My long time addiction: Green Tea

Continuously from the previous post, apart from ginger drink, I’m too in with the green tea. This is also one of a good drink to be adopted in daily life. Although it has a taste not as good as ginger drink, yet it still so much benefit that you could earned from it.

 

Green tea is made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan and South Korea to the Middle East. Recently, it has become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally consumed. Many varieties of green tea have been created in countries where they are grown. These varieties can differ substantially due to variable growing conditions, horticulture, production processing, and harvesting time.

Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, with some evidence suggesting that regular green tea drinkers have lower chances of heart disease and developing certain types of cancer. Although green tea does not raise the metabolic rate enough to produce immediate weight loss, a green tea extract containing polyphenols and caffeine has been shown to induce thermo genesis and stimulate fat oxidation, boosting the metabolic rate 4% without increasing the heart rate.

According to a survey released by United States Department of Agriculture in 2007, the mean content of flavonoids in a cup of green tea is higher than that in the same volume of other food and drink items that are traditionally considered of health contributing nature, including fresh fruits, vegetable juices or wine. Flavonoids are a group of photochemical in most plant products that are responsible for such health effects as anti-oxidative and ant carcinogenic functions. However, as a tea information site points out, the content varies dramatically amongst different tea products, basing on the same USDA survey.

Green tea contains salubrious polyphenols, particularly catechins, the most abundant of which is epigallocatechin gallate. Green tea also contains carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), minerals such as chromium, manganese, selenium or zinc, and certain photochemical compounds. It is a more potent antioxidant than black tea, although black tea has substances which green tea does not such as theaflavin.

In vitro, animal, preliminary observational, and clinical human studies suggest that green tea can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, dental cavities, kidney stones, and cancer, while improving bone density and cognitive function. However, the human studies are inconsistent.

Green tea consumption is associated with reduced heart disease in epidemiological studies. Animal studies have found that it can reduce cholesterol. However, several small, brief human trials found that tea consumption did not reduce cholesterol in humans. In 2003 a randomized clinical trial found that a green tea extract with added theaflavin from black tea reduced cholesterol.

A study performed at Birmingham (UK) University, showed that average fat oxidation rates were 17% higher after ingestion of green tea extract than after ingestion of a placebo.^] Similarly the contribution of fat oxidation to total energy expenditure was also significantly higher by a similar percentage following ingestion of green tea extract. This implies that ingestion of green tea extract can not only increase fat oxidation during moderately intensive exercise but also improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in healthy young men.

So there are many benefits consuming these green teas. Apart of them are as follows:

Green Tea Benefits #1:

Act as antioxidants

Many experts believe antioxidants can slow down aging and prevent heart disease, strokes and cancers.

Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants.  Catechins are powerful antioxidants found in large quantities in green tea.

Fruits such as pomegranate may contain as many or more antioxidants than green tea.

But gram for gram and dollar for dollar, none of them packs as much punch as green tea.

Green Tea Benefits #2:

Burn fat. Exercise longer

With green tea, you get two in one. Its fat burning property helps you to burn fat and also to exercise longer - at the same time.

With more than 1,000 individuals being questioned for more than 10 years, a Taiwanese study provides the best evidence yet that green tea and oolong tea burn fat.

The longer you drink, the more evident the weight loss effect.

Green tea increases exercise endurance. Green tea catechins burn fat and reduce carbohydrate utilization, enabling athletes to exercise longer.

Green Tea Benefits #3:

Prolong life

One of the largest population studies ever conducted: 40,530 Japanese adults were interviewed over the course of 11 years.

Researchers found those who drink 5 or more cups of green tea a day are 16% less likely to die than those who drink less than one cup a day.

Heavy green tea drinkers are also 26% less likely to die from heart disease.

Green Tea Benefits #4:

Prevent and treat cancers

Green tea anti-cancer prowess extends beyond its antioxidant activities.

It starves off cancer cells by restricting blood vessel growth.

It wreaks havoc in abnormal cells, causing them to self-destruct.

It blocks over-production of harmful enzymes that act as catalysts to cancer growth.

From brain tumors to leukemia, from lung cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer to bladder cancer, not to mention breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer, green tea cancer studies are showing positive results.

Green Tea Benefits #5:

Soothe stress. Boost brain power.

Tea contains a special compound called theanine, which has been known to stimulate alpha brain waves, calm the body, and promote relaxed awareness.

A recent 2007 study found that drinking 4 cups of tea enhances the brain's ability to concentrate on the tasks at hand.

