There is a tea for every taste, but if you’re most interested in tea’s reported health benefits, remember that you can alwaysgo for the green! And it’s a bonus that Bigelow Tea’s many green tea varieties taste so delicious, too!

The latest research suggests that it’s the high levels of naturally occurring polyphenols in green tea that make it such a great choice for your health. Here at Bigelow Tea, you know that we’ve been avid followers of polyphenols studies on our blog. Scientists are interested in polyphenols because they act as antioxidants in the body, scavenging for free radicals that can damage cells. Researchers at the University of Maryland say free radicals are linked to heart disease and general aging of the body.

Although polyphenols are also present in black tea and Oolong tea, green tea has the highest concentration. And green tea contains a type of polyphenols called catechins; scientists at the University of Geneva have found a link between catechins and raised fat oxidation in the body – meaning that green tea polyphenols may temporarily increase metabolism of body fat!

But back to the flavor… if you’ve never tasted our green tea, give it a try! Bigelow Tea’s green tea has distinctive toasty notes that set it apart from all others. Some people prefer the delicate flavor as is, but it pairs wonderfully with other flavors, such as Mint, Pomegranate, Mango or Wild Blueberry & Acai. Or try your favorite Bigelow Tea classics – like Constant Comment or Earl Grey – in their green tea versions.

Go ahead, your body and your taste buds will thank you!

At Bigelow Tea we welcome any tips on how to sustain better health, and when it comes to a beautiful smile … we’re all ears! Since we love to smile (the bigger, the better!) we were thrilled to learn of a study that indicates that the catechins found in green tea may have anti-inflammatory properties, which help to maintain healthy gums!

A beautiful smile goes a long way.  But if your gums need a little TLC, smiling can be problematic. Gum disease is a common issue, whether it’s a case of mild gingivitis or more worrisome periodontitis. It’s a well-known fact that we should brush and floss regularly—when we wake up, after meals, and before we go to sleep—because oral health has a direct impact on overall physical health. It’s like a domino effect to the heart, blood circulation and, even, the brain. So keep brushing, flossing … and drinking that green tea!

Although we didn’t really need an excuse to sip our Bigelow® Green Tea concoctions, this study, published in The Journal of Periodontology has certainly brought a smile to our faces!

So, do sip your favorite flavor of Bigelow® Green Tea … and bare those pearly whites, surrounded by healthy, pink gums! As Dale Carnegie once said:

“A smile is nature’s best antidote for discouragement.
It brings rest to the weary,
sunshine to those who are frowning,
and hope to those who are hopeless and defeated.

A smile is so valuable
that it can’t be bought, begged, borrowed, or taken away against your will.
You have to be willing to give a smile away
before it can do anyone else any good.”

Images via benefitsdrinkinggreentea.com and Bestdentistnews.com

Bigelow Tea wants to share some interesting news on the important subject of hydration and weight control. Research suggests that daily consumption of green tea can significantly increase the metabolic rate, raising the body’s ability to burn off fat, otherwise called fat oxidation. This metabolic boost occurs as the concentration of catechin polyphenols (found in green tea) kick in.

Green tea may also help contribute to fat loss by decreasing cholesterol levels – more specifically your total cholesterol and LDL (LDL is the bad cholesterol).  For people dealing with cholesterol issues, this is seriously good news.

Bigelow Tea doesn’t want anyone to wince when stepping on the scale!  When our body balance is off-kilter, we can try to get back on track with nutritious foods, reasonable portions, exercise (no, this doesn’t have to mean two hours of calisthenics every day!) and keeping well hydrated. Help maintain that all-important hydration with some of flavorful and aromatic Bigelow Green Tea.

Indeed, green tea seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. Drink it as part of your routine for living a happy, healthy life, balancing work with play, spiritual and intellectual, physical exercise and quiet time. We have a tea for every mood, every season and every palate, so enjoy. When we feel better and look better…we are better!

(Note: You should always consult your physician before beginning any weight loss regimen or cholesterol reduction plan, whether it includes green tea consumption or not).

Images via Lost100pounds.wordpress.com, and Thebeginwithinblogcom,

Nasty pathogens are constantly testing our body’s immune system – our first line of defense against illness and disease. So the more we can do to naturally strengthen our response to foreign invaders, the better. Research suggests that one way to bolster your immune system’s arsenal is by drinking green, black or oolong tea!

