Carbohydrates are macronutrients found in foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, meats, legumes, and nuts. These provide us with essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, minerals, and fats.
They are part of every meal we eat. We cannot live without carbs. They are the main source of fuel in our body. However, some carbs are unhealthy.
The most common types of carbohydrates include sugars, starches, and fibres. Sugars are simple carbohydrates that contain one sugar molecule. Starches are complex carbohydrates that contain many glucose molecules linked together.
Fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, and rice are examples of starches. Fibres are long chains of carbohydrate polymers, which are often insoluble. Examples of fibres include wheat bran, oat bran, and psyllium husk.
You might ask if there is some limit to how much you should consume. Well, there isn’t a specific recommended daily allowance (RDA).
However, it varies depending upon the type of carb you are consuming. For example, people who do not consume enough fibre tend to develop constipation. In addition, those who consume too much sugar could suffer from diabetes.
So what exactly happens when we consume carbs? Here’s what happens:
- Glucose gets absorbed into the bloodstream. This helps give your brain the energy it needs to function properly.
- Insulin is secreted by pancreas. It regulates the level of glucose in the bloodstream. If insulin levels rise, the liver breaks down glycogen stores to produce glucose.
Thankfully green tea does not contain any carbs making it a great addition to the diets of those who are following a low carb regime.
What Exactly Is Green Tea?
Green tea contains about 10 times the amount of polyphenols as regular brewed coffee, according to NCCIH.
Polyphenols are antioxidants that help protect against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. They’re also responsible for giving green tea its bright colour.
Green tea leaves are not allowed to oxidise, which accounts, in part, for its fresh, almost grassy taste. This allows the leaves to retain chlorophyll, which gives it its characteristic yellowish colour.
History
Tea drinking is a ritual that dates back thousands of years. Ancient Chinese records show that Emperor Shennung drank green tea around 2737 BC, while ancient Egyptians enjoyed theirs in the form of a sweet drink.
In Japan, green tea became popular during the Heian period (794 – 1185 AD), where it was served alongside rice wine and sake. The Japanese still enjoy green tea today, along with the rest of the world.
Health Benefits
Research suggests that green tea consumption is associated with lower risks of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and obesity.
Green tea popularity has increased over the years due to its health benefits. However, there are still many people who do not know about the fact that green tea contains no carbs.
In addition to being low in calories and fat, green tea is also very rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants help protect against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. They also reduce inflammation and prevent premature ageing.
The caffeine present in green tea helps boost metabolism and burn fat faster. As such, drinking green tea regularly can lead to better weight management. How much should you drink?
Drinking three cups of green tea per day could help people maintain a healthy lifestyle. Researchers say green tea contains catechins, which are thought to improve energy levels. They believe it acts like caffeine, but without the jitters.
Polyphenols are believed to protect against damage caused by free radicals – molecules produced during normal metabolism that can cause cell damage.
Regular consumption of green tea can lead to feeling satiated longer after eating. This is obviously a big deal for anyone trying to shed pounds, since it means you won’t feel like snacking on junk food later on.
So, how does green tea work? Researchers believe that the caffeine in green tea stimulates the brain’s reward centre, resulting in a sense of satisfaction.
They also say that catechins, chemicals present in green tea, are responsible for the effect.
Keto Diets
The word “green tea” usually refers to Japanese style green tea, but there are many different kinds of green teas around the world. There are over 20 varieties of green tea grown in China alone.
In Japan, green tea is called gyokuro, while in Korea it’s known as bancha. And in India, it’s known as chai. So what exactly makes up a cup of green tea? Let’s take a look.
Water
First things first, you’re going to need water. This is probably the most important part of drinking green tea. If you use tap water, that’s fine.
However, filtered or bottled water is better. You want to make sure you don’t add anything else to the water, like sugar or milk. Just plain old H2O.
Tea Leaves
Next you’ll need some loose tea leaves. These come in bags, but many people prefer to buy loose leaf tea because they can control how much they put into each cup.
Some people enjoy having varying amounts of tea leaves depending on how strong they like their tea. For example, if you like your tea very strong, you might add more leaves than someone who likes their tea milder.
How To Make Green Tea At Home
Making green tea at home is easy, quick and very affordable. All you need is 10 minutes, 2 cups of water, 20g of tea leaves and 10 seconds of boiling water against 3 hours spent in a coffee shop.
There are many ways to brew green tea at home. In fact, there are thousands of different recipes that are suitable for every budget and palate.
So whether you’re looking for a healthy and tasty cup of tea to refresh yourself after work or just want something delicious to serve your family, you’re sure to find a recipe that works for you online. Let’s look at one such popular recipe.
Green Tea Latte Recipe
This recipe makes enough for 4 people. Ingredients include 5g of green tea leaves, 200ml of milk, 150ml of cold black coffee and sugar.
The ratio of green tea to milk varies according to personal preference. You can experiment with different amounts until you find the perfect combination.
Put the green tea leaves into a teapot. Pour over hot water and add the milk. Allow the mixture to sit for five minutes.
Conclusion
Drinking green tea has been shown to have so many health benefits , lt’s no wonder why so many people drink this amazing beverage!
One of the most common things I talk to my clients about is calories, but so few of them actually know anything about them.
Calories is not a dirty word. If you remove emotion from it, it is simply a unit of energy.
We need calories to live and thrive, and knowing how many to consume is important to ensure that you’re living a healthy lifestyle.
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