An extensive 2009 examined 42,093 Japanese individuals and found that those who drank green tea are 20% less likely to suffer from stress. Another smaller study found that green tea drinkers were 44% less likely to suffer from depression symptoms.

The list of theanine health benefits gets longer daily and manifests itself both in mind and body.

Green Tea Benefits #6:

Rejuvenate body, protect it from heart attacks and strokes

Drinking green tea helps patients recover from heart attacks and strokes. Preliminary studies suggest active green tea compound EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) speeds up the recovery process.

As many as 5 different population studies suggest that tea drinking reduces heart disease risk, although scientists still do not understand the mechanisms for these observations.

Green Tea Benefits #7:

Improve Heart Health

As we grow older, our arteries naturally harden.

Fats, cholesterols and blood platelets accumulate in the artery wall. When they thicken and clog up the entire artery, a heart attack or stroke occurs.

A hamsters study suggests green tea inhibits atherosclerosis, the hardening and thickening of arteries. A human equivalent dose of 3 to 4 cups a day is associated with 26% to 46% lower risk.

Green tea also helps to keep the artery passageway clear by reducing cholesterols, triglycerides and blood clots.

Green Tea Benefits #8:

Reduce high blood pressure

I found 3 studies that show green tea reduces high blood pressure.

A 2004 study found that regular tea drinkers are 65% less likely to develop high blood pressure if they drink more than two half (?) cups a day.

Green Tea Benefits #9:

Prevent and treat diabetes

Green tea is anti-diabetic. Tea compounds EGCG and theaflavins have been found to regulate blood sugar levels in the following ways:

        Increases insulin activities

        Promotes glucose metabolism

        Blocks glucose absorption.

A study found that brewed tea, when added to the fat cells of laboratory rats, increased insulin activities by more than 15 times. But adding milk decreased insulin activities by 90%.

A study discovered that drinking 6 cups of tea per day for 8 weeks reduces blood sugar levels by 15% to 20%. Furthermore, drinking green tea combined with eating a Japanese diet is highly effective in preventing diabetes.

Green Tea Benefits #10:

Treat Inflammation

You will be surprised to learn that green tea's anti-inflammatory property makes it a perfect remedy for a variety of conditions.

If you are a woman, take note. Rheumatoid arthritis is a common disease affecting about 1 in 100 people. Women are 3 times more likely to be affected. There is no known cure.

Two studies found that drinking tea may prevent rheumatoid inflammation.

Plagued by acne or pimples? Preliminary data suggests that green tea cream causes fewer side effects than benzoyl peroxide. Patients treated by green tea reported fewer cases of dry skin, itching and allergic responses.

Colitis is a general term for inflammation in the lining of the bowel. Out of the three studies I looked into, two found green tea to be helpful.

Green Tea Benefits #11:

Protect lung from smoking

Irritated by second hand smoke? Why should we be forced to breathe in carcinogens just because other people are smoking?

Green tea protects you from lung cancer by reducing cellular damage caused by cigarette smoke.

A study conducted by the University of Arizona found that it reduces cellular damage by 25%.

Green Tea Benefits #12:

Protect liver from alcohol

I feel sorry writing this, but in a laboratory study, rats were intoxicated with alcohol for 4 weeks. It was found that green tea prevented damage to their livers.

If that wasn't nasty enough, in another laboratory study, mice were exposed to carbon tetrachloride, a toxic chemical solvent.

Green tea so greatly reduced their liver injuries that researchers suggested it should be used to treat liver disease. 

Green Tea Benefits #13:

Prevent tooth decay. Cure bad breath.

Have a sweet tooth and need to ward off tooth decay?

Tea can help. Unlike soft drinks, tea is non-erosive. It also fights mouth viruses and reduces bad breath.

Green Tea Benefits #14:

Build bone

Studies found that drinking at least 2 cups of green tea a day helps preserve bone density and reduce osteoporosis risk. The longer you drink, the greater the benefits.

Green Tea Benefits #16:

Rehydrate

UK Scientists found that tea is healthier than pure water.

They dispelled the common belief that tea dehydrates.

Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, it also has many other health benefits.

Well, considering its benefits, I tried to promote this good habit to my family and friends with the hopes that they also could earned the same benefit and get a well being health. So why don't you join us together?

My new addiction: A ginger drink

Lately I was addicted to ginger drink. I would drink ginger every morning. Though in actual fact I drink it just to get remove gasses in my stomach, but eventually I hope with that drink I’m going to be slimmer. What a funny thought. LOL. And yes, this drink help me to reduce my severe gastric, and I am now having less stomach pain than used to be.

