Singing Lowers Blood Pressure & Boosts Your Heart !! (New study).

Singing Lowers Blood Pressure !! (New study : Harvard Medical School, Boston) ....

Singing has distinct advantages over everyday chitchat. When we sing instead of speak, we have intonation, melody line, and crescendo, which gives us a broader vocabulary to express ourselves.
You don't have to be a professional to reap the benefits of singing.

While previous studies have shown that listening to music may help lower an individual's blood pressure, new research that was published in the March, 2011 issue of "American Journal Arthritis Care and Research" indicates that singing or producing melodies may provide similar benefits.

The researchers followed a 76-year-old woman through her treatment for bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Despite her use of several drug-based therapies, the doctors had to postpone the woman's procedure (total knee replacement surgery) due to her high blood pressure which had reached 240/120.

The patient asked her doctors if she could sing to ease her stress, a routine that she said sometimes helped her fall asleep at night. After two songs, her blood pressure reading was reduced to 180/90. The doctors were pleased with this result and asked her to continue singing periodically throughout the night. A morning evaluation showed that the woman's blood pressure still fell down to 160/90 and remained at this stable level and she was permitted to undergo treatment & the surgery (knee replacement) was successful.

"Singing is simple, safe, and free. Patients should be encouraged to sing if they wish," said the study's lead author Nina Niu. You don't have to be a professional to reap the benefits of singing.
“This is cost-free and toxicity-free,” said Niu. “Looking back, it makes a lot of sense. But when you’re in a hospital setting, you think, ‘We need to give the patient drugs.'
While previous studies have proved playing music can soothe patients, this case study by Niu and colleagues is the first to find a patient’s own singing can help tremendously.

“Before she was singing, she was in a range that qualifies for malignant hypertension ( very high B.P. ), when the patient is in danger,” said Niu. Twenty minutes of song not only decreased her blood pressure, but kept it down for several hours — long enough for surgery.

Even listening to good music has several health benefits ....

There are many reports of listening to good music and its health benefits ... for example, a 2007 Spanish study involving 207 patients found that listening to music before surgery was as effective as the prescription drug benzodiazepine in reducing blood pressure. Other research has found that listening to music can help reduce pain, including arthritis pain. BUT latest research indicates that SINGING or producing melodies may provide similar benefits.

SINGING for SENIORS ...
Another study from Washington DC, about Singing for Seniors :-

Singing particularly in a chorus, seems to benefit the elderly particularly well. As part of a three-year study examining how singing affects the health of those 55 and older, a Senior Singers Chorale was formed by the Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C. The seniors involved in the chorale (as well as seniors involved in two separate arts groups involving writing and painting) showed significant health improvements compared to those in the control groups. Specifically, the singing group reported an average of :-

* 30 fewer doctor visits.
*Fewer eyesight problems.
*Less incidence of depression.
*Less need for medication.
*Fewer falls and other injuries.
Even lead researcher Dr. Gene D. Cohen, director of the Center on Aging, Health, and Humanities at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., was surprised at how big of an effect the seniors' arts participation had on their health. "The average age of all the subjects was 80. This is higher than life expectancy. The fact that there was so much improvement in many areas was the surprise factor."
The seniors themselves also noticed health improvements, said Jeanne Kelly, director of the Levine School of Music, Arlington Campus, who led the choral group. The seniors reported :-

* Feeling better both in daily life and while singing.
* Their everyday voice quality was better.
* The tone of their speaking voice did not seem to age as much.
* Easier breathing.
* Better posture.

Singing can turn off the stress hormones that increase your blood pressure.
According to recent studies, singing your favorite songs for 20 minutes daily can send your Cortisol levels plunging by 25% or more. Listening to gospel songs, hymns or golden oldies, or what ever type of music calms and inspires you, can have the effect of slowing your beating and relaxing your heart muscles, which in turn lowers your blood pressure.
Your VOICE is a tool of expression and a vehicle for improving your well-being. Make a joyful noise: keep singing in the shower, no matter what the neighbors say. It could reduce your pain,tension, anxiety, stress, BP and prolong your life.

I do enjoy both singing and listening to good and old melodious music. Whenever I'm in pain or stress ... believe me ... music does wonders for me.
THE STRESS MUST BE ON CARE-FREE SINGING WITH TOTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE LYRICS, THE FEEL & THE EMOTIONS OF THE SONG AS IF YOU CREATED IT FOR YOURSELF ... 
I THINK WAS TOTALLY INVOLVED HERE IN MY SINGING ...

