RAYA'S "AMAZING FACT" OF THE DAY [9/23/13-TUESDAY]

GO Green Baby!!!

Green tea has actually been used as a medicine for thousands of years. Green tea first originated in China however it has widely been used throughout Asia.  There are so many different ways  that this natural gift of “Green Gold” can be extremely beneficial for us all!  You all may be asking yourself why is it that green tea outweighs the benefits of black tea? The answer is that it is due to the processing! Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation whereas green tea’s processing avoids the fermentation process! Therefore,  green tea retains its maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols , the good stuff that makes this tea so GOOD for you!
Now let me be very clear,  one cup of green tea a day will NOT give you a significant gain. As studies have shown in my research, two to five cups is more the target you should aim for when consuming green tea.
One last thing I would like to stress in regards to green tea is that there is caffeine in green tea. Therefore if you find you are sensitive to caffeine then one cup should be your limit. Green tea also contains tannins which are  plant derived chemicals that can decrease the absorption of iron and folic acid in your body. So ladies, if you are pregnant or trying to conceive then green tea may not be ideal for you!
Here’s a list of some of its amazing benefits!!!  Some of these benefits are still being debated, so please do your own research if you want to use green tea for any type of medicinal purposes.

1. Weight Loss. Green tea increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.
2. Diabetes. Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage.
3. Heart Disease. Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.
4. Esophageal Cancer. It can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, but it is also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging the healthy tissue around them.
5. Cholesterol. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
6. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is said to delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried out on mice showed that green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells.
7. Tooth Decay. Studies suggests that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions
8. Blood Pressure. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
9. Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers.
10. Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases.
11. Skincare. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage.