Did you know that green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet? This magic drink is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that have very powerful effects on your body.
Here are some of the proven green tea benefits. You will absolutely love the tea henceforth! Better brain function Green tea contains caffeine, which is a powerful stimulant. Unlike coffee and other teas, it has just enough to give you the needed effect without making you jittery thereafter. Caffeine blocks adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, allowing more L-theanine and dopamine (the feel-good enzyme) to be released. The benefits include better mood, sharper vigilance, better memory and faster reaction time. Normal weight Check any weight-loss product: there are 90% chances that green tea will be in the ingredients list. This is because our magic drink boosts the metabolic rate in humans, therefore more fat is burned. Better metabolism means more energy expenditure, better fat oxidation and significant boost in physical activity. Lower cancer risks Cancer occurs when cells grow uncontrollably. It is now a leading cause of death. The good news is that green tea has antioxidant powers that prevent the overgrowth of cells. It is proven that this tea has some of the most powerful antioxidants than any other plant. Recent studies show that: · Women who take green tea have a 20-30% lower risk of developing the dreaded breast cancer. · Men who drink green tea have a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer: the most common cancer in men. · People who drink this tea have a 42% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer, as well as other forms of cancer. Prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease If you make green tea your best friend, it will protect you in old age from these two monsters that affect the elderly. This beverage has proven to contain catechin compounds which protect neurons in the brain. If the neurons are secured from degenerative effects, a person will be safe from diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Antibacterial properties Unlike medical antibiotics which target all forms of bacteria, even the good ones in your body, green tea will mostly kill the harmful types. This is because of the catechins in the leaves. It will inhibit unwanted bacteria such as the influenza virus. Apart from curing it, it will keep it away. Second, it will deal with the streptococcus mutans bacteria which cause cavities and tooth decay by forming plaque. This also keeps bad breath away! Prevent Type 2 diabetes This is yet another monster that we fear contracting very much. Over 400 million suffer from it worldwide. It is caused by excess blood sugar levels owing to the production of insufficient insulin or insulin resistance. Now, green tea has been proven to reduce the level of blood sugar as well as improving insulin sensitivity. Therefore, it will not only reduce the risks but also improve existing type 2 diabetes. Summary These 6 benefits that I have discussed are just but a tip of the iceberg. Green tea has tons of direct benefits on your health. Let this post act as a motivator for you to read more and start drinking this wonderful beverage. Make sure you sign up for our "Green Tea Challenge" Stay healthy! In this very first sentence, this article lets you know that reflexology is not massage. This is a form of therapy that is used to restore balance to the body. This is done by systematically applying pressure to the reflex points which are mainly located on the feet, hands, and ears which connect directly to these organs(and other body parts).
If you ever have to doubt this medication-free treatment, delve into some research and you will find out that reflexology has been in use for over 3,000 years in China, Egypt and other parts of the world. Reflexologists understand the reflex points to work on so as to impact the target areas for a particular benefit. For instance, if you visit a reflexologist for headache or pressure build-up, they will know the specific reflex in your feet to work on. Reflexology is a form of alternative therapy that has tremendous benefits. The benefits of reflexology can help with diabetes, headaches, back pain, digestion issues, insomnia and stress just to name a few. Enough said. It’s time to discuss reflexology and its use in the restoration of the body’s most crucial reflexes: the pituitary gland, solar plexus and adrenals. Regular maintenance of these three reflexes will guarantee you a relaxed life. Read on to know the benefits of reflexology and how focusing on these 3 major reflexes can bring relaxation to the body.. THE PITUITARY GLAND To start us off is the pituitary gland, which is also known as the “master gland.” This is because it is the most important gland in the human body owing to it being the control panel of all other endocrine glands. It is located in the brain. Endocrine glands are the glands that secrete their hormones and/products directly into the bloodstream without using a duct. They include the hypothalamus, thyroid, testes, ovaries, pancreas, pineal gland and so on. If you know the importance of these glands, then you’re probably aware of the criticality of keeping your pituitary healthy, energetic and happy! The benefits A pituitary gland will have a direct effect on normal secretion of all body hormones and enzymes. The gland also influences growth. We also need to mention that it is a part of the triangle of life and, finally, the reproductive system. These are some of the large-scale benefits of pituitary gland. Some momentary effects include alleviation of dizziness, improving muscle pain, increasing muscle strength, helping with congested breathing and improving mood. If you do it just before bed time, it will relax your body and induce calm sleep. If done immediately you wake up, it will boost your energy levels so you start your day full of energy. Quite some benefits, right? How to do it You’re wrong if you think we have to massage the brain so as to activate the healing benefits of the pituitary reflex point ☺ The reflex to press is found in the feet, and specifically the big toe. It is always best to let an experienced reflexologist do this for you as they know exactly where to touch, how to touch and how much to touch. Doing it on your own will have some impact, but it will not be as much as when done by an expert. Now, you need to find the point where the swirls of the big toe meet. You will see some neat lines on the big toe. Place your thumb where they seem to meet. This should be near the centre of the big toe. However, they vary between persons. With your thumb placed there, lock your other fingers on the opposite side of the toe (on the nail). The area may be very sensitive. You then apply moderate pressure and rub it in circles, up-down movements or just hold it. This depends on the desired effect. THE SOLAR PLEXUS The solar plexus is also known as the celiac or celiac plexus. It is a dense network of radiating nerve fibers in the abdomen located above the navel near where celiac trunk and major arteries branch from the abdominal aorta. In short, it is found at the diaphragm, where the stomach meets the rib cage. Just like the pituitary gland, the solar plexus is one of the most powerful points in reflexology. In fact, judging by its placement in the body plus its connection to the