Hello guys. Welcome to another Monday of life tips. I hope you all had a great weekend? How many checked out Escape Lounge this weekend? Or tried out the chicken and corn soup? It’s a new week, and I have a box of information waiting for you guys. Let’s start with one fun fact about myself; I’m a tea drinker, green tea, black tea, flavoured tea. Basically every kind of tea except Ugo Best tea (some Ibo boys need to be shot in the nostrils). Tea is just a great magical drink that every human needs to ingest. Seriously, tea is made by steeping the leaves of a plant in boiling water. Most tea is made from a shrub called camellia sinensis. Tea drinking started with the Chinese, from whom the British adopted the habit. They (the British) introduced tea drinking to the Indians, and thus tea drinking has spread across continents. I’m not going into a lot of history here, but feel free to check out the Wikipedia article.
Tea has numerous uses and benefits, either as a healthy, delicious drink or otherwise. I know that many people especially the younger folks, are not very keen on tea. I plan on changing that, by showing you the various health and everyday benefits of tea. We’ll start with the health benefits.
1. Fat burner. One of the first things I learnt about tea is that it contains flavonoids and anti-oxidants due to the presence of catechins. In plain terms, anti- oxidants stop the oxidation of other molecules. They protect your cells and heal them. Anti-oxidants work to eliminate and prevent the accumulation of toxins in your body, These toxins are stored in fat cells. So if you’re looking for a way to cut down on your weight, why not pair tea drinking with a healthy diet and exercise routine?
2. Immunity booster.Tea, specifically green tea contains a substance called EGCG(the full name is a tongue twister). This substance stops viruses fro multiplying. It also kills bacteria. Black tea contains L-theanine which is a substance which activates the T-cell. As we all know, the T-cells are the body’s first line of defense against infection and they secrete interferon, a key part of the body’s security system.
3. Disease Fighter. Tea contains a super ingredient called Catechins. Catechins is a disease fighter. Catechin, also a powerful anti-oxidant, is thought to play a role in fighting cancers. Catechins stop the growth of cancerous tumors and can limit the spread of tumors that are already present. They also support the body and protect it when it has been exposed to carcinogens. The equally super EGCG also protects the brain from deteriorating, thus preventing degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia,
4. Re-hydration. Unlike popular belief that drinking tea can be dehydrating, tea hydrates the body. Drinking as much as 8 cups of tea daily gives your body the optimum of fluid it needs. This is reflected in the healthy, glowing and un-wrinkled skin, shining hair and healthy nails. Who knew tea had such a beautifying effect? I did.
5. Oral health. Tea is a plaque fighter, in the brain and in the mouth. Drinking lots of tea prevents the formation of plaque and grime on your teeth. This doesn’t mean you should stop brushing your teeth and flossing though :). Tea also contains fluorides which protect the enamel making it stronger and more resistant to decay.
It is very important that you drink tea in the nude, without milk or whatever ( you can flavour it with honey or lemon). Putting in milk can stop the action of the flavonoids and anti-oxidants, making the tea about as healthy as a bottle of Coca-Cola.
Why don’t you end your day with a calming cup of chamomile tea? See you next week with part II.