An Antioxidant Boost for Your Tea

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

14 Jul 2008 07:12 AM

Tea is good for you. We've discussed it plenty of times here at Families.com. It's full of healthy antioxidants that can provide all sorts of health benefits! Green tea has become the superhero of the tea world, with a ton and a half of good press.

Are you ready to make your green tea even healthier? A study from Purdue University has figured out how to kick your antioxidant absorption up a notch -- add a splash of citrus juice.

Just three tablespoons of your favorite citrus juice (lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit) can improve the stability of catechins -- antioxidants in tea that can help prevent cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Making the catechins more stable means you've got the chance to absorb as much as five times as much as you would in a regular cup of green tea.

Most teas are high in catechins. However, catechins are unstable in certain environments -- including the human digestive system. Adding three tablespoons of citrus juice can stabilize the catechins so that more of them survive the trip and can be absorbed into your system.

How do you get the most benefit from your cup of tea? Steep your teabag in a cup of boiling water for three to five minutes -- this will ensure high antioxidant levels. Add the citrus juice of your choice before drinking. I'm not sure how this will taste with milk, though. I like my tea with lemon and sugar, so milk isn't an issue. If you do try it, let me know how citrus-boosted tea tastes with milk.

In my fridge right now are a jug of iced black tea and a jug of iced green tea. I think I'll add some lemon juice to my next glass of tea! Hopefully, the antioxidants are still present after the tea has been chilled.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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