By Tiffany Picard

After the free-for-all eating spree otherwise known as the holiday season, many of us are ready for a change of pace in the new year. If your New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier, consider adding a cup of tea to your daily routine.

In China, tea was originally consumed as a medicinal plant for its many health benefits. Today, modern science is discovering many of these benefits as well. Green tea is often studied for its antioxidant properties. These antioxidants can help prevent the body from free radicals, which damage cells and can lead to heart disease, cancer or arteriosclerosis.
Studies indicate that drinking as little as two cups of green tea per day can help prevent the buildup of bad (LDL) cholesterol in the arteries.

In addition, people who drink two or more cups of tea per day tend to have fewer incidents of heart disease and stroke, and recover from heart attacks faster.
for your beauty.

Tea may also help speed up the metabolism and accelerate weight loss, especially when combined with exercise. The list of potential benefits goes on, from strengthening teeth to boosting the immune system to protecting the skin from harmful UV rays.

The key to changing your diet is to set realistic goals and to enjoy your new habits. Perhaps substitute a cup of tea for your morning mocha, or a candy-cane-flavored green tea for that peppermint ice cream! You never know what the cumulative effect of those single cups per day may have.
how to brew green tea.

Many people do not enjoy green tea because they feel it tastes grassy or bitter.  However, they are probably just victims of poorly brewed tea. Green teas are very delicate, so they become bitter when brewed with boiling water. Properly brewed green tea tastes sweet, smooth and rich. Steep your green tea in water below the boil, when tiny bubbles are just starting to form on the bottom of your kettle. Or bring water to a boil, then let it cool for five minutes.

A general rule of thumb is to use about one teaspoon of tea leaves per eight ounces of water. Once you add below-the-boil water to your green tea, steep leaves for 1-2 minutes at most. Then remove the teabag/tea infuser or decant the tea into a separate cup. This prevents the overly grassy or bitter flavors in green tea from coming out.
find your favorit.

While green tea is the most studied for its health benefits, all tea comes from the same plant, whether it is green, black, oolong, pu-erh or white tea. The difference is in how the leaves are processed. What is most important is that the tea you drink tastes good to you, since that is how it will become a regular habit.
In this new year, try taking small, attainable steps — or sips — toward better health!

About the writer
Tiffany Picard is a Seattle-based business consultant who specializes in the tea industry and online marketing. Visit her website at www.t-consultancy.com.