Good Tea Darjeeling Green tea healthy

Today have you laughed yet

2009-08-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

Today have you laughed yet?

If you feel tired or exhausted, the easiest and quickest way to boost your energy is laughing, but if you feel tired still here’re some more simple tips to boost your Natural Energy, They are very simple, really!

Tips 1 Get 8 hours sleep a night. This is one of the main requirements of the body and will enable you to be at your best. Wear your favorite pajamas and have the window slightly open so you are breathing fresh air.

Tips 2 Eat 5 portions of fruit and veggies a day. Try to have one item of each of the following colors: green, purple, yellow, red and orange so that you get a variety of vitamins, minerals and bioflavonoid.

Tips 3 Spend 15 minutes a day doing nothing or meditating. This does wonders for your creativity and recharges your batteries, giving you inner peace for the rest of the day.

Tips 4 Walk outside in the fresh air for 15 minutes a day. This clears your mind and burns some calories at the same time! Bonus point - if it is sunny, this will top up your vitamin D!

Tips 5 Exercise aerobically for at least 20 minutes 3 times a week. Make sure you include a warm-up , a cool-down and stretches. The best way to ensure you are working at the right pace is to wear a heart rate monitor.

Tips 6 Do 1 hour of strength training a week. This can be an hour strengthening class or two or three weight-training sessions.

Tips 7 Spend time with loved one and animal. Feeling loved and happy is a great immune system booster!

Tips 8 Smile! There is research that has shown that smiling at yourself in the mirror for 20 minutes at a time can improve depression - even if it is forced!

Tips 10 Drink 1.5 - 2 liters of water a day.

Bonus point - add a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon for extra vitality and energy!

9 Secrets to a Healthier Heart

2009-07-05T07:18:00.001-07:00

The fact is, heart disease kills far more women each year than cancer does. It’s also true that preventing heart problems is getting easier. We gathered the latest tricks—all backed by solid research—to take care of your heart.

1. Get milk
A new study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that, among people who didn’t eat a lot of saturated fat, those who consumed more than three daily servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese had systolic blood pressure (the top number) almost four points lower than those who ate only half a serving daily. High blood pressure can damage your arteries, increasing your risk for heart attacks and stroke. Researchers say low-fat dairy is the smart choice, because it’s lower in saturated fat.

2. Try new moves
Thirty minutes of tai chi—a gentle Chinese martial art that includes sequences of slow, relaxing movements—may also lower your blood pressure. In one study, after 12 weeks of tai chi, participants showed a decrease in systolic pressure of almost 16 points.

3. Go fishing
How fast your heart beats when you’re at rest can be an indicator of heart attack risk. In fact, higher resting heart rates have been linked to an increased risk of sudden death. The good news is that eating fish can lower your heart rate. In a recent Harvard Medical School study, people who ate five or more servings per month of fish such as tuna or salmon (baked or broiled) averaged 3.2 fewer beats per minute than those who ate less than one serving per month. Researchers credit the omega-3 fatty acids in fish, though it’s not clear how they help.

4. Hit the juice

Pomegranate juice seems to stave off hardening of the arteries and may even reverse it. (See our Juice Recipe) A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that pomegranate juice reduced the rate of cholesterol plaque buildup in mice by 30 percent. And heart cells treated with the juice showed a 50 percent increase in the production of nitric oxide, a substance that helps fight plaque. There are plenty of tasty ways to take your medicine: More than 130 pomegranate products were introduced in 2006.

5. Sprinkle on the soy
A daily dash of dark soy sauce (not light) in marinades, dipping sauces, salad dressing, or soups and stews can help fight heart-damaging substances linked to smoking, obesity, or diabetes, according to research from the National University of Singapore. The sauce has 10 times the antioxidants in wine, which is also heart-healthy (in moderation). But watch out: Soy sauces often have a ton of salt, which can raise blood pressure. Check labels for lower-salt versions.

6. Laugh it up
Something for your funny bone: People who watched comedy films like There’s Something About Mary had better blood flow, compared with those who watched dramas like Saving Private Ryan, according to a study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Principal researcher Michael Miller, MD, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology, recommends 15 minutes of daily laughter.

Don’t have enough time for movies or sitcoms? Get your giggles anytime from YouTube’s comedy section.

7. Don’t skimp on sleep
Women who sleep less than five hours each night have a 30 percent higher risk of heart disease than those getting eight hours, according to a study from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Too little sleep may play havoc with your hormones, blood sugar, and blood pressure. So after getting your 15 minutes of laughs, turn off that PC and turn in.

8. Breathe deeper
You can lower your blood pressure by taking 10 breaths per minute (instead of the usual 16 to 19) for 15 minutes a day over two months, studies show. Researcher David Anderson, PhD, a hypertension expert at the National Institute on Aging, says shallow breathing (more beats per minute) may delay your body’s excretion of salt, a high-blood-pressure trigger.

9. Feel the beat
A group of University of Oxford researchers found that slow, meditative musical rhythms can lead to a healthy drop in heart rate, while faster rhythms speed up breathing and circulation. Got dance music on your iPod? Try mixing in some smooth jazz, too.

By Scott Westcott

Healthy Sleep Tips

2009-06-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

The following ten tips can help you achieve sleep and the benefits it provides. These tips are intended for "typical" adults, but not necessarily for children or persons experiencing medical problems.

Finally, if you have trouble falling asleep, maintaining sleep, awaken earlier than you wish, feel unrefreshed after sleep or suffer from excessive sleepiness during the day or when you wish to be alert, you should also consult your physician. Be sure to tell him/her if you have already tried these tips and for how long.

1. Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule including weekends.

Our sleep-wake cycle is regulated by a "circadian clock" in our brain and the body's need to balance both sleep time and wake time. A regular waking time in the morning strengthens the circadian function and can help with sleep onset at night. That is also why it is important to keep a regular bedtime and wake-time, even on the weekends when there is the temptation to sleep-in.

2. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.

A relaxing, routine activity right before bedtime conducted away from bright lights helps separate your sleep time from activities that can cause excitement, stress or anxiety which can make it more difficult to fall asleep, get sound and deep sleep or remain asleep. Avoid arousing activities before bedtime like working, paying bills, engaging in competitive games or family problem-solving. Some studies suggest that soaking in hot water (such as a hot tub or bath) before retiring to bed can ease the transition into deeper sleep, but it should be done early enough that you are no longer sweating or over-heated. If you are unable to avoid tension and stress, it may be helpful to learn relaxation therapy from a trained professional. Finally, avoid exposure to bright light before bedtime because it signals the neurons that help control the sleep-wake cycle that it is time to awaken, not to sleep.

3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.

Design your sleep environment to establish the conditions you need for sleep – cool, quiet, dark, comfortable and free of interruptions. Also make your bedroom reflective of the value you place on sleep. Check your room for noise or other distractions, including a bed partner's sleep disruptions such as snoring, light, and a dry or hot environment. Consider using blackout curtains, eye shades, ear plugs, "white noise," humidifiers, fans and other devices.

4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.

Make sure your mattress is comfortable and supportive. The one you have been using for years may have exceeded its life expectancy – about 9 or 10 years for most good quality mattresses. Have comfortable pillows and make the room attractive and inviting for sleep but also free of allergens that might affect you and objects that might cause you to slip or fall if you have to get up during the night.

5. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex.

It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment. Use your bed only for sleep and sex to strengthen the association between bed and sleep. If you associate a particular activity or item with anxiety about sleeping, omit it from your bedtime routine. For example, if looking at a bedroom clock makes you anxious about how much time you have before you must get up, move the clock out of sight. Do not engage in activities that cause you anxiety and prevent you from sleeping.

6. Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime.

Eating or drinking too much may make you less comfortable when settling down for bed. It is best to avoid a heavy meal too close to bedtime. Also, spicy foods may cause heartburn, which leads to difficulty falling asleep and discomfort during the night. Try to restrict fluids close to bedtime to prevent nighttime awakenings to go to the bathroom, though some people find milk or herbal, non-caffeinated teas to be soothing and a helpful part of a bedtime routine.

