Twinings Green Tea Benefits
Green tea comes with a host of health benefits and is a smarter sipping choice than soda or other sugary beverages. Twinings sells a number of green tea varieties including gunpowder, jasmine and fruit-flavored options. Some of its teas are organic and fair-trade, and the company also offers a decaffeinated green tea. Like all green, black and white teas, Twinings green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
A small cup of green tea. (Image: JIKINAARGO/iStock/Getty Images)Weight Management
Green teas such as Twinings' contain antioxidants called catechins as well as caffeine. Together, these substances may help you lose weight, according to an analysis of existing research published in "The American Journal of Nutrition" in 2010. The study authors found that, on average, participants who consumed catechins with caffeine lost about 3 pounds more than those who only took caffeine. Help maximize this boost by drinking your tea plain or with a squeeze of lemon instead of with sugar.
Cholesterol Control
A number of studies have linked green-tea consumption to healthier cholesterol levels, according to NYU Langone Medical Center. Specifically, green tea may lower levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol can build up on artery walls and form a hard plaque that makes the arteries narrow and rigid. This condition, called atherosclerosis, helps set the stage for heart attack and stroke, which occur when a blood clot becomes lodged in an artery.
Possible Cancer Protection
Although more research is needed, some studies suggest that green tea may help prevent cancer, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cancer rates are lower in regions where green-tea consumption is high, and preliminary research shows that the tea is a possible cause. Researches are looking at green tea's role in preventing cancer of the bladder, breasts, skin and other organs.
Healthy Tea Drinking
To reap the full health benefits of green tea, Harvard Health Publications recommends drinking a cup of tea several times per day. It also recommends steeping your tea for three to five minutes to draw out the catechins. Decaffeinated green tea contains fewer catechins than regular tea, although it still may be a superior choice in the evening if caffeine prevents you from sleeping. Caffeine may also cause nervousness, upset stomach and rapid heartbeat, and drinking large amounts of tea may produce these effects.
