Knowledge is Healing

Over the years, people have come up with some very interesting cake recipes. For instance, there is chocolate and zucchini cake, Coca Cola cake, and Kaluha cake, all delicious but not necessarily healthy. As you will discover in this article, you have another option in the form of a recipe for green tea cake. With this, you have both flavor and a healthy snack.

Although we have provided you with our favorite recipe for green tea cake, keep in mind that you will find many variations. In addition, you might take the recipe we have and modify it using your own creativity. Regardless, a green tea cake makes a wonderful dessert when entertaining guests or snack for the kids after school. Green tea cakes are light, moist, and offer just the right amount of sweet.

You will even find that with this recipe for green cake tea fills the room with a wonderful, green tea fragrance. This type of cake can be made as a sheet cake, layer cake, or for different types of molds. As far as icing, you could choose whatever you like but we do suggest you consider a cream cheese based icing, which adds just the right touch of flavor to complement the cake’s ingredients. If you want to give this recipe for green tea cake a slight green color, you can add an additional amount of Matcha, which is green tea powder.

RECIPE FOR GREEN TEA CAKE
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 to 5 teaspoons powdered green tea
1 ¼ cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs

RECIPE FOR ICING
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
2 ½ teaspoons powdered green tea
2 tablespoons butter or margerine, soft
3 ounces cream cheese, soft
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons milk

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch or two, 9-inch cake pans. In a bowl, sift the all-purpose flour with cake flour, baking soda, salt, and green tea powder, mix well and set aside. In another bowl, beat the white sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the yogurt. Mix well and pour the batter into the prepared baking pans. Bake the cake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a cake rack for 30 minutes before icing.

For the icing, sift the powdered sugar with the green tea powder in a bowl. In a second bowl, mix the sugar/tea mixture with butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and milk. Beat until smooth with an electric mixer. Spread the icing on the cooled cakes, distributing evenly. To enhance the appearance for this recipe of green tea cake, you could sprinkle a small amount of the green tea powder on top.

Julie Health writes about health benefits of green tea and has provided you with more recipes using green tea.

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Whether dieting or needing energy for sports performance, a smoothie made with the right ingredients would provide a huge nutritional benefit. A growing trend is the incorporation of green tea into our society. Considering that green tea has been studied intensely and proven to provide excellent health benefits, it would only make sense that someone would come up with a green tea smoothie recipe.

Over time, the initial green tea smoothie recipe has evolved. Now, while we are providing you with more than one green tea smoothie recipe, remember that you can add or delete whatever ingredients you want. This would be a great time to experiment, coming up with a smoothie that you love. Green tea adds a slight, sweet taste that works exceptionally well with fruits and vegetables.

You will even discover that your kids love smoothies made from green tea. Used as a breakfast food, afternoon or after school snack, or to improve performance and stamina, you cannot beat green tea. Oriental people have long appreciated green tea and now, people in this country are discovering the benefits. These smoothies can be made using actual brewed green tea or green tea powder, known as Match, which can be found at health or Asian food stores. Below we have listed recipes for green tea smoothies, which are delicious and nutritious.

Green Tea Smoothie Recipe – One

1 large peach, fresh, pitted, and sliced or cubed or ¾ cup canned peaches, drained
1/2 banana, sliced
1 ½ tablespoons honey
1 cup of brewed green tea, chilled
1/2 to 3/4 cup ice cubes

Brew the green tea and then chill for 45 to 60 mutes. In a blender, mix all the ingredients until creamy and smooth. If you like, this green tea smoothie can be decorated with a fresh peach slice.

Green Tea Smoothie Recipe – Two

1 cup milk
1/2 cup low-fat vanilla or vanilla bean ice cream
2 ½ tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1 banana, frozen and cubed

In a blender, add all the ingredients, blending until smooth.

Green Tea Smoothie Recipe – Three

1 1/2 cups cantaloupe or honeydew, diced
1/2 cup lemon or vanilla yogurt
1 cup green grapes, frozen
1 tablespoon fresh mint, minced
Lemon juice, fresh

In a blender, add all the ingredients, blending until creamy. If you prefer a tarter flavor, add additional lemon juice.