7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.

In general, exercising regularly makes it easier to fall asleep and contributes to sounder sleep. However, exercising sporadically or right before going to bed will make falling asleep more difficult. In addition to making us more alert, our body temperature rises during exercise, and takes as much as 6 hours to begin to drop. A cooler body temperature is associated with sleep onset... Finish your exercise at least 3 hours before bedtime. Late afternoon exercise is the perfect way to help you fall asleep at night.

8. Avoid caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.

Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it can produce an alerting effect. Caffeine products, such as coffee, tea, colas and chocolate, remain in the body on average from 3 to 5 hours, but they can affect some people up to 12 hours later. Even if you do not think caffeine affects you, it may be disrupting and changing the quality of your sleep. Avoiding caffeine within 6-8 hours of going to bed can help improve sleep quality.

9. Avoid nicotine (e.g. cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.

Nicotine is also a stimulant. Smoking before bed makes it more difficult to fall asleep. When smokers go to sleep, they experience withdrawal symptoms from nicotine, which also cause sleep problems. Nicotine can cause difficulty falling asleep, problems waking in the morning, and may also cause nightmares. Difficulty sleeping is just one more reason to quit smoking. And never smoke in bed or when sleepy!

10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime.

Although many people think of alcohol as a sedative, it actually disrupts sleep, causing nighttime awakenings. Consuming alcohol leads to a night of less restful sleep.

If you have sleep problems...

Use a sleep diary and talk to your doctor. Note what type of sleep problem is affecting your sleep or if you are sleepy when you wish to be awake and alert. Try these tips and record your sleep and sleep-related activities in a sleep diary. If problems continue, discuss the sleep diary with your doctor. There may be an underlying cause and you will want to be properly diagnosed. Your doctor will help treat the problem or may refer you to a sleep specialist.

source: From website sleepfoundation.

Why would you do a DETOX

2009-06-18T08:02:00.001-07:00

Detoxification is a concept that has become important when talking about general health and fitness. Often as patients begin a new effort to try to restore their bodies to better working order, their health professionals will urge them to follow a detoxification regimen to help boost that healing process. So what is detoxification, why is it necessary, and how do we go about it?

Toxins can simply be thought of as any substances in our bodies that are causing a harmful effect or putting stress on our biochemical or organ functions. Some of these toxins we may ingest unknowingly, while others we choose to put into our systems.

Our bodies are exposed daily to environmental toxins such as air and water pollution and allergens. There is mercury in our fish (especially albacore tuna and swordfish) and added hormones in our chicken. Alcoholic beverages and additives and preservatives in our foods also add toxic substances to our systems, as do hair dyes and hair sprays, paint and paint remover, and countless other products.

Medications are another major source of toxins for many people. Over-the-counter and prescription medications are man-made chemicals that our bodies must figure out how to process. While these medications can certainly be beneficial, over time they can build up to dangerously poisonous levels in our bodies.

What Are the Symptoms of Toxicity?

People with high levels of toxicity may experience headaches, fatigue, insomnia, unexplained rashes, and unexplained body aches and pains. Other symptoms may include constipation, stomach bloat, poor digestion, gas, weight gain, excessive mucus, poor concentration, poor skin, poor memory, depression, body odor, and bad breath. People with a poorly functioning liver usually wake up between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.

How Do We Detoxify Our Bodies?

Our bodies have a natural process for eliminating toxins from our systems. The liver cleanses debris from the blood. A healthy liver means a healthy body and better quality sleep with more energy. When the liver is not filtering well it is not detoxifying the blood. The kidneys also act as a filtering system to cleanse the body of toxins. The intestines also must be functioning proficiently to help the body remove these unwanted substances. Not many people think about the fact that our colon, kidneys, liver, as well as many of the other organs that we have all do rigorous work day in and day out. This is something that we take for granted, however, detoxification can change everything and make all of our organs cleaner in order to function properly.

Although we cannot avoid them completely, we can educate ourselves on certain ways to decrease toxins in our body. We can help our body become more efficient in allowing the detoxification pathways to function more proficiently.

Here are a few tips to start your detoxification process:

Ø Squeeze a whole lemon in 16 ounces of water each morning to help detoxify your liver. (Stevia is a good natural sweetener you can use to make it into a healthful lemonade. Stevia also has probiotics to help re-establish normal intestinal flora.)

Ø Take 1-2 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar in 16 ounces of water (sweeten to taste with Stevia) to help the kidneys in detoxification.

Ø Exercise with sweating assists the lymphatic system to help rid the body of toxins and build up the immune system.

Ø Take 25-35 grams of fiber daily to help the colon rid itself of toxins from the body. Include both soluble fiber such as psyllium, legumes, oatmeal, skinless fruits and vegetables and insoluble fiber such as whole grains, seeds, and fruits and vegetables with skin.

As you can see, detoxification is truly important in the lives of everyone. Even though not everyone has been used to the detoxification process, it is literally our responsibility to keep our bodies clean. Following a cleansing process will definitely help use through every facet of our lives!

2 Days Apple Detox

2009-06-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

A time to be luxuriously lazy and self-indulgent, to enjoy the process of getting rid of all those wastes you really don’t want hanging around in your system making you look and feel low.

A two day apple fast designed to be done over a weekend; it’s not even a fast, for you can eat as much as you like – but only apples. For two days all you have to do is to eat apples, and nothing but apples. Your body will do the rest. The reason why the apple fast is done over a weekend is that the process of elimination can use up a lot of energy so it’s a good idea to do it over two days when you are not working.

The apple fast was taught to me thirty years ago by Dr Gordon Latto, a British medical doctor who used nothing but food and breathing techniques and a few herbs to heal even the most complex and chronic conditions. Eating as much as you want – but only apples – in place of your regular meals, and in between too if you like, for two days cleans your body, helps clear away food sensitivities, and banishes the ravages of unnatural appetite. A few days on apples once in a while can eliminate retained water, revive flagging energy, make your skin look wonderful and your eyes shine. No pregnant or breast-feeding woman should do an apple fast: neither should anyone with a kidney, liver or heart complaint, for in such cases any sudden change of diet carries with it potential dangers to health. But if you are generally well, a short apple fast is a great way to clear away the cobwebs. Check with your doctor first if you have any doubts.

Making apple history

It was the apple which first led Swiss physician Max Bircher-Benner to develop his system of treatment based on living foods. Bircher-Benner was himself ill with a liver ailment, which made it virtually impossible for him to digest anything. One day, as he lay in his bed unable to rise or eat, his wife slipped a piece of fresh raw apple between his teeth. He tasted it, and to his surprise he found he could tolerate it. Several days – and many raw apples – later he found himself well again. He never forgot the humble apple or what it could do to detoxify the body and to help restore normal functioning to digestion, cells and the circulation. He used apples regularly in his dietary treatments of obesity and other illnesses. In fact they formed the basis of his Bircher Muesli, which has become world famous.

The apple has long been known as a health tonic, medicine, cosmetic and bowel-regulator all wrapped up in one skin. When eaten, it stimulates the secretion of digestive juices. It contains natural substances that help prevent digestive and liver troubles. Where unsweetened apple juice is the traditional drink among country people, there tends to be no incidence of kidney stones. The simple apple is traditionally used for eliminating obesity, as well as being a folk treatment for skin problems, bladder inflammation, anemia, insomnia, intestinal parasites and bad breath.

An apple a day

The adage ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is not just an old wives’ tale. The apple is quite rightly known as the queen of fruits. In its natural whole state it supplies valuable fruit sugar and vitamins in a superb balance to ensure that your body can efficiently digest and use them. The apple is our richest fruit source of vitamin E and also provides a good supply of biotin and folic acid – two B-complex vitamins important in preserving energy, emotional balance and in keeping your digestive system clean and functioning well. It is also a fine source of vitamins A and C, which are both natural antioxidants – powerful anti-agers – not to mention more than a dozen minerals including sulfur, potassium, iodine, silica, magnesium and calcium, and even essential amino acids in small quantities.

