The Tea Chick

Eddie: Hi TC! I am back in Iraq until Jan 2010, and I frequently feel very tired from being gone from home for such long periods of time. I take daily supplements, vitamin C, B-12, omega complex, fish oil, and an all nutrient pill. However, I am still looking for the caffeine fix before I go to the gym. I need at least two cups of coffee to get me fired up and for me to feel energized to go to the weight room. Otherwise, I feel rundown and unmotivated to workout despite of all the pills I take. I am not too keen on coffee but that is the only thing that works for me out here to get my lazy butt to the gym.  Is there a tea alternative to coffee with the same energy producing quality and a better health effect on the body? I would really appreciate a suggestion.

TC: Hi Eddie. Tea is a great energy drink since it gives the energy of coffee without the after effects. The polyphenols in tea actually slow the caffeine absorption process; therefore, you will feel the caffeine’s effect later, but for a longer time. I recommend ONO Wake Your Assam Up or The Entrepreneur. Wake Your Assam up is a black tea that has 1/2 the amount of caffeine in coffee but it gives you better sustainability….no jolt and crash.  The Entrepreneur contains two powerful ingredients gingko and ginseng root. Ginseng’s popular uses include increasing physical and mental endurance, decreasing fatigue, and gently boosting energy. Unlike coffee, which stimulates the central nervous system, ginseng elevates energy gently. People taking ginseng often report overall improvement in well-being. Eddie:  How much caffeine is ok to have a day?

TC: The FDA suggests no more than 200-300 mg of caffeine a day. That means, no more than 2 cups of coffee, 2 energy drinks, or 10 cups of green tea a day.  Relying on high amounts of caffeine to get you going only leads to the dreadful crash and sluggish feeling because your body does not get the chance to recharge properly. Tea is a healthier and natural alternative and many people have started switching from concentrated sources of caffeine to tea. Caffeine found in tea is much lower than coffee or energy drinks and is also balanced by theanine….the calming agent. Try to incorporate tea into your life one cup at a time. Instead of having 2 cups of coffee in the morning, try 1 cup of coffee and 1 cup of tea. You will start to feel much better and your body will thank you for it. Mineral and vitamin levels in tea can vary and are normally determined by the region, soil condition and altitude of the tea garden in which it is grown. However, these are common in nearly all teas: Manganese, Potassium, Vitamin A, B1, B2, C, E, and Fluoride in. Tea is also packed in antioxidants such as polyphenols and catechins.

Eddie: Great! Thank you!

Ginseng root