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AYURVEDIC FOODS

GREEN TEA

Health Benefits & Uses

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Customer Reviews

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"OH! I didn't know that about the maca and green tea that it can lower thyroid function...uh oh. I have a..."

- Rachel, San antonio

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How Can This Ayurvedic Food Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Green tea energizes your mind, but without the jitters of coffee. As you sip a cup of green tea, you feel clean and clear. Your mind doesn't race as it does does with coffee. Instead, you feel present and aware. Green tea is the very expression of the "metal element" of Chinese Medicine - pure, mathematical, austere.

Formalized rituals around green tea point to the stark elegance evoked by this herb. Green tea is orderly. It allows you to view life quietly. Unlike coffee, which is adorned with cream and sugar, green tea stripped to its bare essentials. It needs no ornament. This minimalist herb subscribes to the Zen principle, "Less is more."

It's pale green color has a mild herbal taste with a touch of earthy bitterness. It is otherwise mostly bland. The warmth in a cup of green tea calms the nerves as it warms up circulation. A cup of green tea, filled with antioxidants and an abundance of healing qualities, is an excellent substitute for coffee as your morning pick me up.

Green tea is an herb with an illustrious history, as the tea of Emperors and sages. According to legend, Prince Dharma travelled to China sharing Buddhism. He made a vow to remain awake for his entire nine year mission. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts he fell asleep. "Upon awakening, he was so disgusted with himself, he tore off his eyelids, to ensure that they would never inadvertently close again. The place where he threw them on the ground produced enchanted (tea) shrubs with leaves having the power to keep eyelids open. As you can see, in each story, green tea is the herb that helps Bodi Dhama remain austere, refined, true to his path.

Green Tea for Weight Loss

A cup of steaming, pleasantly bitter green tea helps you lose weight when combined with healthy diet and exercise. It's diuretic properties remove excess water from your system reducing puffiness, edema, and a feeling of heaviness. Swiss researchers have preliminary evidence that green tea accelerates the burning of fat calories in people who are overweight, reducing cholesterol, high lipids, and triglycerides.

The bitterness of green tea also helps you detoxify. Green Tea can help regulate your blood sugar and insulin levels, helpful in diabetes. Green tea can also help to prevent plaque buildup on the teeth, since the leaves contain a natural fluoride.

Heart Health

Green Tea helps you take care of your heart. It reduces blood clots through it's bitter, blood-thinning taste, as well as reducing cholesterol, lipids, and triglycerides. It's diuretic action lowers blood pressure. Studies show that green tea may actually lower the risk of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the blood vessels) through anti-oxidant action.

Brighten Your Mind

Green tea has a lower amount of caffeine than coffee, but still gives a nice pick-me-up. Instead of feeling jittery and agitated, green tea gives a softer lift that clears and focuses your mind in the midst of a long day. It is often used in China to soften the pain of migraine headaches.

Additional Health Benefits

Green tea's many health benefits include the healing of ulcers, curing bad breath, and encouraging healthy digestion. Unlike coffee which aggravates inflammation, green tea is an anti-inflammatory. Additionally, green tea boosts your immunity against both viral and bacterial colds and flus. These health benefits are ascribed to the high content of bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols. Due to its stimulating nature, bitter taste and drying effects, caffeine in all forms provokes Vata dosha. Find alternative stimulants such as ginger when energy is depleted due to Vata. However, green tea does one great thing for Vata- it can prevent osteoporosis.

ABOUT GREEN TEA

Green Tea is a preparation using minimally processed leaves from the camellia sinensis plant. This is the same plant used in normal black tea. Black tea leaves, however, are more processed.

BUYING & PREPARATION

The world of green tea is greatly nuanced. Steeping times vary from 30 seconds to two minutes and can make a world of difference between light and clean to extremely bitter. Make sure you read the preparation instructions for your tea. The most common types of green tea are longjing and gunpowder which please novice to expert. Try different types like the extremely light macha and revered puh-er.

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WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

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When I Eat Green Tea:

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I FEEL BETTER I FEEL WORSE I FEEL THE SAME

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Is Green Tea Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Green Tea is a good fit for your body type. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

SERVING SIZE: 1/8 tsp

SPECIES: Camellia sinensis

FAMILY: Theaceae

MEAL: DRINK

STYLE: ASIAN

PREPARATION: TEA

EAT IN: SPRING

FOR OCCASION: CLEANSE

AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICS

What is the biocharacteristic theory of medicine?

INCREASES

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

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LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma).

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter is disagreeable and stimulating rejection, and a strong taste often associated with black coffee, dark chocolate, and most salad greens.

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DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion.

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PACIFIES	AGGRAVATES

HAS THE FOLLOWING

Effect:

Prana

PRANA

Prana is the Sanskrit word for vital life energy, similar to Qi in Chinese Medicine. Many herbs stimulate your energy, or improve the flow of prana through your body. Generally, prana needs to be increased in spring after a sleepy winter.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PRANA

Rajasic

RAJASIC

Rajasic foods stimulate desire or nervous energy. Red meat, high protein food, garlic and onions stimulate desire. Rajasic foods include chili peppers, coffee, and anything that stimulates movement.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RAJASIC

Sattvic

SATTVIC

Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness.

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Alkalizing

ALKALIZING

An herb or food that makes the urine more alkaline (higher pH). This herbal action can be helpful for a number of inflammatory conditions.

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Type:
Spices
Element:

Air

AIR

Resembles air (vayu) in quality - highly mobile, drying, light, cold, subtle, rough.

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Ether

ETHER

Resembles ether or space (akasha) in quality - light, subtle, clear, soft.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ETHER

Subtaste:

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

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Bland

BLAND

Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLAND

Color:
Green
Tissue (dhatu):

Blood Plasma Lymph

BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH

Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH

Fat

FAT

Fat tissue (Meda Dhatu) includes adipose tissue and sebum (skin oil).

LEARN MORE ABOUT FAT

Moves Energy:

Upward

UPWARD

Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating, or that move upward in the body.

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Family:
Theaceae

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Here are the herbal actions of Green Tea:

Digestion:

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

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Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SPLEEN-TONIC

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Stimulates crown

STIMULATES-CROWN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area at the top of the head.

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Stimulates front of brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

LEARN MORE ABOUT STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Energy Vitality:

Stimulates energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs

LEARN MORE ABOUT STIMULATES-ENERGY

Respiratory-Health:

Bronchodilator

BRONCHODILATOR

An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. Helpful in cough and asthma.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BRONCHODILATOR

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Antibacterial

ANTIBACTERIAL

Herbs that kill bacteria or slow their growth.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTIBACTERIAL

Anticarcinogenic

ANTICARCINOGENIC

Herbs that inhibit or prevent the activity of a carcinogen or the development of cancer.

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Antiviral

ANTIVIRAL

Herbs that inhibit the development of viral infections. Antivirals also can be found in essential oils of some herbs, such as eucalyptus oil.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTIVIRAL

Heart & Circulation:

Cardiac stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

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Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLOOD-THINNER

Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIURETIC

Weight Loss:

Lowers Thyroid

LOWERS-THYROID

Reduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LOWERS-THYROID

Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

Green Tea Research & Clinical Trials

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.