Apples are low in acidity to help balance stored bodily wastes which tend to be acidic. They stimulate the flow of saliva in the mouth and clear away debris from the teeth. Eating a raw fresh apple stimulates circulation in the gums too. Finally, apples are rich in a very special form of soluble fiber called pectin which helps to clear out the dangerous heavy metals such as lead and aluminum that we all pick up from our city air, food and water.

Heavy metals in your body are something you want to get rid of. These elements, the concentration of which has increased dramatically in our air, foods and water since the Industrial Revolution, can seriously interfere with your body’s metabolic functioning. Mercury tends to suppress the levels of white blood cells in the immune system. Cadmium displaces the essential element zinc needed for a great many of your body’s enzyme systems and renders them inefficient and even inactive. In the West we now have a concentration of lead in our bodies some 500-1000 times that of our pre-industrial ancestors. High levels of this heavy metal age us prematurely, interfere with our mental processes, suppress immunity and contribute to depression. Aluminum, another heavy metal, detrimentally affects the central nervous system. The presence of all these elements in excessive quantities (and their concentrations in the human body appear to be increasing with each passing decade) generally interferes with your body’s metabolic processes. The ability of apples to remove heavy metals from your system is one of the best reasons for doing an apple fast, particularly if you live in a city.

Fantastic fiber

The fiber that apples contain really is remarkable. In addition to cellulose (the most common kind of fiber, which binds water and increases fecal bulk), the apple is also rich in pectin – a very special kind of fiber with quite exceptional detoxification properties. So different in texture and character is pectin from other forms of fiber that it is sometimes surprising to think that they are classified in the same group. Unlike cellulose, pectin does not bind water, it is water-soluble. It has no influence on fecal bulking, but it appears to be an excellent substance for lowering cholesterol. It may also help eliminate bile acids from the intestines, thus short-circuiting the development of colon cancer and gallstones. It is also useful as a natural chelating (binding) agent which is why it is so good at mopping up unwanted heavy metals such as aluminum from the tissues and eliminating them from the body. This can be very important when it comes to detoxification for weight loss.

Prepare to be clean

On the day before you have chosen to start your apple fast, go out and buy yourself a big bag of the freshest apples you can find – perhaps three or four different kinds for variety. If you don’t like the look of your apples you won’t want to eat them, so be picky. By a box of apples if you like, your greengrocer might give you a discount.

On this pre-cleanse day it is a good idea to get your system ready. Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol and soft drinks. Steer clear of bread and cooked carbohydrates such as pasta and cereals, and make your last meal of the day a large raw salad made of fresh fruits and vegetables. Don’t have anything else to eat after your salad, except perhaps a cup of herb tea before bed. This will give your body a good 12 hours head-start on the elimination process and it will thank you for it.

The apple fast

There’s really nothing to it. Over the two days you have chosen tuck into your apples. Eat as many as you like at any time of the day or night. You must eat the whole apple including the peel, the seeds and the core. Chew well, until the last drop of flavor has been extracted from the fruit. The only part you throw away is the woody stem.

Of course, you need to eat your apples raw. You can munch them whole, or grate them and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. You can even put them in the blender with spring water to make a drink. Eat nothing else during this two-day period, but eat them whenever you are hungry.

Do not drink tea or coffee. You may have herb teas such as peppermint, lemon balm or chamomile with a teaspoon of honey if you wish. Drink lots of spring water, but nothing else.

Be lazy and luxurious. More about this in the next chapter. During these days indulge yourself doing whatever is pleasurable for you. Many people find their sexuality is heightened during these days. If so, enjoy it. Apples are great to munch in bed.

In many ways the most useful thing about the apple fast is the way you can call on it when you most need help to get you back on the rails again. We all slip up sometimes, we over work or over indulge and live to regret it the next day. A two day apple fast, or even just a day spent eating only apples, is an excellent ‘quick corrector’. Spend even just one day munching apples and it will help set all to rights again so that when you awaken next morning you feel more like your old self and ready to face the day full of energy.

Apple fasting gives you the chance to step back regularly and take a look at your lifestyle, instead of mechanically going on day after day without being aware of where your energy is going. Set aside two days three or four times a year – a weekend is best – for an apple fast. This will spring clean your body from the inside out.

Even apple fasting for one day a week is a great boost to vitality and good looks because it helps detoxify your body or wastes accumulated as a result of drinking or eating too much or consuming the wrong kinds of foods. It can also help calm the ravages of an over-enthusiastic appetite, which many people suffer as a result of food sensitivities or over-stimulation of the digestive system. Furthermore, it is an excellent discipline: such a practice helps you break through ingrained habit patterns, which can make us largely unaware of how we are eating.

Resources: http://www.lesliekenton.com/circle/detox/apple_magic.htm

Fitness and Exercise Articles

2009-04-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

Exercise: The Real Fountain of Youth - Want to age gracefully? Keep moving. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of chronic disease — such as heart trouble, diabetes, even cancer - and keep you feeling and looking younger as you age.

Ladies - Do Your Kegels! - Kegel's are a specific type of exercise that target the muscles of the pelvic floor. These muscles support the rectum, vagina, and the urethra in the pelvis. Pelvic floor exercises are one of the first-line treatments for stress urinary incontinence.

What About Exercise? Calories Burned Per Minute of Exercise By Weight - Every activity you do burns calories. The more calories you burn, the faster your body uses up incoming fuel (food) intake. If your requirements exceed the calories provided by incoming fuel, the body dips into its reserves (fat) to supply the energy you need.

Yoga - An Old Way of Getting a New Body - While yoga doesn’t claim to be a cure-all, a regular yoga practice enhances well-being (both physically and emotionally) by relieving tension and restoring energy flow and balance. Health benefits include stress relief, strengthening and toning, increased range of motion ,and improved functioning of internal organs. Yoga is accessible to everyone and it is also great fun!

Yoga - Fitness and Weight Loss
As anyone who watches late-night television can attest, there are no shortage of “innovative” new weight loss programs out there. Numerous infomercials tout the benefits of expensive machines, videos, and pills, all of which are “guaranteed” to help us lose weight and look better. However, there’s another form of exercise that offers these same benefits, as well as countless others. “It” is yoga, and while you probably have heard of it, you may not be aware of just how powerful

Health Articles

2009-04-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

A Life without Sleeping Pills – Ending the Cycle of Insomnia - Another sleepless night. We’ve all been there at one point or another watching the clock roll past midnight, one a.m., two a.m., and perhaps even seeing dawn before finally drifting off.

Aromatherapy - What We Live and Breathe - Aromatherapy is a form of alternative, holistic medicine that uses essential oils and other aromatic compounds extracted from plants for the purpose of affecting mood and health.

Cooking Oils and Fats - Not all cooking fats and oils are the same. Check out some basics on the various types of fats to help you make sense of what is best for your own body. Includes the smoke point of individual oils.

Fight Memory Loss with These 10 Brain Boosting Tips - Fighting memory loss is not as difficult as you might imagine, and you definitely don't have to assume that simply because you're getting older you'll have memory issues. There are many steps you can take, and small changes to your daily routine that can help bolster your memory.

Food Labels 101 - Do you read the labels on the food you buy? If you don't, it is time to educate yourself and start reading the labels of foods you buy for yourself and your family. A food label is like a recipe - It tells you what's in the food you eat.

Health Benefits of Blueberries
According to researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNC), blueberries rank hands down number one with regards to natural antioxidant content. This is in comparison to 40 other fruits and vegetables.

Health Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice
While some other fruits may have some of these bioactive compounds (such as antioxidants), tart cherries possess a wider variety of them and in greater amounts. For this reason, it is extremely beneficial to seek out tart cherries at your local grocery store and make them a regular part of your diet.

