Tea: 10 Surprising Health Benefits

Tea is well-known for the broad spectrum of medicinal benefits it provides to its daily drinkers. However, this hot cup of delicacy can become a part of your first aid kit owing to its many other benefits. In unusual places and circumstances, tea leaves can be your solution to a number of beauty and health problems. So, take a look at a few unconventional benefits of tea leaves that will definitely surprise you!

Widen your sleepy eyes
Tea leaves can be a perfect solution for your tired and puffy eyes. Just take two tea bags and soak them in some warm water. Place them over your closed eyes for 15 minutes. Tea leaves have a natural astringent known as tannins, which can help to reduce puffiness in your eyes. Tea bags also help you to get rid of dark circles under your eyes.

Takes care of sunburns
Did you forget to apply your sunscreen or cover your face when you stepped out in the harsh sun? Well, tea leaves can provide relief to your sunburned skin. Just put some tea leaves in your bath water and just let your body soak in its goodness. This bath will relieve your itchy and inflamed skin.

Key to healthy relationship: steamy cup of tea, not sex!

Women believe that the secret to a healthy relationship is receiving a hot cup of tea or coffee made by their partners, rather than engaging in hot sex, a new research has found. Report author Dr Jacqui Gabb said that actions speak louder than words and many people consider a loving gesture to be as valuable as hearing 'I love you'.

Shed those excess kilos
Green tea drinkers lose weight faster than those who don’t. Catechins in green tea significantly decrease your body fat. Studies have also revealed that green tea helps to stabilise body weight after a period of weight loss. Not only this, green tea also boosts your metabolism and cures digestion problems.

bAcne treatment
Based on its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; green tea is a powerful solution for your acne. Simply rub moist green tea leaves on your face before going to bed and this will take care of your acne. Even drinking green tea every morning, is known to provide your face a beautiful and natural glow.

Skin protector
Green tea is known for its skin-tightening and anti-ageing properties. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds present in green tea make it a perfect skin protector. Just add water and white sugar to some green tea to prepare a scrub. This mix will help to moisturise your skin, improve the hydration levels and exfoliate your facial skin to a smooth silky finish.

Tea goodness for hair
Tea makes a good conditioner for your dry hair as it gives them a natural shine. Just take some freshly brewed tea (unsweetened) and rub it on your hair and allow it to dry before rinsing it off. Tea also works as a natural dye that can take care of your grey hair. Add some rosemary and sage (medicinal herb) in some black tea and let the mixture stay overnight. After that strain it and use it on your hair. 

Deodorant for your smelly feet
Water extracted from green tea leaves is a powerful deodorant. It becomes a great way to get rid of odour from your smelly feet. Just soak your feet in some strongly brewed tea for at least 20 minutes. Tea will close those pores in your feet that emit sweat.

Tea can Speed Up Your Metabolism

Not all teas are created equal - besides the distinct flavors, the levels of caffeine and antioxidants vary. Keep watching to see which teas pack in the most nutritional punch and which will keep you up the longest! 

Controls gum bleeding
Press some moistened tea bags on your bleeding gums and apply pressure for about 20 minutes. This will bring the bleeding and pain under control. The reason why tea bags are used is because of their anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Tea leaves are known to be a refreshing mouthwash as well.  

De-stress with tea leaves
Tea leaves are known to be therapeutic for your mind. They help to relieve you of your stress. To get best calming benefits of tea leaves, you can put them inside your pillow. Take some sun dried tea leaves then take them and put them inside your pillow and sew it off. The relaxing fragrance of tea leaves will help you not only to relax but also get rid of your body odour.

For the newlyweds
Well, here is a chance for all newly weds to add some charm in their marriage, along with impressing your belove. Green tea contains caffeine, ginseng and L-thiamine which are known to have positive effect on sexual drive, especially of women. So, if you feel like bringing your partner in mood for some lovemaking, just pour some tea for them.

