Tea Time Benefits - Green- & Rooibos Tea

I love tea! And I know many other sisters out there also love tea :-) I know because we've had great tea parties together (here and here)! :-D

Today I want to write about two types of tea, which I enjoy very much - and I want to share the benefits of them with you:

Green Tea

Green Tea plant

Ancient Chinese people knew the benefits of green tea for health. They have always used it for medical purposes. However, in Ancient China, it was used especially against the headaches and depression! Here you can read some of the many other benefits there are from drinking green tea:

1. It is used to treat multiple sclerosis
2. It is used for treatment and prevention of cancer
3. It is used to stop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
4. It is used to raise the metabolism and increase fat oxidation
5. It reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks by reducing the risk of trombosis
6. It reduces the risk of esophageal cancer
7. Drinking green tea inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells, reduces the level of cholesterol in blood, improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol
8. It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases
9. It is used to treat impaired immune function
10. Some researches show that, drinking green tea regularly may help prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria which causes the dental plaque
11. Prevents and helps treat diabetes
12. Rehydrates
13. Soothes stress and produces brain power.

Green tea should also prolong life! One of the largest population studies ever conducted: 40,530 Japanese adults were interviewed over the course of 11 years.

Researchers found those who drink 5 or more cups of green tea a day are 16% less likely to die than those who drink less than one cup a day.

Heavy green tea drinkers are also 26% less likely to die from heart disease.

Sources: HealthMad and Amazing Green Tea

It is recommended to drink about 3-6 cups of green tea a day.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos Tea plant

Also known as Red Tea or Redbush, is not an actual tea derived from the Camilla Sinensis plant. Rather Rooibos comes from a herb, which is indigenous to the Cederburg area of South Africa.

Scientists from Japan, who did studies in the 1960's, discovered Rooibos contains powerful antioxidants that are thought to retard aging and have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Here you can read some of the many other benefits there are from drinking Rooibos tea:

1. Contains similar amounts of polyphenols and has been shown to be anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity
2. Naturally caffeine-free so is ideal for people who want to cut back on caffeine or want to drink it before going to bed. Actually it’s recommended you drink it before going to bed as it can help with insomnia. It’s also very low in tannins
3. Contains calcium, manganese and fluoride to help build strong teeth and bones
4. Can be given to infants suffering from colic, sleeping problems or stomach cramps Simply add some milk to the tea
5. Contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc which is great for the skin. You can even apply it directly to the skin to help with acne, eczema and sunburn etc.
6. People with kidney stones can drink it because there’s no oxalic acid
7. Full of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, copper, calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium

Sources: Learn about tea and Natural Health Remedies 

So enjoy your tea now! :-) I'm going to have some Rooibos right away (don't drink green tea before you want to go to sleep...'cause green tea makes you really fresh!) - and tomorrow's going to be a green tea day!

Take care dear sisters!

Tell Me About South Africa

I always loved travelling and exploring new places! And I was lucky, 'cause my parents loved it too. The only thing is that we only visited Europe - but also many parts of Europe! Then it's up to me, when I earn money someday insha'Allah, to travel outside of Europe. Or what about moving to a country outside of Europe?!

The interesting thing is that my husband has always talked about wanting to live in another country than Denmark - and I too have dreamed/dream of this. We both dream about living in a warmer place and a place, where the nature is more untamed than here and also where Muslims are more welcome than here!

My husband has a love for South Africa, where he once lived for two years and where he has gone on vacation many times in his life, visiting the many people he knows there. I know there are good and bad things about every place on Earth!... And I heard some of the good things and some of the worse things about SA... My husband and I talked about SA again today and he ended the conversation by saying: Let's make the intention to move to SA within not too many years (perhaps 5 years or so) insha'Allah. And that sentence made me, for the first time, really imagine how it would be to live in SA. How I'd work there and have my everyday life there, get to know different people etc. and I liked the idea :) I think because I am half German and half Danish and feel at home in both countries I am not scared of leaving "my country"... I also lived in Belgium for two years after graduating from high school and I loved it. The only thing was that I got really homesick after these two years because I started feeling lonely and missing my family... But actually I think that was very much because I didn't follow this deen yet and didn't know that Allah (swt) was as close as He is! Subhan'Allah. And also because I was younger and was still very attached to my parents. Somehow I managed now to only be really attached to my little sister (23) and my half-sister (31) and my other half-sister's daughter (10) here in DK!! (I'm not saying it's a good thing that those are the only ones I feel really attached to here...many things changed after I reverted and got married). And my half-sister is living abroad now since June 2010 (I miss her!!)...

Well, enough of my story :) I wanted to ask you, dear sisters, who are from SA or just know stuff about SA, which you would like to share!? I appreciate more positive stuff than negative, 'cause I know that you need more positive to balance out negative. So Bismillah, I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences with SA! :)
Oh I should just mention that the idea was to move to Pretoria or some place close to there, so if you know anything about this place, please share :) or any other place in SA.

By the way: isn't it amazing how only Allah (swt) knows where I am in about 5 years??!! I can dream and dream and plan and plan...but in the end He knows best :) Alhamdulillah.