If you ever have the desire to break out into song -- in the shower, in the car, during morning/evening walk, in the park or maybe at your neighbor's infamous karaoke night -- you should embrace it whole-heartedly. This ancient art not only feels good, it can enhance your well-being, boost your heart & immune system, reduce your feelings of pain & stress and even prolong your life.

Secret to Control Anger/Temper – Use Your Wrong Hand. .... A new study.

Are you one of those facing anger issues ?.
Unable to control your temper, feel like screaming at queue jumpers or sly colleagues or bossy people.

Well now there is an easy way out.
NO you don’t need to do meditation or even count to ten to control your rage.
All you got to do is a slightly odd kind of exercise – Just Use Your ''WRONG HAND'' claims a study.

Now if anyone wants to control temper then train oneself to use the ‘wrong hand' as a way of self control, ... a recent study has reported, which was published in March, 2012 issue of the ''Journal Current Directions in Psychological Science''.
A more aggressive person usually harms himself by lacking self control and does not understand what he has done and how it could be control.
Dr Thomas Denson of the University of New South Wales in a study showed that people who were able to use their non-dominant 'wrong hand' up to two weeks were able to keep their aggression in check much better. So if you are right handed, you are told by Dr. Denson to make use of your left hand ‘for pretty much anything that is safe to do.

( Stirring tea with left hand ).
’Thus for instance if you are right handed you must try to get into the habit of switching on TV, opening a door, using remote controls or stirring a cup of tea etc with your non-dominant left hand, while the left-handers must do just the opposite as according to Dr. Denson ‘This requires people to practice self control because their habitual tendency is to use their dominant hands.”

(Opening door with left hand) Dr. Denson opines that practicing self-control is not really different from getting better at a hobby we indulge in like say golf or playing piano. It is basically self control which keeps us from hitting out at queue breakers or throttling scheming colleagues.

(Using mobile with left hand).
Dr Denson also believes that the more you practice controlling your impulses over long term, the more your self control capacity gets stronger over time “It is just like practicing anything, really - it is hard at first.” But, over a period of time, it can make anything annoying easier to deal with.

(Using a remote with left hand).
In studies he showed people who try to use their non-dominant hand for two weeks keep a lid on their aggression better.

(Thumbs up with left hand)

(Plug in/out with left hand)

(Pointing things with left hand)

(Writing with left hand).

In one experiment, participants were mildly insulted by another student and were given the option of retaliating with a blast of white noise, a combination of all the different frequencies of sound also known as static.
Those who had practiced self control responded less aggressively.

Road rage: Is self-control a skill you can 'practice' like doing keyboard exercises to learn piano ?
Dr Denson and colleagues said criminologists and sociologists have long believed people commit violent crimes when an opportunity arises and they are low on self-control. He said: ‘It is an impulsive kind of thing.’
For the last ten years or so psychologists have joined this research, using new ways of manipulating self-control in experiments, and found self control and aggression really are tightly linked.
Studies have also found that, after people have had to control themselves for a while, they behave more aggressively. So longer the duration, better it is.
Dr Denson said: ‘I think, for me, the most interesting findings that have come out of this is that if you give aggressive people the opportunity to improve their self control, they are less aggressive.’
It is not that aggressive people don’t want to control themselves - they just aren’t very good at it.
In fact, if you put aggressive people in a brain scanner and monitor their brain activity while insulting them, the parts involved in self control are actually more active than in less aggressive people.
So it might be possible to teach people who struggle with anger or violence problems to control themselves more easily.
The same basic fact is predicted in the figure below which depicts the nornal brain centres of a Right-Handed person.

For people not inclined towards violence, it may also be useful to practice self control by trying to improve your posture, for example. Added Dr Denson: ‘ if you practice that over the long term, your self control capacity gets stronger over time. It is just like practicing anything, really - it is hard at first.’

But, over time, it can make that annoying colleague easier to deal with.

GUAVA ( अमरूद् ) ... The Amazing Super Fruit in News !!!

We are aware about Amla and its health benefits but never thought that Guava ( अमरूद् ) will be so much beneficial. In our general view, we think and perceive that costlier fruits would yield more benefits but it is now recently proved wrong and baseless by a recent study conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad (India),

Guava certainly is the “Fruit in the News”. Besides its much proven health benefits, the fruit is being discussed lately because of its high ''Antioxidant'' levels.Guava (Psidium guajava L.) has always been a very important fruit crop of India. It has always gained great respect because of its ...
(1). High nutritive value,
(2). Easy availability,
(3). Low economic value,
(4). Pleasant aroma, and
(5). Good flavor.

