This May Just Be the Real Miracle Diet Drink

POPSUGAR Photography | Jae Payne
POPSUGAR Photography | Jae Payne

Coffee may have its place as a healthy beverage, but green tea is often touted as the miracle drink for your mug. Here's why you should drink the green stuff regularly no matter the season.

  1. Weight-loss wonder: Drinking green tea regularly has been shown to help suppress appetite and increase your metabolism — both of which can help you save or burn a few calories while you celebrate the best of the season.
  2. Sickness prevention: Nonstop shopping, traveling, and socializing can mean the combination of cold-inducing pathogens and a weakened immune system, so give yours a boost with green tea. Several studies have shown that green tea has antiviral properties; one study found that taking green tea catechin capsules helped prevent health-care workers from catching the flu, and another found that Japanese schoolchildren who drank green tea for six days a week or more were less likely to catch the flu.
  3. Stress relief: Curling up with a warm beverage can be relaxing, especially when the rest of your day is hectic, but drinking too much caffeine has its downsides. Too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, stress, and trouble sleeping, so if you find yourself running out for a coffee break or having friends over for a cup several times a day, switch to green tea. Not only does green tea contain only half the amount of caffeine as a normal cup of coffee, but many people also say green tea's fresh, grassy flavor helps them relax.