The miracle of green tea

Present-day research has revealed innumerable benefits of green tea on both fronts: health and beauty. Just drinking green tea is said to be preferable to any other beverage due to its high antioxidant content. It contains polyphenols which are powerful natural antioxidants. These not only have health benefits but actually help delay the visible signs of ageing on the skin and hair. They prevent and retard the degeneration caused by oxidation damage.

Drinking green tea daily has great benefits healthwise. For instance, regularly drinking green tea is said to help in losing weight. It increases fat oxidation and eliminates excess water from the body. Green tea is said to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure. However, those who are on medication for such ailments should not discontinue medication without consulting your doctor.
Green tea has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking green tea actually benefits the teeth and freshens the breath. Green tea mouth washes are also available. You can make a cup of green tea with one tea bag and wash the mouth with it.
Green tea also has several beauty benefits and can be used easily as home beauty treatment. In fact, it is a wonderful skin toner. Take half cup water and bring it to a boil. Put tea leaves in a ceramic bowl. Pour the hot water over it and keep for two minutes. Strain and cool the liquid. Apply on face with cotton wool to tone the skin. Leave on. Or, you can dip a tea bag in a cup of hot water. Cool and use it to tone the skin. Or make the tea-water and keep in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. Use the lotion to tone and refresh the skin. It is also said to soothe sunburn and help acne prone skin. You can even mix the liquid with face packs. Modern research has also revealed that green tea actually has sunscreen properties, as it helps to prevent free radical damage. It also nourishes the skin and delays visible ageing signs. Thus, it keeps the skin free of lines and wrinkles for a longer time. Since it contains powerful antioxidants, it helps to slow down the manifestation of ageing signs on the skin and protects the skin’s youthful properties. It also keeps the skin healthy and adds a glow.
Boil two-three cups of water and add two green tea bags. Let it soak for a few minutes. Cool and apply on the face with cotton wool pads. The remaining liquid may be kept in the fridge. Green tea liquid may also be mixed with a little honey and applied on face. Wash off with plain water after 20 minutes. Green tea, in fact, can be used in many other ways in beauty care. Ground almonds, green tea leaves and curd will make a good facial and body scrub.

Green tea is said to prevent hair loss if taken daily. It makes a useful hair tonic and remedy for scalp conditions like dandruff. Research indicates that it can also help to soothe the scalp in conditions like psoriasis and dandruff. It can be used as a last rinse after shampoo.
Use a green tea bag and a cup of hot water to make green tea hair tonic. You can even add a little lemon juice to it. Apply it on the scalp with cotton wool and leave on for 20 minutes. Green tea is also said to help control hair loss and condition the hair as it contains vitamins C and E. It not only restores health to the hair and softens it but adds healthy shine.
To use it as a hair rinse after shampoo, boil four-five cups of water. Put green tea leaves in a bowl and add the hot water to it. Cool and strain. Add the juice of a lemon and use it as a last rinse after shampoo. In fact, soaking your fingers in green tea helps to add shine to the nails, while tea bags, used as eye pads helps to reduce puffiness and induces relaxation. It is said to help reduce stress. Steep green tea bags in hot water. Allow them to cool and use them as eye pads.