Time to squeeze some lemons because

Saying that lemons are a superfood is an understatement. Not only do they add abundant flavor to a variety of dishes, but they also boast a ton of health benefits. The flavonoids within the juice are said to contain antioxidants, which is why lemons are useful in treating so many ailments and conditions. Here are 10 reasons to enjoy them ASAP.

1. Prevent kidney stones: Drinking one half-cup of lemon juice every day raises citrate levels in the urine. Studies have shown that this could protect against calcium stones in the kidney.
2. Soothe a sore throat: Mixing lemon juice with honey can help alleviate the discomfort that comes from a nasty sore throat.
3. Support weight loss: Beyond the old notion that the Master Cleanse was the only way lemons could help you lose weight, new studies have shown the ways lemon juice supports your goals. Lemon juice contains pectin, a soluble fiber that has been shown to aid in weight-loss struggles.
4. Start your day right: Leave caffeinated drinks behind, and start your day off with hot water and fresh lemon juice to stimulate your digestive track and add vitamin C.
5. Stop an itch: When it comes to poison ivy or insect bites, rubbing lemon juice on the area can soothe the skin, since it has anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effects.
6. Aids in digestion: Dr. Oz is a big believer in the power of lemon juice for weight loss. He suggests drinking a mixture of lemon juice and flaxseeds in order to eliminate waste more quickly from your body.
7. Anticancer properties: Studies have supported the anticancer activity of citrus liminoids, compounds that protect your cells from damage that can lead to the formation of cancer cells.
8. Potassium power: Bananas aren't the only way to get a big helping of potassium in your system. In addition to vitamin C, lemons offer 80 milligrams of this mineral that helps your body stay strong and nimble.
9. Bring down a fever: Forget the days of starving a fever! When your temperature goes up, drinking a lemon juice mixture can help bring your fever down faster.
10. Balance pH: While lemons may seem quite acidic, they're a surprisingly good source of an alkaline food that can help balance your body's pH.

source : pop sugar

Proven Benefits of Green Tea (#4 The Best)

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Everybody talks about this. Everybody knows something about this. I am sure we all don't enjoy this drink as much as we enjoy our cup of coffee. Lets get down and see what benefits it has  and see if we can make it a delicious drink like our coffee.

Green Tea - The Healthiest Beverage on planet, as told by many researches & I definitely agree to this statement. I read a research paper the other day about the benefits of green tea and then decided to share The gist of it with you.

This miracle drink from China made all its way to America, India, Australia and most other countries with its touted health benefits. From weight loss aid to treating few types of cancer, this cup of miracle beverage does a make over to your skin as well. 

Here are few surprising healthy benefits of this Green Tea:

1. May lower the risk of various Cancers

Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it makes perfect sense that it could reduce your risk of cancer, which it appears to do:

• Breast cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies found that women who drank the most green tea had a 22% lower risk of developing breast cancer, the most common cancer in women.
• Prostate cancer: One study found that men drinking green tea had a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men.
• Colorectal cancer: A study of 69,710 Chinese women found that green tea drinkers had a 57% lower risk of colorectal cancer.

2. Lowers Cholesterol

Replacing unhealthy snacks and drinks with green tea could actually help keep your cholesterol levels at bay. Green tea’s powerful antioxidant, EGCG, is believed to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the large intestine.

3. Tooth Decay

Studies suggest that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions. Some studies also show that they can kill bacteria and inhibit viruses like the influenza virus, potentially lowering your risk of infections. 

4. The Smarter You

Yes! It does more than just keeping you awake, it can also make you smarter. The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant. It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without causing the “jittery” effects associated with too much caffeine. It contains more than just caffeine. It also has the amino acid L-theanine, which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. The combination of the two is particularly potent at improving brain function. Hence it makes you smarter.

5. UV Protection

You may want to add a packet of green tea in addition to sunscreen and sunglasses when you visit the beach. The catechins in green tea can actually make the skin more resistant to the effects of UV rays and therefore premature skin aging. They can also lead to reduced skin redness after UV exposure.

6. Boosts Eye Sight

Carrots have long been associated as a food that promotes good eyesight, but science suggest there’s a new kid on the block. The antioxidants found in green tea can actually penetrate the tissues of the eyes and produce antioxidant activity. Catechins, an antioxidant in green tea, are capable of being absorbed into the tissues of the eye.

How do you make this?

Let me give you some of the awesome recipes of Green Tea

1. Iced Lavender Green Tea

Ingredients:

§  Dried Lavender  Blossoms (Fresh) – 11/2 tsp

§  Tea bags- 4

§  Sprig Lavender (Optional)- 1

Procedure:

Heat ½ cup of water in a saucepan until it gets simmer. Remove the pan from heat and add tea and lavender to the heated water. Steep for about 5 minutes, strain it into a bowl and let it cool for some time. Now, pour the prepared tea in ice filled glasses and season it with some lavender sprigs to make it more appealing.

2. Iced Green Tea

Ingredients:

§  Green Tea Bags – 6 to 8

§  Boiling water – 4 cups

§  Cold water – 2 cups

§  Artificial sweetener (non- caloric) – ½ cup

Procedure:

Pour boiling water into a saucepan over the tea bags and steep for about 5 minutes. Squeezing gently, remove tea bags from the water. Add sweetener to cold water and stir for 2 minutes until the sweetener dissolves. Let the tea come to room temperature and is now ready to serve.

3. Tulasi Green Tea

Ingredients:

§  Tulsi Leaves – 8 to 10

§  Green tea bags – 1

§  Honey – 1 tsp

Procedure:

Wash and chop the tulsi leaves roughly, add the tulsi leaves and the green tea bag in a cup. Pour warm water into the cup, cover it with a saucer and let it steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the saucer, take out the tea bag, add the honey, mix well and enjoy it warm or cold.

Always remember ,no one food will protect you from disease. Your health is just wrapped up in your lifestyle and your genes, so even if you drink green tea all day long, you also need to take care of yourself in other ways, like not smoking way too much, working out daily, and having a healthy diet.