you don’t want to add too much. A good rule, to begin with, is to have
them cover the bottom without mounding up.
Pour your hot water over the tea in the teapot and allow to steep for a few minutes.
Your tea should steep without the lid of the teapot on since the
trapped warmth from the lid can overcook the tea. You will see that the
tea sinks to the bottom of the pot as it steeps.
Give it a little shake before you pour, as this will help the leaves settle, then pour it into your teacup. Cover the teapot to trap the warmth.
As you do this more you will get a feel for how you enjoy your tea and how much you want to add to make the perfect steep.
3. Teabags
Tea bags are convenient for brewing your tea away from home, on the go, or while traveling. They are quick, approachable, and easy to offer to guests.
However, most mass produced tea bags are made from low-quality tea.
This means you will most likely not get the best flavor from a green tea
bag.
Lower
quality green tea can be steeped in water that is hotter for a longer
period of time, whereas, higher quality green tea should be steeped in
cooler water for a shorter period of time.
To make the convenience of a tea bag work for you while using a higher quality tea, you can create your own tea bags
by purchasing empty tea bags and filling them with your favorite
variety of green tea. This makes it easy to take your tea on the go and
giving you the chance to steep it multiple times.
Similarly,
high-end tea companies have begun offering tea bags of their excellent
tea varieties. If you’re interested in drinking nuanced green tea
varieties with convenience, these might be a good option for you.
Brewing quality tea in a tea bag follows the same method as the tea ball
above.
Ways to Drink Green Tea
Grandpa Style Sipping for Low-Maintenance Tea Drinking
Grandpa style refers to brewing your loose leaf tea right in your mug or teacup.
Chinese green teas are the most appropriate for grandpa style, since
they tend to become saturated and sink to the bottom of a cup more
quickly and firmly than Japanese tea varieties. This is because steamed
teas are less dense than pan-fried teas.
Pan-fried
teas are roasted in a large wok on high heat. When it comes to drinking
tea grandpa style, the dragonwell variety is the classic choice, but
you can also have success with other varieties such as gunpowder.
To
drink a tea grandpa style, put 2g of leaves in the bottom of a small to
medium-size mug. Pour hot water over top. The leaves will settle to the
bottom as the tea steeps.
As
your current brew starts to get low, you can pour more water overtop.
This might cause the leaves to float again, but they will settle as the
tea steeps. To help the strength of your new brew, leave a little tea in
the bottom before refilling.
Traditional Matcha Preparation (and Variations)
Ceremonial-grade matcha is produced exclusively for whisking into hot water and serving alone,
as in without sugar or milk additives. It will have a delicate and
naturally sweet flavor that would be masked by any additional sweetener.
The
traditional preparation has you add 1/2 teaspoon of high-grade matcha
into a cup or bowl of hot, but not boiling, water. The matcha is then
incorporated into the water using a bamboo whisk.
Matcha Latte (Culinary Grade Matcha Variation)
Culinary
matcha is the matcha that you’ll frequently find in larger bags and in
coffee houses throughout the western world. This matcha has the antioxidant benefits
and caffeine content of strong, concentrated green tea with a flavor
many have learned to love when mixed with some form of milk.
While
culinary matcha can be steeped in water to make tea, it will be more
bitter than ceremonial-grade matcha. This is why culinary grade matcha
is commonly made into lattes, using dairy, almond, or soy milk. Matcha
lattes are often sweetened to belie some of their bitter
characteristics.
The ratios of this beverage depend on individual preferences, but experimentation with culinary grade matcha is easy and relatively risk-free since this form of matcha can come in such a large volume.
Heat
milk or milk-substitute, and whisk matcha powder into it. It’s a good
idea to add your sweetener at this point as well so that it incorporates
fully with the latte. Steamers and electric frothers make this an easy process.
Storing Green Tea
Your green tea won’t go bad, but it will get stale over time.
Stale teas give you a less nuanced, dull, and often more astringent
flavor. To keep your tea fresh, it’s important to know that you’re
buying from a good source that won’t send you stale tea in the first
place.
Green tea can go stale within six months to a year after purchase. It’s best to store it in a cool, dark place.
It will have a longer shelf life is you can keep it away from light,
airtight, meaning oxygen and moisture-free, as well as away from any
overly fragrant ingredients. In other words, you don’t want to store it
in the same container as your super robust chai spices. When it comes to
high-quality teas, many recommend using an airtight tin or glass jar
for storage, since many plastics can leave odors behind on the tea.
