First of all, why do I drink green tea? Years ago I was attracted to the Asian culture. I always had a subtle draw to it. But, when I went out to eat at Chinese restaurants in the past, I always loved drinking tea without sugar.

I used to drink Coffee, but discovered it likely caused ‘leaky gut syndrome’ in me. The oils in coffee are quite damaging to our beneficial bacteria. I believe it made holes or perforations in my gut wall leading to inflammation (aches and pains throughout my body in muscles and joints.)

‘This is not a new beverage, as people in Japan and China have been drinking tea for thousands of years’

Ever since I stopped drinking coffee, I feel my gut has healed. I heard it doesn’t take long for the gut to heal when you start eating and drinking things that don’t keep damaging it. I could never drink coffee black.

‘Green tea as a beverage or dietary supplement is promoted for improving mental alertness, relieving digestive symptoms and headaches, and promoting weight loss. Green tea and its components, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), have been studied for their possible protective effects against heart disease and cancer [1]’.

I always needed to add sugar and half and half. But, sugar isn’t good, neither is dairy. So, there was no way I’d keep drinking coffee if my only choice were drinking it black. Our taste buds try to steer us away from bitter tasting foods and drink. To me, black coffee actually tastes poisonous when not sweetened and creamy.

‘They say coffee has health benefits. I have my doubts’

I drink a pot of Japanese green tea everyday. It’s what helps get me up. I look forward to my first hot cup of it as I look out my window to the birds, lizards and squirrels in my backyard. Tea gives me a calm energy and peaceful outlook on life. That, I like.

Source- 1 “Green Tea.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/green-tea.

Note- consult your doctor before you change your diet.