Guava has the second highest content of vitamin C, next to Amla. It is also very high in the soluble fiber ''Pectin'' which cleans and rinses our intestines well.
A guava weighing 100g (approx a medium sized guava) would contain 260 mg of Vitamin C (recommended intake is 40mg per day) and 8.5 gm of dietary fiber (recommended intake is 25 gm to 30 gm per day). Guava is also rich in Carotenoids and Potassium. The nutrient content of fruit differs with the cultivar, stage of maturity and season. Guava is in the true sense a SUPER FOOD.

Apart from the fruit, guava leaves also have an array of qualities which are healing and curative. Guava leaf is 'antibacterial' in nature. Studies conducted in the past have proven the leaves to be helpful in Diabetes. They help regulate blood glucose levels. Guava leaves could also be consumed like any other cooked green leafy vegetable or juice. This would bring nutrition on the platter absolutely free of cost.

Guava ... Higly rich in Antioxidants :-
An epidemiological study was conducted recently by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad (India), to know the ANTIOXIDANT properties of different fruits. The study included only those fruits that are easily available in the Indian market and are commonly consumed by maximum Indians.
The fruits were Guava, Pine-apple, Indian plum, Mango (ripe), Apple, Chiku, Watermelon, Custard apple, Grapes (green), Orange, Papaya (ripe), Pomegranate, Sweet lime and Banana.

The results showed that out of the 14 fresh fruits, guava and mango were found to be the richest in antioxidants. Anti-oxidant property of guava was found to be 496 mg / 100gm, which is said to be sufficient to get rid of 'free radicals' (wear and tear/disease causing chemicals) present in our body. The antioxidant activity of the fruits in the study ranged from as high as 496 mg /100 gm in Guava to as low as 22 mg /100 gm in pineapple.
''Lycopene'' is the potent antioxidant found in abundance in Guava.
A guava provides 2.9 g of Lycopene, an antioxidant that protects healthy cells from toxins that accumulate in the body due to metabolism and environmental pollution. The damaging effect of toxins includes premature aging, cancer development because they damage DNA in charge of growth and development.

Free radicals hasten ageing and are responsible for causung many Cancers and many other degenerative disorders. So, the main objective behind the study was to know the antioxidant properties in naturally occurring fruits that could fight against free radicals.

(Anti oxidant model)

The study has brought forth the benefit of the natural occurring antioxidants in lowering the risk of degenerative diseases such as Cancer, Diabetes, Atherosclerosis (hardening of blood channels).

Dr Sreeramulu, from the Endocrinology and Metabolism division of the National Institute of Nutrition’s and the lead author of this study, stated that “Natural antioxidants have attracted considerable interest among nutritionists, food manufacturers and consumers because of their presumed safety and potential therapeutic value”.
Dr Sreeramulu highlighted the importance of the findings saying that “even the commonly available Guava can enrich the Indian diet”. He also added that “We usually believe expensive fruits are the richest source of nutrition. But our extensive research shows that highly economical fruits like ''Guava'' are rich in antioxidants the most that help scavenge free radicals that destroy tissues."
The Indian plum, the custard apple and India’s beloved mangoes, all came after guava in antioxidant richness.
The study also found that while there is a presence of antioxidant concentrations of just under 500 mg per 100 gm in guava, 330 mg in plum and 135 mg in pomegranate, apples have a quarter of the antioxidants compared with guava and bananas have a tiny fraction with 30 mg per 100gm.

Other benefits that this Indian superfood (Guava) provides are as follows :

(1). It slows diarrhea and loose bowels ...
Guava and guava leaves are very rich in astringents. Astringents are compounds that make the gums feel tighter. These astringents are alkaline in nature and bind up loose bowels. They also have disinfectant and antibacterial properties and thus are helpful for the stomach and intestines by assisting in inhibiting dangerous microbial growth causing diarrhea.

(2). It relieves cold and cough ...
Guava and guava juice also help in giving relief from cough and cold as they contain antioxidants and also disinfect the respiratory system.

(3). It allows healthy digestion and bowel movement ...
Guava is one of the best sources of soluble fiber. The seeds serve as a natural laxative. It is a boon for the mankind as they are excellent in maintaining the stomach health.

