I have been steadily working at becoming a tea drinker for a long time now. I still drink coffee and the occasional soda but I try to consistently drink 4 cups of tea a day.

Tea, much like coffee, is an acquired taste and after a few years of choking down green tea every day I can honestly say I enjoy it and I even appreciate the subtle differences among green tea varieties. I no longer need to sweeten it and I prefer plain green tea to tea blends.

When I first started drinking tea I did so for the health benefits. Green tea is rich in antioxidant compounds called polyphenols which may help prevent cancer and heart disease. These compounds work in several ways to improve our health including:

• Acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.
• Reducing high blood pressure.
• Inhibiting the formation of blood clots in artery walls.
• Helping block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
• Steadying blood sugar levels.
• Inhibiting growth of cancer cells
• Researchers say that substances found in green tea known as catechins may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and decreasing body fat by increasing fat oxidation and raising metabolism.
• Enhancing immune function and helping fight infections

Green tea is an unfermented tea which is steamed before drying to prevent fermentation and retain the green color. This method of preparation preserves the high polyphenol content found in green tea making it the heart-healthy workhorse of my diet.

Green tea normally only needs 1-3 minutes to steep so be sure to read the preparation instructions on the packaging carefully. If you oversteep the tea it will become very bitter. I always keep several different kinds and brands of tea on hand at any given time to keep it interesting. Acquiring a taste for green tea isn’t going to be easy for everyone but your heart will thank you for the effort.