National Hot Tea Month!

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, it is National Hot Tea Month!
Lately I have been hooked on hot green tea! There are so many benefits from tea, plus it warms me up since I am always cold. My new favorite one, at this time, is Lipton's green tea with passionfruit and coconut.  I like my tea plain, without sugar or cream. Brewing your own tea, rather than bottled, will help cut down on sugar and other ingredients they add to bottled tea.

  * Benefits and Types of Tea*

-Rich in antioxidants

-The antioxidant flavonoid helps cholesterol and the heart (Green and Black tea)

-ECGC, a flavonoid, may help cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries by working against free radicals

-Antioxidant catechins may help prevent cancer (needs more evidence, but still a positive) and helps heart disease

-Caffeine levels are half of coffee, from 20 mg to 60 mg per cup

-Tea plants naturally contains fluoride, which helps growth of bacteria

-Caffeine and theanine (an amino acid) benefits the brain and mental alertness

-Green tea made with steamed tea

-Black tea made with fermented tea leaves and highest caffeine content

-Pu-erh tea is made from fermented and aged leaves, considered a black tea

-White tea is uncured and unfermented

-Other types of tea: Oolong tea