Health Benefits of Walnut Oil
Most of the research on the health benefits of walnuts has focused on consumption of the nut itself, although interest in walnut oil has grown over the last decade. The health benefits of walnuts and walnut oil are similar if the oil is unrefined, fresh (6 month shelf life), and uncooked.

Kale - Healthy Kale
Righteously so, kale is starting to garner well deserved attention amongst dieticians and other health care professionals. This is due to its natural and nutrient rich phytochemical content which brandishes unparalleled health promoting benefits. Kale is a nutritional powerhouse.

Living in a Wheat-Free World - Wheat Sensitivities and their Implication for our Daily Bread - Wheat is a staple of North American life that is both highly nutritious and inexpensive. It's also one of the top eight food allergens. Wheat shares this dubious distinction with the likes of peanuts, tree nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, and soy. Though true wheat allergies

are rare (less than one-half of one percent of the adult population), wheat and gluten intolerance are much more common and affect up to 15 percent of the population.

Problem Forgetting May Be A Natural Mechanism Gone Awry - It may turn out the reason some people grow increasingly forgetful as they age is less about how old they are and more about subtle changes in the way the brain files memories and makes room for new ones - differences perhaps better blamed on patterns of cell-to-cell communication than the number of birthday candles decorating the cake.

Sugar: The Natural Sweetener - Only 15 Calories Per Teaspoon! - Wouldn't it be great if sugar, that marvelous all-natural sweetener that makes Grandma's apple pie the best in the work, didn't make people fat? Pure and simple, sugar is as perfect as it gets. For balancing taste and flavor in foods from apple pie to tomato sauces to zucchini bread, it’s the sweetener you can trust for your family. And it’s only 15 calories a teaspoon!

Stay Healthy this Winter with Natural Cold and Flu Fighters - 'Tis the Season for late night wrap sessions, festive baking, and joyous celebration. Throw in a poor diet, and the inevitable holiday sleep loss, and before you can sing "Let it Snow," you've got the makings of a long, miserable cold and flu season.

Super-Sizing of America - Two very interesting articles on Obesity and Fast-Food Restaurants. Americans are getting fatter and fatter every year. It is estimated that as many as one in five Americans is obese, a condition defined as being more than 30 percent above the ideal weight based on height.

Tea - Drink to your Health - Whether it's drunk hot or cold, did you know that tea is one of the best things you can drink? Tea drinking has been claimed to have health benefits for centuries, but only in recent years have doctors conducted studies to see if the claims are justified.

Toxic Cookware - Beware!
Teflon and its associated by-products are dangerous and pose a significant health hazard to all.

Water - The Fountain of Youth! - For thousands of years, people of all countries have been seeking a mythical fountain of youth. If I told you that there is something that will give you beautiful glowing skin, diminish those fine lines and wrinkles, increase your energy level, and help your overall health, I bet you would be interested.

Why Weight Matters: Obesity and Your Health - We are a growing nation. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, more than sixty percent of Americans aged twenty years and older are overweight, and one-quarter of American adults are also obese. What does this mean for the health of our nation? Nothing good. this ancient practice can be.

Diet Articles

2009-03-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Calories Burned = Fat Burned = Weight Loss -
Low Intensity Workout vs. High Intensity Workouts. Let’s solve the debate on low intensity vs. high intensity workouts. There are many conflicting statement about how long and how hard you need to exercise in order to lose weight.

Coffee Drink Calories - How much damage can your favorite coffee drink do in additional calories added to your diet? You don't need to give up your favorite coffee drink, but just adjust your coffee order to make it more calorie conscious. Try these tips to make your next coffee drink guilt-free.

Daily Calorie Goals - The number of calories you regularly eat are reflected in the week-to-week changes of your weight record. Extra calories, obviously, can turn into extra pounds. So, it's important to regulate how many calories you eat each day in order to lose or maintain weight. If you can regularly meet these daily calorie goals, you should be able to reach your overall weight goal.

Determine Your Body Mass Index (BMI) - Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool that can help adults determine whether you are at risk for a weight-related illness by correlating the ratio between your height and weight with body fat.

Diet Recipes - Since I always seem to be one a diet and trying to lose weight, I've included my personal collection of low fat recipes, low calorie recipes, low carbohydrate recipes, and diet recipes that I have collected (includes many recipes from my main web site that I have adapted).

Dieting Hints & Tips - Lots of dieting hints and tips for help you on your dieting goal.

Food Nutritional Value Chart - This chart is strictly an aid to help you on your favorite diet program in analyzing your recipes. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.

How To Eat Out On A Diet or How To Survive Without Blowing Your Diet! - Don't avoid restaurants when dieting! Eating out is fun and relaxing. You can eat out and eat healthy, too. Many restaurants offer delicious low-fat, low-cholesterol meals. The most important thing you can do is to be aware of healthy choices and to make wise choices.

Juicing For Weight Loss - Juicing for weight loss has such a wealth of body benefits that it is fast replacing water detox regimens. If a healthy diet and nutrition program is uppermost on your list of priorities, you will soon discover that juicing for weight loss is the optimal option.

Linda's Diet Statement - Eat to live, don't live to eat! I hate or dislike (hate is a strong word) the above statement because I am a true "foodie" who loves good food. I still love good food and always will. I just try to be selective in what foods I choose to eat at any given time.

Making Sense of Portion Sizes - Portion Control Secrets - Most of us tend to underestimate the amount of food we eat and tend to overestimate the recommended portion sizes for many foods. Almost everyone underestimates the amount of calories they consume, and people who weigh more do so to a greater degree.

Menopause and Weight Gain - After menopause and over a span of years (usually 10 or more), you may also see changes in your skin, such as increased dryness and wrinkling, and a change in hair texture. At this time, most women (around 2/3 of women) experience weight gain or difficulty maintaining their usual weight.

Resist The Stimuli Tempting Us To Overeat - Our relationship with food is complex. Eating is voluntary — and mandatory. Either way, we indulge. More than 67 percent of us are overweight, significantly so in many cases. Treat the information I'm about to provide with a certain respect. I have some ideas about how to get rid of that roundness in the area of your mid-section.

Why Weight Matters: Obesity and Your Health - We are a growing nation. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, more than sixty percent of Americans aged twenty years and older are overweight, and one-quarter of American adults are also obese. What does this mean for the health of our nation? Nothing good.

Beauty Articles

2009-03-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

Facelift alternatives rid patients of neck 'wattle' without the downtime of surgery - As people age, they often loose definition in their chin and jaw line due to fatty deposits, weakening muscles and loose skin where the neck and chin once made a right angle. By improving the neck region, patients' profiles look years younger and clothes and fashion accessories such as ties, turtlenecks, and necklaces are worn more comfortably.

I Admit It, I'm Vain! - I admit it, I'm vain! Guilty as charged! I think every women is vain to some degree. Face it, the face is the first mark of aging, as aging is an irreversible process. I care what I look like and how my skin looks.

Lip Balm Recipe - How To Make Your Own Lip Balm - Making your own lip balm and/or gloss is simple, very economical, and it is truly rewarding. By making your own lip balm, you know what products are going into it, and that you are using safe ingredients. I have made my own lip balms for a couple of years now. They also make great gifts.

Teeth Whitening - Teeth Bleaching - One of the first things people notice when they meet someone new is their smile. Teeth Whitening has become an accessible and relatively easy way to instantly improve appearance, create a positive first impression, and achieve a more youthful and radiant appearance.

Understanding Cosmetic Labeling – Decoding the Cosmetic Label - As we are learn more about our skin, the public is becoming more ingredient conscious. Understanding what substances make up a product can be helpful. This is not meant to be a complete list of every ingredient used in the industry, but will attempt to cover the most popular individual ingredients and categories that have gained recognition as of late.

Younger Looking Hands - Keeping Hands Beautiful As We Age - A lot of us take care of our faces, but forget about our aging hands. Next to your face, your hands are probably the most visible parts of your body. Knowing how to maintain your hands as you age is the best way to make sure they look your best and that you, in turn, look your youngest.

