15th April, 2008: Tea Consumption May Reduce the Risk of Carotid Plaques in Women
More good news about tea…drinking a few cups of tea a day may reduce the risk of carotid plaques in women. A new study published by Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology set out to examine the relationship between drinking tea and common carotid artery intima-media thickness and carotid plaques. As recently reported by Food Consumer, the researchers concluded the following: “In a large sample of elderly community subjects we showed for the first time that carotid plaques were less frequent with increasing tea consumption in women.”
The researchers looked at data from 6,597 subjects aged 65 or older in the French population of three cities. Carotid plaques were found in 33.7% of women who drank three or more cups a day, 42.5% of those who drank one or two cups a day and 44.0% among women who did not drink tea at all. Interestingly, for women who drank three or more cups of tea a day, this relationship was independent of age, center, major vascular risk factors, education and dietary habits.
First read about this over at Organic Tea blog and wanted to make sure to share it with our followers too…
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
14th April, 2008: Norah Jones Talks Teapots with Newsweek
Singer – and now actress – Norah Jones, was recently caught discussing teapots with Newsweek reporter Ramin Setoodeh. Prior to the release of her first film – My Blueberry Nights, which premiered in November – the multi-Grammy winner confessed she learned how to act by watching co-stars Jude Law and Natalie Portman, then shared details from her personal life.
In the interview, Jones revealed she is making a teapot set in a pottery class and, when asked if tea was good for her voice, answered, “I don’t know. Coffee gives me bad breath.”
Whether or not the musician enjoys tea for her vocal chords, flavor or fresh breath, we do know that Jones isn’t one to leave her tea behind the scenes. During earlier concerts – including a recent BBC event covered by a British entertainment site – she was known for bringing her tea on stage.
For more information on this talent, visit the Norah Jones web site.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
11th April, 2008: Springtime Sipping
Do your tea preferences change with the seasons? If so, start thinking green! Green tea, that is! Green is the color of springtime. It can also represent a fresh, new flavor discovery! Bigelow has a number of fruity green teas including green tea with mango, with lemon and with peach. Each is ready to explore with a light taste that’s ripe for warmer temps.
You can also shake off the last vestiges of winter with teas that bring blooming spring to mind. Like the floral tones of Jasmine tea made from the finest hand-picked teas from the high-elevation gardens. Or take your green to the extreme when you go all natural. Bigelow’s Organic Green Tea has no artificial ingredients.
Can’t quite make the switch from your all time favorites? Bigelow understands which is why they now also feature many tea classics in a green variety, like Earl Grey green and Constant Comment.
So, take your tea green this spring! For a complete line-up of Bigelow greens, visit the green pages in Bigelow’s online store.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
10th April, 2008: Charleston Tea Plantation mention by TODAY show travel editor, Peter Greenberg
Want to know where to go for a tea tour? Check out Peter Greenberg’s site here, travel editor for NBC’s Today show. Peter mentions in this article Bigelow Tea’s Charleston Tea Plantation as a go-to destination for all that is tea in South Carolina!
Posted by Valorie at 3:39 pm | Comment (0)
10th April, 2008: The Cat who loves Bigelow Tea!
This is Spooky the cat drinking Bigelow Mint Medley tea. Spooky is now 11 years old and in very good health, probably from the tea says her owner. When she smells it she comes running to the kitchen just hoping to get some for herself. Then she rolls around on the floor all happy and content.
Here’s Spooky hanging out at home in Coconut Creek Florida just waiting for more Bigelow Tea.
Audrey, proud owner and Bigelow Tea Drinker
Posted by Liesl at 6:00 am | Comments (3)
9th April, 2008: Pomegranate Yogurt Dip and Fresh Fruit
Pomegranate Yogurt Dip and Fresh Fruit
Ingredients:
1 cup (250mL) plain yogurt (non-fat yogurt not recommended)
¼ cup (60mL) boiling water
4 Bigelow Pomegranate Pizzazz® Herb Tea bags
3 tablespoons (45mL) powdered sugar
Chopped dried cranberries for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Pour boiling water over Bigelow Pomegranate Pizzazz® Herb Tea tea bags. Let stand for 10 minutes.
Mix yogurt and powdered sugar. Add 4 tablespoons (60mL) tea mixture and stir well.
Place in an attractive bowl and garnish with cranberries (if desired).
Place a variety of fruit such as pineapple, kiwi, mango, papaya and bananas around the dip.
Yield: Serves 4. Prep time: 10 minutes - Cook Time: 10 minutes.
Posted by Liesl at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
8th April, 2008: The Nutrient Power of the Pomegranate
Nutritionists are giving the pomegranate some well-deserved respect. For centuries the fruit has held a place of honor in the worlds of literature and religion, but it’s only been recently that evidence of its health benefits have begun to emerge in clinical studies.
