Benefits of Drinking Tea
“If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty”, so goes a Japanese proverb.
Hot or cold, green or black, this ancient beverage is steeped in health benefits.
Quick facts on Tea:
* Tea is considered the world’s most popular beverage, after water.
* All three conventional teas ― green, black and oolong ― come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis), but their chemical content and flavors are different because they’re processed differently. Green tea leaves are steamed before they’re dried, which prevents the breakdown of catechins and preserves their green color. Black tea is made by allowing the leaves to oxidize and ferment, which darkens them and converts some of the catechins into other compounds. Oolong tea is only partially fermented. Source: Buzzle
* The name tea derives from the Chinese 茶, pronounced “te” in the Min Nan dialect. The flavour of the raw tea is developed by processes including oxidation, heating, drying and the addition of other herbs, spices, or fruit. Tea is a natural source of caffeine. Source: World of Tea
* The term herbal tea usually refers to infusions of fruit or herbs containing no actual tea, such as rosehip tea or chamomile tea. Alternative terms for this are tisane or herbal infusion, both bearing an implied contrast with tea. Source: World of Tea
General Health benefits of Tea:
1. Heart Helper
In a 2002 Dutch study of 4807 people, those who drank at least 370 grams of tea daily had half the heart attack risk of non-tea drinkers. In 2002, researchers in Boston found that heart patients who drank two or more cups daily were 44% less likely to die over the next four years. A US study showed that tea can lower bad cholesterols by an average of 10%. In cases where dangerous cholesterol has already stuck to artery walls, flavonoids, the antioxidants in tea, are thought to prevent it from damaging the inner lining.
2. Cancer Fighter
In Japan, a 1998 investigation found that drinking ten or more cups of green tea every day delayed the onset of cancer by almost nine years in women and about three in men. And a Canadian study from 1998 suggests another benefit for guys: men who drank three cups a day were 30% less likely to develop prostrate cancer.
3. Bone Builder
Flavonoids in tea seem to protect bones. Tea also contain fluoride that stop bacteria from sticking to teet, which together help fight cavities.
Practical Health benefits of Tea:
* Nasal Decongestant
Nasal decongestant: A drug that shrinks the swollen membranes in the nose, making it easier to breath. Quote: Medterm
A strong scented tea can be used as nasal decongestant.
Mixture: Drop a slice of lemon in your black tea and let simmer for 5 minutes in boiling water. Inhale strongly the scent coming off from the steam.
NOTE: Please use the above mixture for not more than 3 days to avoid rebound congestion. When nasal decongestants are used for a long time and then discontinued, symptoms often worsen (a rebound effect) because the tissues become dependent on the medication.
* Aromatherapeutic cure for Cold & Flu
Mixture: Drop a slice of lemon in your black tea with a 1/2 tsp of camomile and mint. Let simmer for 5 minutes in boiling water and enjoy afterward.
Try this for a few times a day and you will notice a gradual decrease of your influenza.
* Sore Throat
Instead of trying to gargle warm water with cayenne pepper in it, it is better to try the following tea mixture.
Mixture: Try a dollop of honey with your cup of tea and I’m sure it will work wonders.
* Insomnia
Tossing about on the bed can be pretty frustrating. So if next time, you are lying awake on bed and counting sheeps to get to sleep, better get up and try the following tea mixture.
Mixture: Add a spoon of milk to your tea and 1 tsp of camomile.
* Power Up
Feeling depressed and fatigued lately? Boost up your energy with the following tea mixture.
Mixture: Blend your tea with gingko biloba or ginseng and enjoy.
* Motion Sickness After a heavy trip, take the following mixture to recover from nausea.
Mixture: Another popular remedy is 3 or 4 slices of sliced ginger in a cup of boiling water to make ginger tea. Sip as needed to relieve nausea caused by motion sickness.
- Yan Gungaram www.diethack.com