Again, we suggest you take a base green tea smoothie recipe and have fun coming up with your own creation. This would be an excellent project for the kids too while also having the opportunity to teach them about health and nutrition. In addition to cold smoothies, you might also consider creating hot smoothies, similar to green tea soup. Today, we often grab fast food simply due to a lack of time. Now, you could use a green tea smoothie recipe instead, knowing you are providing your body with rich nutrients while also having excellent taste. Quick and easy, it is no wonder green tea has become such a huge hit!

Julie Health writes about health benefits of green tea and has provided you with more recipes using green tea.

You may reprint the article above in its entirety provided the resource box and its links remain.

Green tea has become very popular due to the essential health benefits it brings. It has a very long history in being used by Asians as traditional medicine for many years. In addition to adding to one’s vitality, in recent years scientific research has also shown that green tea can help with weight loss.

The green tea diet is different from all other tea diets because its liquid is extracted by steaming the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant as opposed to full oxidation. As a result, the green tea diet preserves a lot more antioxidants for the body to use. The fact that green tea is a natural ingredient makes it a healthy drink which anyone can drink with no long term harmful side effects, unlike other drugs for weight loss.

What are the key health benefits of green tea diet?

The green tea can diet can help fight the signs of aging since it contains big amounts vitamins C and E which are antioxidants. This marvelous drink is an outstanding source of polycatechin polyphenols, antioxidants that can fight free radicals that damage cells. Heart attacks, cancer and diabetes are some of the diseases that can be caused by damaged cell membranes. Due to green tea diet’s polycatechin polyphenols, a person has a better chance of evading ailments and keeping himself healthy for a much longer period of time. One can get better vitality by simply drinking green tea diet.

There are currently ongoing studies on another antioxidant which is available in green tea diet which can potentially cure cancer. Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG found in green tea diet has been discovered to destroy cancer cells while keeping surrounding healthy cells unharmed. By simply drinking green tea diet, one can also reduce the risk of cancer.

Some studies in recent years have also shown that drinking green tea can help lose some weight. It has been noted by a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that with the consumption of green tea diet, the body’s total 24-hour energy expenditure is boosted by up to 4%. Green tea diet helps increase the body’s metabolic rates. With its thermogenic properties, it is only natural that green tea diet can also promote faster metabolism of fats and sugars. With the green tea diet, one can therefore lose weight without doing a workout at the gym.

Green tea can also help your body fight any infections. Some recent studies have shown that drinking tea increases the immunity system, thus strengthening the body’s ability to fight diseases.

In recent years, the green tea diet has also been proved to lower blood pressure and also help asthma sufferers. Green tea contains theophylline which can help muscles surrounding bronchial tubes to relax, thus helping asthma sufferers to breathe easier.

With all these benefits of green tea diet, why should you pass up on boosting your body’s vitality and lose weight at the same time?

Are there any downside effects to green tea diet? Even though green tea diet has a reputation for boosting health, scientific evidence of its health benefits are rather mixed.

In an article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, American researchers collaborated with their Chinese counterparts to discuss the positive effects of green tea diet on cholesterol levels. Using a sample of 240 men and women (average age 55) who possess moderate to high LDL cholesterol levels, the researchers instructed them to retain their usual low-fat diet, green tea diet intake, and activity levels. After three months, those who consumed green tea diet extract with their regular meals lost more than 15% of their total LDL cholesterol levels. This finding therefore further supported the benefits of green tea.

Based on recent studies and experience, the general consensus is that green tea offers several health benefits and also help with losing weight.

Dieting generally involves eating well and exercising. Green tea diet, like all other diets, needs a lot of effort and commitment for those who try it. This diet requires both discipline and dedication for it to make any significant impact on your weight loss goals. With the green tea diet, you lose weight and also keep your body healthy.

Julie Health writes about the health benefits of drinking green tea like its weight loss benefits at her website.

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Today, most people have heard about green tea, learning about the many benefits offered. For instance, green tea helps fight cancer, lower bad cholesterol, fight tooth decay, reduce weight, and lower high blood pressure. While these benefits are proven facts coming from in-depth studies performed around the world, the properties of green tea are not completely understood by most consumers.

As you will discover in this article, the properties of green tea are basic but powerful. First, green tea originates from various Asian countries to include Japan and China. The leaves are removed and used as the tea, usually by being steamed rather than boiling as we do in the United States. Additionally, green tea leaves can be dried and made into powder form used for baking, cooking, and even developed into supplement form via tablet or capsule.

