Marrying green tea and honey promises a refreshing and nutritious beverage with medicinal qualities comparable to some pharmaceuticals, according to the latest science.
Green tea is made from the un-fermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. These leaves house polyphenols, the scientific term for plant-based antioxidants.
Honey is a perfect compliment to green tea, with its sweet flavor and throat-soothing capabilities. Honey is also a rich source of health-supporting substances. Use caution with herbal teas as herbs contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Healing Agents
Green tea has been the focus of much scientific research in America and abroad.
A 2005 study of green tea attributes by the Department of Food Science and Microbiology at the University of Milan concluded that including green tea in a balanced diet improves the antioxidative status, and prevents excessive oxidative damage the body.
Honey has its share of scientific study. Add a bit of honey to a hot cup of green tea and give your body a battalion of support when fighting a cold. According to Dr. James M. Steckleberg of the Mayo Clinic, drinking tea with honey at night, when you have a cough, has been shown to reduce coughing and improve sleep. Furthermore, he adds that honey seems to be as effective as the pharmaceutical drug dextromethorphan at reducing coughs.
Protect LDL Cholesterol
Protecting the good cholesterol and reducing the bad is the goal of this numbers game of maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Registered dietitian Nadine Taylor explains that the antioxidants in green tea leaves prevent the destruction, known as “oxidation,” of the good LDL cholesterol. This has the effect of helping to keep the arteries free of plaque and debris.
Honey may offer protection from heart disease also, based on a 2002 study by to Nicki Engeseth, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois.
Anti-Inflammatory
The American Heart Association describes inflammation as: "the process by which the body responds to injury or an infection." These problems happen in the inner and outer realms of the body. Drink green tea with honey to assist the body in fighting inflammation in those inner realms. Anti-inflammatory properties reside in both honey and green tea leaves. The “Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine” published a study in its November 2007 edition, citing the anti-inflammatory activity of honey, such as the reduction of edema, or swelling. Likewise, a 2001 study of green tea by the Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute in Japan suggests that green tea has preventive effects for chronic inflammatory diseases including cancer. The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine recommends telling your health care provider about any complementary and alternative practices you use.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea
- Pub Med: Effectiveness of moderate green tea consumption on antioxidative status and plasma lipid profile in humans
- Mayo Clinic: Honey-An Effect Cough Remedy?
- Green Tea Library: Green Tea-Cholesterol and Blood Fats
- American Chemical Society: Honey Fights Cholesterol as well as Some Fruits and Vegetables
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