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!
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26th March, 2008: Working in Tandem: Tea with Lemon
Contrary to this popular song’s refrain, “Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet but the fruit of the poor lemon…” poor lemon? Not quite! Lemon juice has been proven to boost green tea’s anti-oxidant properties by as much as 80%. More specifically, a study at Purdue University found that lemon juice caused green tea’s catechins, which display health promoting qualities, to remain in the body that much longer, inferring greater absorbtion. Following lemon, in terms of stabilizing power, were orange, lime and grapefruit juices. Although this study only examined green tea, the lead author and assistant professor of Food Science at Purdue University, Mario Ferruzzi, suspects that some of the results could apply to black tea as well.
Working in tandem…drink tea and lemon…to better your health!
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19th March, 2008: Black Tea May Reduce Risk of Parkinson’s
Drinking at least a cup of black tea a day may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by as much as 70% says a landmark study out of Singapore that suggests that consumption of black tea may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. What makes this new research so remarkable has been its extensive scope. A MediaCorp news article notes that the findings are based on a study of over 60,000 subjects over a period of 15 years!
Led, in part, by Dr. Koh Woon Puay of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in the National University of Singapore and Dr. Louis Tan, a neurologist at the National Neuroscience Institute, the study “scrutinized the lifestyle and dietary habits of more than 63,000 Chinese Singaporeans.” The researchers accounted for lifestyle factors and, according to Dr. Koh, “discovered that black tea contains ingredients, other than caffeine, that have protective effects.” (Earlier studies had already revealed beneficial effects from caffeine.)
While optimum consumption of tea was not determined, test results indicate that, on average, a daily cup of black tea reduces one’s risk of Parkinson’s by approximately 70 percent. By comparison, green tea seemingly had no effect on disease susceptibility. Continuing research will examine other potential factors associated with Parkinson’s.
A cup of black tea each day is all it takes…
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18th March, 2008: The Wizard Speaks: Tea Tops Dr. Oz’s Anti-Aging Checklist on Oprah
As seen on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Oz’s Anti- Aging Checklist features tea, both green tea and white tea, as part of a regiment for looking younger and living longer. As Mellow Monk points out, Dr. Oz recommends drinking four cups of green tea and/or white tea per day. In order to combat the aging process, in addition to drinking tea, you need to stock your kitchen with anti-oxidant rich items. Dr. Oz’s favorites include blueberries, sweet potatoes, broccoli and tomatoes. The checklist outlines other “musts” like benchmarks for sleeping, vitamins, exercise and more.
Looking younger and living longer is certainly appealing…no ruby slippers required.
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5th March, 2008: Dynamic Duo: Tea & Honey
Like Batman and Robin, tea and honey make a Dynamic Duo. It is delicious and soothing as the blog, Laurelonhealth notes. Now it turns out, like tea, honey has health benefits too! In fact, Reuters reported on a study showing that a spoonful of honey can quiet children’s nighttime cough and help them sleep better. When compared to the cough syrup ingredient dextromethorphan or no treatment, honey proved to be more effective. The study compared three groups of children: one was given buckwheat honey, the other honey-flavored detromenthorphan, and the third, no treatment. In addition to this report, MSNBC.com also spoke about honey in its report 90 seconds to amazing health. Another study found honey to slow the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which facilitates plaque in the blood vessels. Honey, according to the report, also has antibacterial properties when applied topically to a wound.
Next time you let that honey slowly drip into your tea, just remember, it’s more than just a sweetener…
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27th February, 2008: Keep Colds and Flu at Bay
News reports say that we’re at the height of the flu season and a quick visit to the CDC Website proves they’re correct: after a relatively symptom-free winter, the United States is experiencing more widespread influenza activity. You, however, can help protect yourself and family by following a few health tips.
Jan Jarvis, writing for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, suggests several ways to prevent illness. Her common sense approach includes washing hands regularly with old-fashioned soap and water; getting plenty of exercise and sleep; and maintaining a healthy diet. Jarvis also discusses green tea as a preventative.