 

So, what is ginger? How does it benefit us? According to Zhion.com, In traditional Cantonese dish, balancing flavour in food is believed to promote physical and mental well-being. Soy sauce is often combined with ginger for preparing steamed fish. It gives you the earthy taste and favour of the fish. Fish (omega-3 fatty acid) and ginger could possibly offer us lots of health benefits. Recently, researchers from Nanjing University, China, demonstrated the use of Magnolia bark and ginger rhizome to treat depression in rats. The combined treatment of honokiol and magnolia with ginger essential oil exerted synergistic antidepressant-like effects by prosily regulating the serotonergic and gastro enteric system functions. There are couples interesting findings found about the health benefits of ginger in 2009. For examples, researchers from The University of Michigan Medical School showed a combination of 10% cur cumin and 3% ginger extract allowed a rapid wound repair in hairless rats, with a manifestation of collagen production and a slow production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 production. A rat study in Saudi Arabia further confirmed the protective effects of ginger extract on neurological system against monosodium glutamate -induced toxicity. Researchers from University of Minnesota showed that [6]-gingerol effectively suppressed tumor growth in vivo in nude mice via the inhibition of leukotriene A(4) hydrolase (LTA(4)H) activity. And, LTA(4)H is regarded as a relevant target for cancer therapy.

 

Ginger has important healing properties, and one of the most effective ways to receive the benefits of ginger is by extracting its juice. An easy way to get the juice is to use a porcelain ginger grater, which has rows of of sharp teeth that shreds the fresh root and leaves unwanted fibers behind. The juice will run to the sides where you can pour it into a spoon or cup. Ginger can also use a juicer or add it to a blender if preparing a juice with other fruits and vegetables.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginger can treat nausea caused by pregnancy and chemotherapy, and reduces all the symptoms of motion sickness including vomiting, dizziness, and cold sweating. By using the juice as a remedy for nausea, you get the medicinal benefits without the need to digest the hardy fibers of the root, making it easier for your body to absorb. 

Taking ginger juice to treat nausea is extremely safe and does not cause uncomfortable side effects, such as drowsiness and dry mouth that conventional prescriptions medications may cause. 

Grate two inches of fresh and juicy ginger rhizome to get a teaspoon of juice and take it diluted in filtered water if you find the taste too strong. This will almost instantly soothe your stomach and ease the sensations of nausea and vomiting.

Other than that, ginger has many other benefits. According to the UCLA Biomedical Library, ginger juice can treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis due to its high content of gingerol. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, gingerols are anti-inflammatory compounds that inhibit the production of a nitrogen molecule called nitric oxide, which can form peroxynitrite, a powerful and damaging free radical. Ginger juice will also help relieve morning stiffness. Take a teaspoon of ginger juice between meals and before going to bed.

The intake of ginger juice will warm the body, promoting healthy sweating, which not only assists detoxification but also boosts the immune system thanks to the germ-fighting agent in sweat called dermcidin. According to a study done by the Eberhard-Karls-University's Department of Dermatology in Germany, published by the U.S. National Library, dermcidin is an antibiotic peptide naturally secreted by the sweat glands, providing protection against bacteria, fungus and infection including staphylococcus aureus, candida and e. coli. 

This makes it good remedy for fighting off a cold or a cough. Mix a teaspoon of ginger juice in half a cup of warm water and take on an empty stomach. You can also mix the juice with honey to soothe the throat and make it taste better.

Lemon-ginger tea is an infusion of lemon juice and ginger root rather than a true tea. True teas are made by steeping leaves of various herbs in hot water, usually in a steel tea strainer or cloth-like bag. The pleasant, citrus scent of lemon combined with the pepper-spice scent of ginger provides a relaxing opportunity to pamper your senses and recharge your spirit.

Drinking lemon juice mixed with honey and hot water every two hours helps reduce fever, says online magazine "Living Life ... Boomer Style." Ginger is a diaphoretic, which means it induces sweating. Sweating releases dermcidin, which helps the body, "limit infection by potential pathogens in the first few hours following bacterial colonization," Birgit Schittek stated in a 2001 issue of "Nature Immunology."

On the other hand, drinking lemon-ginger tea will help prevent salmonella and other bacterial infections, thanks to ginger's active ingredient, zingiber, and the immune-boosting action of the pectin and limonene in lemon. Ethanol-based ginger extract killed salmonella typhi bacteria, according to T.E. Ayogu, PhD, in a 2009 study published in the "Internet Journal of Third World Medicine."

