Green tea and its nutrients

All kinds of tea, be it black, green or oolong, comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The colour of the tea depends upon the amount of fermentation it has been through. Oolong tea is partially fermented, black tea is completely fermented and green tea is not fermented at all. It is produced by steaming fresh tea leaves at very high temperature.

That tea is rich in antioxidants is a given, but green tea is known to contain large amounts of polyphenols, thearubigins, epicatechins and catechins – all types of an antioxidant known as flavanoids.

Green tea and its health benefits

Heart healthy: Regular consumption of green tea has been known to reduce overall cholesterol levels, especially the bad LDL cholesterol which ultimately reduces the risk of heart attacks and heart diseases.

Watch our interview with Dr. Devi Shetty to know more about staying heart healthy.

Fights cancer: Catechins present in green tea, are the flavanoids which fight free radicals that damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer. Since green tea is not put through a whole lot of processing, catechins, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) are available in larger numbers.

Helps you lose weight: Can a simple activity like drinking green tea help you lose weight? Recent studies show that catechins help combat accumulated fat and aid in weight loss. Experts say that this fat reducing property catechins can help in a number of lifestyle disease, including obesity.

Boosts your immune system: The antioxidants in green tea help give your immune system a boost of good health which helps keep common ailments like the flu away.

Happy teeth: Catechins are also antibacterial, which is why they are so great in fighting tooth decay, gum diseases and bad breath. Additionally, they also reduce the formation of plaque.

Prevents diabetes: Preliminary studies show that green tea may help to prevent or at the very least, slow down the onset of diabetes. The same study also suggested that green tea acts a very good agent in lowering your blood sugar.

Improves bone health: Studies show that not only can drinking green tea help improve bone density and help reduce the risk of a fracture, it also encourages bone formation.

Reduces the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s: Research shows that polyphenols present in green tea helps in improving concentration, prevents memory loss and helps reduce the accumulation of brain damaging proteins in your body.

Great for your skin: Not just as a drink, skin care products with green tea extracts are also wonderful for your skin as it helps your skin stay supple. The antioxidants in green tea are also known to help keep wrinkles at bay.

Experts suggest anywhere from 2-5 cups daily can help you rake in maximum benefit from this natural wonder. Try the decaffeinated version if you’re worried about the caffeine.

Foods for healthy teeth

Foods that act as natural cleansers:

Crunchy fruits like apples and pears have high water content and fibrous texture. Chewing these fruits dislodges food particles, which if left that way could potentially cause tooth decay. Apple is called nature’s toothbrush thanks to this quality.

Strawberries are said to have natural teeth cleansing properties.

Cheese is beneficial as it contains calcium. Also the casein and whey (proteins in the cheese) strengthen tooth enamel (the outer covering of the tooth) from wear and tear, thus protecting it.

Sugar-free chewing gum helps dislodge food particles, but must not be taken in case of jaw problems like frequent dislocation of the jaw.

Choose foods high in calcium like almonds, green leafy vegetables, soy milk, milk and milk products, and also foods high in vitamin-D like fish, egg yolks, milk and exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is essential for absorption of calcium.

Fruits, although sweet have to be chewed; this produces saliva which has digestive enzymes to aid digestion.

Sugar-free foods containing products like aspartame, saccharin, sorbitol, mannitol and sucralose do not cause decay and are safe for the teeth.

Foods to avoid or at least minimise:

Beverages like sweetened tea, coffee and cigarettes are bad for your teeth. Nicotine in cigarettes stains the teeth. Even unsweetened juice contains simple sugars, which turn acidic in the mouth. This acid corrodes the enamel and causes tooth decay.

Processed foods like cakes, cereals, bread, hard candy, mints, regular chewing gum, French fries and soft drinks containing soda. Starchy foods are just as bad as sugar.

Minimise all soft drinks, juices and aerated drinks. Colas are the worst offenders as they stain the teeth and erode tooth enamel.

Dry fruits have high sugar content and tend to stick to your teeth. After eating dry fruits, eat a piece of apple, pear, carrot or celery as these foods enhance saliva production, which neutralise the acidity from the sugar.

Beware of the ‘sugar free’ label seen on many packaged foods. Rice syrup, evaporated cane sugar, honey, fructose and molasses are equivalent to sugar and cause similar damage.

Stay away from blueberries, as they stain your teeth.

General tips for healthy teeth!

Set an example for children by choosing nutritious food over junk and processed food.

Avoid frequent snacking between meals. The more you snack, the more you expose your teeth to harmful effects of foods and drinks, ultimately causing decay.

Never put babies or toddlers to bed with a bottle of milk, juice or anything other than water.

Never dip pacifiers in honey or syrup.

