14th May, 2008: May, National Smile Month
Everyone understands that brushing and flossing are essential for a dazzling smile. But did you know that tea can also support dental health? “We all know excellent nutrition helps build an excellent body,” says Paula Shannon Jones, DDS, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry. “So it follows that whatever you eat affects your teeth and gums, too.” Also what you drink!
From May 18 to June 17 — which is National Smile Month in the United States and the U.K. — pay special attention to your diet, and consider what you’re drinking.
An earlier post on the Bigelow Tea blog told of how black and green teas contain antioxidant compounds that keep plaque from adhering to your teeth and help reduce your chances of developing cavities and even gum disease.
“Tea also has potential for reducing bad breath because it inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause the odor,” according to Christine D. Wu, PhD, who conducts research on oral health.
If you also enjoy acidic beverages, however (such as sodas and sports drinks which can be tough on our teeth’s enamel), try using a straw positioned toward the back of your mouth to limit the liquids’ contact with your teeth.
For more information on smart dental health practices, click here, and for additional details on the largest independent international dental health campaign, stop by the National Smile Month web site.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
13th May, 2008: Bluesy Tea
Green tea may be all the rage, but a raspy voiced singer-songwriter named Dendee has got the blues over the beverage. The London-born musician bemoans the traditional English Tea he’s come to miss while living in America in his light-hearted song “I want a cup of tea,” which was featured on the Tea Muse online newsletter.
It soon becomes apparent that it’s not just the drink, Dendee misses, but the British foodstuffs typically paired with tea as well. Items like Toad-in-the-hole, which are sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, and spotted dick, a steamed suet pudding with dried fruit.
So, steep some Bigelow Earl Grey, then click here for a listen.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
9th May, 2008: Celebrating Mother’s Day
Are you still looking for a special way to celebrate Mother’s Day? Something a little indulgent, but still sentimental? You might consider one of the delightful gift ideas from the online Bigelow Tea shop.
If you can’t serve Mom breakfast in bed on her special day (or even if you can!) the cheery Hearty Breakfast Basket is a nice option. 
It features pancake mix, maple syrup, cinnamon toast sugar, a variety of tea and more. Since warm weather has been slow to arrive, Mom might also appreciate the little bit of springtime in found Bigelow’s Flower of the Month Teacup and Saucers, available through the Spring catalog.
For something a little less traditional, consider the Green Tea Spa Bag. 
It’s a spring-green jute tote filled with a variety of bath essentials and your favorite green teas. (Psst, if you are a mom yourself, start dropping hints for this one now so you can spoil yourself this summer!)
For any of these items, stop by the Bigelow Tea shop by clicking here. And, to draw an even bigger smile, consider adding a homemade card just like you did when you were a child! Here’s a sweet little verse to get you started:
Happy Mother’s Day!
A cup of tea to say thank you
For all the things you’ve done,
And wishes that the day will bring
You happiness and fun. (Unknown Author)
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
23rd April, 2008: Letting Tea Go to Your Head
You might have read how your leftover tea bags can be used for the skin and eyes (if not, see our December 5th post). But did you know that tea also has some unexpected beauty applications for the hair?
According to Shirley Bragg at About.com, some herbal teas can be used to add shine to your tresses. But that’s not all. Bragg has, herself, witnessed that tea can be used to create highlights or darken hair. She offers the following advice: “If you have red hair, green tea is the color of choice. Chamomile tea will add blonde highlights, black tea will add a glow to dark hair and for gray hair, try ginseng.”
Perhaps your hair color isn’t the problem. Maybe excessive hair is. If so, you’ll want to follow up this study reported by the BBC. In February they noted that one specific herbal tea may control unwanted hair. “Spearmint tea may help to control excessive hair growth in women,” according to Turkish researchers. Thus far results are modest, and additional research is needed, so while you may not want to pin your hopes on this as a solution for hirsutism, keep your eyes open for more word on the potential of this and other herbal tea uses.
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21st April, 2008: Ryan Phillippe Takes Tea to Go
Celebrity photographers recently captured shot after shot of actor Ryan Phillippe sporting a cup of tea while out-and-about. Iced tea, that is.
The quiet star and one-time husband of actress Reese Witherspoon isn’t new to the beverage. According to a number of entertainment news sites, early in his career, Elizabeth Taylor and Elton John once took him out for tea. The stars made quite an impression. Afterwards Phillippe recalled, “I was sitting there looking at them interact, and I’m thinking, these people have raised millions of dollars to save people. The potential power of celebrity is astounding.”
Phillippe currently stars in Stop-Loss now playing in theaters.
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16th April, 2008: What is Herbal Tea?
Herbal tea or tisane is an herbal infusion that does not contain any leaves from the tea bush, Camellia sinensis. (Although tea leaves can be flavored as well, as is the case with Earl Grey, which is black tea and bergamot.) Herbal tea is made by pouring boiling water over loose or bagged fresh/dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots.
Herbal tea is flavorful and soothing and comes in many varieties: red raspberry, peach, chamomile, orange spice and lemon among them. In addition to great taste, as Organic Tea blog points out, herbal tea is often used to try to combat sleeplessness, alleviate menstruation pain, detoxify the body and clear the mind.
Chamomile tea, for instance, is thought to have sedative effects. Interestingly, even in fiction, author Beatrix Potter, who wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit, had Peter Rabbit’s mother serving him Chamomile tea to make him feel better And she isn’t the only one. In a number of her mysteries, Agatha Christie’s sleuth, Hercule Poirot, drank herbal tea in order to recover from wet weather. Many modern day celebrities enjoy herbal tea as well.
Pick your flavor! There are so many delicious herbal teas to choose from.
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comments (2)
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)
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.
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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.
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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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