The question of whether or not to refrigerate or freeze your tea is met with many different opinions and perspectives. The biggest concern when it comes to refrigeration is if your tea will come into contact with too much moisture. Airtight storage, such as that made with vacuum sealers is the ideal if you want to store your tea long term in a freezer. Try to use high-quality plastics which won’t impart their odors on the tea itself.
Other Uses for Green Tea
Relieve the dark circles around your eyes.
Use two tea bags to brew a small pot of green tea. Drink the tea or set
it aside in the fridge as a refreshing iced tea. Take the two cooled
tea bags and put them directly over your closed eyes. Allow them to sit
this way for a few minutes. The tannins and caffeine will help to
tighten your skin and restrict the capillaries for a brighter, less
discolored complexion.
Use the antioxidants in green tea to chase away your acne.
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea extract is a great
ingredient to find in facial cleansers or body wash. It can also help to
regulate insulin and sex hormone production in the skin. These hormones
are the culprits of many of our worst breakouts. Brewed green tea can
also be used as a facial astringent in your skincare routine.
Soothe your sunburn. A rag soaked in green tea can help to soothe sunburnt skin.
Absorb odors around the house.
Make a sachet of green tea leaves in a small cloth bag. Then put it in
areas where odors are known to occur to help absorb them. You can put
them in your dresser drawers, a pair of shoes, or inside the fridge.
Which Green Tea is Best for You
If
you’re looking for an authentic brewing experience, avoid tea bags and
pick up loose leaf teas from specialty stores. Allow yourself to explore
without expecting yourself to be an expert at first sip or liking
everything immediately.
Bottled green tea is unlikely to give you as many antioxidant benefits as fresh brewed green tea.
This is because bottle processing lowers the antioxidant content to
merely five percent of its original amount. Additionally, most bottled
teas contain added sugar as well as other dubious added flavors, which
can negate a lot of the health benefits of drinking green tea.
Choosing decaffeinated tea also lowers the number of beneficial antioxidants that you’ll get from your brew. The extra-processing involved in decaffeinating tea eliminates about sixty percent of the antioxidants in green tea.
Green teas, especially those of lower quality like many found in mass-produced tea bags often have heavy metal contaminants
due to their production, growth, and processing. Metals found include
lead, aluminum, arsenic, and cadmium. This may even be true of those
teas labeled organic.
While
Chinese green teas have been the most common in the market for
centuries, they have recently exhibited the highest degree of heavy
metal contamination. Green tea varieties from Japan and Sri Lanka show
less heavy metal contamination than Chinese varieties.
If you’re concerned about metal contaminants, brew your tea for shorter periods of time to make it less likely that heavy metals will leach into your brewed tea.
Drinking
organic teas limits the number of pesticide residues that can get into
your brew. Teas labeled as organic are not grown with the use of
pesticides. Nonetheless, non-organic teas do not generally register high
pesticide residues either.
5 Quick and Easy Recipes
Drinks
1. Winter Spiced Green Tea
For
those who are looking to make green tea ritual feel even cozier in the
winter, a simple spiced brew can make the light grassy flavor a little
deeper and warmer. The addition of cinnamon and ginger in this recipe
also add digestive aid to the list of green tea’s benefits.
You’ll need:
2 cinnamon sticks
4 green tea bags (or 4 tablespoons of loose leaf tea in a mesh strainer)
½ teaspoon of minced ginger root
½ teaspoon grated lemon peel
4 cardamom pods, crushed
4 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons of honey
Since
this is a mulling recipe, missing one or two ingredients or using dried
equivalents isn’t a deal breaker. Or if you know you can’t stand the
taste of a certain ingredient, feel free to omit it. Just make sure to
do what tastes great to you!
Steep
first five ingredients in boiling water. To easily remove spices and
tea, you can use a large mesh strainer to immerse them in the water.
Allow it to steep for 5-6 minutes.
Remove spices and tea, stir in the honey until it is dissolved.
Serve while still warm.
2. Summer Green Tea Limeade
Green
tea is an often overlooked option for refreshing iced tea in the summer
months. This is unfortunate since most green tea has a light flavor
that’s great for the summer holidays. This green tea limeade offers
delicious inspiration for an iced green tea beverage.
