Join Me for a Cup of Tea….Green Tea of Course

I don’t know about you but when winter comes and the sky turn grey it really affects the way I feel. I just don’t feel as optimistic as I do on sunny days. I do pity those poor people who live in places like Alaska during the winter. I guess they pity me during the summertime in Houston.

Winter time can affect mood dramatically for some people. A healthy diet and exercise does help maintain your energy and helps relieve stress. Especially when outdoor time is limited if you live in areas where days are darker you may fight off depression. However, a recent preliminary study found that regular consumption of a popular tea may cut your risk of depression nearly in half!

In this study, Japanese researchers at Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering examined the effects of green tea consumption on 1,058 healthy individuals over the age of 70. Among these subjects, 34 percent of the men and 39 percent of the women showed symptoms of depression. Depression was reported to be severe in about 20 percent and 24 percent of the men and women, respectively

The researchers measured the green tea consumption of each study participant: 488 reported drinking four or more cups of green tea per day, with 283 drinking two to three cups daily, and 286 averaging one or fewer cups daily.

The study authors’ conclusion: Regardless of lifestyle and social factors, elderly men and women who drank four or more cups of green tea daily were 44 percent less likely to have symptoms of depression than those who drank only one cup per day or less. There was no similar association found, however, with daily consumption of beverages such as coffee and black or oolong tea.

Given green tea’s unique chemical composition include L-theanine could be the component responsible for green tea’s potential antidepressant effects. L-theanine is a calming amino acid known to reduce mental and physical stress and enhance critical neurotransmitter activity.L-theinine is found in a product  called Stress Relief made by the Shaklee Corporation.

I love Shaklee’s Stress Relief. If I am feeling frazzled it only takes 30 minutes before I am calm and focused. Stress Relief can be taken several times during the day. I can’t recommend this product enough. It also is great to take before bed time for a better night’s sleep.

Drinking green tea on a regular basis is good for you because it is also abundant in a class of phytochemicals called polyphenols, and specifically, the potent antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). These natural compounds minimize the damage caused by free radicals and aid in detoxifying the body and reducing inflammation, resulting in a wide range of clinical benefits.

I love a tea by Shaklee Corporation called Cinch Tea. It contains Exclusive T-Lift™ proprietary blend of Matcha green tea, white and red teas, plus taurine. I call it my liquid ooomph.

Extensive research shows that green tea can help to balance glucose and insulin levels, protect against atherosclerosis and heart disease, and boost cognitive function. Studies indicate that it also plays a critical role in the prevention of numerous forms of cancer—including lung, breast, and prostate cancer.

There’s no doubt that sipping a cup of green tea can provide a broad array of benefits to your health, whether you’re battling depression or not. If you don’t drink it already, there’s no better time to start than the cold, dark days of winter.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2009.