Learning the Basics of a Tea Break Part I

While many of us can’t get enough coffee, cappuccino, or mocha lattes the real beverage of choice should be tea. It has more nutritional value then any coffee ever had! So why are we so stuck on coffee? Caffeine of course it is very addictive and all the while it maybe harming more then it is helping!

The Chinese have cherished the benefits of tea for many centuries and some even before Christ! That is along time. So why do we try so hard to grab that cup of coffee when tea may sit in the shop right next to it? So with all this talk about benefits I know you are in a rush to hear them!

The Health Benefits of Tea:

“Tea” comes from Camellia Sinensis which is the Latin term for what we know as tea. The Evergreen tea bush is native to topical and sub-topical areas of Asia. There are six different types of tea:

• White tea
• Yellow tea
• Oolong tea
• Red Tea
• Black tea
• Green tea

Each tea is defined by the amount of time it is taken through the process. Tea is fermented and fired. White tea has the least amount of processing time while black tea is the most processed (i.e. Black tea).
Tea has several benefits including strengthening teeth and lowering risks of some cancers and people don’t drink it why…you say? So why is tea so powerful and how does this process work.
I will give you three reasons:

The First is:

Polyphenols- these are the 400 chemical compound which are all natural that tea contents. They act as protection for the tea bush and it young leaves.

They also protect the plant from UV lights that can damage the leaves and kill the plant. This also helps the plant’s seeds reproduce or germinate.

However for us it is the Flavonoid that are important. They are natural antioxidants that cleanse our bodies. These Flavonoid protect use from contracting things like:

• Skin cancer
• Oral cancer
• Colon Cancer
• And stomach cancers

When drinking only one cup of Black Tea daily you can reduce the chance of getting lung cancer by 50%! So why are you not drinking yet?

Flavonoid also help with things like:

• LDL Cholesterol
• Protect against heart attack
• Protect against stroke
• And enhance blood vessel performance

People are now realizing the benefits of tea and are including it more in diets around the world.

Next is Fluoride:

We all know that fluoride protects us against tooth decay but did you know that it is plentiful in tea leaves? Sure is between .5ppm-6ppm in one cup! Research is uncovering that fluoride may also protect our bones.

The last is Water which we all know is beneficial to us all considering 80-90% of our bodies are made up of water. We are recommended to receive at least 2.5-3.5 liters a day!

Water

Tea is a good contribution to your daily hydration and though tea has been categorized as not as healthy for us as it truly is you can blame it on the caffeine. However it takes 250mg-300mg of caffeine over a little amount of time to be harmful. On the flip side you would have to drink 5-6 cups at once to be detriment to your hydration.

All though many prefer coffee to tea any day, tea is far healthier for us and there is a lot of research available for you to decide on your own. So next time you go on your break make it a tea day instead of all that coffee!

Learning the Basics of a Tea Break Part II

Dealing with a sore throat can be very difficult and very sore. However that nice warm cup of tea running down your throat seems to sooth all; but tea is a lot more then just soothing the sore throat. If is even more then comfort on a cold day. Tea has many benefits. The idea of tea giving you health benefits has been known all over the world for centuries but more people are taking notice now then ever before.

The Past Benefits of tea:

Tea has been used in many cultures for medicinal purposes for many centuries in the east in areas of china and Japan they have used its great healing properties regularly. The Chinese have used if for both pleasure and pains for over 5,000 years while westerners have used it for purely a pleasure drink.

With six different types of leaves giving us many different benefits all of the leaves come from the Camellia Sinensis plant! They are all named for the methods of processing each type goes through will being produces. There are 6 different colors like black, white and green. Black tea is completely oxidized and Oolong is only oxidized for a short time while green tea is steamed and not taken through the fermenting stage. White tea is dried and processed for the shortest amount of time. They come out in colors after processing and the darkest are processed the longest and lose some of their health benefits!
Drinking Tea and its benefits:

Tea contains anti-oxidants that help fight off some cancers. Black tea lacks the most in this area because of its longer process while other teas like white teas which are processed less are strong in these materials.

These teas (Namely White and Green) work to help other ailments like:
• Protection against infection
• Tooth decay
• Prevention of food poisoning
• Lowering cholesterol
• Reducing heart disease
• Fights against developing kidney stones

Some green and white teas also fight against damaging cells that can change into cancer. Antioxidants can give lower risk factors of some cancers like:

• Stomach cancer
• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Skin cancer

Tea also gives you antibacterial and antiviral properties that aid in the benefits to your health. While the fluoride in the teas help fight to protect your teeth and newly revealed bones.

Some teas get rid of food poisoning and kills bacteria that could get you sick.

Other Benefits of Herbal teas:

In addition to the traditional teas named you can purchase other types of teas that also help treat other conditions and illnesses. They help anything from indigestion to PMS and migraines.

