For more than 2000 years now kombucha has been a popular part of the Chinese culture. It is not surprising though, many people refer to this fermented tea as the "tea of immortality". Recent studies have found that kombucha tea offers us innumerable health benefits.
Currently, kombucha tea is popular in various regions of the world and it is available at coffee shops and health stores. Moreover, you can also prepare this fermented tea at home. However, you must be wondering why it is necessary to drink kombucha tea. The answers to your question are discussed in this article. In fact, there are seven reasons that suggest drinking kombucha tea daily is beneficial for your overall health.
Kombucha contains loads of antioxidants
We all are aware that antioxidants play a vital role in putting off inflammation and also in protecting the cells of our body. Findings of recent studies have shown that antioxidants contained in teas and foods are much superior to those we obtain from supplements. It has been found that consuming kombucha tea every day provides us with numerous health benefits, including shielding the liver from toxins.
Kombucha eliminates detrimental bacteria
During the fermentation process, kombucha tea produces a substance known as acetic acid, which possesses the aptitude to eliminate damaging bacteria present in our body. Actually, when kombucha tea is prepared with green tea, it is more effective in obliterating harmful bacteria.
Kombucha may aid in preventing cancer
Scientists have claimed that in test-tube studies it was found that kombucha has the ability to put off the growth as well as spread of carcinogenic cells. This action of the fermented tea has been attributed to its rich antioxidant and polyphenol contents. Aside from this, research has demonstrated that people drinking green tea on a regular basis have less chances of developing different forms of cancer.
Kombucha helps to augment joint health
Findings of several studies have shown that this fermented tea has the potential to aid in protecting the joints as well as lessening arthritic pain. At the same time, kombucha can enhance the health of our skin and lessen the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face.
Kombucha is ideal for weight loss
No matter which beverage you drink or food you eat, it will not help to dissolve the body fat by itself. In fact, you need to continue with the basic principles related to weight loss. Having said this, studies have shown that drinking kombucha tea helps to stimulate the metabolic process and, at the same time, avoid fat being accumulated in our body.
Kombucha contains loads of probiotics
Since kombucha tea is prepared via fermentations, studies have shown that the fermentation process produces several probiotics. It is worth mentioning here that probiotics generate healthy or beneficial bacteria that facilitate digestion as well as assimilation of nutrients from ingested foods into our system.
Kombucha may lessen heart disease risks
Studies undertaken on rodents have shown that this fermented tea helps to reduce the chances of developing heart diseases. In fact, the findings of these studies have been quite promising. Findings of studies have shown that drinking kombucha tea regularly also helped to reduce the LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels in the blood stream in just 30 days. Preparing kombucha tea with green tea increases its effectiveness in lowering the LDL cholesterol levels.
Kombucha may help to perk up energy levels
When kombucha tea is prepared from black tea, it turns out iron during the fermentation process. This, in turn, can help to improve your energy levels. Moreover, kombucha tea made from black tea is also loaded with caffeine, which is certain to augment your energy levels.
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Carrots are commonly recognized as an eye-friendly food, primarily because this vegetable is loaded with beta-carotene. Nevertheless, there are several other nutrients that have vital roles in maintaining the health of our eyes and ensuring a sharp vision. Some of these nutrients include fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin C, lutein, zinc, selenium and zeaxanthin. All these nutrients have different functions in combating problems related to the eyes, for instance cataracts (clouding of the lenses of the eyes) and AMD or age-related macular degeneration.
Therefore, it is essential to include all these eye-friendly nutrients in the right proportions in your daily diet. In case you are in some doubt as to how to incorporate them in your diet, go through the food examples cited below.
Most dark green foods like broccoli, collard greens, spinach and kale are excellent sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. These two nutrients are potent antioxidants that protect your eyes from damages caused by exposure to sunlight, air pollution and cigarette smoke. In addition, kiwis and grapes to contain these two vital eye-friendly nutrients.
Vitamin C is another potent antioxidant. Aside from protecting your eyes from various diseases, this nutrient is also beneficial for the cardiovascular system. It also works to boost the immune system, thereby keeping us healthier. Several foods like Brussels sprouts, grapefruit and strawberries are excellent sources of this vital nutrient. In addition, large amounts of vitamin C can be found in papayas, oranges and green peppers. Therefore, consuming these foods will not only keep your eyes healthy, but also contribute towards your overall health.