You’ll need:
2 green tea bags (or 2 tablespoons of looseleaf green tea)
Juice from half a lime
1 tablespoon of agave syrup or honey
1 and a half cups of water
Ice to cool
Optional garnish:
Mint leaves, lime wedges, or cucumber slices
Boil water and steep green tea for about five minutes.
Dissolve agave syrup or honey into the tea. Then cool with ice.
Juice lime either by hand or using a juicer, and add this into the green tea.
Allow to chill in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it. Then garnish and enjoy!
Smoothies
Green
tea smoothies are an energizing way to start the morning, as they
combine nutrients, natural sugars, and caffeine to start your tasks
feeling bright. Smoothies are quick and easy since all they require is dropping ingredients into a blender.
In fact, one of the best things about the green tea smoothie is its
ability to coat your stomach so that strong amounts of green tea and
antioxidants don’t hurt it early in the morning.
3. Green Tea Mixed Berry Smoothie
You’ll need:
I cup mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
½ cup spinach or kale (fresh or frozen)
Chilled green tea (1 tsp loose leaf green tea or one tea bag and 8oz of water)
Honey to taste
2 tablespoons almond milk (for a looser blend) or coconut oil (for a thicker mixture)
Optional ingredients:
1 teaspoon flax seeds
Ground ginger root
Brew
your tea ahead of time. If you’re someone who drinks smoothies every
morning, then you’ll want to do this in bulk and keep your pre-brewed
tea in the fridge.
Add everything into the blender and drink immediately.
Tweak the recipe according to your taste.
4. Matcha Green Tea Smoothie
You’ll need:
½ teaspoon matcha powder (culinary grade)
¾ cup of the milk of your choice (dairy, almond, soy)
1 banana
5 ice cubes
Optional Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of honey
Many
people will find this smoothie to be sweet enough with just the banana,
but if you need a little more sweetness, honey harmonizes nicely with
the matcha.
½ avocado
The avocado is a nice addition, full of nutrition but not completely necessary to make this recipe work.
Grind ice cubes with the banana (and avocado) in the blender until smooth.
Add in milk, matcha, and honey. Then continue blending until the matcha is fully mixed in. Enjoy immediately!
Food
Since matcha is a powdered and highly concentrated form of green tea, it is easily incorporated into baked goods, ice creams and similar products as a dry ingredient or concentrate bloomed in water.
5. Green Tea and Black Sesame Shortbread
For
a cookie with an earthier sweetness, this recipe uses matcha and black
sesame seeds to put a new twist on more traditional Scottish shortbread.
Recipe inspired by Aida Mollenkamp.
If
this looks like a simple shortbread recipe with matcha powder added
into, that’s exactly what it is. In fact, many baked goods can easily be
made into matcha variations with the addition of matcha powder. Try it
out the next time you make a cake or banana bread for those edible
antioxidants.
You’ll Need:
1 ¾ c flour
⅓ c. culinary grade matcha powder
¾ c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. Salt
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
8 oz. cold butter
Black sesame seeds and your other favorite garnishes
Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish or traditional tart tin.
Sift together matcha, flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
Chop the cold butter into cubes and add them into the flour mixture with the vanilla.
Using
a pastry cutter or the two knives method, blend the butter into the dry
ingredients making a crumbly dough. While you can use your fingers in
this step, your cookies will have their nicest, flakiest texture if your
try not to use your hands much.
Once
the butter is fairly evenly incorporated, but the texture is by no
means smooth, pour it into your greased pan and press it down using a
flat cold surface, such as the bottom of a glass.
Heat your oven to 350, and set your shortbread in the freezer until you’re ready to bake.
When
the oven is heated, take the shortbread out of the freezer and sprinkle
your sesame garnish over it. You can also score it at this point using a
long knife. For a tart tin, it’s common to score the shortbread into
wedges. For your pan, you can score it in squares according to your idea
portion size.
Bake for about 45 minutes. The shortbread should appear set and will be lightly browning on the edges.
Remove
from oven and allow to cool completely before serving. Then remove from
the baking dish, or pop out of the tart tin, and cut along your score
marks.
Drinking
green tea daily is a low-risk way of giving your body antioxidants with
the potential of preventing diseases and promoting good health across
the board. For those who enjoy green tea, it creates a relaxing ritual
and produces a calming effect that can easily improve one’s quality of
life.
https://thalassanutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/green-tea-preparation-in-teapot-1.jpg6671000https://thalassanutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web_logo.png2019-01-08 01:36:022019-01-08 01:39:21The Effects and Uses of Green Tea
