Toning but not stimulating, green tea has been considered an elixir of long life and a valuable ally in caring for body and soul for thousands of years.
Pleasant to drink hot in winter and cool in summer, tea is one of those things that should never be absent not only from our diet, but also from our daily lives. An excellent beverage, it is also the basis for a range of cosmetic preparations and home remedies for purifying facial skin.
Tea contains important active compounds, which undergo no alteration if the leaves are carefully dried, as is the case with the finest qualities of green tea. Whereas during tea processing the fermentation and oxidation processes destroy catechins and vitamins — the therapeutic substances with which the tea leaf is rich — green tea, whose fermentation is inhibited, undergoes none of these transformations and retains its original healthful virtues.
Rich in flavonoids, catechins, tannins, theine, theophylline, B-group vitamins, minerals and amino acids, green tea has anti-cancer and anti-ageing properties; it is also toning, diuretic and anti-inflammatory, lowers cholesterol and aids weight loss.
Green tea is also said to be a friend of fertility and to have positive effects for women who wish to become pregnant: according to Danish research, two cups a day would increase the likelihood of conceiving by 27 per cent.
Tea also has applications in cosmetics. Here are some beauty tips:
After cleansing your face with your usual cleansing milk and before applying your nourishing cream, use a green tea infusion as an alternative to your regular toner: in addition to toning the facial skin, it will have a definite firming effect, thanks to the benefits of the tannins present in large quantities.
Apply it to the skin with a cotton wool pad and wait five minutes before spreading the nourishing cream over your face.
You can reinforce the firming effect on your facial contours by applying a beauty mask made from the same green tea leaves once a week.
Green tea also has a protective effect against ultraviolet rays and reduces the risk of skin ageing: a cloth pad soaked in the infusion and spread over the body's skin makes an excellent substitute for sun protection creams and lotions, while for a deeper tan you can use almond oil in which three tablespoons of black tea have been left to macerate for a week.
To maintain a bronzed complexion, wash your face periodically with a tea infusion, or frequently dab the skin with a cotton wool pad soaked in tea that has been left to brew for a long time at high concentration: however, moderate this last step if you have dry skin.
Finally, green tea has astringent properties and its infusion can be used, combined with a few drops of lemon juice, to rub skin with an excess of sebum.
A light green tea infusion is considered by Chinese tradition to be the ideal remedy for washing tired eyes and making them bright. Here are some tips for making tiredness and redness
disappear from the eyes: pour a few drops of lukewarm infusion onto cotton wool pads and apply them to the eyelids for at least ten minutes but no longer than half an hour.
Alternate warm tea compresses and cold tea compresses for a more effective result.
In Chinese tradition, after hair has been washed normally, it is rinsed with a strong concentration of tea to make it stronger and shinier.
First of all, where possible, opt for loose dried leaves to steep rather than pre-packaged teabags: you will gain in terms of both health — as highlighted by an investigation by Report, teabags contain phthalates that are "released" into the water by the heat — and taste.
Preparation is simple: put the water on to heat, taking care that the temperature does not exceed 80–85 degrees centigrade; to make this easier, you can bring the water to the boil and then add a cup of cold water — at room temperature — or simply use an electric kettle with a preset temperature.
Fill the ball-shaped infuser with tea leaves — no more than a level teaspoon per cup — and leave to steep for anywhere between 30 seconds and 2 minutes if you prefer a delicately flavoured drink, or between 3 and 4 minutes if you prefer a bolder flavour.
An interesting fact: tea leaves can be reused for a second cup without losing their properties.
Green tea also has weight-loss properties, attributable to theine, which, like caffeine, stimulates metabolism. According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2008, taking green tea would be a concrete aid for those who want to lose weight, as it would increase the ability to burn fat during physical exercise by 17 per cent, while other studies confirm its value in "maintenance" diets and as an aid in reducing appetite.
Like all teas, green tea has a mildly stimulating effect thanks to theine, which, in synergy with tannins, is released into the body gradually after consumption and therefore acts in a similar way to caffeine, albeit more gently. For this reason, it is not recommended for those who suffer from insomnia and hypertension.