On the other hand, vitamin E is most effective when it works in tandem with vitamin C to ensure that the tissues remain strong as well as healthy. Almonds, wheat germ oil, pecans and sunflower seeds have rich vitamin E content. So try to include them in your diet whenever possible to ensure healthy eyes.
Fatty acids, especially omega-3, are necessary for improving the health of your brain and its functioning. In addition, this nutrient is effective in protecting the eyes as it possesses the aptitude to combat inflammation. Some of the excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids include cold water fishes like sardines, salmons and herring. In addition, tuna, flounder as well as halibut also contain considerable amounts of this nutrient.
Selenium is a trace element that possesses antioxidant properties. As a result, selenium is useful in protecting the retina, a light-sensitive tissue, which protects the internal rear portion of the eye. Several foods like oyster, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts and tuna are excellent natural sources of this nutrient.
The essential mineral zinc is responsible for the proper functioning of the light sensitive tissue of the eye - the retina. Some excellent sources of zinc include foods like whole grains, eggs, turkey and peanuts. Moreover, eating two oysters every day also supply our body with the daily required amount (DRA) of this essential mineral.
While all of us are already aware of the fact that consumption of carrots is beneficial for our eyes, not everyone knows that several other vegetables and fruits having yellow or dark orange hues also enclose elevated concentrations of beta-carotene, which is transformed into vitamin A inside our body. Vitamin A helps to protect us from an eye disease called night blindness. In order to get enough of this nutrient, you may have one carrot, at least one serving of pumpkin soup, or a small sweet potato daily. Alternatively, you may also consume some winter squash, kale or even red peppers for the same benefits.
These days, many people take supplements with a view to enhance their health, including the health of their eyes. However, you can obtain the best results by consuming the various natural foods mentioned above. Since an assortment of foods contains the same nutrient, there is no doubt that you can find the food that will suit your taste as well as supply you with the required nutrient.
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For several centuries, the natives of America have considered blueberries very vital part of their diet. When mature, these berries taste sweet with varying degrees of acidity. The adage goes "most valuable things are available in small packages", is particularly true for blueberries. These small blue hued berries enclose the maximum amount of antioxidants compared to any other fruit. In addition, they contain a variety of other valuable nutriments that are helpful in enhancing the power of your body and brain. The compound anthocyanin is a potent antioxidant and imparts these berries their blue color.
In addition, blueberries are also a wonderful source of several vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C and vitamin E. Moreover, they contain elevated amounts of a number of essential minerals like potassium, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese. As most of us are aware that vitamin C, which is also a potent antioxidant, is vital for the growth as well as development of the body tissues, in addition to promoting wound healing.
Health benefits of blueberries
Aside from the nutrient content of blueberries discussed above, these small fruits are also very rich in phenol content, especially gallic acid, which is considered to be a neuro-protective agent that shields our brain from neurotoxicity, degeneration as well as oxidative stress. Experiments undertaken with blueberries also demonstrated that they are effective in inhibiting cognitive decline, while enhancing the functioning of the memory. Antioxidants present in these berries help to reduce inflammation and also shield the body from oxidative stress.
Several studies have hinted that consuming blueberries on a regular basis may help to diminish the chances of developing heart disease, especially in women, as these small blue hued berries contain very high amounts of anthocyanins. Basically, anthocyanins are flavonoids that possess the potential to neutralize the accumulation of plaque and, at the same time, promote the health of our heart. Consuming blueberries or strawberries at least three times every week may prove to be effective in decreasing the risk of developing heart disease.
Aside from being heart friendly, blueberries are also beneficial for the health of our eyes. They help to enhance our vision. An extract from blueberries contains rich amounts of compounds known as anthocyanosides. Moreover, anthocyanosides are also useful in delaying or preventing a number of age related eye problems such as cataract, macular degeneration, myopia and even infections, especially those related to the retina. This action of anthocyanosides is attributed to their antioxidant properties.
It has been established that blueberries are one of the best remedies for liver and colon cancers. This is because these berries enclose specific organic compounds such as ellagic acid and pterostilbene, which work in tandem with anthocyanins as well as a number of other antioxidants such as vitamin C and copper. Together, they are able to do wonders in preventing as well as curing cancer.
Blueberries possess immune boosting properties, because they contain rich amounts of several vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E in addition to vitamin B complex. In addition, they also contain a number of essential minerals like copper, iron, zinc and the trace element selenium. Furthermore, blueberries are packed with antioxidants and also possess anti-bacterial as well as anti-viral attributes. All these attributes of blueberries not only reinforce our immune system, but help our body to be better equipped to stay away from as well as combat colds, various infections and the free radicals, which are responsible for causing various forms of cancers.
