Saint Patricks Day celebrations have been in full swing this past week as St. Patty's Day approaches on the 17th. Worcester had a parade in honor of the holiday on Sunday the 8th, and this weekend is Boston's edition. These parades come at a perfect time when we all are ready to get outside and have a little fun in the fresh air. St.Patricks Day can bring with it a few bad habits, just like any holiday, of making unhealthy choices that may satisfy your lips, but not your hips.
Being Irish I know that celebrating St. Patricks Day typically involves corn beef and cabbage, beer, leprechauns, shamrocks and everything artificially colored green you can imagine. But what I am more interested in recently is green tea. Put down the beer and shakes and pick up some green tea!
I've been reading many posts lately about the Shamrock Shakes that McDonald's offers and their harmfulness. I've been researching their components and nutrition facts and it turns out as simple as they seem, Shamrock Shakes contain 33 different ingredients! If you want to read more about "why you should never drink a shamrock shake", check out http://bamboocorefitness.com. The alternative
green liquid that I swap out for these chemically filled beverages is green tea.
Green tea is sweet and refreshing. Instead of coffee in the morning, I tend to substitute it for tea as much as possible because it can do the same job as coffee with added benefits. Tea can also help when waking up and stimulates the brains. It improves brain function with the help of the amino acid L-theanine. Green tea gives you a slight kick that is good for you.
An essential antioxidant in green tea is called catechin. It is an antioxidant that fights cell damage. Green tea is not processed much before it's poured in your cup, so it's rich in these nutrients.
My boss at work the other day said to me that she has been on a "green tea diet". Basically she is using green tea as a fat burner. Although I do not suggest this as a healthy way to loose weight, it is one benefit of green tea. It increases the metabolism in the body and can also cleanse the body in large quantities. Just substitute soda or sugary beverages for 1-2 cups of green tea for a few months.
XOXO, Hannah
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