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Another cup of tea? It may be just the ticket to better health! Whether you’re interested in reducing the risks of diabetes, heart disease, preventing fibroids, or easing your breathing, study after study suggests the beneficial possibilities from tea’s natural properties are abundant.

We know that tea has been linked to improved attention, and we’ve also mentioned that chemicals found in tea may boost brain performance. We are now happy to report another study citing the benefits of tea in boosting the brain’s cognitive abilities.

This newly published study involved 4,800 Americans aged 65 and over, who were studied for as long as 14 years. Researchers recorded how much tea and/or coffee the subjects drank, and then each year the subjects were tested for decreases in their cognitive ability. It was discovered that those who drank tea experienced 17 to 37% less cognitive decline than the non-tea drinkers.

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What is making the difference?  Researchers still aren’t sure.  It can’t be the caffeine, since coffee has much more caffeine than tea does, and because the data analysis showed that cognitive performance from coffee drinkers was not as strong as with tea drinkers.  Researchers consider that it may be related to the flavonoids which are so prominent in tea, but they do note that more research is necessary.

One thing we here at Bigelow know for sure: you don’t need to be a genius to appreciate a great cup of Bigelow Tea!  So maybe it’s time to put the kettle on?

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At Bigelow Tea, we know that tea is a soothing and comforting beverage, in which we happily imbibe for its flavor alone. But it’s a great thing when science provides a new look at the healthy properties in tea!

A long-term study in The Netherlands that appeared in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, has some fascinating findings.  With an enormous group of participants, the study found that those who drank black tea experienced lowered risk of death by heart disease. The results suggest that the protective benefits in tea were significant with at least two cups of tea a day, but that three-to-six cups of tea a day appeared to offer even greater protection!

The exhaustive 13-year study summarized that among the 37,000 participants, those who drank three to six cups of tea a day had a 45% lower risk of death from heart disease, as compared to those who drank one or fewer cups a day. Researchers suggest that it’s the powerful antioxidants called flavonoids found in both black and green tea (and coffee) that may explain the protective effect seen in the study.

The study’s findings are summed up nicely in a recent ABC Medical Minute, with Dr. Timothy Johnson.  Rachel K Johnson, PhD, nutritionist and a professor at the University of Vermont, comments on the study that “The perception has been that green tea is the ‘healthy’ tea, but this study suggests black tea may be just a good for the heart.”

It was noted that none of the participants in the study had known heart disease when the study began; the results then do not indicate any protective benefits for those already suffering with the condition. However, these findings of benefits from the properties found in tea, is great news, for both green tea and black tea lovers everywhere!

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“I still need more healthy rest in order to work at my best
My health is the main capital I have and I want to administer it intelligently.”

~ Ernest Hemingway

Okay, it’s time to turn off the computer, unplug the phone and hide that remote! Taking a day to relax now and then is as important for your health as good nutrition and physical exercise.  Since August 15^th is National Relaxation Day, Bigelow Tea wants to remind each and every one of us to just chill out:  put the kettle on, stretch your legs, breathe some fresh air and make the day all about you.

There are times when we find ourselves so busy that we seem to go on “work auto-pilot.” Well, Bigelow Tea would love to share some of our R&R (yes, that’s Rest & Relaxation!) tips with you:

• Sleep. Nap. Close your eyes.  This is a must.
• Meditate ….or just daydream!
• Get outside for a nice, leisurely walk, or take a ride on your bike.
• Go fishing – commune with nature.
• Read. There’s nothing like a good book!
• Write down your thoughts – keep a journal or diary.
• Go to the spa and pamper yourself.
• Relax at the beach.
• Play with your pets. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face (and theirs)!
• Take a long bubble bath.
• Scrapbook or do some arts and crafts.
• Listen to some great music. And dance – yes, even dancing alone is fun, too!

And remember to begin and end your day with a cup (or teapot!) of your favorite Bigelow Tea. It will help you de-stress and you’ll feel rejuvenated.  Cheers to healthy living!

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It’s sweltering outside and the air is heavy with humidity. Waves of heat are radiating off the streets and the pavement is nearly melting. The Dog Days of Summer are here. Naturally, you reach for… a steaming hot mug of tea. Sounds crazy, right?