Though they are not really tea’s in the traditional sense; and made from plants, roots and herbs not leaves they do have some other health benefits.

Peppermint and ginger teas are used for stomach problems and ginger tea has been used for centuries in helping ailments like digestion and nausea as well as other illness. Peppermint tea also aids in healing from things like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion; also Horehound tea which is used as a natural laxative and also can suppress cough.

Then the widely used Chamomile tea is also used as a healant that will help with menstrual cramps and insomnia as well as other benefits. It has been used to relieve colic and gas in small babies by many conventional doctors and a study shows that drinking chamomile can have lasting benefits even after the cup has been enjoyed they are proven to stay in your system for a whooping 2 weeks! More then any other form of tea available this far!

The benefits of tea far out weigh the benefits of any other beverage we enjoy today and should be taken everyday to maintain your health. Drink a cup a day and reap the rewards!

Medical Uses of Herbs

Super kelp, garlic, parsley, green tea extract, horse chestnut, milk thistle and oregano oil are but only a few of the thousands of herbs available in this world. Herbs are used for a wide range of purposes ranging from culinary, medicinal, perfumery and other needs. Many of the herbs grow low and are aromatic, which can be dried or used in its natural form for culinary or medicinal purposes. These can be used for seasoning and adding extra flavor to cooking a large variety of dishes.
The reason why herbs are used as medicines is because they have multiple health benefits and can be used successfully for strengthening body muscles and tissues. It is also important to note that contain some active substances which can trigger adverse side effects if taken without medical supervision or if taken along with other herbal products. Thus it is recommended that herbs must always be taken on a doctor’s advice.

Super Kelp: this herb is also called Sea Kelp or Sea wrack, because it originates from the sea. It is considered to one of the largest sources of iodine and trace elements. Used rampantly for treating obesity, it has a flushing effect on the kidneys by removing all toxins from the body. Additionally it also stimulates the thyroid and pituitary glands to produce more growth hormone.

Garlic: This is one of the most commonly used herbs in most parts of the world. It is a natural antibiotic with pronounced healing properties. It is used to disinfect wounds, to treat aural infections as well as an antidote for cholera and typhus. With significant anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties garlic is known to lower cholesterol. It can control various risk factors associated with cardiovascular ailments including high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol. It is used for treating diabetes and cancer as well. Care must be take to avoid overdose of garlic which can result in upset stomach/flatulence, occupational asthma, postoperative bleeding, bloating, bad breath, body odor, and skin irritation. If you have any disorder affecting your bleeding patterns, do not have garlic.

Parsley: if you are looking for an herb that is famous for containing huge amounts of vitamins A, B, C and minerals calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium, the parsley or petroselinum is your herb of choice. One of the best knows diuretics it is known for its high nutrition value. Disorders affecting the kidney, including urinary problems and water retention are best cured with parsley. In fact, it is so healthy and nutritious that there is a popular saying about parsley which goes like this: “if parsley is thrown into fishponds it will heal the sick fishes therein”.

Green Tea Extract: One of the best known natural anti-oxidants, green tea extract significantly prevents heart diseases and cancer by stopping vascular blood clots and lowering cholesterol. Its antimicrobial properties help in developing immunity to various digestive and respiratory disorders. Excess of this herb may cause irritability, insomnia, heart palpitation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and loss of appetite.

Horse chestnut: This herb is famous for its ability to improve the circulatory system by strengthening the capillary cells and reducing fluid breakage. Used as an anti-wrinkle herb, it helps the aging process with its anti-oxidant properties. Phlebitis, varicose veins and hemorrhoids have all been benefited with the treatment with horse chestnut.
Milk Thistle: If you are looking for a natural remedy for protecting the liver from virus attacks, toxins and alcohol abuse, then this herb is for you. This multi-purpose herb helps in the maintenance of a healthy and robust liver. It also offers remedial solution for a host of diseases including: anthrax, asthma, bladder stones, cancer, catarrh, chest ailments, dropsy, fever, bleeding from the lungs or bronchia, hepatitis, rabies, jaundice, vaginal discharge, malaria, melancholy, piles, plague, pleurisy, spasms, and spleen and uterus problems. Excess consumption of this herb may result in stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, rash or other skin reactions, joint pain, impotence, and anaphylaxis. It is not recommended during pregnancy or for nursing mothers.

Oregano Oil: Known for its healing, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, this herb is excellent for treating a mild stomach upset, bronchitis, nervous tension, insect bites, rheumatism, earache, toothaches and even athlete’s foot. Gastro problems like bloating, excessive gas formation, problems of the urinary tract, rheumatoid arthritis, swollen glands, and lack of perspiration are often treated with this herb. It is also known to be a potent pain killer, nearly as powerful as morphine.