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A Brew for Your Brain

Rating: 4 out of 5
Green tea is not only good for your body, but it also may be good for your brain.

In a study, older people who drank at least 2 cups of antioxidant-rich green tea per day were about 50 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment compared to the people who drank 3 or fewer cups per week. Exercising regularly and keeping your brain busy with puzzles, books, and problem solving are other good ways to stay sharp.

Correct water temperature and steeping time are important when making a flavorful cup of tea. Black and herbal teas should be prepared with boiling water and steeped for 4 to 6 minutes. However, these conditions are too harsh for delicate green tea and may affect the flavor and potency. When preparing green tea, heat water to approximately 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a thermometer, just bring the water to a boil and then remove it from the heat source for about a minute. Pour the water over your green tea bag or leaves and steep for 2 to 3 minutes, the optimal infusion time for this kind of tea.
RealAge Benefit: Getting the right amount of antioxidants through diet or supplements can make your RealAge 6 years younger.

RealAge Smart Search: Find out where the experts stand on the health benefits of green tea with the latest research from our health search engine.

References Published on 04/06/2006.
Green tea consumption and cognitive function: a cross-sectional study from the Tsurugaya Project. Kuriyama, S., Hozawa, A., Ohmori, K., Shimazu, T., Matsui, T., Ebihara, S., Awata, S., Nagatomi, R., Arai, H., Tsuji, I., The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2006 Feb;83(2):355-361.

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rogere
23 of 24 people found this helpful.
2/5/2009 8:19:15 AM

DO NOT "nuke" your tea like I used to do. If you heat water with the green tea bag in a microwave the tea loses ALL of its beneficial proper [Show More]
nelle1
11 of 14 people found this helpful.
9/30/2008 11:19:00 AM

I use a coffee maker to make hot tea and then add ice when I want it cold. I open the tea bags and dump the leaves into the coffee filter a [Show More]
AnkleWeigh...
5 of 5 people found this helpful.
9/29/2008 10:28:06 PM

"Yes, I think: Will the ice tea version work as well?
Willysgirl"
Answer:
After the boiling water has cooled,--- add it to the tea leaves/b
[Show More]
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