(4). It helps control diabetes and blood pressure ...
Guava is hypoglycemic in nature and also helps to control blood pressure when consumed on regular basis.
Guava leaf tea may be effective in lowering blood glucose levels. According to a study published in 2010 in "Nutrition and Metabolism" and conducted by the Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research in Tokyo, Japan, consumption of guava leaf tea inhibits alpha-glucosidase enzymes. The inhibition of these enzymes results in reduction of blood glucose levels; the suppression of elevated blood glucose levels is critical in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

(5). It helps maintain healthy and glowing skin ...
The skin is the largest organ in the human body and its condition speaks volumes about your health. Rashes, acne, eczema, psoriasis, and oily, dry and aged skin, may reflect stress, lack of exercise or a poor diet. Improving your skin's health is possible in a variety of ways, including adding more skin-supportive nutrients in your diet. Guava is a tropical fruit that provides several nutrients like Vit. C, Vit. K, Lycopene & water that support skin maintenance. Including it in your diet may help you make progress toward the beautiful complexion you want that is more than just skin deep.
The abundance of astringents in the fruit and leaves helps tighten the muscles. The skin could also be washed by its decoction to give a bright and clean look.

(6). It helps in fat reduction and loose weight ...

Guava is a one of the best fruits to consume, especially for a person on a weight loss regime. It is highly satiating and satisfying. Having just a medium sized guava can take care of hunger for next three hours easily.

(7). Mouth Ailments ...

Guava leaf tea is useful in treating ailments associated with the mouth. According to "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth" by Jonny Bowden, the tea made from the guava leaf can treat ulcers in the mouth. In addition, as a gargling agent, guava leaf tea can alleviate discomfort associated with sore throats, laryngitis and mouth swelling.

(8). Infections ...

Guava leaf tea has shown effectiveness when used as a topical treatment of skin and soft tissue infections. A study conducted at Federal University of Technology in Yola, Nigeria revealed the components of the guava leaf extract promoted anti-bacterial properties, which prevented infections in surgical wounds and other skin and soft tissue infections.

It’s best to eat the whole raw fruit. But guava has a tendency to mix and merge with other flavors and create a delightful new taste, so, it could be used to prepare vegetables, cocktails, floats, punches and desserts.


''A guava a day would definitely keep the doctor away''.

For super health and super energy make sure not to miss eating the guava when it is in season... as it is right now in Indian subcontinent and the price now in this season is JUST 15-20 Rs./KG... So friends go for it right now on daily basis for the next 2-3 months as Indian markets are already flooded with this super fruit.

Brain Drain ... Mental Fatigue...Seven ways to refuel the brain.

The fast paced lifestyle of adults today is leaving many individuals feeling mentally exhausted.

Fatigue is among the top ten health complaints received by doctors around the world. Despite modern luxuries, true relaxation keeps floating out of reach. The best way to tackle the situation, according to experts, is to bring about a radical change from old habits.
Seven keys to refresh your mind and soul  :-
(1). Self Care : -
Every individual should take a close look at their daily lifestyle to determine what areas need improvement. Make an appointment with your physician for a physical to assess for possible iron deficiency anemia, thyroid function or an infection that could be causing fatigue symptoms. Then decide if you are consuming the servings suggested from each food group for appropriate nutrition.
Caffeine and sugar should be avoided while increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Medical experts suggest taking a multivitamin supplement and drinking at least 64 ounces of water (1/3 rd of your body weight in Kgs X 100 ml.) daily to replenish your brain and body.
(2). Positive thinking : -
Our thinking process is influenced by the constant monologue in our minds. When there is an overdose of negative feedback, energy levels go down.

 Irrational, self-defeating thoughts serve no purpose other than to bring on fatigue and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Blaming ourselves for every single mistake allows nagging thoughts to occur, causing physical fatigue and a sluggish mind. Experts recommend substituting negative thinking with positive ones.
(3). Time out : -
Taking a few minutes off every hour or two helps the brain to recharge.

It provides a chance to look at the problem in hand with a new perspective and explore solutions from different angles. When you are doing some important task taking a few minutes off may appear to be a difficult job, but psychologists believe that there are many benefits that are cured by such an exercise.
(4). Sleep : -
Adults require six to seven hours of sleep every night.

