Ask Marilyn – Star Question: Confused about green tea
Q: I’m confused about green tea. I’m told it’s a good antioxidant and yet I’m also advised to cut out tea and coffee from my diet. How does green tea fit in, and should we be drinking it or avoiding it?
– Jane, Chipping Norton
A: It is rather confusing when a drink can have both negative and positive aspects. Green tea is made from the same plant as ordinary black tea but it is produced from unfermented leaves whereas black tea is made by fermenting green tea.
Green tea does contain caffeine but also high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols. These polyphenols have been found to have anti-cancer properties and can also help to reduce cholesterol and increase HDL ‘good’ cholesterol.
But the problem is the caffeine in the green tea. If you are aware that you have blood sugar swings and crave sweets or caffeine during the day or have fat around the middle then it is better to eliminate green tea for a couple of months.
Caffeine is a stimulant which prompts your body to release cortisol (one of the stress hormones) which in turn triggers the release of insulin. Over time caffeine will make your body resistant to insulin so your body will turn glucose straight into fat and store it around your middle. Caffeine will also make you feel more stressed.
Caffeine is addictive. Tea and coffee act like a drug. The trouble is that when the effect wears off you’re going to need another cup to keep you going. It’s a classic crutch for the 3 or 4pm energy dip when you could think you’ll never get through the afternoon without that cup of tea and biscuit.
So I would recommend getting your blood sugar in balance by eliminating sugar and anything containing caffeine for a while and then having a couple of cups of organic green tea a week will be healthy rather than acting as a caffeine-fix.