Here at Bigelow Tea, we closely follow studies on the health benefits of tea,  and are always happy to share still more reasons to enjoy your daily brew! Researchers at the Linus Paulding Institute at Oregon State University found that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that is the primary polyphenol found in green tea, may enhance immune functions and suppress autoimmune diseases. This helps prevent the body from attacking itself, and is reported to occur with multiple disorders, ranging from simple allergies to juvenile diabetes and terminal illnesses such as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Along with green tea – black tea and oolong tea have also been found to bolster the immune systems.  One study concluded that people who drank five to six small cups of black tea per day were better equipped to fight infection; the focus of this research was on L-theanine, an amino acid that is present in high concentrations in black, green and oolong tea.

No wonder tea tastes particularly soothing when we’re feeling stressed or rundown! So savor your daily tea ritual, and put forth your best efforts to help your immune system!

At Bigelow Tea we take our beverages seriously and our tradition of producing high-quality teas is a source of family pride. Since Ruth Campbell Bigelow created Constant Comment in her kitchen in 1945, we have introduced many new teas to the Bigelow Tea lineup; but now in the summer of 2011, Bigelow Tea is thrilled about its newest tea creation that’s making waves: Coconut Water! We’ve combined the natural hydrating benefits of coconut water with the refreshing taste and healthful qualities of green tea to make Coconut Water with Green Tea Mix Sticks. They come in three amazing flavors: Green Tea, Mango Green Tea and Pomegranate Acai Green Tea and while they may not be in every store yet, you can certainly buy them online at www.bigelowtea.com!

Not only are these mixes delicious and convenient—add to a bottle of water on the run or blend into a drink at home—but they’re also healthy, hydrating and all natural! Kids will love them too.  Want to know more? Cindi Bigelow created this short video to share with you all the information and benefits of Bigelow Coconut Water with Green Tea! Have fun watching!

At Bigelow Tea we often associate sipping tea with relaxation. Well, now there’s more evidence that drinking tea really can be a calming experience! A recent study published in the Journal of Functional Foods observed that an amino acid found in tea leaves, L-theanine, may boost attention for people with anxiety. The study, which took place in Japan, showed that highly anxious subjects receiving L-theanine displayed a slowing of their heart rate, improved attention and better reaction times to assigned tasks. Interestingly, no significant benefits were observed in the subjects with minimal anxiety.

L-theanine has been the subject of various studies and has been found, among other things, to increase the body’s defenses against infection, to reduce mental fatigue, and to positively enhance one’s mood. It’s all good!

And while tea drinking is certainly a relaxing and pleasant experience, it’s important to note that L-theanine is found in tea leaves in low concentrations (less than 2 percent), and dosage levels administered in this study included supplements. Nevertheless, we heartily recommend enjoying a cup of tea, like traditional Earl Grey, the next time you’re studying for a test or preparing for a big presentation. Not only will taste great, but it’s likely to help you relax and focus a bit too! Enjoy!

Image by liza31337, via Flickr.com

The wonderful thing about summer is that it’s nature’s way of giving us an energy boost. The sun’s out, the weather’s warm, and suddenly we all want to spend more time outdoors, which is a good thing. But Bigelow Tea wants to remind you that there’s something we all need to keep in mind, especially when the heat rises above 85° F:  hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more! It’s very easy to get heat stroke or faint from dehydration, so make sure you keep your favorite libation close at hand (and remember that alcohol actually dehydrates the body).

We’ve all been told that water is the best thirst quencher, and Bigelow Tea certainly loves water…. because without water, we can’t make tea! However, another interesting study has come to light, indicating that tea appears to hydrate the body just as much as water!  Sponsored by the UK Tea Advisory Panel, the study surveyed 21 volunteers who drank volumes of either tea or equal amounts of plain water.  When their hydration levels were tested, it was noted that there was no discernable difference.  The research findings are purported to dispel the notion that the caffeine content in tea causes dehydration. That’s music to our ears!

But that’s not all. Did you know that drinking hot tea in the summertime is also reported to cool you down?  In the sage words of former British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you.”

On that note, happy summer and enjoy your favorite cup of hot, flavorful Bigelow Tea!