Tea health

2009-03-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Whether it's drunk hot or cold, did you know that tea is one of the best things you can drink?

Tea drinking has been claimed to have health benefits for centuries, but only in recent years have doctors conducted studies to see if the claims are justified.

Considering the amount of tea drunk around the world every day, the news that the drink can be good for you is welcome indeed. Recent research has indicated that drinking tea as part of a healthy diet and life style can help maintain a healthy body including a healthy heart.

The value of tea may be due, in part, to its antioxidants. Like fruit and vegetables, tea is rich in antioxidants. (In tea these are known as flavonoids). Antioxidants in the diet may help the body in its management of free radicals – highly reactive substances capable of causing damage to body cells.

If that's not enough to convince you that tea is worth trying, take a look at some of these fast facts. Green and black teas offer the same health benefits. Many people don't realize that black and green tea contain virtually the same amount of antioxidants. In fact, whether hot or cold, bottled or using a bag, tea is probably the healthiest drink around.

Drinking four cups of tea is rehydrating – not dehydrating as is often said – unless the amount of tea consumed at one sitting contains more than 250mg of caffeine (the equivalent of five cups of tea).

According to the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, tea provides a few tips to get the most out of tea-drinking:

Drinking a cup of tea a few times a day to absorb antioxidants and other healthful plant compounds. In green-tea drinking cultures, the usual amount is three cups per day.

Allow tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins.

The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink tea preparations, and instant teas have less of these compounds.

Tea can impede the absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables. Adding lemon or milk or drinking tea between meals will counteract this problem.

Tea contains fluoride, which has a well-established link to dental health. Studies have shown that tea can provide up to 70% of the fluoride you need. It's also thought that antioxidants in tea may help inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause plaque.

Tea without milk and sugar has virtually no calories. And in hot weather, it seems refreshing. This may be because it can raise your body temperature and momentarily cause an increase in perspiration, which cools the skin.

Teas such as Lipton are made from tea leaves rich in natural antioxidants, plus other good stuff your body loves. As for the taste, with a range covering hot and cold teas, and green and black varieties, it boosts your taste buds, as well as your well being.

Facts on Caffeine in Tea

Decaffeinated tea is not caffeine free. It still contains up to .4% by dry weight caffeine content.
The longer the tea leaves have fermented, the greater their caffeine content.
The smaller the tea leaf, the stronger the extraction of caffeine.
The first and second leaves of the tea plant are believed to contain the largest amount of caffeine at 3.4 %.

*Caffeine content (Ref.: International Food Information Council, All About Tea by William H. Ukers)

Type of Tea	Milligrams of Caffeine			Caffeine
Type of Tea	Avg Per Serving	Range	Per Ounce*	Caffeine
Black tea	40	25-55	5.	naturally caffeinated
Oolong tea	30	12-55	3.75	naturally caffeinated somewhat less than black tea
Green tea	20	8-30	2.5	naturally caffeinated somewhat less than oolong tea,
White tea	15	6-25	2.	naturally caffeinated somewhat less than green tea
Decaffeinated tea	2	1-4	.5	Caused from removing most of the caffeine from black, oolong, green, or white tea
Herbal "tea"	0	0	0.	Naturally caffeine free

Does Tea Contain More Caffeine Than Coffee?

Tea has only 1/2 to 1/3 as much caffeine as coffee when you compare them cup for cup. In dry form, coffee actually has less then tea in dry form. Next time you brew that pot of coffee, consider how much less your brewed cup of tea will have. Unless of course you consume your tea dry. (Ref.: Caffeine by The Institute of Food Technologists' Expert Panel on Food Safety & Nutrition.)

What Determines Caffeine Levels?

The amount of caffeine in tea depends on a number of things, the variety of tea leaf, where it is grown, size and cut of the tea leaf, and how you brew or steep as well as how long. Studies from the Caffeine Institute also show that caffeine levels can vary depending on the location of the tea leaf on the plant. (Ref.: Caffeine by The Institute of Food Technologists' Expert Panel on Food Safety & Nutrition, All About Tea by William H. Ukers)

Women's cancer risk may increase with just a few drinks

2009-02-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

Attention, libation lovers: Middle-aged women who indulge in just a few alcohol-containing drinks each day may have a higher risk of cancer than those who drink less often, according to a report released Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Middle-aged women who said they drank in moderation had a higher risk of certain cancers, a study showed.

Although moderate drinking -- considered one drink a day for women, two drinks a day for men -- is thought to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke versus both teetotaling and heavy drinking, the study highlights that alcohol has risks as well, and those risks increase in tandem with intake.

In the Million Women Study, researchers in the United Kingdom found that middle-aged women who said they drank in moderation had a higher risk of liver, rectal, and breast cancer in the seven years after they completed the study's questionnaire compared to women who said they drank less than two drinks per week. (The researchers didn't compare drinkers to nondrinkers since some people stop consuming alcohol for health reasons or due to past problems with alcohol.)

Drinking was also linked to a risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, and larynx, but only in current smokers (not ex-smokers or never smokers.)

Compared to those who consumed only a drink or two a week, the cancer risk rose with each additional daily drink, and it was higher for those who consumed 15 or more drinks per week (or more than two drinks a day) than those who said they consumed between seven and 14 drinks per week (or between one and two drinks per day).

For example, breast cancer risk increased 12 percent and rectal cancer risk rose 10 percent with each daily drink, which would translate into 11 extra breast cancers per 1,000 women up to age 75 and one extra rectal cancer case per 1,000 women up to age 75. (The researchers estimate that 118 per 1,000 women in this age group develop the types of cancers included in the study.)

Overall, nearly 13 percent of the UK's cases of these types of cancer in women may be caused by alcohol, and the type -- beer, wine, or mixed drinks-- doesn't seem to matter, the researchers conclude. Health.com: Eat smarter in your 30s, 40s, 50s

Health Library

"The risk of cancer was similar in women who drank wine exclusively and in women who drank a mixture of alcoholic drinks," says study author Naomi Allen, D.Phil, from the Cancer Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford. "This suggests that alcohol, rather than other substances contained in specific alcoholic beverages, is the most important factor in determining cancer risk."

Breast cancer risk has long been known to be higher in drinkers, but beyond that, there's has been little research done on alcohol and cancer in women, says Allen. Although it's not clear how alcohol may increase cancer risk, Allen says, "there is evidence that moderate alcohol intake-- at the levels studied here-- increase circulating levels of sex hormones, which are known to be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer."

In the study, about 1.3 million women, with an average age of 55, who visited UK breast cancer screening clinics between 1996 to 2001 answered a variety of questions, including the type and frequency of alcohol consumption, smoking, body mass index, exercise, and use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. Health.com: Is alcohol actually good for you?

Dr. Michael S. Lauer, director of the Division of Prevention and Population Sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, notes that the study does have some limitations.

"We have no way of knowing how much alcohol these women actually drank. We only know what they told us," says Lauer, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study. "This is an observational study, this is not an experiment." In addition, it's not clear how many of the women drank in moderation or were binge drinking. Health.com: Booze, drugs and bipolar disorder

Lauer notes that inherent limitations (the accuracy and pattern of alcohol consumption; the fact that the women were from breast cancer screening clinics) are factors in all studies of this type, but the large sample size of the Million Women group makes it unique. "I don't think one study is enough to make major policy changes right now," Lauer says, referring to recommendations on whether small amounts of alcohol are good or bad for health. "But this is a very well done study, and when policy is being made they are going to have to pay a lot of attention to this."

Susan M. Gapstur, PhD, vice president of epidemiology for the American Cancer Society, says women who are concerned about both heart health and their risk of cancer risk should discuss the potential pros and cons with a health care provider.

"Researchers remain concerned about the pattern of consumption," says Gapstur. "It is unclear, for example, whether someone who drinks several glasses of wine on one day during the week has the same risk as someone who drinks one glass of wine per day with a meal." Health.com: Getting to the bottom of your headaches

The American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association currently recommend that if you do decide to drink, you should do so in moderation, meaning one drink (12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits) per day for women and two for men.

