<div><em>Any tea is best consumed when it’s not brewed for long, writes <strong>Rachna Chhachhi</strong></em></div><div> </div><div>Tea is the most potent anti-cancer weapon we have, when consumed right. Most of India was traditionally a tea drinking country (except the south), where weak tea cooled us in the summer months and strong kahwas warmed us in the cold. Today, as awareness of health benefits of different kinds of teas emerge, it isn’t cool just saying you drink ‘green’ tea for health benefits. So get your tea-q high with benefits of these different teas, and enjoy some adulation too.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Jasmine tea:</strong> Native to China, jasmine tea is not necessarily green tea. The jasmine flower can be combined with any tea, white, green or black, to get the health benefits. Jasmine tea lowers cholesterol and reduces sugar spikes in blood.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Dandelion root tea</strong>: Dandelion root is used in ‘alternative’ medicines for digestive and urinary tract health. It decreases inflammation in the urinary tract. It’s very effective for those with prostate and kidney issues, and if you want to have a strong prostate and healthy kidneys, this tea delivers.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Licorice root tea: </strong>Our humble ‘mulethi’ or licorice root has long been used for soothing colds and coughs. What is lesser known is the immunity building and fertility enhancing properties of this root. It pacifies female hormones, leading to lowered PMS, and increases sperm count in men.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Chamomile tea:</strong> This is one of the most useful teas for stressed out souls with an irritable bowl. Chamomile tea is made from the chamomile flower, and lowers blood pressure, calms the nerves and gives you good sleep. It also relieves bloating and indigestion.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Green tea:</strong> Green tea is made from virgin leaves of the camellia sinensis shrub that have yet not undergone oxidation during processing. It can be consumed as is or combined with other herbs, flowers or roots, making it even more potent. Much has been written about the anti-cancer properties of green tea, but it’s still not enough. Unlike other products that claim the same, green tea has actually proven to kill cancer cells and promote growth of healthy cells in all experiments it has been part of. This is due to the presence of catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a cancer killer. All teas have cancer killer catechins, but green tea has it in the highest quantities, and black tea the lowest. Green tea is the staple of Japanese meals, where 70 per cent of Japanese men are smokers, but incidence of lung cancer is low.</div><div> </div><div><strong>The best way to consume: </strong>Any tea is best consumed when it’s NOT brewed for long. Boil the water, put in the leaves, shut off the gas, cover the pan for 1-2 minutes, pour and sip for best health benefits. Add honey for taste. Go enjoy the rains now with a hot cup-ah.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Question Of The Fortnight</strong></div><div>Send in your questions to askrachnachhachhi@gmail.com</div><div> </div><div>Every time I try losing weight, I get an injury and the weight loss regimen goes for a toss. I’m obese and cannot lose weight without combining exercise with diet. What should I do?</div><div>— Amit Sharma, Gurgaon</div><div> </div><div>Dear Amit,</div><div>Effective long-term weight loss is impossible without exercise. But if you cannot exercise, focus on changing the way you eat to get disease free. The first goal is to be free from high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. This is possible just by changing to high raw, low carbohydrate diet. Do gentle yoga and relaxing pranayamas to release stress, which can inhibit weight loss. And don’t eat after 7 p.m. All three when done together will make you lose weight and get healthier. </div><div> </div><div><em>The author is a certified nutritional therapist and WHO certified in nutrition. She is the writer of Restore, a book on how to fight diseases for working professionals. Order your copy from amazon.in</em></div><div> </div><div>(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 07-09-2015)</div>
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