7 Impressive Health Benefits of Chinese Black Tea

Due to its numerous health benefits black tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Compared to other types of tea like green tea,  oolong tea or white tea, it is more oxidized. Hence, it has a stronger flavor.

The species of plant from which it is produced is a small evergreen shrub known as ‘Camellia sinensis’. The origin of this type of tea dates back to the mid 17th century in China.

Here are 7 amazing health benefits of Chinese black tea -

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Keeps Your Heart Healthy

 Black tea is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, theaflavins, and gallic acid derivatives. These can keep your heart healthy by preventing abnormal functioning of blood vessels and reversing coronary artery dysfunctions.

Research has shown that drinking three cups of black tea regularly can reduce the risk of heart diseases, reduce low-density cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of stroke and even control healthy blood pressure levels.

Prevent Cancer

Black tea contains polyphenols which can protect you from carcinogens and prevent the spread of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. If you use any kind of tobacco products, incorporating black tea in your diet may be a good option.

Studies have found that it is effective in treating ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, oral cancer, colorectal cancer, and bladder cancer.

Improves Digestive Tract

Our stomach contains trillions of bacteria and other microbes. Some of these are beneficial for your gut and others can cause illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and even cancer.

The polyphenols contained in black tea act as a prebiotic and induce the growth of good bacteria. It also inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria like ‘Salmonella’.

Glowing Skin

 Consuming black tea can help you to flush out harmful toxins from your skin as it is rich in antioxidants and tannins. It also has astringent properties.

So, applying it directly on your face or under your eyes can help you to tighten your skin pores, help to get rid of dark circles, lighten blemishes and protect your skin from premature aging.

Lower The Risk of Diabetes

Consuming excess sugar can cause an increase in your blood sugar levels. This can cause depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Black tea contains catechins and theaflavins which prevent beta-cell dysfunction and raises insulin sensitivity. Thus, drinking black tea can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Boost Your Immune System

Free radicals are harmful and cause damage to our body cells. This can lead to several chronic diseases. Black tea contains polyphenols such as theaflavins, catechins, and thearubigins which help to eliminate free radicals, promote healthy functioning of the cells and also give a boost to our immune system.

Prevent Hair Loss

The hormone responsible for hair loss is known as DHT. Black tea contains caffeine which decreases the production of DHT in our bodies.

Applying it on your scalp after shampooing can also promote hair growth and add luster to it.

 While the majority take tea simply because of its soothing quality and yummy taste, each cup also gives a lot of health benefits.

Conclusion

Swapping calorie-loaded beverages such as soda or juice with tea can cut down overall calorie consumption and as well bring about weight loss.

Black tea contains many antioxidants that fight free radicals that are dangerous to your health. Also, Black tea is very high in flavones while green tea is in catechins, which are beneficial compounds that may enhance your weight loss and improve overall health.

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5 impressive Fresh and Yummy Smoothies

Smoothies are drinks prepared by puréeing fruits and vegetables in a blender. A smoothie often has a liquid base such as fruit juice, and you can also add dairy products such as cottage cheese, milk, yogurt, or ice cream. To prepare a smoothie, put your favorite fruits or vegetables in a blender, you can add milk or any other dairy product

However, if you are on a diet you must keep your calorie count under control. That means you should avoid adding any sugar to your drink.

Here are some delicious and healthy smoothie recipes that you need to try

Mango and Banana Combo Smoothie

This is undoubtedly one of the more popular smoothie preparation. The main ingredients are mango and banana. Aside from these, you can choose to add some milk and yogurt or cashew milk and coconut yogurt if you prefer a dairy-free diet.

If you want your smoothie to be cold, you can opt to add either frozen mangoes or frozen bananas. There is no need to add sugar as the recipe is already sweet in taste.

Preparation

Cut 2 fresh mangoes into small cubes and 1 banana into thin slices. Put them into a high-speed blender along with your choice of milk or cream. Blend it until it becomes creamy.

Strawberry and Banana Combo Smoothie

This is a perfect smoothie for the summer. It’s tasty and equally healthy. The main ingredients are banana and strawberries. There is no need to add sugar into the mix as fresh strawberries are already very sweet.

For a creamy drink, be sure to add some milk and cream. If you are a vegan, you can opt to add dairy-free coconut milk instead.

Preparation

Slice 1 banana and put it into your blender. Add some freshly cut strawberries(about 2 cups). Put in some milk and yogurt or cashew milk. Blend it until it becomes smooth. Enjoy your drink.

Strawberry and Guava Combo Smoothie

This recipe is easy to make, tasty, and also rich in fiber. The main ingredients are guava and strawberries. Depending on your preference, you can add some honey, milk, and yogurt into the mix.

Add some ices cubes for a chilled taste.

Preparation

Cut 1 fresh guava into 4 pieces and add it into your blender. Then, add 6 to 8 strawberries along with some milk, a cup of yogurt, and a tablespoon of honey. Add some ice cubes if you want. Blend the mixture until it becomes a thick creamy paste.

Orange and Banana Combo Smoothie

If you want to enjoy a fresh and punchy drink, you must try out this smoothie. The main ingredients are orange and banana. You can also add some almonds, ice, and ginger to improve the taste.