"Individuals that chose to drink should do so in moderation and because they like to, rather than expecting a health benefit," says Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, codirector of the UCLA Preventative Cardiology Program. "The American Heart Association does not advocate consumption of alcohol of any type to reduce cardiovascular risk."

Hello How Are You

2009-02-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

hello
Dzongkha (Bhutan) Kuzu zangpo
Korean (Korea) Annyong haseyo

Water Tips

2009-02-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

3 Tap Water Safety Tips (USEPA, 2003; CDC, 2007)

1. Do Not Boil Water to try to reduce lead or chemical contaminants. Boiling water increases contamination concentration.

2. Always Use Cold Tap Water: for cooking, baby formula, or drinking.

3. Flush Pipes: before using water for drinking or cooking, run tap water until it’s cold. The Centers for Disease Control recommends flushing tap water 1-2 minutes if the tap has not been used for six hours.

In addition, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that, "a high fluid intake is associated with a decreased risk of bladder cancer in men" (Michaud, et. al., 1999).

tips for proper hydration
Here are some tips for proper hydration:

1. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day, more if you're exercising.

2. Drink water throughout the day. Don't wait until you feel thirsty.

3. Have water handy, carry a water bottle in the car or at the office.

4. Beverages such as coffee, tea, sodas, or alcohol are not a substitute for water.

5. If you have a hard time remembering to drink water, then establish a routine, drink a glass when you get up. Drink a glass before a meal and after each meal. If you do not have nocturia (getting up frequently at night to urinate), then drink a glass before bed.

Water's Role in the Body

To help understand importance of water in the body, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA at www.bottledwater.org) lists 13 things water does in the body:

1. Brain is 75% water / Moderate dehydration can cause headaches and dizziness

2. Water is required for expiration

3. Regulates body temperature

4. Carries nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body

5. Blood is 92% water

6. Moistens oxygen for breathing

7. Protects and cushions vital organs

8. Helps to convert food into energy

9. Helps body absorb nutrients

10. Removes waste

11. Bones are 22% water

12. Muscles are 75% water

13. Cushions joints

Tea Beneficial for Your Health

2009-02-15T08:19:00.000-08:00

Tea does appear to have beneficial effects. According to Green Tea Health News, some of the medical benefits of tea are below (www.green-tea-health-news.com).

Green Tea Benefits:

1. Lower Cancer Risk: breast, lung, colon, prostate, cervical, ovarian, mesothelioma, esophageal, stomach.

2. Prevent Heart Disease: lowers cholesterol, prevents artery blockages, lowers blood pressure.

3. Speed Up Weight Loss: fat blocker, boost metabolism, increase endurance, anti-fatigue.

4. Protect Brain Function: memory, stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s.

5. Defend Immune System: flu, salmonella, common cold, HIV-AIDS.

6. More Health Conditions Improved: including anti-aging, acne, allergies, body odor, sleep apnea, osteoporosis.

Teas contain polyphenols, in particular flavonoids, which are antioxidants. Antioxidants protect against cell damage - the oxidative damage linked to degenerative conditions such as heart disease and cancer. According to cancer researcher, Dr. John Weisburger, tea antioxidants may be 100 times the effectiveness of vitamin C and 25 times vitamin E (Weisburger cited in CNN.com, 2000).

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) continues to conduct clinical studies to examine the benefits of green tea in relation to different types of cancers. The NCI noted that some animal studies have found an association between tea and the reduction of cancer tumors in mice. But, human studies have had mixed results, perhaps due to variances in population, diet, and environment. (National Cancer Institute, 2002).

Overall, it appears that drinking tea can be beneficial for your health.

Overweight Children Need Guidance Now

2009-02-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

Being overweight in childhood can lead to obesity in adulthood. The risk of death is increased for overweight adults, so you have legitimate concerns.

Try to get your husband to understand how important it is for the both of you to help your daughters now, and guide them toward good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle. Both of you need to set the example and be good role models by eating healthier and exercising. You might have your daughter's pediatrician talk to your husband if he refuses to help.

Be sure and let your daughters know you love them no matter how much they weigh or how they look. But, you are concerned for everyone's health, so the whole family will be eating healthier and exercising. Do not put your daughters on a diet and never nag them about their weight.

It's very important to never reward a behavior with food, nor to punish behavior by withholding food. Instead of giving your daughters a candy bar for finishing their homework, play a game or read with them. Just a quick game of cards or read just a couple pages from a book. Kids would much prefer the attention of their parent to something to eat.

You can help your daughters, as well as you and your husband, lead a healthier lifestyle by incorporating these habits into your routine:

1. Gradually increase their daily exercise. For example, tonight after dinner, go for a walk. Another day, play basketball with them (just 10 minutes, gradually increase the time). Buy them a jump rope. Have them join a team sport such as soccer, basketball, or baseball.

2. Gradually decrease the junk food lying around the house and increase the variety of healthy snacks. Don't ban sweets altogether, teach them moderation. Banning sweets will only make them crave it more. Kids are always hungry and like to munch throughout the day, so be sure there are lots of different healthy snacks from which they can choose.

3. Gradually decrease the amount of fat used in cooking. For example, cook leaner cuts of meat, trim off the fat, and use skinless chicken pieces. Instead of using oil or butter in a pan, use a non-stick pan.

4. Have your kids drink more water. The whole family should be drinking lots of water throughout the day. Also, if they don't already, have them drink 2% milk, not whole milk. You could also ask your pediatrician if it's okay for your daughters to drink 1% milk.

Coffee Risk for Heart Disease?

2009-02-15T08:17:00.001-08:00

The American Heart Association (AHA) feels that consumption of 1-2 cups daily or the equivalent should be fine. The AHA points out that there have been many conflicting studies on the effects of caffeine, coffee drinking, and heart disease (AHA, 2008, 2009).

According to Dr. Peter Martin, Director of the Vanderbilt University Institute for Coffee Studies, recent studies indicated that coffee in moderation (2-4 cups) might have health benefits. Possible health benefits are lower rates of suicide, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes. (Martin cited in Vanderbilt University, 2009).

Caffeine is not only in coffee, but tea, chocolate and some energy and soft drinks. For some, too much coffee or caffeine can make them feel jittery, make sleeping difficult sleeping, and increase heart rate.

As in all things, moderation is the key. If you feel jittery or cannot sleep at night, then cut down on the number of cups of coffee or intake of other caffeinated items.

Chocolate a Healthy Food?

2009-02-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

Chocolate, in particular dark chocolate, may have some health benefits for your heart and vascular system.

Researcher, Mary Engler, “was ‘astounded’ to see that when compared with other flavonoid-rich foods such as blueberries, tomatoes and tea, chocolate was the clear winner. Dark chocolate has 13 times the antioxidant capacity of broccoli, for example: (Engler cited in UCSF News, 2008).

Flavonoids in dark chocolate were associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, prevent blood clots, and decrease in blood pressure.

Although Engler’s study patients consumed 1.6 ounces of chocolate every day for two weeks, Engler recommends only 6.7 grams (.23 ounces) of dark chocolate per day for healthy adults, which is a tiny piece of a standard size chocolate bar (UCSF News, 2008).

As in all things, moderation is the key. As long as you have a healthy balanced diet, a little chocolate every day is probably fine, so enjoy.

Breakfast Most Important Meal of the Day

2009-02-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for everyone. Many studies have found a relationship between eating breakfast and learning ability, attention span, and general well-being. The American Dietetic Association (www.eatright.org) reports that adults who eat breakfast have an easier time losing weight. Children who regularly eat breakfast think faster, clearer, solve problems more easily, and are less likely to be irritable.

Breakfast is important for all ages, not just children. Other studies point to a connection between skipping breakfast with weight gain and memory impairment in young and older adults.

