Friday, May 8, 2009

Green Tea Ginger Lemonade Sweetened with Agave



There are so many reasons to drink this tea that I am not certain where to start. Every ingredient in this tea, except the agave is good for your health. I will list each individually and their health benefits

Green tea is reportedly good for almost everything that may ail you. Green tea is an anticoagulant, antibiotic, antiviral, anti-ulcer agent and cavity fighter to name a few. It has been linked to a reduction in the incidence to cancer. There have been studies that seem to indicate that it boosts your metabolism. According to the author of Anticancer you need to steep the tea for 10 minutes and drink it within 2 hours of brewing to reap the maximum benefits from the tea.

Lemons are another food that contains anti-inflammatory flavonoids. They are reported to stimulate the detoxification of carcinogens by the liver. The d-limonene in the zest is also said to help protect your skin from cancer.

Ginger is also anti-inflammatory and has powerful antioxidants. The author of Anticancer wrote that ginger helps to reduce the creation of new blood vessels, which keeps cancer from rapidly spreading. Ginger has also been reported to help relieve migraines.

I feel so virtuous when I make a pot of this tea. Make certain you only make as much as you can drink in two hours so that you get all the benefits from the green tea.



Green Tea Ginger Lemonade Sweetened with Agave

Ingredients:

3 bags of green tea
16 ounces of water
1 tablespoon of agave (more if you have a sweet tooth)
one lemon (juice and zest cut off in large strips that can be strained away)
¼ inch piece of ginger cut into very thin coins

Directions:

Add green tea bags, lemon zest, and ginger to 8 ounces of hot water and steep for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes strain tea and add agave and stir so that it is distributed throughout the tea. I cool the tea as quickly as possible by putting the container in a larger vessel filled with ice water. When the tea has cooled to room temperature add lemon juice and ice. I prefer my beverages to be lightly sweet, but you may like more agave.

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