Photo: Kanko*
The legend says that thousands of years ago, when leaves were falling, the breeze, by chance, guided some leaves to the water boiling in a pot. This hazardous combination has been an incredible discovery for the mankind as much for its intense flavour as for its countless benefits for health.
“Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.” This ancient Chinese proverb states the prime importance of tea for Chinese people since ancient times. Even nowadays researchers of different universities still find new benefits of this liquid for health, especially regarding green tea, which is the one that we will talk about here. Next, I will list the main benefits of green tea to give you an idea of the incredible benefits of a daily habit of drinking this miraculous liquid.
1- Relieves some cases of headache.
2- Green tea protects your vision:
- Prevents Cataract Formation
- Protects Retina Against UV Damage
- Protects Against Age Related Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma
3- Helps to brighten tired eyes and reduces the fluid that causes Under Eye Bags.
Green tea has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that remove toxins and reduce swelling.
Treatment: Brew two bags, let cool and then use them as a compress for more or less 10 minutes.
4- Green tea may prevent HIV infection.
Elements of green tea prevent HIV from binding to human t cells.
There is a compound in green tea that blocks a key cell receptor involved in producing an allergic response.
Photo: NoNo^Q8
6- Relieves stress and anxiety.
L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea plants that promotes relaxation.
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7- Prevents tooth decay and bad breath.
8- It is an herbal treatment for herpes.
9- Herbal remedy for ear infections.
Soak a cotton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.
10- Treatment for asthma and fatigue.
It relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.
Green tea can prevent infection from viruses including common cold and many flu viruses.
Flavenoids and polyphenols found in green tea help to boost your immune system.
13- Green tea has antibiotic effect against some bacteria.
14- Helps to prevent and control high blood pressure.
There is a 65% lower risk of developing high blood pressure by drinking green tea daily.
15- Helps to prevent liver diseases.
Photo: Motograf
16- Protects brain cells against Parkinson´s disease.
Green tea polyphenols protect dopamine neurons that increases with the amount consumed and inhibits the ROS-NO pathway that contributes to cell death.
17- Helps to prevent Alzheimer´s disease.
An antioxidant found in green tea prevents the development of amyloid fibrils, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
18- Prevents diabetes and lowers your blood sugar level.
The polysaccharides in green tea have the ability to lower blood sugar.
Green tea can increase the rate of calorie burning, prevent excess weight gain and even reverse established obesity.
Green tea keeps healthy bones and teeth both by inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone) and by protecting osteoblasts (the cells responsible for building bone) from destruction by free radicals. Besides, drinking green tea over a long period increases the bones density.
21- Reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis protecting the cartilage.
Photo: Ayelie
22- Helps to loss weight, burns fat and boosts your metabolism.
Green tea reduces the fat deposits under your skin
23- Anti-ageing: protects your skin and promotes longevity.
Green tea has an antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals.
24- Reduces cholesterol and equilibrates good and bad cholesterol.
The more green tea that people drink the lower their total and LDL cholesterol levels.
25- Lowers risk of heart diseases.
People who drink green tea have better blood vessel function just 30 minutes later. Specifically, green tea improves the function of endothelial cells. Endothelial cell dysfunction plays an essential role in the development of clogged arteries.
26- Prevents cerebral hemorrhage.
Green tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of total stroke incidence, cerebral infarction and cerebral haemorrhage.
27- Reduces the risk of cancer and inhibits cancer cells’ growth.
Photo: austinevan
Incredible, is it not? But, apart from this incredible amount of benefits, for me, drink tea is something more than mere sitting down in a chair and drink a liquid. For me, the daily moment of tea is a personal ritual that helps me to relax and allows me to clean my mind of any negative thought. I like to sit in a calm place, with not too much light and sounding good relaxing music. I like to see the liquid falling into the cup and smell the rich and pleasant aroma that tea gives off and, finally, I like to drink the brew without a care in the world. It seems like suddenly everything was in slow motion and I was isolated from the outside world. As the philosopher C.S. Lewis once said “Tea should be taken in solitude.”
Written by: David Cantone
Andy
// Sep 29, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Hi David,
The Chinese and Japanese have known this for centuries. Thanks for reminding me to replace coffee with green tea every now and then.
Andy
.-= Andy´s last blog ..How to reprimand, get what you want & everyone feels good.. =-.