If your school has a lunch program, then it most likely has a breakfast program. Your teenagers could have breakfast at school before classes start. Another alternative would be for your daughters to take breakfast with them on the bus. Items such as a carton of juice or milk, along with yogurt, fruit like bananas or apples, bagels, bread, toasted plain waffles, granola bar, or just a small bag of dry cereal can be eaten easily on the bus.

Antidepressant and Sugar Craving

2009-02-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptylene, cause sugar craving in many patients, especially those who have a sweet tooth to begin with. Cravings for sweet fatty foods such as chocolate candy can result in significant weight gain, especially in those with pre-existing obesity. If this side effect outweighs the therapeutic benefit, then your doctor may want to discontinue or change medication. Make changes only as prescribed by your doctor.

You might want to try a couple of things. First direct your sweet craving to fruits only. They're healthy, and may help alleviate constipation that can also be a significant side effect of tricyclics. Second, discuss a physical training program with your doctor. If your doctor medically clears you for an exercise program, then take up aerobics, jogging, light weight training, or whatever your doctor feels your general medical condition allows. It takes a lot of discipline but it is possible to maintain or decrease your body weight.

Anti-aging foods are rich in antioxidants

2009-02-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

Anti-aging foods are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help keep skin firm by protecting the skin's collagen and elastic tissue from oxidants or "free radicals" (unstable oxygen molecules) that attack it.

Different doctors and nutritionists have their favorite antioxidant foods. But, certain foods seem to show up on most lists such as berries, dark green leafy vegetables, salmon, tomatoes, tea, nuts, beans and whole grains.

Oprah Winfrey featured a segment on her show on anti-aging with Dr. Nicholas Perricone (www.Oprah.com). Dr. Perricone recommended 10 foods to help look and age better. According to Dr. Perricone, these foods could help prevent and reduce inflammation, regulate metabolism, burn body fat, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent cancer, protect against heart disease, and benefit digestive health (www.nvperriconemd.com): Dr. Perricone’s 10 Superfoods

1. Acai Fruit: a high energy berry from the Amazon.

2. Allium Family: garlic, onion, leeks, and chives.

3. Barley: most beneficial grain.

4. Green Foods: blue green algae, barley grass, wheat grass.

5. Buckwheat Seed: more protein than rice or wheat.

6. Beans & Lentils: high fiber.

7. Hot Peppers: anti-inflammatory analgesic.

8. Nuts & Seeds

9. Sprouts

10. Yogurt and Kefir

10 Best and Worst Foods for Kids

2009-02-15T08:02:00.000-08:00

The Center for Science in the Public Interest had compiled the 10 best and worst foods for kids (CSPI, 2009).

10 Best Foods for Children (2009):

1. fresh fruits and vegetables (especially carrot sticks, cantaloupe, oranges, watermelon, strawberries)

2. chicken breast and drumstick without skin or breading

3. Cheerios, Wheaties, or other whole-grain, low-sugar cereals, Skim or 1 percent milk

4. extra-lean ground beef or vegetarian burgers (Gardenburgers or Green Giant Harvest Burgers)

5. low-fat hot dogs

6. non-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt

7. fat-free corn chips or potato chips

8. seasoned air-popped popcorn

9. whole wheat crackers

10. Small World Animal Crackers (2009).

The CSPI top 10 worst Children’s foods (2009):

1. soda pop

2. whole milk

3. hamburgers

4. American cheese

5. hot dogs

6. French fries & tater tots

7. ice cream

8. pizza loaded with cheese & meat

9. bologna

10. chocolate bars

Nutritionist Mona Sutnick and professor of nutrition Riva Touger-Decker also have a list of the 10 worst (Sutnick & Touger-Decker cited in Family4Life, 2001).

10 Worst Foods for Kids (Family4Life, 2001):

1. chicken nuggets

2. chips

3. doughnuts

4. French fries

5. fruit leather

6. hot dogs

7. juice-flavored drinks

8. prepackaged lunches

9. soda

10. toaster pastries

BETTER SLEEP

2009-02-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

10 TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP

1. STICK TO A SCHEDULE: Stick to a schedule, and don't sleep late on weekends. If you sleep late on Saturday and Sunday morning, you'll get Sunday night insomnia. Instead, go to bed and get up at about the same time every day.

"You don't need to rely on an alarm clock to wake up when you get enough sleep," says Dr. Shepard.

2. DON'T EAT OR DRINK BEFORE BEDTIME: Eat a light dinner about two hours before sleeping. If you drink too much liquid before sleeping, you'll wake up repeatedly in the night for trips to the bathroom.

Don't eat spicy or fatty foods. They can cause heartburn, which may interfere with your sleep.

If you get the bedtime munchies, eat something that triggers serotonin, which makes you sleepy. Carbohydrates (bread or cereal) or foods containing the amino acid L-tryptophan (milk, tuna, or turkey) will do the trick.

Don't drink alcohol near bedtime. It may cause you to wake up repeatedly, to snore, and it may exacerbate sleep apnea.

3. AVOID CAFFEINE AND NICOTINE: They're addictive stimulants and keep you awake. Smokers often experience withdrawal symptoms at night, and smoking in bed can be dangerous. Caffeine should be avoided for eight hours before your desired bedtime.

4. EXERCISE: If you're trying to sleep better, the best time to exercise is in the afternoon. A program of regular physical activity enhances the quality of nocturnal sleep.

5. COOL ROOM: A slightly cool room is ideal for sleeping. This mimics your internal temperature drop during sleep, so turn off the heat and save on fuel bills.

If you tend to get cold, use blankets. Try sleeping in warmer nightclothes and wear socks.

If you overheat at night, wear light nightclothes and sleep under a single sheet. Use an air conditioner or fan to keep the room cool.

Use a dehumidifier if you're bothered by moist air. Use a humidifier if you're bothered by dry air. Signs and symptoms of dry air irritation include a sore throat, nosebleeds and a dry throat.

6. SLEEP PRIMARILY AT NIGHT: Daytime naps steal hours from nighttime slumber. Limit daytime sleep to less than one hour, no later than 3 p.m.

If you work nights, keep your window coverings closed so that sunlight, which interferes with the body's internal clock, doesn't interrupt your sleep.

If you have a day job and sleep at night, but you still have trouble waking up, leave the window coverings open and let the sunlight wake you up.

7. KEEP IT QUIET: Silence is more conducive to sleep. Turn off the radio and TV. Use earplugs or a fan or some other source of constant, soothing, background noise to mask sounds you can't control, such as a busy street, trains, airplanes or even a snoring partner. Double-pane windows and heavy curtains also muffle outside noise.

8. MAKE YOUR BED: "A good bed is subjective and different for each person. Make sure you have a bed that is comfortable and offers orthopedic comfort," says Dr. Shepard.

If you share your bed, make sure there's enough room for two. Children and pets are often disruptive, so you may need to set limits on how often they sleep in your bed with you.

Use your bed only for sleep and sex.

Go to bed when you're tired and turn out the lights. If you don't fall asleep in 30 minutes, get up and do something else. Go back to bed when you're tired.

Don't agonize over falling asleep. The stress will only prevent sleep.

9. SOAK AND SACK OUT: Taking a hot shower or bath before bed helps bring on sleep because they can relax tense muscles.

10. DON'T RELY ON SLEEPING PILLS: Check with your doctor before using sleeping pills. Doctors generally recommend using sleeping pills for up to four weeks. Make sure the pills won't interact with other medications or with an existing medical condition. If you do take a sleep medication, reduce the dosage gradually when you want to quit.

Use the lowest dosage, and never mix alcohol and sleeping pills.

If you feel sleepy or dizzy during the day, talk to your doctor about changing the dosage or discontinuing the pills.

Sleep Important for All Ages

Sleep is important for all ages. Generally, babies need 16 hours of sleep (intermittent throughout the day/night), very young children 12 hours, older children and teenagers as much as 10, and adults need about 8 hours.

One way to find out the optimal amount of sleep your kids need is, on the weekend, they need to get in bed at the usual time, say by 9pm, and sleep for as long as they want. The length of time they sleep is probably what they need.