Regardless of the form, the properties of green tea are what we find so fascinating. Keep in mind that while you will find different forms and strength of green tea, the properties of green tea do not change unless you purchase a product blended with other tea or ingredients. The primary benefit is antioxidant properties of green tea. In addition, each leaf contains caffeine, theanine, an amino acid, catechin, chlorophyll, butyric acid, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, F, P, and U, and minerals to include saponin, saccharides, and pectin.

In addition to the obvious benefits, remember that the ingredients are natural, making green tea use even more attractive. However, the way in which the tea is processed could change the base structure of the properties. As mentioned, Asian people steam the leaves, which mean the properties of the green tea are unchanged. Therefore, the benefits by consuming green tea are much greater than when the leaves are boiled.

Since the antioxidant properties of green tea are the most valuable, we want to address them. A number of studies show lipid peroxidation is inhibited up to six times more consuming green tea than other types of tea. Lipid peroxidation is a reference to the oxidative degeneration of lipids in which free radicals rob important electrons from the lipids found in cell membranes. When this occurs, cells are damaged.

The properties of green tea also include catechine, an active ingredient that performs up to ten times better than beta carotene and vitamin C in cleaning out alkyl peroxyl radicals. Another of the green tea properties known as polyphenols has been proven more powerful than antioxidants found in rosemary, curcumin, and vitamins C and E. Broken down, this means oxidants within the body are found and cleaned before cell damage occurs. Other benefits to this green tea property are the reduction and elimination of cancer cells.

In addition, properties of green tea help grow strong nails and hair, as well as prevent tooth decay by killing off bacteria that causes plaque. In addition to eliminating problems with cavities, bad breath is also stopped. The bottom line is that properties found within green tea have multiple impacts on the body, all good.

Julie Health writes about the benefits of drinking green tea and other beneficial green tea products at her website.

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When it comes to green tea, many people enjoy a hot cup of tea in the morning in lieu of coffee. Then, you have individuals who love an ice-cold glass of green tea. Another option is those who love cooking or creating dishes using dry green tea. Then, for people on the go who still want to take full advantage of the wide range of nutrients and health benefits associated with green tea, supplements are available in both capsule and tablet form.

Unfortunately, not all supplements are the same. For that reason, we wanted to provide you with some excellent green tea supplement reviews to help you choose the best produce possible. Keep in mind that high quality green tea supplements do not have to cost a fortune, just as pricey supplements does not always equate to quality. Therefore, these green tea supplement reviews will show you some of the best brands on the market today, products that are processed in reputable facilities with closely monitored operations.

• Nature’s Plus Chinese Green Tea – 100% natural with no preservatives or coloring, Nature’s Plus is rated as a top brand.
• Nature’s Herbs Green Tea Powder – Available in both caffeine and caffeine-free formulas, this particular product is affordable and uses only the highest quality green tea leaves.
• Source Naturals – This green tea extract comes in 100 mg, offering all the wonderful benefits of quality green tea but in a new, convenient form.
• Jarrow’s Green Tea Powder – Containing 33% catechin, Jarrow’s is a top choice. While a little pricier than other brands, this product is worth the money.
• NOW Foods – Available in 400 mg green tea extract or 250 mg capsules, the formula consists of 40% catechins and 60% polyphenols for a very powerful solution.
• Natural Brand – This green tea extract provides quality antioxidants that help fight against cellular damage of the body.

Again, these green tea supplement reviews are just a small sampling of what you will find on the market. You could certainly purchase quality products from the larger or better-known health food stores but another option is buying online. The thing to remember when you purchase green tea supplements through the internet is that while most companies are honest, you still have some risk of buying from a company that does not follow proper processes.

Remember, the development of herbs is not controlled by the Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, buying from an unknown source could result in poor quality green tea supplements, or even dangerous problems. For example, a recent news story told of green tea that had been shipped from the United States from China. The problem was that this particular shipment of tea was contaminated with pesticides.

It is important you do your homework when buying green tea of any kind, checking various green tea supplement reviews so you have a better understanding of what you are buying. Purchase the proper strength and shop around. In addition to green tea supplement reviews specific to brands, you might also research various case studies and personal reviews for recommendations.

Julie Health writes about the health benefits of drinking green tea and other green tea products at her website.

You may reprint the article above in its entirety provided the resource box and its links remain.

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