major arteries, we can readily tell its importance, right? The nerves in the solar plexus are spread out all over the abdominal area, leading to it being referred as the “abdominal brain.” The benefits One of the major issues known to be connected to this area is stress. Whenever you claim to have stress, the problem usually emanates from the solar plexus (and not the head as most of us think). Therefore, proper balance of this area means you will more than likely be stress-free. You will agree that this is probably the best gift that one can be offered at this instance in time! Any complication related to breathing can be alleviated by reflexology in the solar plexus. We are talking about tension, obstructed breathing, tension, fright and so on. Surprisingly, during moments of tension, rather than holding your breath, try using reflexology on the solar plexus. It regulates breathing, bringing your heartbeat and stress levels to normal. On more complex conditions, you can improve faulty blood pressure, tens of allergies and even asthma. For these complications, combine solar plexus reflex with adrenal gland reflex for maximum effect. How to do it The solar plexus reflex point is located just below the ball of the foot directly below the third toe. “Draw” an imaginary line at this point across the foot (right to left). Then you have the right point to massage. To work this point, place the thumbs on the imaginary line, at the center of the foot. There should be a dent there. Now, push the thumbs inwardly towards the knees and then hold for about 30 seconds. After this, place the thumbs on either end of this reflex line. Then as you bring them towards each other, stretch the imaginary line downwards. It represents the diaphragm. As you repeat this exercise, the diaphragm will be pulled downwards and the lungs will have more power and room to accommodate long, deeper breaths. This will restore the balance of energy in the solar plexus and all areas of the abdominal cavity. This is so interesting! However, as you can tell, this is one of the reflexes that can be hard to do on your own. The Adrenals The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system that we discussed earlier on. They are located atop both kidneys. In short, each kidney has an adrenal gland above it. Their work is to release different hormones in the body, including the very popular adrenaline. Adrenaline is the chemical released by the body during times of stress and either tells you to fight or fly! In addition to this, the adrenals execute over 50 more other body functions. Therefore, by working them, you will be providing the very necessary service and maintenance that your body needs so badly. The benefits Adrenal glands that work properly will do you the best favors in the world. They will help in fighting off infections, aid in toning muscles, create enough testosterone and estrogen, regulate the lymph glands, and restore the optimal body mineral balance. What’s more, they will alleviate arthritis and migraines, fight viruses, allergies, fatigue and also clear up the bronchioles. How to do it The adrenal reflex point is found at the indentation of the foot at the base of the ball of the foot, where it meets the stem of the big toe. This should be medial between the side and under the foot. You hold the foot such that your thumbs rest on this area. Then you rub it in circles or up-down movements while applying slight pressure. The effects of these treatments are best narrated by you. After attending a session or two, you will have a lot of experiences to tell about them. As long as the expert knows how to do it right, these three vital points will have you feeling like a newborn in no time. If you are looking to relieve stress the pituitary gland, solar plexus, and adrenal glands are key reflex points to use. It is worth a try! IMPORTANT: Reflexology is more of a treatment than pleasure activity. As such, observe these key points before you decide to attempt it:
Today’s world is one that we can never fully escape from getting overwhelmed, worried or stressed out by things. That said, it does not mean we should rush to hospitals for medication when they happen. I have one of the most natural solutions that you can use to calm not only your body but also spirit, mind and heart: reflexology.
Reflexology is an art whereby specific acupressure points in your body are activated to give you instant peace, relaxation and relief from different pains, anxiety and stress. It is borrowed from Asia, mainly the Chinese and Japanese. The best thing about this natural therapy is that apart from calming your body, it transforms your life by opening your mind and spirit to new ideas. How it works Reflexology is based on the amazing fact that certain parts of our bodies are interconnected with others. For instance, the foot has many direct connections with vital organs such as the heart, brain, spleen, liver and so on. Therefore, by craftily handling specific parts of the foot, disturbances in these organs can be corrected. Interesting, isn’t it? As you will find out, I focus on the Pituitary gland, Solar plexus and Adrenals reflex points in this blog. However, to get a feel of what reflexology can really do, here some three examples of simple reflexology exercises that you can do on your own: The brain To calm your brain, you need to massage the big toes of your feet. The entire toe pad is considered a brain reflexology point. To do it, use the thumb to rub your toe pad in an up and down motion. As you do so, move the thumb across so the entire pad is covered. Repeat this for 30 seconds and you will start feeling the effects right away! The temporal area The temporal area refers to the sides of the head, around the temples. You will agree that whenever you feel pressure on this part of your head, or have an ache, you at times massage directly above it. Well, this offers temporary relief. For maximum and healing effect, you need to massage the inside of your big toe. This is the side adjacent to the second toe. This is the reflexology point for the temporal area. To do it, place your thumb at the level of the big toenail and rub the inside of the toe going down. Rub it across as you go down. When you get to the base, lift your thumb and start at the top again. Repeat this for 30 seconds for each of your big toes. The effects will mesmerize you! The spleen Remember reflexology works for all vital organs; not just the head. Therefore, here is the reflexology trick for your spleen. However, this exercise should not be done if you are pregnant or have any heart condition. The spleen’s reflexology point is located on the sole of the left foot only. To find it, touch the midpoint of your left foot which is directly below the second toe from the big toe. Now move your thumb to the left and stop where it aligns with the second last toe. The area should feel more sensitive than the rest. Massage the area in up and down motion using your thumb for about 30 seconds. It is only you than can describe the relief that comes with this act. Now, Once you have tried these three reflexology practices, you will definitely get interested in learning more techniques. You have just tasted a tip of the iceberg in this unique therapy to keep yourself energized, happy and very sharp in mind. Stay tuned to learn tens of similar skills! |
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