 If you are experiencing insomnia it can escalate the symptoms of mental fatigue. Create a routine each night that prepares you for bed. Have a glass of hot milk (milk has tryptophan amino acid which induces sleep). Turn off lights and any media that will keep your brain stimulated. Your brain will then release the 'melatonin' that regulates the sleep and wake cycles.
(5). Eat right : -
Often, our eating patterns are the first to suffer when our work load piles up. Appeasing a hungry stomach with easily available junk food, rather than nutritious food at regular intervals, can create havoc with fitness levels. Reaching for high calorie foods provide a temporary boost to flagging energy levels. But such foods keep energy up only for a short period of time. Glucose level dips soon afterwards, resulting in distraction and an inability to concentrate. Simple sugars shoot up blood sugar level and provide instant energy, but only temporarily.

Diet rich in complex carbohydrates works best for a slow and steady release of energy. All whole grains, a few vegetables and some fruits are great sources of complex carbs.
(6). Water therapy : -
When water intake is down, energy and concentration levels are affected. Water accounts for almost sixty per cent of our body weight. After oxygen it is the most important element needed to sustain human life.

So it is not surprising that decrease levels of water in the body result sin fatigue. There is a loss of fluid through sweating and urination. Unless the lost fluids are replenished, the kidney goes on a conservation mode, affecting the workings of other body systems. Loss of water may lead to fatigue, dizziness, irritability, lack of concentration, diminished muscular endurance and other serious conditions. Water is important to hydrate the tissue including brain tissue.
(7). Get some exercise : -
The weight of our brain is less than five per cent of our body, yet it uses up thirty per cent of the oxygen taken in. One of the most important factors affecting proper functioning of the brain is the supply of adequate levels of oxygen. Regular exercise helps in routing of oxygen to the brain and heart. Exercise helps in improved blood flow to the brain and helps to remove toxin from the body.

A study published in the March 2009 Journal of Applied Physiology reports, “Mental fatigue impairs physical performance in humans.” Physicians recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise three times a week. Exercise will increase your stamina and the oxygen level in your bloodstream. The brain utilizes 30 % of the oxygen in your body, so increasing oxygen in the body will improve cognition. Taking the steps to

 maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit should be a part of your daily lifestyle. If you believe that you do not have the time to take care of yourself now, then you will need to make the time later if you become ill. Your best option is to start today and make the right choices for you.
(8). Colour Codes : -

Colours influence our moods. Cheerful yellows, oranges and reds give a boost to creativity while pale or blue colours promote lethargy.

 Blue is known to be a cold color and can put you in a depressed or sad mood.On the other end of the scale red is known as a hot firy color and is said to put humans in a state of rage or anger mood. 

Of course, an overdose of stimulating colours can provide to be distracting too. Care should be taken to create harmonious blends of colours that soothe and also induce creativity.

50 gms Red Tomatoes Paste or 500 ml Tomato Juice a day keep heart diseases away .... A new study !!!

दिल की सेहत दुरूस्त रखता है टमाटर ।।। टमाटर के स्वाद के दिवानों के लिए एक अच्छी खबर ।।।

The humble tomato is more than a delicious fruit. The secret to a healthy heart may be simply relishing a nectarous tomato.According to a recent investigation, an international team led by the University of Adelaide, Tomatoes can serve as a powerful alternative to medication in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, thus preventing cardiovascular disease. It was suggested that a bright red pigment called LYCOPENE in tomatoes has antioxidant properties that are essential for good health. This pigment appears present to a lesser extent in watermelon, guava, papaya, pink grapefruit and rosehip as well. The study has been published in the "Maturitas journal" this month.
Claimed to be a novel study, the Researchers came to the conclusion by summarising the effect of Lycopene on cholesterol and blood pressure analysing the collective results of 14 studies in the last 55 years. "Our study suggests that if more than 25 milligrams of Lycopene is taken daily, it can reduce LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) by up to 10 per cent," Dr Karin Ried, who led the team, said. Lycopene appears better absorbed when consumed in processed and cooked tomatoes or tomato paste rather than fresh tomatoes.

Bright Red Tomatoes in particular have high levels of Lycopene, with half-a-litre of tomato juice taken daily, or 50 grams of tomato paste, providing protection against heart disease, say the researchers. Eating just one tomato a day would not be enough. Dr Ried said: ‘I would really recommend looking at 50 gms of tomato paste daily. It is very rich in Lycopene and it is not difficult to get 50 grams a day.