This drink is rich in vitamin C and can help you to increase your appetite. 

Preparation

Put 2 ripe bananas into a blender. Add 1 cup of orange juice along with 10-12 previously soaked almonds. Then, add a teaspoon of grated or crushed ginger. Blend the mixture until it becomes smooth.

Cranberry and Apple combo Smoothie

This recipe is low in sugar and full of nutrients. It tastes delicious and can be a good source of energy if you have it in the morning with your breakfast. The main ingredients are cranberries and apples. You can also add coconut milk, cinnamon powder, and some honey to increase the taste.

If you like your drink cold, you can add some ice.

Preparation

Slice an apple into 4 sections and put it into your blender. Add half a cup of cranberries. Then, put some low-fat milk or coconut milk into the mix along with a pinch of cinnamon powder and a tablespoon of honey. Add 2 ice cubes to make it cold. Blend the mixture until it becomes thick and creamy.

Conclusion

Smoothies give you lots of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibers. Having your fruits and vegetables as smoothies will give them a unique taste and quench your thirst and also boost your appetite at the same time.

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Fertility Diet

What is Fertility diet

An optimal fertility diet is about what to avoid, as much as it is about what to include. A fertility diet should be as fresh as possible and organic wherever possible. Key elements are good quality protein sources and good fats.

What should you eat?

 You may eat organic meat in small quantities, game, small deep-sea fish such as sardines and red snapper, and organic legumes that are home cooked (not canned). Others are whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit in season, organic where possible.

Increase your consumption of good fats and avoid dangerous fats. Good fats include monounsaturated fats in olive oil, polyunsaturated fats in oily fish and nuts and midchain fatty acids found in coconut oil.

For cooking, use clarified butter (ghee) or coconut butter (without flavour), as they do not become unstable when heated. For non-heated oil requirements (salads, etc), use cold pressed olive oil, flaxseed oil and nut oils.

Avoid dangerous fats

Did you know that consuming trans fats hidden in processed foods such as doughnuts, biscuits, lollies, candies, chocolate, chips, pies and fries and thousands of other unhealthy foods may increase your risk of infertility by as much as 70 per cent?

Scientists from the Harvard University School of Public Health advise women wanting to get pregnant to avoid all trans fats. The sole purpose of adding trans fats to food is to extend the shelf life. To minimise your consumption of trans fats, be diligent about reading the ingredients and avoid the most likely culprits altogether.

Trans fats are mostly listed as ‘hydrogenated fat’ or ‘hardened vegetable fat’ or simply ‘vegetable fat.’

Minimize animal-derived estrogen

Dairy products account, on the average, for 60-70 percent of estrogen consumed. Humans consume milk from cows in the second half of pregnancy when cow’s estrogen levels are high. We usually associate dairy and drinking milk with calcium, and never think about what else we may be consuming along with the calcium. Dairy, by the way, is not the best source of calcium. Here is a list of hormones that have been found in cows’ milk: Prolactin, somatostatin, melatonin, oxytocin, growth hormone, lutenizing releasing hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, estrogens, progesterone, insulin, corticosteroids and many more.

Did you know that an excess consumption of all these hormones could disrupt your own hormonal balance? You bet! Consumption of milk has been linked to certain cases of male infertility. Excess estrogen and pesticide exposure has been linked to Polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.

Studies have found higher concentrations of pesticides in cheese than in non-organically grown fruit and vegetables. The first line of naturopathic treatment I recommend for PCOS and endometriosis is to minimise intake of animal products. Animal products have a high content of hormones, pesticides and herbicides, which are known endocrine disruptors. They play havoc with your hormones and this can lead to anovulation (failure of the ovary to release ova over a period of time generally exceeding three months).

Avoid two most common allergens

The link between food intolerance and anti-sperm antibodies is now well established. Studies have found that women with multiple allergies and food intolerance were more likely to miscarry. An overactive immune system is more likely to attack its own body cells.

From an immunological point of view, an embryo and sperm cell are foreign bodies. But Mother Nature was clever; she programmed our immune systems to distinguish between an everyday invader and a sperm cell or embryo. A normal and healthy immune response to an embryo or sperm cell is orchestrated by Th2 cytokines. They suppress your killer cells (that’s what they are called) to leave the embryo unharmed. Because of this protection, many pregnant women are poor wound healers and can come down really badly with a cold or flu. Your natural protection has been suppressed so that your baby can develop properly.

An abnormal immune response to the implantation of the fertilised egg is orchestrated by Th1 cytokines. Rather than suppressing your killer cells, they stimulate their activity. This can lead to defects and loss of the foetus. The two most widely spread food intolerance are gluten and dairy. I advise my patients to have an IgG immunoglobulin test done to check if they are dairy and gluten intolerant. But since most people have some level of allergy to gluten and/or dairy, it’s advisable to avoid gluten and dairy altogether during the preconception and pregnancy period.

Have an STIs check

Most people believe both they and their partner are free from sexually transmitted diseases. However, there are some STDs which can be asymptomatic, meaning that you may not be aware you have them, as there are no obvious symptoms. One such STD is Chlamydia.