In writing for LifeScript, a leading source of free, up-to-date health information, Jill Weisenberger, a registered dietician and author of several articles on nutrition, explores the many health-related attributes of this overlooked fruit. Five chief benefits stand out.
- Pomegranates pack a lot of nutrition, but relatively few calories. According to Weisenberger, pomegranates and their juice have an abundance of antioxidants and phytochemicals. These include compounds which are anti-inflammatory and cancer fighting.
- Studies suggest that the fruit promotes heart health by improving blood flow and possibly reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
- Other disease-fighting properties are being uncovered relating to Alzheimer’s disease and its prevention.
- Osteoarthritis sufferers will be happy to hear that pomegranates may also offer relief for joint pain based on recent trials.
- Those fighting prostate cancer have good news in the form of renewed research efforts following an initial study. “The results were so promising that a larger study is now underway,” says Weisenberger.
The news only gets better! You can enjoy the health benefits of this nutrient-laden fruit even if you don’t care for the complications of its ‘natural packaging’ (pomegranates can be tricky to eat and easily stain). Bigelow Tea now offers Bigelow Green Tea with Pomegranate and Arizona Green Tea with Pomegranate and Acai (Acai is an all-natural fruit from Amazon palmberries.).
Check out these pomegranate products on the Bigelow web site and, for more details on the benefits and history of the pomegranate, view the full LifeScript article here.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
7th April, 2008: Huffman Relaxes with Tea and a Book
Like her mother, actress Felicity Huffman’s favorite pastime is reading in bed while drinking tea. The television star likes tea in bed with family sagas, a zippy mystery, a monk’s meditations, and a child-rearing playbook, according to O, The Oprah Magazine.
People think my life must be much different since Desperate Housewives went on the air. Actually, it’s very much the same: I still drive to work, go to the farmers’ market, and hang out at home. And I still have to read before I go to sleep. The truth is, my only hobby is reading in bed with tea. I come by it naturally reading in bed is one of my mother’s favorite pastimes, too, says Huffman.
In fact, her tea tradition would comprise an idyllic day for the actress. It’s such a sanctuary and a resource for me, according to an article on her official website. And what tea would Huffman be drinking? Herbal. It’s Felicity’s favorite.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
4th April, 2008: Story of a Constant Comment® Tea Fan
Here is a nice letter about a new, and now loyal, fan of Constant Comment® Tea…how did you discover Constant Comment®? We want to hear your story too!
Dear Bigelow,
My name is Ian MacGregor and I live in Seattle, Washington. This is a
story of how I recently came to discover Constant Comment.
Normally my friends and I meet at one of our homes a few times each week
for a social gathering. Last month, one of my friends brought a new tea
for us to try - tea is a large part of our gatherings. This new tea was
Constant Comment, from Bigelow. Bigelow teas are my favorite but I had
never seen this tea at any of the local markets. We talked a bit while
the water heated and I asked “how does it taste?”, to which she replied
“it’s a surprise”. The water finished, steeping done, I reached for my
cup and was met with the most wonderful aroma of black tea and oranges.
I quickly realized the new tin of Walkers shortbread cookies I bought
would be a perfect addition to our evening. Hours later we had finished
off all 20 bags of this delicious tea - the cookie tin now empty - and I
could only think that next week was too far away. Constant Comment is
now on my favorite teas list, thank you Bigelow.
Sincerely,
Ian MacGregor
Posted by Liesl at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
2nd April, 2008: More Reasons to Go for the Green! Green Tea that is…
A recent article in TODAY provides more evidence about the benefits of green tea. A new study, conducted at the University of Arizona, looked at the antioxidant properties of green tea. Researchers studied 42 healthy individuals who were given four capsules of green tea extract every morning for a month. The results were very favorable.
Participants who began the study with the lowest levels of the detoxification enzymes known as glutathione S-transferase or GST saw the greatest results. For these individuals, GST levels increased by 80%. This is important because GST helps the body defend itself against toxic and cancer-causing compounds found in both a person’s genetic makeup and in the environment.
Green tea contains catechins that also contain antioxidant properties, according to dietitian Charles Lew from Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. Catechins may help the free radical damage often associated with certain cancers and cardiovascular disease.
The article goes on to cite green tea as a healthy beverage choice because it contains six times less caffeine than coffee and is virtually calorie free. More good about the green? Additional recent studies have also shown green tea catechins to have anti-inflammatory properties, which in turn, may help people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis by reducing inflammation and slowing cartilage breakdown.
Go for the green…green tea!
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
