Category: Hot beverages

10 facts: Is hojicha tea ☕️ healthier than matcha 🍵?

by drjurisharma, posted in antioxidant, Antioxidant,anti inflammatory, immune boosting, anti cancer, Blog, emotional health, Food, healing, health, Hot beverages, Latte, coffee, ice cream, dessert, tea, mental health, Nature,, Science, self healing, Tea, Japanese, hojicha, matcha, brewing, beverage, health drink, benefits, wellness

1. Hojicha tea has become a popular trend online, but what exactly is it? Hojicha is a type of Japanese green tea made from bancha, sencha, and kukicha leaves that are roasted at high temperatures and then ground into a fine powder. This roasting process gives hojicha its characteristic light brown colour and toasty flavour, although it also means that some of its antioxidant properties are diminished. Despite this, hojicha still contains beneficial compounds such as L-theanine, catechins, and polyphenols, which can help lower cholesterol levels, particularly LDL, and improve blood circulation. Additionally, the roasting method enhances the presence of pyrazines, which have a calming effect on the brain and nervous system.

2. Hojicha has become quite popular in recent times, mainly because of its low caffeine content, flavour, taste and calming effect on the nervous system. Hojicha tea is distinctive from other varieties of green teas as it is a mixture of leaves, twigs, and stems of the tea plant, which are roasted at a high temperature of 150 C. Due to roasting, it has a light brown colour, nutty taste and toasty flavour, unlike the vegetative tone of other green teas.

3. It has gained popularity in recent times due to its low caffeine content, which is milder than that of other green teas. So, it is quite safe for children as well as the elderly. In Japan, it is mostly an after-meal tea, in the evening, which has a calming effect on the nervous system, brain, reduces anxiety, stress and ensures a good night’s sleep. Hojicha infusion is quite popular as it is often used in smoothies and yoghurt.

4. Though hojicha tea has a great taste and flavour, as far as health benefits are concerned, matcha is still healthier than hojicha because of its rich, concentrated properties of antioxidants. Matcha is a rich source of chlorophyll, L-theanine, polyphenols, catechins and natural caffeine. Compared to hojicha, matcha has a great amount of health benefits like preventing cellular damage, reducing inflammation, supporting brain health, heart health, liver health, improving brain function, help prevent cancer and promote weight loss.

5. Like matcha, hojicha does contain anti-oxidants and amino acids, but in significantly less quantity as compared to matcha, which is made from tencha raw leaves, not stems or twigs, which are ground into fine powder. On the other hand, matcha is rich in chlorophyll, which helps in liver detoxification and flushes out toxins from the body. Due to the presence of natural caffeine, which is quite high in matcha, it can be stimulating to the nervous system rather than calming. Too much drinking of matcha can lead to high caffeine intake, which can sometimes cause heart palpitations.

6. Hojicha contain a compound, Pyrazine, unlike matcha, which is formed due to the roasting process. Pyrazine gives a distinctive toasty flavour and scent to hojicha, which allows a pleasant aroma just like brewing coffee. Some of the health benefits of pyrazine:

• Calming and relaxation effect due to balance in the nervous system.

• Improving the quality of sleep due to low caffeine content.

• Improving blood flow in the body due to the vasodilator effect of pyrazine.

• GABA secretion is improved in the brain, which helps in reducing anxiety and depression.

• Promote skin health by improving skin hydration.

7. In addition to the above benefits, due to the presence of antioxidants, hojicha tea has other health benefits, such as:

• Improves digestion by promoting metabolism

• Reduces inflammation, especially in arthritis, by lowering pain and swelling

• Strengthen the immune system and prevent cold and cough

• Promote heart health by enhancing blood flow and lowering blood pressure

• Improves oral hygiene due to anti-bacterial properties

8. Unlike matcha, which has a raw, grassy and slightly bitter taste, hojicha has a nutty taste, toasty flavour and is not bitter. Therefore, it can be used in various ways:

• Extensive use as beverages, lattes, smoothies, and milk teas.

• Baking dishes like cake, cookies, macarons, and mochi

•Ice cream, frozen treats

• Savoury dishes, meat, pastas, roasted veggies.

