Green Tea

[tonytryout]

Unsure if M&s is available in US but I thought M&S organic green tea here in UK was best so far.

but then again I never put sugar or milk in tea or coffee so I might be biased

[asheep_uk]

Anything from M&S food is like tasting God.

[cancerinform]

If you can, buy loose green tea leaves from a japanese shop rather than americanized versions or green tea bags. When you boil the water do not pour the boiling water on to the tea, but wait a minute before pouring. Green tea is very healthy. There were actually cancer clinical trials using green tea extract, which however turned out negative. Probably green tea is preventing cancer rather than curing it. In Japan in a region where green tea farmers live they have the longest life span.

[m_andrews808]

green tea shouldn't be bitter at all if its prepared properly. As cancerinform said, make sure the water is a little off the boil before putting the bag in, then just dip the bag a few times to brew, if you leave it in too long (even as much as a minute, depending on the bag) it'll turn bitter.

Green tea with jasmine is still the best

[hurricaneone]

You are all aware you're drinking leaves in water?

Orange juice, now that's where it's at.

An infusion of leaves in water would be a better way of describing it.



Green tea sucks.

As mentioned, drink hot water and take the equivalent (anti-oxidant, etc) pills.

[pea3698]

The brand I have says to steep for 3 minutes in just below boiling water. I may be leaving it in to long. ill try for 2 minutes this morning.
I doubt that I will ever fall in love with the taste, but the benefits are great so why not.
Off to make some more urine water

[carly1979]

3 minutes?!
i don't even leave it a minute. i just squeeze it a bit then hoik it out. but as i said- i do prefer it weak. i guess you get more benefits though if you have it a little stronger....

[pea3698]

I did it for about 2 - 2.5 minutes this morning and it was better. I think with a bit of honey it would taste good. Just needs some sweetener. Have Nats could you come stick your finger in my tea tomorrow morning

[silverx2]

I did it for about 2 - 2.5 minutes this morning and it was better. I think with a bit of honey it would taste good. Just needs some sweetener. Have Nats could you come stick your finger in my tea tomorrow morning

oh snap pea wants to lick nats fingers.

[gerbick]

green tea shouldn't be bitter at all if its prepared properly.

It's not bitter... but to a southerner (Southeast US) it would be... all of the sweetened tea around here... it's like syrup.

[pea3698]

Gerbick is right. They don't serve unsweetened unless requested here. I just have a sweet tooth as well.

[gerbick]

dude, I think I got diabetes from the tea in the south... and when I ask for unsweetened tea, it's dead silence and that look... that look they give you.

That look is like I asked for Elvis' ashes to be sprinkled on my french toast. Which... is pretty damn tasty if I must say so.

[pea3698]

LOL I think that look translates better as "You d*mn yankee!" lolIt is funny and sad how close minded the southeast is in certain regions.

So Nats how about it. I'm sure Mr. natsia won't mind

[VENGEANCE MX]

PG Tips. ALWAYS. No sugar, but definitely add 1/10th or more milk (this also helps it cool down to drinking temperature faster - provided you used cold milk).

[armyvisual]

I think I would quit life if I had to give up coffee.

Even though I am only 20, I think i feel some crazy side effects of coffee. I drink usually two large cups a day. One from D&D In the morning, and one from Starbucks later on in the afternoon. (Then depeding on how the day is going, I make like 8 cups here at the office, and just kill the whole pot).

I have been getting serious Acid Reflux, and im attributing that to the sugar and cream in the coffee. So I have been cutting back alot, just one table spoon of sugar and a dash of half and half. If I make the coffee at the office (I got 5 pounds of highlandger grog for christmas!!) I can drink that black - And Im now able to drink starbucks black, but not D&D (Its grosssss) I have felt healthier and reduced my acid reflux... But i dont know if this correlates to my coffee habit?

Anyone know if this is what causing the problem?! (Ill be working with a new personal trainer soon, so hopefully they will have a better insight)

Thanks!

[lefteyewilly]

i doubt it's the sugar or cream. It's probably just over indulging in coffee. I did what you were doing when i was 23 or so...just couldn't get enough coffee. I had some serious problems including horrible indigestion (and heart burn), the shakes, crashing at 3pm, horrible sleep patterns (which usually made me get sick more), jaw problems and of course concentration problems.

I cut back to a cup or 2 a day, and i don't see any of these problems anymore except for sometimes the sleep, but i attribute that to stress.

[armyvisual]

Yeah Im pretty bad with coffee...Its just so good :P

I have alot of those symptoms.. I crash almost exactly at 3pm! Hahaha. And I dont wake up until 10 ( wich is horrible since i own my company, i probably should be at my own office at 9 the latest)

Im slightly unconcentrated if I dont have coffee.. It also doesnt help that i smoke.

With a new trainer hopefully I will be able to feel guilty enough about smoking i will quit, and swich up my excersize program.

Unfortunately, as a really small company (my brother and I) We work until 2am most nights, catching up on the weeks work. So my sleep pattern is off, I almost never excersize and train anymore.

Im going to spend alot of money on a new road bike to hopefully force myself to start cycle training... Its just hard to fit in.

Ill have to meet with my trainer and work all the details hehe.

[pea3698]

ArmyVisual to much coffee will cause heartburn as well as cigarettes. The caffine is a irritant. Studies have shown that 2 cups a day is actually really good for you but more than that it turns bad for you (look for the studies yourself lol im to lazy). I love coffee as well but I became dependant on it so I cut back. I still drink at least one large coffee a day. It is just a confort thing.

Hey and congrats on the road bike idea. I bought a Jamis Ventura last year and love it. Started riding 20+ miles a day until the time change and some health issues. Great exercise and a wonderful way to blow off steam.

[armyvisual]

Pea,
Thanks for the info! I appreciate that.

Yeah, im trying to change up my lifestyle. I work in the action sports industry, and im surrounded by very highly trained althetes all day. Im a little overweight, and smoke - and i feel like crap about it.

The roadbike thing will be exciting - Im not sure what brand I will be going with, however my good buddy owns a cycle shop, so he will most likely fit me up for the job :P

20 Miles is alot! Do you do low impact? Like 20 miles not much hills? This is what i was told by a few of my athlete friends is the best way to get in shape, is to find less variation in elevation, and stay steady for over 45 min at a time.

Thanks!

[pea3698]

I live in South Carolina, Charleston area so the biggest hill I deal with would have to be an overpass . 20 does sound like a lot until you get into it. I thought I was the man when I was riding 6 miles a day, now that is a warm up. I commute to work as well which is 12 miles round trip. Really gets you going in the morning.
I am really glad to hear you have a friend with a shop. It is hard to find a good shop that you can trust. I got a the Jamis due to more bang for buck but everyone is different and every fit is different.
Oh and the seat will hurt like h*ll at first, seriously get some cycling shorts with chamois padding, they make all the difference.
Also a great forum for information is http://forums.bicycling.com/eve/forums.
And a couple great places to get clothes and supplies at a better price are performancebike.com and nashbar.com. Sign up for the free newsletter and you will get coupon codes for big discounts on already discounted stuff.

I really hope you get into it and enjoy it. Start off slow and build up, DO NOT jump into it to fast, it may seem easy but you can really hurt yourself.

Oh and watch out for pine cones, I hear that if hit correctly they and sent you over your handlebars lol, and if your strapped into the pedals like me the bike flips with you