As discussed above, blueberries are considered to be among the best antioxidant foods available. Consuming these blue hued berries on a regular basis helps to postpone the aging process. The antioxidants present in these berries possess the ability to retard the aging process by combating the detrimental free radicals in the body. In addition, their potent antioxidant properties help to safeguard the cells of our body from aging, while ensuring that our skin appears taut and youthful.
Aside from the above mentioned nutrients enclosed by blueberries, they are also an excellent source of vitamin K, which is necessary for preserving calcium in our bone matrix. In fact, when you consume enough foods that are rich in vitamin K, it may also significantly decrease the excretion of calcium through urination. It is worth mentioning here that one cup of blueberries provides us with about 36 percent of our daily recommended amount (DRA) of vitamin K.
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With the fall season drawing closer, several people suffer from various skin disorders, making them say that they had spent the summer well. When it is summer and you are undertaking various outdoor activities, it is not possible to completely protect your skin from being scathed, irrespective of whether it is inflamed, reddish sunburn on your shoulder or the variety of discolorations all over your legs caused by a rock-climbing adventure.
Nevertheless, we are fortunate that while nature offers us the opportunity to undertake wonderful outdoor activities under the summer sun, it also has several solutions in store for the problems we endure during this period of the year, especially related to the largest organ of our body.
There is an assortment of natural remedies for your skin and Epsom salt is primary among them. In fact, a mineral compound that occurs naturally, Epsom salt contains sulfate and magnesium. Epsom salt has been used by people for centuries in the form of a natural remedy for curing a range of health issues since our skin soaks it up very easily. Epsom salt has derived its name from an astringent briny, spring located in Surrey, England. The presence of magnesium in this mineral compound is said to be the reason behind its wonderful healing property. In fact, magnesium governs over 300 enzymes in our body, promotes absorption of calcium and also ensures that our blood pressure levels remain normal.
It is surprising to know that several Americans suffer from magnesium deficiency. Roughly 68 percent of the adult population in America do not fulfill the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of this vital mineral. On the other hand, 19 percent of them even do not consume half of the RDA of magnesium. By and large, extensive consumption of processed food is said to be responsible for this deficiency.
There are many ways of using Epsom salt to heal the various skin problems endured by you. Some of them are discussed below.
Healing sun-damaged skin
Epsom salt possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it is perfect for providing relief from itchiness, irritation and pain, which are some of the symptoms of sunburn.
In order to get relief from the above mentioned problems, it is advisable that you fill your bathtub with tepid water and add a cup of Epsom salt to it. Keep stirring the water until all the salt dissolves completely and then just hop in the comfortable bath water. Keep yourself immersed in the water for no less than 20 minutes. Aside from Epsom salt you may also add some drops of any calming essential oil such as lavender with a view to increase relaxation and also make a nice fragrant.
In case the sunburn is just limited to a small area or you don't have an access to a bathtub, you can simply dissolve roughly two tablespoonful of Epsom salt in a cup of water. Next, pour the water into a spray bottle. Spray this water on the affected body areas a few times every week and allow the solution to remain for about 10 minutes and then rinse off the area.
Additional benefits
You ought to know that no remedy will help to completely remove the bruises on your skin overnight. However, use of Epsom salt may prove to be helpful in lessening their appearance and, at the same time, provide relief from pain and itching. You can prepare a warm compress using Epsom salt (two tablespoons) dissolved in one cup of lukewarm water.
Aside from treating sunburnt and bruised skin, you can use Epsom salt to treat a number of other ailments. For instance, you can use Epsom salt solution to soak the skin containing a splinter, as it will make it much easier to remove the splinter. In addition, Epsom salt can also be helpful for alleviating bug bites. Simply keep a cupful of Epsom salt solution handy, preferably store it in your fridge, and apply it to the areas affected by bug bites. You will be pleasantly surprised to get relief from the pain and itching shortly.
Epsom salt is a miraculous compound that can be used for a number of household purposes. For instance, you can blend it with any liquid dish soap and scrub your bathroom tiles. Alternatively, you can sprinkle it at the entry points of your home with a view to keep slugs at bay. Moreover, when you sprinkle Epsom salt on your plants and flowers once every week, it will help them in sustaining their healthy hue. The effect will be similar if you sprinkle a diluted solution of Epsom salt on your lawn occasionally.
