Many food products have hidden benefits not known to common people. Their consumption is thus not given much importance as it should be. In the following blog, we will be talking about health benefits bestowed to us by regular consumption of honey and green tea.
Both these products have been gaining popularity recently because food and nutrition scientists from all over the world have been dedicating efforts to study their effects on the health of regular users. Evidence-based studies and their results have talked positively about these food products and thus in the following article we will be extensively discussing benefits of honey and green tea.
Honey
Liquid gold is the name given to this actually miraculous product by healthcare and food researchers from all over the country. Honey is packed with too many nutrition and health related benefits to offer to its regular users of all age groups. One tablespoon of this thick, sweet and luscious looking liquid in various forms can bestow you with following benefits:
- Anti-inflammatory properties make is good to soothe inflammation caused due to a bacterial cough and other allergic reactions. Its soothing action makes it good as a mask for burns and wounds. This liquid is loaded with pollens and thus its intake helps the body generate many antibodies thus strengthening the immune response to seasonal allergies.
- The combination of its viscosity (much more than water) with its soothing action on inner cell membrane makes it avoid acid reflux or incidences of Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD).
- Its high glucose (pure and ready for absorption) and hydrating properties make it potent as oral rehydration therapy for both kids and adults in cases of diarrhoea. Its anti-bacterial action helps to avoid a relapse of bacterial diarrhoea as well.
- With least amount of carbohydrate (17gm/tbsp.) and abundance of pure sugar (glucose and fructose), it helps satiate sweet tooth and also gives an instant boost of energy. Its consumption as an alternative to sugar is suggested positive and benefitting for weight watchers.
- Being a good antibacterial and exfoliating agent, it is extensively used in face masks. Its hydrating properties make it a good component of hydrating face and hair packs.
- It has anti-oxidant properties thus suggested to be taken with warm water or added to toasts and beverages to enhance flavour and intake. It helps repair cellular damage effectively.
Green tea
Green tea has positive and powerful rewards for its regular consumers. Some of them have been listed below:
- It is rich in polyphenols with super anti-oxidant properties to benefit the body in delaying skin-related signs of aging by having a direct role in helping cell repair and reducing genesis of free radicals in the body.
- Controlled caffeine content (much less than coffee but enough to keep the brain active) has been studied to progressively affect mood, vigilance, activity, reaction or reflex and even memory.
- The L-theanine amino acid in green tea helps keep anxiety at bay and help improve brain function along with caffeine.
- Increased metabolism is another positive effect of green especially for weight watchers.
- Antioxidant properties of green tea make it effective controller of oxidative damage in the body and thus fight against the development of cancerous cells. This has been proved true through studies especially in the case of colorectal, prostate and breast cancer.
- Bioactive components of green tea help prevent neurodegeneration associated with old age and thus avoid chances of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in old age.
- Catechins, another bioactive component of green tea, help kill some bacteria and other microbes present in mouth flora and responsible for tooth decay and other oral infections.
- Green tea is good news for diabetics as it has been proved to increase insulin sensitivity thus helps keep sugar levels low. Those prone to type-2 diabetes can also benefit from regular consumption.
- With effective activity in reducing LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol values, green tea proves beneficial in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well.
With above let us not forget to judge the quality of the products we are using. With many sub-standard products available in the market, be careful to stick to raw and organic products from reliable brands. This is necessary to ensure you maximise the good and negate the chances of putting impurities into your food.
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