Green Tea
Green Tea on Oprah
The world it seems is abuzz with excitement over green tea and its many benefits. And who creates more buzz in the nation, if not the world than the award-winning talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. No matter what this woman does, it brings a sensation all over. She has brought a whole new level of sensation to the power of green tea.
In 2004, a reputable Dr. Perricone came on an episode of Oprah Winfrey's show a made a suggestion that amazed Oprah, the audience and those watching at home. Dr. Perricone stated, Coffee has organic acids that raise your blood sugar, raising insulin. Insulin puts a lock on body fat. When you switch over to green tea, you get your caffeine. You're all set. But you will drop your insulin levels and body fat will fall very rapidly. So ten pounds in six weeks, I will guarantee.
There are so many benefits to green tea and aiding in weight loss is only a small picture of what green tea can provide from enhancing the immune system, aiding the prevention and slowing the progression of cancers to even dental or skin health. Dr. Perricone was not suggesting here however that green tea makes a person lose weight. But rather he was mentioning the switch from coffee to green tea will help a person to lose weight. Studies have shown green tea to be a much healthier product than coffee, so aside from helping with weight loss it can do much, much more by doing the switch. The problem is that some experts have said that the amount of green tea a person would have to drink on a daily basis to get the various benefits would need to be twelve to fifteen cups. That is a lot of drinking. Green tea benefits do come in other forms so perhaps a person could use a supplement, chew green tea gum, eat green tea mints or simply add a dose of green tea liquid extract into already brewed tea or another beverage.
On a separate Oprah Winfrey episode, the now infamous Dr. Oz, related to everyone that America's number one source of antioxidants came from coffee, but there are much better beverage options on the market such as green or white tea. Not a new concept, Dr. Oz pointed out that these teas have been used for healing purposes for centuries. Green tea is made from leaves that have been dried and then steeped in boiling water and differs from white tea only that the bud rather than leaves is used, the bud is not dried but used fresh and is steamed instead of steeped. Dr. Oz states that a person should drink approximately four cups a day everyday.
Through Oprah Winfrey's magazine, O, the Oprah Magazine, she has included a recipe for a healthy but yummy cocktail to enjoy, just another way to get those wonderful antioxidants. Here is the recipe as shown on her website, www.oprah.com
Green Tea CollinsCreated by Aqua Vitae, Los Angeles
Ingredients:
Serves 1
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces strong green tea
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
Lime or Lemon wheel
For syrup:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
In a shaker, combine 2 ounces vodka, 2 ounces strong green tea (cooled), 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. grated fresh ginger, 1 tsp. simple sugar syrup (see below). Shake and strain into a tall glass with ice. Garnish with lime or lemon wheel.
To make syrup: Mix equal parts—about 1/2 cup of each—sugar and water in a saucepan over low heat; stir until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
Cheers!