The globe is divided into various geographical and cultural terrains. That’s why we speak different languages, have different preferences and celebrate different festivals. However there are certain things which are unanimous throughout the globe. We all drink water, breathe in oxygen and eat food. Perhaps the most consumed drink throughout the globe is water. Whether you have the habit of consuming water as such or taking it in the form of a beverage, water is always consumed by every human being. Infact, a day without water can cause enormous changes in your body.

After water, the most versatile of beverages which is commonly consumed in various countries unanimously is tea. Indians are used to tea with milk and sugar, The western countries are used to consuming pure black tea and some may prefer the tea with cream. However the difference lies only in the way the tea is consumed. In India, children are traditionally not offered tea. The reasons are unknown. However current research says that tea can actually be beneficial for human health.

Misconceptions about healthy tea

As the information becomes more and more readily available so does the prevalence of myths increase with time. The notion of green tea and herbal tea to be better than black tea or traditional tea is only a myth. All teas whether black, green or white have active polyphenols which impart medicinal properties to the tea. However herbal tea is not a tea at all. It has a mix of herbs and flowers which impart a characteristic taste similar to tea.

Green tea, white tea and black tea

Black, green, white, and oolong teas derive their leaves from a warm-weather evergreen tree known as Camellia sinensis. The leaves from this tree contain polyphenols. The more processing tea leaves undergo, the darker they will turn. Green tea and white tea are the least processed tea. They are simply steamed quickly. White tea is derived from the young new leaves from the Camellia plant in early spring. These young leaves contain no chlorophyll, so they are silvery white. Black and oolong teas are partially dried, crushed and fermented. As we have mentioned before, regardless of the processing method, black, green, white and oolong teas all contain polyphenols. In fact, tea ranks as high as or higher than many fruits and vegetables in the ORAC score, a score that measures antioxidant potential of plant-based foods.

Health benefits of tea

The benefits of tea consumption may extend throughout the body, experts believe. Here is a partial list of conditions some research has shown may be prevented or improved by drinking tea:

Arthritis: Research suggests that older women who are tea drinkers are 60 percent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who do not drink tea.

Bone Density: Drinking tea regularly for years may produce stronger bones. Those who drank tea on a regular basis for 10 or more years had higher-bone mineral density in their spines than those who had not.

Cancer: Green tea extracts were found to inhibit the growth of bladder cancer cells in the lab — while other studies suggest that drinking green tea protects against developing stomach and esophageal cancers.

• Sipping on a cup of hot tea may be a safeguard against cancer. Population studies have linked the consumption of tea with a reduction in risk for several types of cancer. Researchers speculate that the polyphenols in tea may inhibit certain mechanisms that promote cancer growth. Both green and black teas have been credited with cancer-inhibiting powers.

Flu: You may be able to boost your fight against the flu with black tea.
Your best defense against contracting the flu is to wash your hands often and get vaccinated against the influenza virus. Black tea may further bolster your efforts to stay healthy. In a recent study, people who gargled with a black tea extract solution twice per day showed a higher immunity to flu virus compared to the people who did not gargle with black tea.

Heart Disease: A recent study published in the journal Circulation found that drinking more than two cups of tea a day decreased the risk of death following a heart attack by 44 percent. Even less spirited tea drinkers were rewarded: Consuming just two cups a day decreased the risk of death by almost a third.
Tea is a rich source of the flavonoids quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin, and research shows that high dietary intake of these compounds is associated with a reduced risk of fatal heart attacks. In one study, people who drank about a cup and a half of tea per day were almost 40% less likely to suffer a heart attack compared to tea abstainers.

High Blood Pressure: Tea lovers may be surprised to learn their beverage of choice touts yet another health benefit: blood pressure control. Drinking a half-cup of green or oolong tea per day reduced a person’s risk of high blood pressure by almost 50% in a new study. People who drank at least two and a half cups per day reduced their risk even more. Their risk was reduced even if they had risk factors for high blood pressure, such as high sodium intake.

Parkinson’s Disease: Tea consumption may be protective against developing this debilitating neurological disorder.

Oral Health: Rinsing with tea may prevent cavities and gum disease.

Knee pain sounds normal to me as my grandmother and her peer groups often complain about knee pain and inflammations. More than a quarter of the American population suffer from knee problems after they pass the age of 45. Your knee is a vulnerable joint which can get hurt easily. It is so due to its structure, location and use. The common problems which affect knee are Sprained knee ligaments, Jumper’s knee and Kneecap pain. But did you know that your knee pain can be due to various factors? It can be the result of an injury like Bursitis, Tendinitis or ligament injuries, medical conditions like Gout, Arthritis or infections or even due to the dislocation of kneecap.

Symptoms

• Ligament Injuries- If you happened to twist or bend you knee too far in a wrong direction you may get a sprain. The ligament may also tear as a result of this. A tear in one of the four ligaments of the knee can cause immediate pain as you walk or try to bend your knee. You may also feel your knee to be weak and hear it make a popping sound.
• Dislocated Kneecap, Patella Injuries or Kneecap Pain-- The bone (patella) that covers the front of the knee may slip out of place causing severe pain and swelling. You may be able to see the dislocation of the bone. Knee pain after prolonged sitting or descending stairs relates to patella injuries.
• Bursitis and Tendinitis (Jumper’s Knee)- The bursa or the small sac of fluid that cushions the knee joint may get torn due to injuries as in sports or other activities of the like. It may cause red, inflamed and painful knees. You will have pain while climbing up and down the stairs and while kneeling down. Athletes or runners may injure their tendons of the knees leading to inflammation and pain. They cannot run, jump or straighten their knees without causing further pain. Jumper’s knee causes pain right below your knees and is seen mostly in basketball and volleyball players.
• Meniscus Injuries- The injury or tear in the cartilage (meniscus) can cause a lot of pain. The two menisci located in the inside and the outside of the knee distributes the body weight across the knee joint. The injury to the menisci can be due to old age or physical exertion. It results in agony, limited joint movement and tenderness.
• Septic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis- Septic Arthritis is mostly a bacterial (or fungal) infection in the knee that results in pain, swelling and at times fever. It may lead to many complications including death. People with infected blood, a traumatic injury or a joint replacement surgery are under the risk of getting infections in the knee. Rheumatoid arthritis may not have symptoms in the beginning as it is an autoimmune disease. It causes chronic inflammation of the joints with pain, stiffness and redness. Osteoarthritis is degenerative and is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage. It may occur as you age or may be secondary to some medical condition like obesity or a surgery.

You can take care of your knee pain at home by taking some additional care. You will require a surgery only in a very advanced stage. What matters here is protection and adequate rest.

Protect you knees. A compression wrap may work for most of the minor injuries.Take a break from any activity that may cause pain or soreness to the knee. Use padding to protect any possible repetitive injuries. Rest your joints to avoid straining the areas. It will give the injured area enough time to heal. After giving rest, start by gentle exercises and stretching. When resting, place a small pillow under your knee to prop up. Elevate your knee above the level of your heart to reduce swelling. You can do this as you ice the area or when you sit or lie down. Compression (wrap or brace) will help to reduce swelling and to keep the patella in tact. You can get an elastic or neoprene sleeve with a hole to hold your kneecap in place. Icing is another way to reduce inflammation for both acute and chronic injuries. It can be done for 10-15 minutes at a time. Take an OTC pill (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug)to relieve the pain.

We all know that prevention is easier and cheaper. In order to prevent knee problems stretch your muscles in the front and back of your thighs well. You can also try Hamstring stretch and Knee-to-chest stretch. Forget high-heels. Use proper footwear for running (shoes with arch support) or related activities. Reduce weight if it adds