Herbal teas get names like "Lemon Lift" for good reason. The scent of lemons increases concentration, insists "Living Life ... Boomer Style." She recommends drinking lemon water every few hours. Sipping warm ginger tea with lemon can relieve tension, providing a welcome break during intense study sessions, after a strenuous workout or before a high-stakes presentation at work.

In brief, the benefits of ginger are as follows:

The medicinal uses of ginger are almost endless.  If you can stomach the spiciness, it does wonders in treating many disorders.

Anticoagulant:  Add ginger in most of your cooking or add a teaspoonful of fresh ginger juice in your beverages to enjoy the anticoagulant properties of ginger.  It helps make blood platelets less sticky which in turn reduces your risk of atherosclerosis.

Aphrodisiac effect:  A natural aphrodisiac, this might be the better substitute to Viagra!  Drink hot ginger tea (by mixing ginger juice, hot water and raw honey) after a not-too-heavy meal and see it work!

Cold: Cut up a small piece of ginger and boil it with a small cup of pure drinking water.  Add some green tea leaves if you wish.  Strain and drink when hot.  Effective if you also have fever resulting from the cold. You may also drink this concoction if you feel a cold coming.

Cough:  Drink ginger juice with raw honey three to four times a day for a bad throat.  It is soothing and helps clear up phlegm.

Here is the best part. Ginger in the usage of slimming purposes . Ginger is a popular remedy for stomach and intestinal difficulties, and mayoclinic.com reports that it may help to ease digestive discomfort. Drinking a cup of ginger tea may help to prevent and ease discomfort and gas in the digestive tract. According to "Diet and Nutrition," smoother more comfortable digestion means that your body will assimilate more nutrients from the foods you eat so you will naturally consume fewer calories. There is no conclusive clinical evidence for the use of ginger to help with digestion. Ginger tea may help promote diaphoresis -- or sweating, says "The Yoga of Herbs." Sweating helps release toxins in the body through the skin. The mild diaphoresis caused by regularly drinking ginger tea may help your body melt and release excess body mass holding toxins and impurities. There is no conclusive clinical evidence to support using ginger tea for internal cleansing. However, be ware. Ginger may thin your blood, so avoid drinking ginger tea if you are taking blood thinning medication, have lost a lot of blood or are at risk for heavy bleeding. Do not use ginger medicinally while pregnant. Talk to your doctor before making ginger tea a part of your overall weight-loss plan.

So friends, what are you waiting for. Come and join me in making ginger drink as a habit for your own health. The taste is just nice especially when you consume it with honey. Considering it pros, I would say this habit shall eventually gives you million than you thought. So, let's join me and start it today :-)

A song for my friends

Today I feel a bit dramatic. I missed all my friends and my colleges. It feel so long that I haven't met them. Yes, especially this one year, when I decided to pursue my studies. I missed all grand events, I missed the re-union, I even missed my good friend wedding. To Emelda, I'm so sorry for missing on your big day, but deep down in my heart, I hope that both of you would have a blessed marriage and happy ever after. I'm so sorry that I never thought that this exercise is killing me, softly. It consumed me more than I ever thought.

I remembered the time we used to be. The time we back in IIU. We had a really great time there. Laughing and crying, loving and fighting. So much fun and stress at the same time. We go through everything together. Yes, you girls are the best. 

This is the last berbuka we had before Ana's wedding: Me, Meda, Ana, Noe & Zai

Me and Noe, before Noni's wedding

Noe always with her "macho" style

The night before Meda's brother wedding, before we do Avanza's action

Zai, Noe & Me prior Noni's wedding

Such a glows picture, isn't it? hihi

At Lata Kijang, Noe, Me & Meda, after Ana's reception

Pssstt..if Ana knows we are here after her reception, she's gonna kill us..hihi

This is our favorite activity. Always in agenda..FOODS..

How I missed those days? Although we haven't met for so many times, I guess almost a year..but yes you girls always in my heart. And here we go, I dedicated this song "Sahabat" to you girls:

Sahabat untuk selamanya
Bersama untuk selamanya
Kau dan aku sahabat
Untuk selamanya setia

Sahabat untuk selamanya
Atasi semua perbedaan
Kau dan aku sahabat
Untuk selamanya
Selamanya setia

Sahabat untuk selamanya
Berbagi dan saling menjaga

Kau dan aku sahabat

Untuk selamanya