Hi Everyone!
Ok, I've been loving my green teas every day! And working on my health at the same time...I used to drink a lot of milk, and suspected it wasn't good for me, exacerbating hypoglycemia, weight gain, hormonal imbalance, etc.
I recently switched to using small amounts of homemade nut milks (it seems to be working so far, as well!) ... and am wondering about the effects on catechins.
I know that there are conflicting theories out there - that regular cow's milk destroys catechins; but the newer theory that once the mixture is digested, the body reabsorbs catechins. Who knows - it will be interesting to see further studies on it.
For me though, cow's milk has to be really reduced - so, does anyone know or has anyone seen any studies done on the effects of milk alternatives such as nut milk on catechins in green tea? I love having my lower grade matcha as lattes...so, curious! Thoughts?
Cheers!
Hi there, thought I'd reply to my own post - no one seems to know anything about my question - Ive googled, and looked around myself, and not found anything yet either!
I wonder though, are the catechins in the green tea of interest to anyone else here? Have most people started drinking the tea purely for the taste or anyone else for health reasons?
Anyway, cheers again! ~
I wonder though, are the catechins in the green tea of interest to anyone else here? Have most people started drinking the tea purely for the taste or anyone else for health reasons?
Anyway, cheers again! ~
Feb 17th, '09, 01:27
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silverneedles
there was a poll about flavor vs health wasnt there ?
i started drinking for flavor, i still drink for flavor, i will keep on drinking for flavor.
there are more important lifestyle changes that improve health and life in a major way, vs counting how many antioxidants/flavonoids/polyphenols/catechins/egcgs are in my drink.
(i've looked for studies, still conflicting: milk+tea makes less/more catechins, i only know of milk reducing absorption, i read a study which says absorption and bioavailability of tea flavonoids is low anyway, no tea farm tests every batch for flavonoid content-maybe they should-sell the high egcg teas more expensive-for the aox nuts, no idea what non-dairy milks are made up of, i dont like the taste of very vanilla soy milk*YUM* and tea.)
i started drinking for flavor, i still drink for flavor, i will keep on drinking for flavor.
there are more important lifestyle changes that improve health and life in a major way, vs counting how many antioxidants/flavonoids/polyphenols/catechins/egcgs are in my drink.
(i've looked for studies, still conflicting: milk+tea makes less/more catechins, i only know of milk reducing absorption, i read a study which says absorption and bioavailability of tea flavonoids is low anyway, no tea farm tests every batch for flavonoid content-maybe they should-sell the high egcg teas more expensive-for the aox nuts, no idea what non-dairy milks are made up of, i dont like the taste of very vanilla soy milk*YUM* and tea.)
I'm with you, silverneedles - I drink it for flavor definitely! But got interested in the potential health benefits, when coming across articles...
I think for people who never drank much green tea, it really can be a positive change (like, switching from coffee, sugary drinks, etc)
As for a poll, I will search around this site more - just when I searched before I couldnt find anything...
And I don't bother buying those health tea 'products' like tablets, so even if there would be 'super highly concentrated catechin' tea, I doubt I would go in for that - not really interested in it as a health fad.
It will be still be interesting to know, if they ever do full, proven studies, on what actually happens, though!
About milks, nut milk is really easy to make, inexpensive, and very yummy alternative to cow's milk! So I'm enjoying that, anyway.
I think for people who never drank much green tea, it really can be a positive change (like, switching from coffee, sugary drinks, etc)
As for a poll, I will search around this site more - just when I searched before I couldnt find anything...
And I don't bother buying those health tea 'products' like tablets, so even if there would be 'super highly concentrated catechin' tea, I doubt I would go in for that - not really interested in it as a health fad.
It will be still be interesting to know, if they ever do full, proven studies, on what actually happens, though!
About milks, nut milk is really easy to make, inexpensive, and very yummy alternative to cow's milk! So I'm enjoying that, anyway.
Interesting... I haven't been a dairy milk drinker since I was a child. I drink plain (non-vanilla) soymilk, in moderation, and whole foods sells some hazelnut and hemp milks which are pretty awesome. I've tried almond milk, but it doesnt have much protein. And naturally, I don't combine these with tea, but I do add them to berry smoothies and whatnot for breakfast...tealing wrote:About milks, nut milk is really easy to make, inexpensive, and very yummy alternative to cow's milk! So I'm enjoying that, anyway.
As for tea and health, I'm quite sure tea is healthful, but I don't get too neurotic about the studies or details... I started drinking C sinensis (in its multitude of incarnations) in part for health reasons, but at this point, that is just an added bonus.
Feb 18th, '09, 11:33
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silvermage2000
I remember hearing about a study a while back regarding the health benefits of tea comparing English tea drinkers (with milk) to Japanese tea drinkers (without milk). As it looks like it's too early to make definitive statements on the matter, I simply avoid putting anything in my tea except for tea leaves and water 
. Thankfully my taste agrees with this.
I do, however, occasionally enjoy a green tea smoothie through a compromise I came up with that may or may not turn out to be efficacious: I use soy ingredients. Specifically soy milk, soy ice cream, a dab of raw honey, and some matcha or powdered sencha. The ingredients I use are 100% organic, so I at least have that part going for me. Plus it tastes delicious!
My point is threefold:
1. Drink tea, mostly plain, in as many varieties as you like.
2. If you like to add milk or milk substitutes, treat yourself occasionally.
3. Enjoy it...it's good for you!
. Thankfully my taste agrees with this.I do, however, occasionally enjoy a green tea smoothie through a compromise I came up with that may or may not turn out to be efficacious: I use soy ingredients. Specifically soy milk, soy ice cream, a dab of raw honey, and some matcha or powdered sencha. The ingredients I use are 100% organic, so I at least have that part going for me. Plus it tastes delicious!
My point is threefold:
1. Drink tea, mostly plain, in as many varieties as you like.
2. If you like to add milk or milk substitutes, treat yourself occasionally.
3. Enjoy it...it's good for you!