Green tea with honey can delight your taste buds and bring a feeling of serenity to your mind. In fact, the tea's antioxidant potency and the honey's holistic properties can translate into benefits for your whole body. Adding green tea with honey to your daily diet may enhance immune response, protect cells against disease and delay premature aging. For maximum benefit, enjoy a cup of organic green tea with a spoonful of raw honey.
Antioxidants
Green tea is abundant in antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants protect cells from free radicals, which can harm cellular components and DNA and lead to various diseases. Free radicals may also contribute to the aging process, so minimizing their activity may delay premature aging. A large body of scientific evidence suggests that antioxidant activity of green tea may prevent disease and promote cellular health.
Cancer Prevention
The University of Maryland website reports that the Japanese population, where green tea is very prevalent, has a lower incidence of cancer; this may suggest that green tea plays a role in cancer prevention. Several animal and in vitro studies have shown that polyphenols extracted from green tea may halt propagation of cancerous cells and promote their death. The effect of green tea on cancer prevention and treatment has been studied in clinical trials for bladder, breast, colorectal, esophegeal, ovarian, lung, prostate, pancreatic, skin and stomach cancers. However, the research is inconclusive, as some trials suggested a positive effect, while others either showed no effect or a negative effect.
Other Benefits
The University of Maryland website reports that green tea may decrease cholesterol, increase metabolism, reduce inflammation and burn fat. It may also prevent or slow down development of type 1 diabetes. In addition, several clinical, animal and in vitro studies have shown that green tea antioxidants can help to reduce liver damage and improve hepatic function.
Honey Benefits
Honey, especially in its raw form, contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that can further add nutritional value to your cup of green tea. Aside from providing energy due to its high carbohydrate count, it contains antibacterial and soothing properties that have traditionally been used to suppress cough. Honey may also boost the immune system.
The Health Food Guide website references a study showing that echinacea, Siberian ginseng and uncaria honey promoted production of blood cells in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Other research demonstrated that honey suppressed cancer propagation in animal models, although further studies are needed to examine whether the same effect is applicable to humans.
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