Rinse the mouth thoroughly after every meal. If that is not possible sip water after eating and swirl it around before swallowing.

Save water: Simple ideas to cut water wastage at home

Conservation of water is an essential practice today, whether or not you’re having water troubles at the moment. Simple changes can help save gallons of water a day. So make these changes and help conserve water.

Washing veggies and fruits: Soak fruits and vegetables in a pot of water instead of putting them under running water to wash them.

Water plants with water used to wash them: When you’re done with soaking your fruits and veggies, don’t throw the water down the drain, instead use it to water indoor plants.

Don’t leave the tap open while brushing your teeth: Well, you’ve heard this one many times before. While brushing your teeth, wet the brush and turn off the tap. If you keep the tap running, you’re bound to waste litres of water in a week. Try and get your family to practice this too.

Conserve water while washing dishes: When you wash your dishes put a stopper to the sink drain and fill it with water. When all the dishes have been scrubbed, rinse them of in that water.

Get your toilet fixed: If you’re toilet is running, get it fixed. It’s most likely a part of the flapper that’s causing the leak, adjust it; if that doesn’t work, get a plumber.

Get any other leakage fixed, too:The same applies to any leaking tap around the house… Make sure you get them fixed. All they might need is a new washer, and that isn’t too expensive. Also, look for any leaking pipes around the house.

Soak pans before washing them: Soak pots and pans in water after use. This will save water while you’re trying to scrub off later on.

Shorten your shower: Try and reduce your showering time. One way to cut down on your water usage, is to turn of the shower while soaping your body and shampooing your hair. Ask your family to adopt this practice, too. Better still, install water-saving shower-heads. They’ll save you loads of water.

Defrost in the microwave: You don’t need to use running water to defrost frozen food. Instead stick it in the microwave for defrosting, or remove your frozen food and leave it out in advance.

Use your washing machine only for full loads: If you use a washing machine, only wash full loads of laundry at a time. Also, if you’re shopping for a washing machine, experts are of the opinion that top-loading machines use more water than front-loading ones. So you might be better off buying the latter.

Don’t use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket: Every time you flush a cigarette butt, tissue or any other piece of trash, you waster tonnes of water.

Rinse your razor in a mug: To rinse off your razor, either fill the sink with a few inches of warm water or a mug. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.

Instead of running water, use a broom to clean your driveways and corridors. You can wash them with water every once in while though.

Don’t run the hose to wash your car: To clean your car or bike, use a bucket of soapy water. After that’s done, dip a sponge in clean water and wipe off soap. This way you’ll save litres of water.

Summer Tips - Stay hydrated this summer

As the summer season arrives in full force in the subcontinent, the best thing you can do to beat the heat is to stay hydrated.

Your body depends on water for survival. After all, it makes up more than half of our body weight and every organ in the body needs water to function. Don’t wait for symptoms of dehydration like extreme thirst, dry mouth, and headache to act.

Reed the following tips to stay hydrated this summer season.

Don’t wait to get thirsty this summer. The fact is that by the time your mouth is dry, you’re well on your way to dehydration. As water is the best natural drink available, guzzle at least 2 litres a day.

Be sensible about the amount of water you drink. If you are exercising or going out in the hot sun you will need to drink more water.

Make drinking water a mindless habit. Let it be part of your early morning routine. Keep a bottle within easy reach while you are relaxing in front of the television or working on the computer. Take regular sips even if you are not feeling thirsty. Drink a glass of water before every meal.

Eating water-based foods is a great way to supplement your water intake and stay hydrated. Eat fruits like watermelon and pineapple rather than drinking the juice. They are cooling and perfect for hot summer days. They have high water content and are rich in minerals. Another perfect fruit for summer months is the apricot as it is good for fluid retention. Honeydew melon, commonly known as muskmelon cools the body so gorge on it. The vitamin C and minerals present in these fruits are an added benefit.

Munch on cucumbers and tomatoes. These foods have more than 90% of their weight in water content.

* In summer we sweat more and lose essential minerals from our bodies. Cucumbers are a cool way to put the potassium back and they also contain ascorbic and caffeic acids, compounds that help us stay hydrated because of their moisture retaining properties.

* Fresh citrus fruits such as orange, grapefruits, lemon and lime are excellent as they not only hydrate the body but also provide valuable nutrients.

Take a break from coffee this summer and sip the benefits of green tea. Enjoy it with lemon, as it will keep the body from retaining water. Herbal iced teas are also great thirst quenchers. Be adventurous and mix and match flavours.

Enjoy the miracle of tender coconut water. It hydrates perfectly as it has the exact proportion of electrolytes as human cells and plasma. It also contains a host of vitamins and minerals.