9. Traditionally, in Japan, hojicha is used as evening tea as it has a low caffeine content and has a calming effect on the nervous system and aids in metabolism. It helps to improve good quality sleep. It also has a warming effect due to enhanced blood flow, and so it is ideal for nighttime. Since it has a sweet, nutty flavour, it has become very popular for its uses in a wide variety of desserts, puddings, cocktails, and beverages. Commercially, hojicha tea is available everywhere in supermarkets and malls due to its demand, taste and benefits.

10. Hojicha has received global recognition for its versatility and uniqueness in taste and flavour. Like brewing coffee, it has a distinctive toasty aroma which is very inviting. On top of it, hojicha has low caffeine content, a variety of uses, making it popular among all age groups, including children. It has a natural sweetness, so using it as an ingredient in dishes requires less sugar. It tastes great in savoury dishes too. Overall, it’s a hit among the masses.

Thanks for reading.

Peace and love 🙏

8 facts: Burning mouth syndrome or Glossodynia 👅

by drjurisharma, posted in Adult over 50, Blog, Burning mouth syndrome, BMS, Females, perimenopause, menopause, healing, health, Hot beverages, life, Mouth, tongue,lips, wellness

1.Glossodynia, also known as Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS), is a fairly common condition. It’s an intermittent burning sensation in the mouth, especially in the tongue, lips, or other areas of the mouth, that is not accompanied by a specific reason. It feels as though the tongue is injured by a very hot liquid. The syndrome may be gradual or sudden in onset. There is no observable physical sign seen either in the tongue or in the mouth while having an episode. The specific cause of BMS is difficult to determine.

2. Most causes of burning mouth syndrome are unknown or idiopathic. Research suggests that it can be related to nerves which carry sensations of taste and pain. The causes are broadly divided into primary and secondary. Primary burning mouth syndrome is uncommon and mainly idiopathic.

3, Secondary burning mouth syndrome is quite common and causes can be related to :

* Vitamin deficiency like Vitamin B complex, lack of iron, zinc ,folate.

* Oral infections like oral thrush, oral lichen planus.

* Allergies following food additives, flavouring substances, mouth care products.

* Acidic drinks, extreme hot liquids, irritating foods like highly spiced foods.

* Dental materials, ill-fitted dentures.

* Dry mouth due to some medicines like anti hypertensives, anti cancer treatments.

* Reflux or Gastro esophageal reflux.

* Endocrine issues like diabetes, hypothyroidism.

* Anxiety, stress, depression.

Hot spicy food

4. Burning mouth syndrome, (BMS) can occur in any individual irrespective of age and gender. But the common risk factors are seen mostly:

* Females.

* More common over the age of 50.

* Post menopausal or perimenopausal women leading to low estrogen levels affecting taste buds.

* Smoking.

5. When a person experience BMS, there is no visible symptoms like discolouration of tongue or bumps. The symptoms found are :

* Altered taste, or metallic taste or loss of taste.

* Tongue and mouth feels like scalding, burning or tingling.

* Dryness of tongue, lips, gums.

* Numbness in the mouth.

Sipping cold water

6. BMS treatment and diagnosis are individual specific depending upon the symptoms. Diagnosis can be done by a saliva or oral swab tests. As far as treatment are concerned, there is no approved drugs. Remedies are there to ease the symptoms like :

* Mild mouth rinses.

* Saliva substitue like Biotene.

* Getting enough vitamin B complex, iron and folate.

* Pain relievers if necessary.

* Sipping cold water or ice chips.

* Sugar free gums chewing to encourage saliva production.

Hot beverages

7. Though it is not always possible to prevent BMS. But,if we are prone to BMS or have been affected in the past, it is important to avoids certain things :

* Very hot liquids, hot bevereges or drinks like highly acidic ones.

* Hot or spicy food.

* Alcohol

* Mouthwash containing alcohol.

* Smoking.

8.Feeling fire, irritations, and a burning sensation in the mouth, you can be sure to have Burning Mouth Syndrome, which is frustrating and irritating. But, once you have acquired it, it takes a while to go away. You can take the above-mentioned remedies and precautions till it heals. But, if there are flare-ups or hasn’t gone for long, you should surely visit your Physician or Dentist.

Thanks for reading.

Peace and love 🙏