Okinawan Tea
The Secret of Okinawan Tea
Okinawan tea is often advertised as extremely rare or the latest mystery cure. But there really is no mystery at all about this type of tea. The not-so-big secret is that Okinawan tea, which is also known as sanpin tea, is just a particular type of green tea. It is not rare at all, but it does have its fair share of positive qualities.
Okinawan tea has received a good deal of attention because it is the primary drink of people who live in Okinawa, Japan. This is an important fact because Okinawans tend to live extremely long and healthy lives. Besides that, they are rarely overweight!
Okinawan tea, like all green teas, is made from the leaves of the same plant that makes the black tea we are more familiar with – Camellia sinensis. Green teas are processed differently, however, so they retain much more of the valuable antioxidant ingredients that make them so effective against free radicals that are harmful to our bodies. It is thought that the Okinawan’s regular consumption of this particular antioxidant-rich type of green tea is responsible for their unusual good health, lack of weight problems and longevity.
There is no doubt that all types of green tea have beneficial ingredients, and there is scientific proof that certain naturally occurring chemicals found in green tea have been shown to help fight cancer cells, aid in weight loss and even slow down the aging process. These healthy results will only be seen, however, with regular use of the tea along with important changes to other lifestyle habits.
Okinawan or sanpin tea got its reputation because of how it has benefited the people of Okinawa for thousands of years. It is important to remember, however, that sanpin tea is a regular and permanent substance in the diet of the Okinawans. That means that this is not some one-shot miracle cure-all. All of the aspects of the Okinawan lifestyle must be taken into consideration when evaluating the usefulness of this type of tea.
You cannot eat junk foods and sweets every day, then drink a few cups of Okinawan green tea and expect to have miraculous health or take a lot of weight off. The fact is, there is no way that is going to happen by drinking tea alone. The weight loss benefits and other healthy qualities of this and other types of green tea will only be seen when other changes are made, including eating a proper healthy diet and adding regular exercise to your daily routine.
The same holds true for slowing down aging and preventing serious diseases like cancer. Herbal teas and natural supplements can only aid in healing and maintenance of good health when an overall program of proper nutrition, exercise and healthful behavior is adopted as a permanent way of life.