Nowadays, increasing pollution, poor eating habits, the stress that comes with a fast-paced life and other unhealthy vices raise the amount of free radicals in the body, causing major damage or malfunction in the cells, or leading to bigger diseases like cancer. To counteract this, the body needs an adequate supply of antioxidants to fuel the body’s immune system.

Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals and other nutrients mostly found in fruits and vegetables which reduce the harmful effects of free radicals. However, Nutrition Support Specialist Dr. Liza Francisco says, “It’s very difficult to get your five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and if you do you’re not sure you get all the nutrients you need.” To aid in a steady supply of antioxidants, Dr. Francisco recommends functional foods. “A Functional food gives you more than the nutrient value, so it’s not just used as a source of calories. Functional foods have specific health benefits and extra properties that help certain systems in the body function better,” says Dr. Francisco. One of the doctor’s top choices for functional food is green tea. “I like drinking green tea. It’s often my baon,” says Dr. Francisco.

Making green tea tastier and more accessible is C2 Cool and Clean Green Tea, brewed from 100% natural green tea leaves of Camellia sinensis and bottled on the same day. C2 was the first to bring the healthy antioxidant benefits of green tea to health-conscious Filipinos in a healthy and convenient form. The popular drink comes in Classic, Apple, Lemon, Orange, Peach, Strawberry, and Forest Fruits flavors. For sugar-conscious individuals, a sugar-free variant in Apple flavor is also available.

With readily available and delicious options like C2 Cool and Clean Green Tea, it’s easier to get one’s fill of disease-fighting antioxidants and get the best protection you can give your body.

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Dr. Eliza Mei Perez-Francisco M.D. is a Nutrition Support Specialist at St. Luke's Medical Center and Asian Hospital.