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!
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
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!
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
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…
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
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
Posted by Elizabeth at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
23rd January, 2008: Black Tea Need Not Take a Backseat to Green Tea
That’s right. Black tea contains antioxidants too. Granted there has been a lot in the press about the health benefits of green tea. However, the reality is that the antioxidant EGCg found in green tea is also found in black tea, just not as much of it. On the other hand, black tea is higher in theaflavins and thearubigens, compounds which have been found to be equally as effective antioxidants as EGCg. Recent studies performed specifically on black tea have linked it to reducing LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, as well as reducing coronary heart disease by 50%. Black tea has also been shown to reverse abnormal functioning of blood vessels, which contributes to stroke and heart attack, in as soon as one hour.
Bottom line…drink whatever you like…whether it’s black tea or green tea…
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
16th January, 2008: Nutrition: How Tea Helps You Meet RDAs
Are you getting all the nutrition you need? The beginning of a new year is a good time to re-evaluate your dietary needs and to learn how green tea can add supplementary nutrition.
Start by re-acquainting yourself with the USDA’s food pyramid or by developing a customized plan at the MyPyramid Web site. Additional dietary guidance is also available on the site, such as detailed nutrient information. This Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) information (now called RDIs) contains recommendations for optimum consumption of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.
Next, rediscover how tea can provide an extra boost to a healthy diet with health-promoting phytonutrients “that are very similar to those that you find in fruits and vegetables.”
Your last step is a quick visit to the Afternoon Tea Party blog for a breakdown of 18 healthy compounds found in tea, including antioxidants and Vitamin D. The information is formatted for easy comparison to RDA or RDI guidelines and even includes provides an estimate of nutrients received in subsequent steepings of a single tea bag!
Now, when planning healthful pyramid-based meals, don’t forget to include the nutritional benefits of tea, because this seemingly simple beverage really does go a long way in helping you meet your RDAs!
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comments (2)
15th January, 2008: It’s a Hot Item: Tea - Celebrate Tea’s Health Benefits During “National Hot Tea Month”
January is “National Hot Tea Month.” What better time to cozy up with a nice, hot cup of Bigelow Tea? Make tea a part of your daily routine. After all, tea is one way to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Perhaps being healthier tops your list of New Year’s Resolutions? This antioxidant, nutrient-rich beverage has been credited with protecting against and helping to lower the risk of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, stroke as well as many forms of cancer.
There’s no excuse. Bigelow Tea has a flavor for every palette. Try Green Tea with Pomegranate or the ever popular Constant Comment tea. It’s easy. Shop online at www.bigelowtea.com or at your local supermarket. Wait…there’s more…be sure to check the Bigelow website and blog on a regular basis for recipes, entertainment ideas, more health facts and celebrity tea sightings.
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
8th January, 2008: Green Tea is Superman When it comes to Brainpower
Green Tea has proven not only to protect brain cells, but also to regenerate them. A recent study at the Thechnion Institute in Haifa, Israel found that feeding green tea extract to mice with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s protects brain cells from dying, and helps ‘rescue’ already damaged neurons in the brain. Although numerous studies conducted around the world have shown that drinking green tea may help support the brain as people get older, this study is the first to show how the antioxidant in green tea actually works when it crosses over to the brain. The polyphenol of green tea extract (EGCG) given to the mice was equivalent to drinking about two to four cups of green tea per day.
Perhaps even Superman should start drinking green tea? Given all its proven benefits, who knows? Maybe green tea would combat the effects of kryptonite?
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
4th January, 2008: A Juicy Story… Citrus Juice Combined with Green Tea Enhances Antioxidant Absorption
New research, published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, suggests that combining citrus juice or vitamin C with green tea or green tea extract could increase the absorption of antioxidants found in tea by as much as 13 times. The reason for this is that citrus juice and vitamin C appear to interact with catechins to prevent break down in the intestines. Among other health benefits, catechins (tea’s antioxidants) are believed to be responsible for reducing the risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke. According to Mario Ferruzzi, who led the study at Purdue University, catechins are relatively unstable in non-acidic environments, such as the intestines, and less than 20 per cent of the total remains after digestion. In fact, Ferruzzi found that citrus juice increased absorbable catechins by more than five times and vitamin C by anywhere from six to thirteen times.
So pass the OJ to get a boost…a boost in the health benefits of green tea that is! Stayed tuned as more research is ongoing…
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
1st January, 2008: Tea’s Role in New Year’s Resolutions
The most commonly made New Year’s resolution is the promise to lose weight. Unfortunately, “the majority of your New Year’s resolutions become New Year’s delusions by the end of February,” says Dale Berry, Results Coach and author for Selfhelp Magazine.
That doesn’t need to be the case. In addition to the ten tips Berry offers for general resolution success, tea lovers have another ace up our sleeves when it comes to shedding pounds: 2007 has illuminated new potential for tea as a weapon against the battle of the bulge!
Over the past year, we’ve learned how green tea may aid in weight management by reducing body fat and by providing a slight boost in metabolism. That’s encouraging news! And it’s in addition to earlier research that suggests tea helps prevent obesity in the first place. In 2007 we also witnessed how many people enjoy tea as part of plans to beat the battle of the bulge. So, take heart! You’re not alone!
Armed with this new knowledge, there’s no better time than January – which is National Hot Tea Month – to ring in the New Year and celebrate the beginnings of a new you!
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
