Green tea is awesome, and not just because it tastes wonderful and warms your insides. If you’re not drinking a lot of green tea these days, here are just some of the reasons why you should up your intake immediately!

Clears Up Acne

A study done by the University of Miami discovered that the compounds in green tea erased just about 2/3 of pimples from people with mild to moderate acne when used twice daily for six weeks. To try it out for yourself, just make a cup of green tea, let it cool, and then use it as a face wash twice a day. You could also try laying the cooled tea bag directly onto affected areas.

Heals a UTI

When you have a urinary tract infection (no fun at all!) drink 2 or 3 cups of green tea to help clear up the infection. The green tea will reduce bladder inflammation to help you heal. Also, green tea can help you avoid UTIs altogether.

Provides Allergy Relief

When your allergies are driving you crazy, drink a few cups of green tea. The drink should help ease sinus inflammation and give you some relief.

Reduces Puffy Eyes

If you’re looking to calm puffy bags under your eyes, just place two wet green tea bags directly on your eyes and lie down for 15 minutes or so.

Reduces Asthma Symptoms

An antioxidant in green tea has actually been shown to act much in the same way as certain asthma drugs. So try drinking 2 cups of green tea every day to keep your asthma symptoms under control.

Soothes Arthritis

You can cut down on arthritis aches and pains by sipping on 4 cups of green tea per day. This is because green tea contains a chemical compound that acts as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant.

Makes Your Heart Healthier

Not only do the antioxidants in green tea help protect against heart disease; they also are associated with lower cholesterol and lower rates of artery blockage.

People who drink a cup or two a day have a 46 percent lower risk of developing narrowed arteries. Upping that to three cups a day lowers the risk of having a heart attack by 43 percent and of dying from a heart attack by 70 percent. It can even help prevent a second heart attack. In a study of 1,900 patients recovering from heart attacks at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, the death rate among patients who drank at least two cups of tea a day was 44 percent lower than among non-tea drinkers.

And when you’re done enjoying your tea, make sure you make the most out of those use tea bags!

Thanks to Reader’s Digest for the facts!