But maybe not. It was British Prime Minister William Gladstone who famously remarked in the late 1800s, “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you…”

People in the warmest climates such as central Asia, India, and Africa have sworn by this age-old custom. The theory is that drinking a beverage closer to your body temperature does a better job of cooling you off, because the body doesn’t have to expend energy (producing heat) to warm up the cold liquid. You’re better able to absorb the liquid, the thinking goes, when its temperature is closer to 98.6 degrees. In contrast, an icy Frappuccino, for instance, can make the heat of the day seem even more unbearable.

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Another school of thought holds that a hot drink makes you sweat, which works to cool you off the same way perspiration does. Naysayers who doubt that a hot drink can make you feel cooler say that you’ll raise your body temperature more than the sweat will lower it.

But even skeptics agree that taking in fluids – whether it’s iced or steaming – is the right prescription for avoiding heat stroke on a sweltering day. Here at Bigelow Tea, we strongly concur. Hot tea, cold tea: it’s all good. Gladstone was on to something after all.

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At Bigelow Tea, we’re always happy to share encouraging news, especially when it relates to how the properties found in tea might possibly impact our health for the better.  So when we heard about a recent study indicating that tea may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, we couldn’t wait to pass the information on to you. The research, conducted in Australia by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) surveyed 2700 women – half with ovarian cancer, half without – on their diet, lifestyle and tea-drinking habits. Dr. Christina Nagle, lead researcher from QIMR’s Gynecological Cancers Group, stated “Our results indicate that drinking more than four cups a day of tea may reduce ovarian cancer risk by almost 30%.”

Dr. Nagle recognized that the findings did not specifically differentiate between black, green or herbal tea. She further specified that “…combining all of the evidence worldwide suggests that…one or more cups of green tea per day may reduce your risk of developing ovarian cancer by 40%,” although further research is certainly needed.

Ovarian cancer is the 5^th leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. From all the cancers of the female reproductive system, the mortality rate for ovarian cancer is the highest as the symptoms are difficult to detect in its early stage. Therefore it is often diagnosed at the advanced stage when the cancer has already spread beyond the ovary. Early detection is critical and that’s why it is so important for women to visit their gynecologist regularly and be attuned to unusual aches and pains, as well as any changes in their appetite and energy level.

So, ladies, treat your body like a temple. Make healthy choices. And, do sip some tea!

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Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. And millions more are completely unaware that they, as a function of their lifestyle, ethnicity or advanced age, may be at high risk to develop this most common form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs either when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or when the cells ignore the insulin.  People afflicted with this illness need to monitor their blood glucose (sugar) level several times per day.

Photo via Diabetes.org

Bigelow Tea has been looking at an encouraging clinical study which suggests that three to four cups of tea per day may be associated with reduced risk of diabetes. The protective effects of the properties in tea warrant further investigation, according to the findings. There are a variety of excellent treatment therapies available, all of which go hand-in hand with healthy lifestyle choices. This is where tea, glorious tea, comes in! The risk decreased further in those individuals drinking more than four cups a day and by as much as 40% for those consuming over six cups per day.

The research, conducted by scientists at The George Institute for International Health headquartered in Sydney, Australia, was – in essence – a meta-analysis of data compiled from 18 previously completed research studies. According to lead researcher and Associate Professor Rachel Huxley, “Although it is too early to advocate for increased consumption of these beverages, identifying the active components of these beverages would potentially open up new therapeutic pathways for the primary prevention of diabetes.”  This research, though certainly incomplete, encourage further validation through a series of randomized clinical trials.

In the meantime, drink some tea, relax and – above all – take good care of yourself!

Father’s Day 2010 is upon us. Not only does Father Know Best, he deserves the best. That’s one reason why a gift of Bigelow Tea is a great way to express your gratitude to Dad on Father’s Day June 20. It’s also a healthy message for Dad during Men’s Health Month!

Fathers are generous and giving. They support and protect. They meet their children’s needs and help to make their dreams come true. And this includes stepfathers, grandfathers, surrogate fathers, adoptive fathers and fathers-in-law, all of whom play big roles in our lives. Make the most of Father’s Day to honor these hardworking fellows.

It’s no coincidence that Men’s Health Month is June, the month that always includes Father’s Day. The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems, encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. It gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. Bigelow Tea provides healthful properties that can be a positive part of that!

