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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Facts About the Nutritional Value of Green Tea


For centuries in Asiatic countries, green tea has been valued as a real elixir of health and longevity. In western countries, green tea is just beginning to gain popularity and respect. So what are the useful properties that you should know about green tea?

Modern research has shown that green tea contains vitamins C, P, B, K, A, D, E, and trace elements such as fluorine, zinc, iodine, copper, manganese, phosphorus, and calcium.

Green tea has a strong antioxidant content that helps the body fight various viruses and infections, boosting the immune system. Green tea has an enormous amount of vitamin P, so it has a large positive effect on the circulatory system; it improves the elasticity of the vascular wall. It contains vitamin K, which is involved in the formation of prothrombin in the liver, helping to maintain normal blood clotting in the body. In addition, it contains a large amount of catechins, which allow green tea to regulate blood sugar levels. Research suggests that adding vitamin C or citrus juice to green tea can increase the absorption of its useful components.

The rich iodine content which green tea has, give it a positive effect on the functioning of the endocrine system, so it is beneficial to drink it in diseases of the thyroid gland. And because of the high concentration of fluoride in green tea, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with good, freshly brewed tea for the prevention of dental caries, periodontal disease and oral disinfection.

Regular consumption of green tea helps the process of disease prevention. It protects the body against cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, atherosclerosis and hypertension. It is good to drink it to prevent dysbiosis, food poisoning and colitis. It has been recommended to drink 10 cups a day of green tea to reduce the risk of cancer.

Green tea is able to rid the body of heavy metals and toxins, it neutralizes electromagnetic radiation. It speeds up the metabolism, causing the breakdown of fat. It also helps to strengthen the tendons and bones; it is extremely useful in diseases of the heart, and supports normal cholesterol levels. This drink can even prevent addiction to alcohol, for example, in order to avoid a hangover after drinking alcohol you should drink several cups of green tea.

The addition of green tea to cosmetic products is extraordinarily widespread. It is used in anti-aging creams, masks, facial tonics and shampoos. It is able to preserve the youth and beauty of the skin; it improves the complexion and slows down the aging process.

Green tea is exceedingly useful in the summer, because it perfectly quenches thirst, replenishes essential trace elements and clears pores. However, be aware that it is better not to drink cold green tea, as it contributes to the accumulation of phlegm in the body.

Green tea should be drunk without sugar or milk, as their inclusion reduces the concentration of nutrients in the tea. You can add honey to it. It is also  crucial to remember that it is best to drink freshly made green tea, and do not use the same tea leaves more than 2-3 times.

Enjoy your tea!
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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Use Coconut Oil to Preserve the Beauty of your Skin


Coconut oil has been famous since the time of Cleopatra, and was considered essential for the maintenance of women's youth and beauty. It was used as a means of rejuvenating and nourishing the skin, and it is still used to this day to preserve a beautiful skin.


It is not hard to guess that coconut oil is derived from coconut, or to be precise, from its flesh, which contains up to 65% of valuable oil. The process to obtain it is the same as in many other vegetable oils, the first step is to separate the pulp from the shell, it is dried, ground, and after that the oil is pressed out. The coconut oil obtained by cold pressing, is a pale yellow mass, with a pronounced aroma of coconut. At room temperature, it has a hardish oily texture (below 76 Fahrenheit it is solid).

The properties of coconut oil are derived from its composition, which is mainly lauric acid, and other saturated fatty acids. It is due to these acids that coconut oil has a solid consistency, but it is very easily absorbed into the skin. When using coconut oil on the face, it can literally take seconds to soften and smooth the skin, giving it a sleek and even-textured appearance.


Cosmetic properties of coconut oil


Coconut oil helps to maintain the health and beauty of all skin types, but especially (as well as many other natural oils), it is recommended for dry, flaky, coarse, and aging skin. This oil has excellent nourishing, softening and moisturizing properties, and after application forms a kind of invisible film on the skin, a protective function, and permanently maintains a proper balance of moisture in the skin. Use coconut oil for the face, to eliminate excessive dryness and scaling of the skin, protecting it from roughing and cracking.


Coconut oil helps to significantly smooth out the skin and works best on shallow wrinkles, improving the overall tone and elasticity of the skin, making it ideal for the care of already weak, flabby, and aging skin.


The application of coconut oil is well suited both before and after tanning. Rubbing the face and body with this oil before tanning can not only protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation, and avoids sunburn, but also helps you get an even tan. A coating of coconut oil after tanning promotes momentary cooling of the skin; it is remarkably handy after sunbathing.

In particular coconut oil can be used to care for sensitive, inflamed and irritated skin, as it has terrific anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and calming effects.


Ways to use coconut oil


It is recommended to use virgin or extra virgin coconut oil for the face, as it is not allergenic, does not clog pores and does not contribute to contamination of the skin. Despite the solid consistency of this oil, application is fairly simple. You should just hold down a piece of oil in the hand, and rub it on the skin, it immediately begins to melt. After that it should be distributed in a uniform layer across the face, including the neck as well. Pure coconut oil can be used as a nourishing night cream, or as a protective face cream in hot sunny weather, or, conversely, when the weather is frosty and windy.
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Kombucha Tea Health Benefits and Side Effects


What is so impressive about Kombucha? Chinese people have been enjoying the remarkable health benefits of Kombucha for more than 2,000 years. It was regarded as an elixir of health and immortality. In this article, you will learn what are the health benefits that drinking Kombucha can provide you.

As a folk remedy, the medicinal properties of Kombucha have been used successfully to heal various diseases. It is a helpful drink to get rid of headaches, diseases of the stomach, intestines, bladder, kidney, and liver. Kombucha has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, regulates the digestive tract and is used as a preventive remedy for arthritis, rheumatic heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Kombucha has the following useful properties:


  • Normalizes the acidity of the stomach
  • Helps the function of the gastrointestinal tract
  • Restores the intestinal microflora
  • Helps in treating dysentery
  • Alleviates constipation
  • Helps with kidney stones
  • Relieves severe neurological headaches
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Normalizes blood cholesterol levels
  • Helps fight insomnia
  • Overall wellness and rejuvenating effects on the body


Kombucha can be used to wash wounds and speed up the healing process. Kombucha reduces fatigue, soothes and tones the body. It is useful to drink Kombucha in the morning and evening. In the morning, it will prepare your digestive system for the day ahead. In the evening, it will calm you, clean the stomach and prepare you for sleep.

Kombucha is a particularly useful drink for people suffering from the following ailments:


  • Sore throat and tonsillitis
  • ARI and influenza
  • Sinusitis, rhinitis, and various diseases of the nose
  • Gum disease
  • Eye infections and conjunctivitis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Scarlet fever
  • Dysbiosis
  • Gall bladder and liver
  • Gastritis
  • Dysentery
  • Diphtheria
  • Chronic enterocolitis
  • Typhoid fever
  • Constipation
  • Overweight
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Allergies
  • Furunculosis
  • Acne
  • Dandruff
  • Baldness
  • Nail fungus
  • Hangover


There are some side effects for those who use Kombucha regularly. The drink contains a small percentage of alcohol, so do not use it before you get behind the wheel. Kombucha will benefit you only if it is properly prepared, and when used correctly.
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