The Green Tea Diet

By Nicole Kwan

The varieties of tea are endless. Our guide recommends the best tea for you.

Green
Leaves are steamed or pan-fried immediately after being picked. Has a short lifespan and should be brewed with low-temperature water so the subtle flavor remains intact. (Boil the water, then let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes before brewing.) This variety increases metabolic rates and fat oxidation (both necessary to lose weight), according to a 2006 study also out of Taiwan.

Black
Leaves are allowed to wilt after being picked. About three-quarters of the world's tea is black. A 2004 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that black tea lowers bad cholesterol and leaves good cholesterol untouched.

Herbal Infusions
Like mint and chamomile? Sorry, they're not tea. They come from other plants and flowers. A 2005 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that chamomile tea may ease cold symptoms and menstrual cramps.

For more, read Tasty Teas.
Try this easy White Tea Smoothie recipe.

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