Using Green Tea For a Healthier You
Green tea is something that is very good for your health and well
being. Many eastern cultures have known that for centuries (if not
longer), but it isn't something that has really taken a foot hold in
western society. However, there are a huge variety of benefits to
drinking and even using green tea in other ways. Tapping into those
benefits is something everyone should want to do.
The benefits of green tea.
Green
tea has been consumed for thousands of years. Ancient Chinese medicine
says that green tea is good for a whole variety of things. It was used
treat headaches, body aches, and even depression. It was also said to
boost the immune system, detoxify the body, give energy, and prolong
life. Research in modern times suggests that green tea may fight
certain types of cancers, aid in weight loss, help reduce high
cholesterol, and even work as a mild antibiotic. It can also help with
sunburn, hives, and even tooth decay. All of these things are because
of the wonderful ingredients that green tea contains including:
volatile oils, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, caffeine, polyphenols, and antioxidents. But how does one tap into all of the benefits that green tea has to offer?
Drink it regularly for internal benefits. The
benefits of green tea aren't going to hit you from a single cup once a
year. It has to be a regular part of your life in order for you to tap
into it. In fact you should drink three to four cups of green tea each
and every day. Because not everyone likes green tea it is sometimes
hard to get that much in. Here are a few suggestions for getting enough
green tea in your daily life to benefit from its amazing "powers".
- Brew it light.
The darker the tea gets the more bitterness it has. The more bitter it
is, the less likely you are going to drink it. It is true that the
darker it is the more good things it has in it, but if you can't stand
it strong make it how you can stand it. After all, some good things is
certainly better then no good things.
- Choose your sweeteners carefully. Sugar, artificial sweeteners, and sweeteners derived
from sugar actually negate some of the health benefits of the green
tea. It is best to drink it without any sweeteners of any sort, but if
you can't get past the taste then add honey to it. Honey has some of
it's own benefits and won't completely negate any of the health
benefits of the green tea.
- Milk or cream. While
many western cultures are unfamiliar with adding milk or cream to our
tea this can mellow it out and isn't bad for you. You should avoid
creamers that have unnatural sweeteners in them. You also need to make
sure that you count what goes into your tea if you are trying to loose
weight.
- Drink it cold. Nothing says that green tea
has to be a hot drink. You can buy green tea at the store (choose one
that is not sweetened) or make a large batch at home and put it in the
fridge (drink within ten days of making it). You can then drink this
when you want a cold drink, or anytime.
- Mix it with something else. If
you really dislike the taste of green tea then add an herbal tea with
it. Some great options are honeysuckle for health purposes, chamomile
to lighten the flavor, or mint "tea" to mask the flavor. Mint tea and
green tea can actually make a great, refreshing cold drink. Just brew
the two teas together and drink as you normally would. If you don't
like these options then try your own, you certainly aren't limited to
my favorites!
Use it to keep your teeth healthy. Green tea has a lot of advantages for your teeth as well. It is an antibacterial agent so it can help kill bacteria in your mouth. It also helps fight against tooth decay and even a little against gum disease. It can therefore be useful in a couple of different ways.
- Use it as a gargle. If
you are one that has a hard time using strong, over powering mouth wash
then green tea may be the perfect answer. Use as a mouth wash and
gargle before you brush. It will kill germs,help fight against tooth decay, and loosen food to make you ready for brushing.
- Swish it. On
those days you can't brush after a meal use it to swish around your
mouth. This will loosen food and kill growing bacteria, saving your
teeth!
Use green tea for your skin. The health benefits of green tea just keep on coming. Not only is it good for your insides, but your outsides as well.
- Use it as a toner. Brew
up a batch of green tea. Let it cool and use it as a toner after you
have washed your face well. Research shows that it has lots of benefits
including fighting acne, eliminating toxins, and even aiding in your
battle with age!
- Mix it with your moisturizer. You
should use a daily lotion for your entire body. Mix a little green tea
in with that to help tone your skin, fight blemishes, and get the
anti-aging benefits.
- Rinse your body with it. At the end of your shower pour a bottle of green tea (brew your own and use a water bottle) over your body.
Use green tea for healthier nails. Green tea is also good for your nails. It moisturizes, kills some bacteria, and is supposed to aid in growth. You can brew a strong cup of tea and soak your nails (or toe nails) in it to help them get stronger, healthier, and to help them grow. Soak your nails for ten to fifteen minutes and dry thoroughly when done. You can also brush green tea directly on them for some benefits. This should be done regularly for maximum benefits and it is best if your nails aren't painted when you do it (at least some of the time).
Use green tea for wound care. Because green tea has antibacterial benefits and can be soothing when it is cool it can be a good thing to use in the care of wounds. For wounds that aren't serious you can soak them for ten to fifteen minutes in green tea or you can rub a little green tea on them each day. It will keep it clean, help keep it from getting infected, and it will also make it heal faster.
The benefits of green tea are numerous. Many studies produce more and more evidence in favor of a healthier you caused from using green tea. It doesn't have to be hard to add it to your life and it can be well worth the effort. If you will excuse me, tea time...
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Comments
I enjoy drinking green tea but also like some of the other Asian teas too. There are so many to choose from!
Fantastic article with so many helpful uses! I didn't know it was good for applying on the nails, skin, hair & teeth, I just drink it! Gonna try several of these. Thanks so much for sharing!
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