(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org)

Oolong.  The word just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?  Studies have shown that drinking Oolong tea may cause the pounds to roll off as well!!

In the Far East, it is believed that a daily regimen of Chinese Oolong tea contributes to a slim waistline. How? Well, weight gain is caused by excess accumulation of fat in the body, occurring when food is synthesized into triglycerides in the liver and small intestine and then travels into the bloodstream and other tissues. These triglycerides are crucial for the body to function energetically. When there is an imbalance – an excess amount of triglycerides in the body –they turn to fat.

Oolong (which means Black Dragon) contains high amounts of polyphenols which trigger the enzymes responsible for reducing excess triglycerides. This is why regular consumption of this natural tea is highly effective in increasing the metabolism and battling the bulge!

At Bigelow Tea, we are all about balance.  And we’re very familiar with the healing powers of tea, as expressed by the ancient Chinese writer Lu Yu, who wrote that “Tea symbolizes the harmony and mysterious unity of the Universe.”  Our smooth-tasting blend of Bigelow Chinese Oolong Tea is enjoyed in many of the finest Chinese restaurants, an endorsement that simply delights us! And, since we’re being weight-conscious, consider adding some ooohh-so-good Bigelow Chinese Oolong to your salad with one of our favorite recipes – Oolong Soba Noodle Salad.  Only 139 calories!

Although Oolong tea is not a miracle weight loss cure and should not be used as a replacement to proper diet and exercise, this flavorful libation is a proven weight loss aid. So, enjoy and, from time to time, measure that waistline….you may like what you see!

A new study done in the U.S. has shown that an increased intake of tea can help greatly reduce the chance of breast cancer in young women. As the article states, “The threat of another type of tumour, affecting the lobes deep inside the breast tissue, was cut by two thirds.” While studies have been done in the past that connected tea drinking with decreased risk of cancer, this particular study focused greatly on the younger age groups and, hopefully, will garner attention to reveal a simple preventative measure.

What the researchers have discovered is that the polyphenols found in the tea are responsible for this reduction of breast cancer risk.  Most teas contain high amounts of these polyphenols, which have shown to reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure as well reduce the risk of cancer.

You can browse our great tea selection here.

Can it be true? All that great Bigelow Tea AND your favorite chocolate treat might actually help you finally complete that New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle! These are the findings of a new study by the University of Oxford’s Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics. Working with colleagues in Norway, the researcher’s findings show a strong correlation between tea and chocolate and enhanced cognitive performance. The team of researchers examined the relation between cognitive performance and the intake of common foodstuffs that contain flavonoids — including chocolate and tea.

The study looked at 2,031 people, aged between 70 and 74; participants filled in information about their typical food habits, and underwent a battery of cognitive tests. Those who regularly consumed chocolate or tea had significantly better average scores and higher cognitive performance. The team’s results, originally published in the Journal of Nutrition, looked at the role played by beverages such as tea, as it is a major dietary source of polyphenols.

Although the team cautions that more research is needed, these exciting findings support earlier research about polyphenols, and reinforce that tea and chocolate are a great match. The results of the Oxford study also support the results from a previously published study in the Journal of Neuroscience that concluded it may be possible to boost memory and cognitive ability with a plant compound called epicatechin which is also found in food and drinks — including tea. Sounds like it’s time to put the pot on!

Compliments of the British Dental Health Foundation.

Yes — it’s National Smile Month 2009, designed to highlights the links between oral health with overall body health. The 2009 campaign, sponsored in part with Oral Health America, is spreading the message that your general health is directly impacted by some very simple measures; from brushing twice a day to cutting down on sugary drinks.

Tooth decay and is one of the most common of all medical disorders — second only to the common cold! Tooth decay and cavities are a fact of life and can affect all of us, so it’s gratifying to know that your daily Bigelow Tea regime is a valuable tool in combating tooth decay, as it naturally contains fluoride. The value of water fluoridation for the prevention of tooth decay has been “unquestionably demonstrated”, says the American Dietetic Association.

Additionally, brewed tea also supply varying amounts of fluoride to the diet. The level of fluoride varies with the type of tea and the fluoride content of the water. Material featured previously on our Bigelow Tea Blog and on WebMD shows us that tea also helps to fight a variety of oral bacteria, including those causing strep throat. And if that’s not enough to make your mouth smile, remember that the polyphenols, the antioxidant plant compound that’s in both black and green teas, helps prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth and reduces your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. So continue to add Bigelow Tea to your daily efforts to take care of your teeth, your overall health, and that great smile!

Image courtesy of Phytochemicals.info.

For centuries, people have been enjoying the succulent taste of pomegranate. Native to Persia, this exotic fruit has been used as a medicinal tonic to both heal and prevent certain illnesses. It’s amazing that Pomegranate, around since the beginning of time, has only risen to superstar status in recent years!

Bigelow Tea knows firsthand that we’re more health-conscious than ever. Medical research reports are cropping up everywhere, espousing the multiple health benefits of pomegranate.  Studies confirm that the antioxidants found in pomegranate can significantly contribute to the prevention and treatment of certain life-threatening diseases, such as prostate cancer. Other clinical trials have determined that the high level of polyphenols contained in pomegranate can help to reduce bad cholesterol levels. In the practice of alternative medicine, pomegranate extract is being used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions, like arthritis.

Bottom line: pomegranate is great for us.  As we embrace organic foods like pomegranate, we are finding inventive ways to incorporate them in our own food and libation rituals. Whether beginning the day with a relaxing cup of Green Tea with Pomegranate, sipping some refreshing Pomegranate Blueberry Iced Tea in the afternoon, or gathering with friends to drink Pomegranate Cosmopolitans at cocktail hour, it’s all good.

At the end of the day, we are giving our health and well-being the respect it deserves. In doing so we nourish our body, mind and soul. Speaking of mind and soul, what better way to erase the stresses of the day than to brew a pot of Organic Green Tea with Pomegranate & Acai and curl up with a good book? Here’s to healthy living!

Is obstructive sleep apnea a nightmare for you? If it is, you are not alone. This disorder affects more than 12 million people in the United States, but there is some suggestion that green tea extracts might allow sufferers to rest easier.

ScienceDaily reports— “Chemicals found in green tea may be able to stave off the cognitive deficits that occur with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a new study published in the second issue for May of the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.” The study, conducted on 106 male Sprague-Dawley rats, suggests that Oral supplements of green tea–derived polyphenols reduces the neural susceptibility to intermittent hypoxia during sleep.

The researchers divided the rats into two groups that then underwent intermittent oxygen depletion during the 12-hour “night” cycle for 14 days. One group received drinking water treated with GTP; the other received plain drinking water. Afterwards, researchers tested the two groups for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as for performance in spatial learning and memory tasks — namely a water “maze” in which the rats had to memorize the location of a hidden platform. The IH-rats that received the green tea-treated water performed significantly better in the water maze than the rats that drank plain water. “GTP-treated rats exposed to IH displayed significantly greater spatial bias for the previous hidden platform position, indicating that GTPs are capable of attenuating IH-induced spatial learning deficits,” Dr. Gozal wrote, adding that GTPs “may represent a potential interventional strategy for patients” with sleep-disordered breathing.

Perhaps a cup of green tea may be worth a try if restful sleep is eluding you…