More Tea, Please. The Reasons Why Shipping Crew Professionals Should Drink More Green Tea.

When one says “victualing management,” ship managers often think about food as opposed to drink, yet both are crucial to the long-term health of those onboard. Of course, water is the still single most important beverage to sustain life at sea, but green tea may not be far behind. In fact, tea is the second most consumed drink in the world. Right now, however, only 20% of tea consumed is green, which is a number surely to rise in light of recent health studies. For centuries, green tea has been used medicinally, so now that all of its plentiful health benefits been revealed, it’s time to trade in that cup of Joe for a warm, soothing green tea. What is Green Tea? With the exception of herbal teas, all teas are derived from the same Camellia Sinensis bush — the level of oxidation distinguishes one drink from another. Green tea is the least processed form of tea, offering high levels of antioxidants in every sip. Ship managers and crew have a variety of options when it comes to drinking green tea. This drink comes bottled, in bags, as loose leaf, as powder, and even in pill form. In saying this, a 2010 study by the American Chemical Society proved that bottled tea contains fewer polyphenols, so it’s best to choose one of the other forms whenever possible. For health-conscious seafarers, unsweetened tea contains zero calories. The only negative side effect of drinking green tea has been due to its caffeine content. When compared with black tea and coffee, however, green tea contains significantly less caffeine per cup. Furthermore, green tea has numerous anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. This is why it is considered one the world’s healthiest drinks. Of the chemical properties mentioned above, Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most bioactive polyphenol, effectively eliminating free radicals in many cases. Of the polyphenols found in green tea, nearly 80% of them are catechins like EGCG. Research in the Journal of American Medical Association illustrates how such properties reduce mortality rates. Similarly, the National Cancer Institute claims that these polyphenols decrease tumour growth and protect against ultraviolet UVB radiation damage. Unfortunately, a single cup of green tea a day may not offer extensive protection from disease — but this is not to say there are not still health benefits. Ship managers and crew would need to consume 10 cups or more of green tea a day to lower total cholesterol, for instance, but as little as two to five cups can still offer some wonderful benefits, especially in terms of the digestive and immune system. For those serious about consuming large amounts of green tea, consider taking pills each day, as this will eliminate any queasiness caused by drinking copious amounts of tea. Remember, water is still the most important drink, so always ensure that you stay hydrated before guzzling gallons of green tea!   References: Health Benefits of Green Tea World's Healthiest Foods Benefits of Green Tea [Video] 11 Benefits of Green Tea That You Didn’t Know About