Perk Up Your Afternoon With a Glass of Thai Iced Tea

Whether you need an afternoon pick-me-up or are looking for a beverage to pair with pad thai and other Southeast Asian dishes, the answer is simple: a frosty glass of Thai iced tea. Sweet and aromatic - Thai tea blends black tea leaves with warm spices like vanilla bean - it's nearly impossible not to love. Watch the video to see how chef Jet Tila makes this comforting beverage, and then print out the recipe.

About Men: Everything you want to know

We give you a small ready reckoner on how men behave in relationships...

Guys tend to get serious with their relationship and become too possessive.

It's not easy for a guy to let go of his girlfriend after they broke up especially when they've been together for 3 years or more.

A guy has to experience rejection, because if he's too-good-never-been-busted, never been in love and hurt, he won't be matured and grow up.

When an unlikable circumstance comes, guys blame themselves a lot more than girls do.

Guys have strong passion to change.

Guys are tigers in their peer groups but become tamed pussycats with their girlfriends.

When a guy pretends to be calm, check if he's sweating. You'll see that he is nervous.

When a guy asks you to leave him alone, he's just saying, "Please come and listen to me"

When a guy loves you, bring out the best in him.

If a guy starts to talk seriously, listen.

If a guy has been kept shut or silent, say something. (He generally has a lot of frustration in mind then)

Guys believe that there's no such thing as love at first sight, but court girls anyway and then realize at the end that he is wrong.

Guys like femininity not feebleness.

A guy may instantly know if the girl likes him but can never be sure unless the girl tells him. (So girls you should think of making the first move)

A guy would waste his time over video games and basketball, the way a girl would do over her romance novels and make-ups.

Guys love girls who can cook.

Guys like girls who are like their moms. No kidding!

A guy's friend knows everything about him.

Foods that make you radiant and detoxify your System

Superfoods that detoxify your system...

The festive season is over and so should be the over-indulging in sweets, fried food and snacks. This is the perfect time to recharge your body and detoxify it. Here are a few superfoods that can help...

Eggs
With their rich protein, vitamin and mineral content, eggs contribute significantly to improving your concentration, maintaining healthy weight, developing the brain, strengthening eyesight, clotting the blood as well as preventing both birth defects and breast cancer.

Quinoa
This resembles couscous when boiled and can be used as a substitute for rice. Like egg, Quinoa is a 100% reference protein which has all nine essential amino acids, including lysine, which no other cereal has.

Blueberries 
Blueberries has the highest antioxidant content of all fresh fruit and is rich in Vitamins A, B Complex, C and E as well as in anthocyanin, copper, selenium, zinc and iron say experts. It is one of the best sources of antioxidants in the world has been known to fight superbattles against disease, ageing, heart ailments and belly fat.

Pumpkin
Both the seeds and the flesh of this Superfood are bursting with benefits. The fruit itself is high in antioxidants, Vitamins A, C, K and E and is a rich source of magnesium, potassium and iron. Pumpkin seeds have been associated with treating osteoporosis, prostate problems, depression and preventing cancer.

Oranges 
What people do know is that oranges are a wonderful source of Vitamin C. What they might not know is that this simple fruit helps with asthma, kidney stones, high BP and arthritis as well as assists in the lowering of cholesterol and the prevention of diabetes.

Broccoli
Nutrient rich, this superfood helps those with blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis. Pooja says, "It is believed to contribute to the control or prevention of cataracts, stomach and colon cancer, arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer's, tumours, as well as ageing.

Walnuts
This nut, which looks like a brain, is actually good for your brain. Walnuts have also been known to do wonders for your heart, mood, bone health and weight loss as well as help with insomnia, gallstones, diabetes and cancer. Nuts are calorie dense foods packed with protein, healthy fats and some essential vitamins and minerals and one must include a handful of these daily.

Yogurt
There's such a thing as "good" bacteria and your dahi has an abundance of it. Additionally, yogurt with active cultures helps with gastrointestinal conditions to include constipation, diarrhoea, lactose intolerance, colon cancer and bowel disease as well as in the prevention of osteoporosis and regulating blood pressure.