In men, a Chlamydia infection can lead to sperm abnormalities, including sperm antibodies. In women, it can lead to scarri

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What to Know About Erectile Dysfunction —Causes, Treatment and Prevention

What is Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is sometimes called impotence. This is when a man lacks the ability to have or keep an erection strong enough to have sex. Several men have this experience when they're stressed. Although periodical erection dysfunction is common. However, when this is frequent, it may be a sign of health problems, emotional, or relationship difficulties that need to be treated by professionals.

At the point of sexual excitement in a man, muscles in the penis relax, this caused the blood to flow through the penile arteries to fill the two tubes of spongy tissue inside the penis. As the chambers load up with blood, the penis becomes rigid. When the muscles contract, the blood, through the penile veins flows out. Thus, an erection ends.

What is the Main Cause Of Erectile Dysfunction

Factors such as health problems, emotional issues, and relationship difficulties are major players when it comes to erectile dysfunction. Causes include : diabetes kidney disease cardiovascular disease obesity using tobacco products high blood pressure consuming too much alcohol high cholesterol hormonal imbalance such as low testosterone level increased age stress anxiety depression relationship problems certain prescription medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure or depression. Just one of these factors can lead to erectile dysfunction or some of them. This why you need to consult your doctor so as to treat any of the underlying health conditions.

Treatments of Erectile Dysfunction

The underlying causes of erectile dysfunction will determine the treatment and method your doctor will prescribe. You may need to combine medication with talk therapy.

Foods that help with Erectile Dysfunction.

Can foods you eat be of help? Below is a list of foods that can help in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Oysters

Oysters can affect your sex drive by boosting your testosterone levels. They are also packed with zinc, but you may need to cook them to save yourself from other side effects, such as accumulation of zinc in your body. be certain of the source and that they are cooked very well.

Dark Chocolate

 Chocolates are high in flavanols, plant nutrients that make your body make more nitric oxide, increase blood flow, and lower blood pressure, this can help with erections. Dark chocolate is good for your heart, one ounce a few times per week can help your erection.

Nuts

Walnuts contain arginine, an amino acid that enables your body to make nitric oxide. Nuts are high in fiber and are a good source of vitamin E and folic acid. A few small handfuls in your diet daily are better. Note, Nuts have a lot of calories.

Watermelon

 This refreshing fruit contains a compound that has effects comparable to ED drugs on your blood vessels. Studies reveal that it can even revive your sex drive. 92 percent of watermelon is water, the rest contained an antioxidant, lycopene that aids the better performance of your heart, skin, and prostate.

Coffee

 Starting your day with a cup of coffee is more than a satisfying pick-me-up. Drinking just two cups of coffee may give your sex life a boost. A study revealed men who drank two, three cups of coffee daily were less to suffer erectile dysfunction. This is because the caffeine helps increase blood flow. Note, many sports drinks, teas, and sodas also contain caffeine.

Fish

Salmon is a great source of omega-3, heart-healthy fatty acids, that can increase nitric oxide in your body. 8 ounces of salmon in a week and other fatty fish can lower your blood pressure, prevent heart attack and blood clots.

Olive Oil

Olive oil help gets rid of the bad cholesterol, it is full of monounsaturated fat. It can also help your body to make more testosterone. Extra –virgin olive oil i.e, the olive is pressed without high heat or chemicals, this preserves the healthy antioxidant content.

Garlic

Garlic may be of help in erectile dysfunction. If the sticky deposit forms on arteries walls, blood flow could be cut off or reduced, which can boost your sex life. Add garlic to your diet, it will help clear the sheets in your arteries wall, keep it healthy as you age.

Peppers

You can spice up your sex life by adding a few chili peppers to your diet. The stuff in habaneros, jalapenos, cayennes, and other peppers help relax the arteries, help blood flow into the heart and other organs in your body which include the penis. Peppers can aid to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and prevent blood clots.

Greens

Leafy veggies are nutritional power-house. They are high in minerals, omega-3s, and vitamins. Kale, leafy green is a nitric oxide booster, they add possible benefits to your sex life.

Exercise — Can it Improve Erectile Dysfunction

Kegel exercises simply strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. How do you recognize your pelvic floor muscles? Stop peeing midstream, the muscles that help you to achieve this are your pelvic floor muscles. Contract them for 3 seconds, and then relax. do this over 10 to 20 times in a row, three times a day.

Moderate to vigorous exercises such as swimming and running are good options for your overall health. Thus, the blood flow rate becomes increased and efficient, possibly helping with erectile dysfunction.

How to Prevent Erectile Dysfunction

Creating healthy lifestyle is a major among other steps to help prevent erectile dysfunction. Such will not only improve sex health but also overall health. These are major prevention tips

Keep diabetes, heart disease, and other medical conditions under control. Look for help in case you're encountering depression or anxiety Eat healthy foods Ensure that you get good exercise on daily basis. Discover better approaches to manage stress Stop smoking. Keep your weight under control. Try not to utilize drugs that haven't been suggested by your physician. You should keep checkups with your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Your doctor will be able to easily identify any underlying cause that can lead to erectile dysfunction.

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