Classic Blends Tin from Bigelow Tea

So to show your Dad respect and admiration, how about a 120-tea-bag salute?  With 10 different kinds of tea in an elegant tin, the Classic Blends Tin may just be the ultimate gift of tea.

Novus Tea Gift Sampler from Bigelow Tea

A really classy gift would be the Novus Tea Gift Sampler, a box of 18 tea bags of six different flavors. It’s just waiting for you to sign the convenient gift tag…

Fenway Park Cookie Tin & Tea from Bigelow Tea

For baseball fans there’s the Fenway Park Cookie Tin & Tea with 48 tea bags, and scrumptious baseball cookies! And don’t forget our venerable Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees versions.

So to all the Dads out there, we raise our Bigelow Tea cups in salute!  Play ball!

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A great smile includes healthy teeth and gums; Bigelow Tea has something to say about all three. May is National Smile Month, a great opportunity to brush up on your dental hygiene needs, and drink your Bigelow Tea in order to make your smile the best it can be!

Besides the appreciative smile that Bigelow Tea brings to you, the properties in green and black teas have been shown to reduce plaque and kill bacteria which helps to prevent cavities and reduce bad breath. That same green or black tea also contains important elements that fight inflammation, studies conclude, which makes for healthier gums! Of course, along with practicing good dental hygiene, eating the right foods is also important in maintaining good oral health and keeping that great smile in shape.

So as you’re enjoying your favorite Bigelow Tea, know that not only does the taste put a smile on your face, but the healthful properties found in tea can also be an important tool in preventing cavities, improving the health of your gums, and keeping that smile in tip-top shape!

Say “cheese,” flash those pearly-whites and get ready for your close up!

Bigelow Tea certainly isn’t new to advocating healthy lifestyles; it’s something we’ve been doing for 65 years.

Today, May 19th, marks National Employee Health & Fitness Day, created for companies to promote and encourage employees’ health and fitness needs. This day is designed to help workers lower their stress levels, improve physical fitness and build stamina.

Daniel Bourbonnais Jogging Trail Painting, Courtesy of fineartamerica.com

A few years ago, Bigelow Tea participated in ABC Primetime’s Corporate Weight Loss Challenge, and the words teamwork, diet, and exercise were the buzz.  In fact, a little teamwork at the office certainly goes a long way, as you can also see from the most recent competition that Cindi Bigelow has promoted among Senior Management in addition to the fact that Bigelow Tea won the Bridgeport Regional Business Council’s Healthy Business Award for mid-sized employers!

We encourage both employers and employees to use National Employee Health & Fitness Day to reflect upon their lifestyles, because making healthy choices not only improves your own quality of life, but increases productivity in the workplace!

“Women are like tea bags. They don’t know how strong they are until they get into hot water.”

— attributed to both Eleanor Roosevelt and Nancy Reagan

Cindi Bigelow beside portrait of Ruth Campbell Bigelow, Entrepreneur

We have seen that fantastic quote here before, speaking to the essential connection between women and their tea. As we reflect on that association at Bigelow Tea, looking at the fascinating history of our family-run company, we can’t help but see the correlation between smart and talented women and tea.

Perhaps it’s all the medical studies that connect the properties in tea with bone health, or reducing the risk of diabetes. It could be the fundamental pleasure of sitting with a friend and talking about life and love over a cup of Bigelow Tea. Whatever the reason, women and tea connect, and it’s no wonder women continue to make the switch to tea.

Image Courtesy of i.telegraph.co.uk

From Eleanor Roosevelt to recent Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock, we mention some of our favorite female  tea drinkers on our Bigelow Tea Blog. Hollywood stars to Olympic athletes to business mavens: we think it’s wonderful that there are so many excellent female role models out there who love their tea.

At Bigelow Tea, we rely on the tradition of the inspiring spirit of women, and we have for 65 years — ever since Ruth Campbell Bigelow started the Bigelow Tea company in a time when businesswomen were not the norm. She had a strong entrepreneurial vision, and one which lives on today with her granddaughter and our company President, Cindi Bigelow. It just warms our hearts to know that generation after generation of tea drinkers have enjoyed the warmth and inspiration that Bigelow Tea brings to them.

Note: a big thank you goes out to World Tea News for this great interview with Cindi Bigelow talking about Bigelow Tea’s 65th anniversary!