 

"That's comparable to the effect of low doses of medication commonly prescribed for people with slightly elevated cholesterol, but without the side effects of these drugs, which can include muscle pain and weakness and nerve damage," Dr Ried said.
"Research shows that high lycopene consumption has been associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, including hardened arteries, heart attacks and strokes," Dr Ried said. He, however, added that more study is needed to explore whether doses higher than 25 to 44 milligrammes of lypocene a day provide additional benefits.

Dr. Ried and her colleagues have received international recognition for other clinical studies which show the benefits of both garlic and dark chocolate in helping to lower blood pressure.



Drink Tea Without Milk to Lose Weight and Choesterol : New Study !!!

Tea please .... Hold the Milk !!!!

Tea lovers can now kill the guilt of sipping an extra cup of tea. Researchers have found that tea helps one reduce weight provided he consumes it without milk. However if tea is taken with milk especially cow milk, than all the benefits are lost. For all those hitting the gym, and undertaking crash diets to lose weight, lay back and sip a hot cup of tea without milk, as a new study claims that drinking tea could help you lose weight, only if you don't add milk to it.

All teas, black, green or red are a rich source of anti oxidants like Theaflavins and Thearubigins which help in weight loss and cholesterol reduction, but these antioxidants in tea which aid in weight-loss are neutralized if milk is added to it. These anti oxidants present in tea reduce the amount of fat absorption in the intestine and can also cut cholesterol.
 
Tea is one of the good sources of anti oxidants that help one to prevent obesity and lose weight. But in order to reap this beneficial property of tea one should drink it without milk.
Researchers at the Tea Research Association in Assam, India have found that tea is a rich source of antioxidants such as theaflavins and thearubigins that help not only to cut cholesterol but reduce the amount of fat absorbed by our intestines.

But this fat-fighting ability of tea is neutralized if we add milk to it. Dr. Devajit Borthakur, a scientist at the Tea Research Association in Assam said that the benefits are cancelled out by the protein found in milk. He said, “When tea is taken with milk, theaflavins and thearubigins form complexes with the milk protein, which causes them to precipitate. Therefore we neither get the health benefits from these compounds nor from milk. Therefore, it is always advised to take tea without milk.” 

Also a study by scientists in Japan, reveals that extracts from tea leaves inhibit the absorption of fat in the intestines of rats being fed high-fat diet. These rats also had less fat tissue on their bodies and lower fat content in their livers, reports the Journal of Nutrition. Hiroaki Yajima, a scientist with the Kirin Beverage Company in Japan who carried out the Japanese research, said: "Black tea extracts may prevent diet-induced obesity by inhibiting intestinal lipid absorption." Researchers now believe this could explain why people in Britain appear not to benefit from the healthy affects of tea despite being among the world's biggest consumers of the beverage.

The study therefore is an eye-opener to many who can not imagine drinking tea without milk if, of course, they want to cut extra flab from their bulging waist line.  Consumption of black tea becomes important if one wants to lose weight. The health boosting properties of black tea are often disguised by tea lover’s habit of drinking it with milk.
One more reason to drink Tea without milk : Studies have also revealed that a type of protein found in milk called caseins decrease the amount of heart healthy compounds known as catechins that are found in tea.

Other benefits of tea :

 1. Drinking black teas can help to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as it helps to expand the arteries, which increases blood flow to the heart.

2. Research has shown the black/green tea can be used in the fight against cancer. Properties of the tea slow down the growth of cancerous cells without destroying healthy cells.

3. Tea is also believed to help to delay the aging process. Nowadays there are many anti aging creams and lotions that contain tea extracts to help the skin look younger.

4. Drinking tea such as black and green tea helps to reduce bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol.

5. Tea contains fluoride, which can help to prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel.Tea also strengthens our bones.

6. For those people with diabetes, drinking tea can help to decrease glucose levels, which can reduce the risk of cataracts, and other conditions brought about by diabetes.

7. Tea builds the body's resistance to infection, especially the ones infused with a variety of herbs. By inhibiting free radicals tea strengthens the immune system providing protection to the organs against infection.

The research suggests that despite more attention being paid to the health benefits of green tea, black tea may have greater health-boosting properties which are masked by the tendency to drink it with milk.

Bottom Line: Tea is a healthy beverage offering many health benefits (if you skip the cream and sugar). Brew your tea for at least 3 - 5 minutes to bring out the beneficial polyphenols. Enjoy the aroma of tea !!!!