Image by Daily Mail cartoonist Jonathan Pugh via Dailymail.co.uk

Fitness is a passion of ours at Bigelow Tea. It’s never too late to get fit.  And there’s something special about summer that can inspire us to put on our most comfortable pair of sneakers and go out for a walk, run, cycle, or swim!  Maybe you’re dreaming about that bikini that fit you … once upon a time! Or perhaps you just want to regain or maintain that feeling of good health and well-being.  Whatever the reason,  get out and enjoy that sunshine!

Of course, it’s important to remember that you can’t get fit through exercise alone. Your diet plays a major role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Diet and exercise are kind of like Bigelow Tea and water – you can’t have one without the other!

Along with nutritious food, portion control and regular eating hours, there are the drinks that hydrate you while providing you with loads of antioxidants, like green tea!  Research studies have extolled the virtues of dailygreen tea consumption to help maintain a fit and healthy body.  And at Bigelow Tea we wholeheartedly concur! In fact, both caffeine and the polyphenol, EGCg, are reported to be critical fat-burning components – both found in green tea!

Yet, despite all our good intentions, we sometimes need variety … and Bigelow Tea eliminates any boredom factor with our fantastic selection of green teas that come in a cornucopia of flavors and combinations, like Bigelow Green Tea with Mango, Bigelow Green Tea with Lemon, Bigelow Green Tea with Pomegranate and many more!

So stay fit this summer and be sure to do it with your favorite Bigelow Green Tea!

Image (top) via Weissesroessl.at.

What a perfect afternoon.  I had to leave the office yesterday around 11:30 am and I have to be honest I was grumbling the whole way, I am too busy, I have so much to get done, I really need some solid hours at my desk. And as usual, I left anyway to go to the annual Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center luncheon.  This year the keynote speaker was going to be Vanessa Williams, I had admired some of her work, so I thought the afternoon most likely would turn out alright.  The other reason I had to go was one of my best friends is the director of the center and I knew she had put in a gazillion hours to make this afternoon special.  So up I got, in my car and to the event I went (along with a team of us from Bigelow).

Well when I got there, I saw so many wonderful people that I knew in the community.  And as I should have expected, each person was nicer than the next-big hugs, lots of smiles and kisses…Okay I needed to go.  Then we sat down, and my dear friend, Donna Twist the director, got up and gave away two Rose of Hope awards to some pretty special ladies that have worked tirelessly for the center.  The awards were extremely well deserved and the words they each shared when they received their plaque were so beautifully touching.  Yeah, this is good. Then up to the podium came a young woman named Natasha Jones.  She is a breast care survivor (still in treatment), single mother of four, 35 years old, with no safety net in the world to help her with her children if anything was ever to happen to her.  Her words stopped me cold….it wasn’t a disease that she would ever get, it wasn’t something she ever even thought twice about and all of a sudden she is diagnosed with stage 2 cancer and is fighting for her life.  She spoke for about 20 minutes and you could hear a pin drop in the audience of almost 500 people.  Each statement she made was more riveting than the last about her journey, her outstanding care she received at the center and her unwavering will to survive.  I could not stop the tears streaming down my face.  When she finished I could not jump to my feet fast enough.  500 of us were giving her the ovation of her life.  Yes, this is a wonderful cause. Then finally Vanessa was at the microphone.  Of course she was as beautiful as ever but it was what she said that was really what made her shine in my eyes.  First she acknowledged Natasha and her fight against breast cancer with such a caring and compassionate tone.  I quickly realized this was not a woman who was going to just get up and just give her prepared speech and move on.  She was sincere, passionate about this disease that stole her 42 year cousin (who was like a sister to her) and honest.  She shared stories of her life, her love of her children, how the loss of her cousin affected her and how invaluable a center like the Norma Pfriem truly is to our community.  It wasn’t a canned speech, it was written with true purpose and heart.  Once again the tears started.  When she was done, all 500 of us were back on our feet applauding this truly beautiful speech that we watched unfold.

Now I am back in my office, looking at all the numbers, preparing for upcoming meetings and handling phone calls.  I am still too busy, I still have too much to get done, and I still need more hours than I have in a day at my desk, but it doesn’t matter.  Thank you Donna, thank you Vanessa and thank you Natasha….you put me back in balance, you made my day and I realize how lucky I am that I was even given the chance to attend this wonderful lunch.  It was the perfect afternoon….

Cindi Bigelow