Archive for June, 2011

Green Tea – Advantages and disadvantages

Many of us are addicted to drinking tea. But very few of us know the advantages and disadvantages of various teas we drink. Every tea; black, green or white has its own benefits and disadvantages. This article will give you information about all the benefits that the green tea provides and also the ways in which it can be harmful to you. Although green tea is produced from the same plant from which black and white tea are produced but the main difference lies in the processing of all the three. The green tea is a production of the Camellia Sinensis plant. It is more oxidized than the normal tea we drink and less oxidized than the black tea.
Before opting to drink green tea, you must know the advantages and disadvantages of the green tea. There are ample numbers of benefits of green tea. Although there are many benefits which are still unknown to the public, but some the very common benefits and some which can prove to be very useful to many of you are listed here.
Earlier green tea was only enjoyed by the Chinese and Japanese population, but with the increased knowledge benefits of green tea it is being widely adopted by the population of the whole world. The main reason for the green tea being so beneficial is that it contains antioxidants. These antioxidants are called catechin polyphenols, the most influential being the EGCG. EGCG takes up 10-50% of the catechin in the green tea. This catechin is highly advantageous for heart patients and also helps the body fight against breast cancer or bladder cancer. Green tea contains a lesser amount of caffeine as compared to black tea or white tea.
One of the benefits of green tea also includes the prevention of tooth decay. Green tea contains fluorine. Fluorine helps in preventing tooth decay because it inhibits an enzyme which is responsible for plaque formation. Many of us reading this article must surely be health conscious and want to lose weight. So for them green tea is of great help. Green tea also helps a great deal in losing weight. Green tea also lowers the cholesterol level and helps in building up a strong immune system.
For those suffering from pimples and acne, green tea has proved to be quite useful. Studies have shown that even 3% of the green tea extracts used on skin can treat acne more than benzoyl peroxide can. You can drink green tea which will help you treat your acne from inside and use the tea bags on your face to treat them from outside. It has no side effects on the skin, whereas benzoyl peroxide is quite harsh on the skin.
The polyphenols present in green tea act as an anti aging agent. It helps you prevent aging signs effectively. These antioxidants also help in preventing skin cancer. Green tea prevents arthritis by protecting the cartilage as it blocks the enzyme harming the cartilage. Fluoride present in green tea keeps your bones strong. Drinking it every day conserves your bone density.
Everything which is good also has some disadvantages. Although green tea is very beneficial for health but it is also harmful. Anything which contains caffeine is harmful for health. Similarly green tea also contains caffeine and regular intake can cause frequent urination, insomnia and nausea. If taken in large amounts, green tea can also prove dangerous to the liver and kidney. Large amounts of polyphenols present in this tea can also cause severe health problems. Pregnant women are advised not to include
green tea or any such tea in their diet as the EGCG present in the green tea can pose dangerous to the child’s growth. It can create complications at the time of delivery. So, in conclusion, it is advised that a limited intake of green tea is beneficial whereas large intake can be dangerous for the health.

| More

If you found this post informative, why not sign up to receive new posts ?
It's simple, and free, and you can even opt to receive by email:
Subscribe in a reader
Subscribe to Good Health Tips by Email

What are natural home remedies to cure kidney stones?

Kidney stones are the stones formed from chemicals, minerals or organic substances in kidneys or urinary tract. The size of the kidney stone varies from grit, sand to the size of bird’s egg. Kidney stones cause considerable pain as they tend to pass through the ureter to the bladder. On a general note, urine has a natural substance which dissolves substances like uric acid, calcium, phosphorous and oxalic acid.

CAUSES FOR KIDNEY STONES
- Lack of vitamin A.
- Excessive intake of vitamin D.
- Family history.
- Inadequate water intake.
- Poor diet and lifestyle.
- Excessive perspiration.
- Defects in general metabolism.
- Excessive intake of acid forming foods.

SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY STONES
- Painful urination.
- Blood in urine.
- Pain in groin area and lower abdominal area.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Sweating.

NATURAL HOME REMEDIES FOR KIDNEY STONES
- Coconut water helps in passing small stones through urine.
- Pomegranate juice is an effective remedy.
- Tomato juice with a pinch of salt or water is very effective.
- Eat apples and grapes regularly.
- Boil two figs in a cup of water and drink.
- Drink a mixture of 60ml of lemon juice with 60ml of olive oil and then a glass of water.
- Mix one teaspoonful holy basil and honey and take daily for 6 months.
- Cut soaked kidney beans and add them into about four liter of water and keep them for boiling for 6-8 hours. Strain the liquid, cool and again strain and drink one glass.
- Watermelon has rich water content and hence is very effective in diluting the kidney stones.
- No alcohol and smoking.
- Avoid oily and spicy food.
- Avoid eating spinach, cauliflower, carrots, almonds, peas and soyabean.
- A diet low in protein, nitrogen and sodium intake.
- Take radish leaves juice twice a day.
- Avoid taking too much milk.
- Avoid oxalate rich foods.