A couple of days ago, I read the findings of a recent survey on green tea. It found that most people have tried the tea and know it’s good for them. Most people have it hot only, like at an Asian restaurant, although about 50 percent of people have some in their pantry. I am defiantly excited about this.

Here is an easy way to turn a routine workout into a powerful waist-whittler: Drink green tea. That’s right. Ditch the Gatorade and instead sip several mugs of the green stuff throughout the day. Research shows that green tea and exercise might be a wonder duo. Exercise may target belly fat much better with green tea. Why do you find tons of green tea extracts in products like xenadrine and hydroxycut? In one study, overweight adults who engaged in an exercise program for 12 weeks and drank green tea daily lost more belly fat than those who exercised but didn’t drink the tea. Green tea also seemed to boost the group’s overall weight loss and triglyceride control.

The magic amount is about 625 milligrams of catechins plus a little caffeine every day or roughly seven cups daily. That may seem like a lot, but in a 24-hour period, it’s easy. Catechins are antioxidant compounds that researchers think might blast tummy fat by acting on enzymes that influence the body’s calorie and fat-burning mechanisms. With caffeine, catechins might boost the body’s metabolism. If you have difficulty sleeping at night, stop drinking the tea around 5 or 6 p.m.

Great, green tea can help with weight loss, but what about the taste? Well, just like red wine, there are lots of types of green tea. There is Sen-cha, one of my favorites, a nice, simple, Japanese green tea that’s available at Trader Joes. Then there is Mat-cha, a slightly sweet Japanese green tea, typically iced, like the one at Ichiban. There is also Gan-mai Cha, which is a roasted, brown rice green tea with a rich flavor and aroma. Don’t forget jasmine green and lemongrass green. The choices are endless. You also have the choice of getting it in bags or bulk and drinking it hot or cold. I have begun to brew a batch of green tea at night. I place it in an old juice jar, let it cool and bring it to work. If I finish the jar, I’ll have my seven cups for the day.

Now I’ll let you know about my bad experiences with green tea. First, some of us discovered in acupuncture school, where everybody drinks green tea, that some people of European decent get gas from Chinese green tea, particularly the cheap kind. But I’ve never had a problem with the Japanese version. Second, green tea, for the most part, should be brewed with non-boiled water. Let the water cool for two minutes to about 85 degrees Celsius, then brew. Brew time is very short for green tea, about two or three minutes. After that, the tea may become bitter and too strong. A high-quality green tea bag can be used up to three times and still produce health benefits and flavor. Have a small plate to rest your tea bag on. Although it is still a little cool out there, here is a recipe for you to enjoy this spring and get your green tea fix!

Feel the island breezes as you sip this cooling concoction.

Ingredients

Mango slivers, for garnish

Directions

Combine tea and mango nectar in a pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish with mint sprigs and mango slivers.

Nutrition Information

Per serving: 97 calories, 25g carbohydrates, 0g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g monounsaturated fat, 0g protein, 0mg cholesterol, 1g dietary fiber, 102mg potassium, 4mg sodium.

Nutrition Bonus

You get antioxidants, vitamins A and C. Chew the mint and you’ll get an extra bit of fiber and folate.