Green tea
Having two cups of green tea can do wonders for your skin and also increase the efficiency of our immune system. It also helps in lowering your risk of cancer, easing arthritis pain, regulating your cholesterol, preventing heart disease, boosting the immune system, losing weight, having healthier teeth, fending off allergies and infections and reducing or preventing acne.

Spinach
Spinach is a nutrient-dense food, loaded with not just iron but a whole host of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. This vegetable protects your heart, promote gastrointestinal health and keep your brain young and active.

Oats 
If you want to have a better chance at fighting high cholesterol and heart disease, regulating your blood sugar, blood pressure and bowel movements, reducing the risk of getting cancer or controlling your weight, eat more oats.

Flaxseed 
Flaxseed is a wonderful source of fibre, omega 3 and is a natural laxative. It also helps with lowering bad cholesterol and protect against diabetes as it decreases insulin resistance.

Wheatgrass 
The Wheat-grass is always greener! This food has been known to cleanse the liver, boost production of haemoglobin, increase immunity, heal wounds, purify the blood and improve digestion.

Salmon 
Salmon's high Omega-3 fatty acid content makes this an unbeatable Superfood. Salmon has been known to fight heart disease, decrease cancer risk, protect joints, improve mood and cognition as well as treat eye problems like dry eyes.

Tomatoes 
This superfood derives its luscious red colour from lycopene, an antioxidant which does not occur naturally in the body and has to be derived from an external food source. Tomatoes are associated with prevention of cancer and heart disease as well as the lowering of cholesterol.

Bananas 
A rich source of potassium and fibre, go bananas if you want to work on lowering your blood pressure, maintaining the health of your bones, having a healthy digestive tract and preventing the development of cancer.

Strawberries 
The delicious strawberry doesn't just look and taste good. This is an antioxidant superfood and has been associated with cardiovascular benefits, blood sugar regulation (and is therefore good for diabetics) as well as with fighting cancer.

Have an abusive boyfriend? This app will help

WASHINGTON: Here's a tool that could help avoid dating violence or abusive relationships. Scientists have developed a smartphone app that warns young women of a dangerous partner by helping them examine their relationships and potential behavioural red flags. 

In an effort to arm young women with safety information, researchers developed the 'One Love My Plan' app, an interactive tool that helps collegeage women in abusive relationships clarify their priorities and customize personal safety plans. "Women between the ages of 18 and 24 are at the highest risk for dating violence. However, these women are less likely than older adults to seek formal safety resources and instead look to peers or technology for help and advice," the app's developers said. 

"At some point, almost everyone knows someone in an unhealthy relationship," said Tina Bloom, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri's Sinclair School of Nursing. "The purpose of the My Plan app is to quickly and confidentially provide women and concerned friends with information and available resources. Our goal is not to replace existing services, but to better connect students with them," said Bloom. 

To ensure that young women would find the app helpful, Bloom and her colleagues conducted focus groups with college-age women who identified themselves as survivors of abusive relationships. 

"The My plan app gives students tools to examine their relationships, set priorities and access resources when they are ready," said Bloom. She added that the app has features such as information on healthy relationship dynamics, relationship violence myths and behavioural red flags. 

Eat blueberries for healthy love life

Eating a cupfull of blueberries once a day may help spice up your love life, says an expert.

According to nutritionist Dora Walsh, the berries contain proanthocyanidins, a plant chemicals that is believed to keep blood vessels flexible and blood flowing around the body that could work wonders in your romantic life, reports contactmusic.com.

"Blueberries can easily be incorporated into what we eat every week. Blueberries are a great source of the nutrient manganese which helps us get energy from food - all important for Valentine's night.

"Blueberries not only make you feel great, many of my clients eat them for healthy skin and their nutrient content could hold the key to giving our skin a Valentine's glow, which makes us more attractive to the opposite sex," said Walsh.

Blueberries are also packed full of soluble fibre which many people consume to help push excess cholesterol through the digestive system before it can be broken down, and deposited along the walls of the arteries.

Clear arteries are important for a healthy heart.