“Green tea’s claim to fame is its antioxidants, which may help boost the immune system,” Jarvis notes, citing a recent piece of research which suggests that “ingredients in green tea can enhance the body’s immune system by 28 percent.” This is encouraging news, but not definitive proof of the flu-fighting power of tea, leading Jarvis to acknowledge that, even if it does not prevent a cold, tea has “other health benefits and it tastes good.”
For details on some tasty Bigelow tea solutions, refer to our Dec. 2007 post, Good Tea for a Cold, and the more recent, Tea Recipe for Lunch. Also be sure to check out all six of Jan Jarvis’s health tips here.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
20th February, 2008: Tea to the Rescue
If you have ever had a sinus infection, you know how uncomfortable and painful it can be. You can feel dizzy and in general, pretty crummy. According to Dr. Grossman, Ear, Nose and Throat specialist and author of The Sinus Cure, tea can help. Sinus disease is caused when the cilia – very tiny “hairs” - in the nose and chest stop moving. Their purpose is to prevent bacteria, dirt and cancer causing poisons from entering the body by moving them out, acting like oars rowing at 16 strokes per second. One way to combat sinus problems, recommends Grossman, is tea in bed! By drinking hot tea before you get out of bed, the body gets warmed up and cilia movement is encouraged.
Now you have a good excuse to stay in bed with your tea before starting each day!
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8th February, 2008: Who Knew What Tea Could Do?
We now know that tea is good for us in so many ways. But who could have guessed that this healthy drink could be used around the house? It’s true! Tea can be used to help you maintain carpets, plants and more.
For use as a carpet freshener, Diana Smith at Associated Content suggests sprinkling a thin layer of dried tea leaves – either an herbal or fruity variety – over carpet. [Remove the tea from the Bigelow bags first.] Leave it there for 20 minutes or longer, and then vacuum. “As an added bonus, the tea in the vacuum will deodorize the vacuum cleaner as well!”
To keep houseplants healthy during long dry winters, just bury a few tea bags in the soil around the base of your plants. When you water, the bags will retain the moisture longer, “thus keeping the soil from drying out too quickly in dry, cold weather. Additionally, the nutrients from the tea leaves will slowly and steadily give nourishment to your plants, giving them a healthier look and it will keep the leaves from wilting.”
Of course, if you still have more tea bags to put to a second use, keep in mind the beauty tips we shared with you back in December, because tea bags can be used for skin care as well!
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6th February, 2008: Think Pink…Tea Intake Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Survival
Over one million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. In fact, the US and the Netherlands have among the highest incidences of breast cancer. In the US, the National Cancer Institute estimates that 13 percent of American women will develop breast cancer during their lives. Yet, there is good news…
Now, a new study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, provides evidence that women with diets rich in flavonoids, a class of antioxidants found in tea, red wine, soybeans, fruit ant vegetables, lowered mortality among postmenopausal U.S. breast cancer patients. Interest in flavonoids is growing as research continues to support their cancer-fighting potential. Additional studies are underway to examine whether increased breast cancer survival associated with flavonoids applies to age groups.
Think pink and drink tea…
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29th January, 2008: Different Uses for Tea
Tea has proven to have many healthful benefits associated with drinking it, but there are also many benefits that people don’t typically think about. Not only can various kinds of tea be used to help the occasional aches and pains, but it can also be used for some types of beauty treatments. For example, you can use cold teabags as a cold compress to be used on sunburn or even minor cuts and scrapes. You can reduce the itchiness of Mosquito bites and bee stings by placing a wet tea bag over the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes. You can also use some varieties of tea as a facial toner or even an eye compress for tired eyes.
Tea can also be used for various things around the home as well as some craft ideas. You can use tea bags to dye lace or other pieces of fabric so that you can give it that aged and antique look.
For more ways that tea can be used, take a look at the following websites:
http://www.radio86.co.uk/explore-learn/lifestyle-in-china/477/the-many-uses-of-tea-health-and-beauty
http://www.radio86.co.uk/explore-learn/lifestyle-in-china/548/the-many-uses-of-tea-around-the-house
http://www.stashtea.com/beauty.htm
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