Lack of sleep negatively impact children's behavior and school performance.

Organic Tulsi Tea

2009-01-26T08:31:00.000-08:00

Many of the potential health advantages Tulsi can provide you, by:

1. Helping boost your respiratory system*
2. Supporting your healthy vision*
3. Delivering you antioxidant protection against free radicals*
4. Helping you alleviate minor discomfort and irritation*
5. Providing you with a calming effect and stress relief*
6. Helping bolster your immune system*
7. Aiding you in enhancing your stamina*
8. Helping you promote a healthy metabolism*
9. Boosting your digestive system health*
10. Helping you maintain blood sugar levels in the normal range*
11. Providing you with skeletal and joint support*
12. Aiding you in supporting normal cholesterol levels*

If reports are to be believed, this is a beverage one should drink on daily basis. As with all alternative approaches, do the research before diving in head first.

Bus Nongkhai - Bus Schedule Nongkhai - Vientiane

2009-01-18T08:25:00.000-08:00

Bus Schedule Nongkhai - Vientiane
No.	Time	origin	to	Fare	Bus by
1	07.30	Nongkhai	Vientiane	30 Baht	Thai
2	07.30	Vientiane	Nongkhai	30 Baht	Laos
3	10.30	Vientiane	Nongkhai	30 Baht	Thai
4	10.30	Nongkhai	Vientiane	30 Baht	Laos
5	15.00	Nongkhai	Vientiane	30 Baht	Thai
6	15.00	Vientiane	Nongkhai	30 Baht	Laos.
7	18.00	Vientiane	Nongkhai	30 Baht	Thai
8	18.00	Nongkhai	Vientiane	30 Baht	Laos

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Overland from Laos to Vietnam
Donsavanh (or Lao Bao)

* Connects Sepon (Laos) and Dong Ha (Quang Tri, Vietnam), followed Highway No.9.
* Tourist buses Savannakhet - Hue depart daily at 10pm, serving Dong Ha (US$7 per person, 329km), Hue (US$9 per person, 409km) or Danang (US$11 per person, 508km). Coming in the other direction, buses at Hue depart at 6am or 6pm daily, cost US$15 per person and take 13 hours. Shop around Savannakhet or Hue for good deals.
* Alternatively, take local buses from Savannakhet (US$3 per person, 255km, 5 hours, leave at 7am and noon) or Sawngthaewxe om (renting motorbike with driver - VND10,000 per person) to Lao Bao Bus station for departing Hue or Danang. (pick-up truck - US$3 per person, 210km, 4 hours, leave regularly) to Sepon, spend a night there before the next morning bus to the border. Across the border on foot, then continue 20-minute walking or take

Nam Phao (or Cau Treo)

* Near Lak Sao (30km east - Laos), Tha Kaek (200km - Laos) and Ha Tinh (Vietnam), Vinh (96km - Nghe An, Vietnam), followed Kaew Neua Pass (734m) and Highway No.8.
* Daily bus Vientiane - Hanoi takes about 24 hours, and costs US$20-25 per person, depended on your bargain skills and where to buy (backpacker streets in Vientiane or Hanoi).
* Alternatively, take local buses to Lak Sao, and sawngthaew (US$1 per person, 45 minutes, leave regularly) to the border, then looking for transportation to Vinh (US$15-25 per person).

Nam Can

* Near Phonsavan (80km west - Laos) and Vinh (200km northwest), the most remote crossing - an endurance test and a half.
* From Phonsavan, take local buses (20,000k per person, 4 hours, leave severally) or charter a private car (US$30) to Nong Haet. Catch any local transports to the border with about 5,000k per person. On Vietnamese side, grab xe om to Muang Xen (VND50,000 per person) then wait for bus to Vinh (US$2 per person, 7 hours, and leaves when full).

Tay Trang

* Near Luang Prabang (Laos) and Dien Bien Phu (Dien Bien, Vietnam), followed Highway No.279. It’s newly opened up for tourists. We will keep updated on its news.

Please be noted that at some remote border crossings, you will find hassles in renting vehicles to get from point to point. Daily buses Vientiane - Hanoi and Savannakhet - Hue seem the only comfortable service for tourists.

Thailand's Visa Information

2008-08-08T21:50:00.001-07:00

1. Generally, a foreign citizen who wishes to enter the Kingdom of Thailand is required to obtain a visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or a

Royal Thai Consulate-General. However, nationals of certain countries do not require a visa if they meet visa exemption requirements as

follows:
(1) they are nationals of countries which are exempted from visa requirements when entering Thailand for tourism purposes. Such nationals will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30 days. For more information, please see Tourist Visa Exemption;
(2) they are nationals of countries which hold bilateral agreements with Thailand on the exemption of visa requirements.
2. Nationals of certain countries may apply for visa upon arrival in Thailand. Travellers with this type of visa are permitted to enter and

stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 15 days.
3. Travellers travellling from/through countries which have been declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas must acquire an International

Health Certificate verifying the receiving of a Yellow Fever vaccination.
4. Nationals of certain countries are required to apply for a visa only at the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in

the applicant’s country of residence, or at the Royal Thai Embassy which has jurisdiction over his or her country of residence. Travellers

are advised to enquire about authorised office for visa issuance at any Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General before

departure. Contact details and locations of Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General are available at

www.mfa.go.th/web/10.php.
5. To apply for a visa, a foreigner must possess a valid passport or travel document that is recognised by the Royal Thai Government

and comply with the conditions set forth in the Immigration Act of Thailand B.E.2522 (1979) and its relevant regulations. In addition, the

visa applicant must be outside of Thailand at the time of application. The applicant will be issued with a type of visa in accordance to

his or her purpose of visit
6. In general, applicants are required to apply for a visa in person. However, Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General

in some countries and in some cases may also accept applications sent through representatives, authorised travel agencies or by post.

Please enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General where you intend to submit your application of acceptable

ways of application.

7. Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay. Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be

used to enter Thailand. In general, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases, visas may be issued to be valid for 6 months, 1

year or 3 years. The validity of a visa is granted with discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General and is

displayed on the visa sticker.

8. On the other hand, the period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the

type of visa. For example, the period of stay for a transit visa is not exceeding 30 days, for a tourist visa is not exceeding 60 days and for

a non-immigrant visa is not exceeding 90 days from the arrival date. The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is displayed on

the arrival stamp. Travellers who wish to stay longer than such period may apply for extension of stay at offices of the Immigration

Bureau in Bangkok, located at Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Tel 02-2873101-10 or at an Immigration office

located in the provinces. For information on application for extension of stay, see the Immigration Bureau website at

www.immigration.go.th

9. Foreigners entering Thailand are not permitted to work, regardless of their types of visa, unless they are granted a work permit. Those

who intend to work in Thailand must hold the correct type of visa to be eligible to apply for a work permit. Information on Work Permit

applications could be obtained from the website of the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of

Labour at www.doe.go.th/workpermit/index.html

10. Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General have the authority to issue visas to foreigners for travel to Thailand. The

authority to permit entry and stay in Thailand, however, is with the immigration officers. In some cases, the immigration officer may not

permit foreigner holding a valid visa entry into Thailand should the immigration officer find reason to believe that he or she falls into the

category of aliens prohibited from entering Thailand under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

11. According to the Immigration Act of Thailand B.E. 2522 (1979), foreigners who fall into any of the following categories are prohibited

to enter Thailand:

(1) Having no genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport; or having a genuine valid passport or document used in lieu

of passport without valid visa issuance by the Royal Thai Embassies, the Royal Thai Consulates-General or the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, with exception of those who meet visa exemption requirements. The terms and conditions of visa issuance and visa exemption

are prescribed by the Ministerial Regulations.
(2) Having no appropriate means of living following entry into the Kingdom.
(3) Having entered the Kingdom to be employed as an unskilled or untrained labourer, or to work in violation of the Alien Work Permit

Law.
(4) Being mentally unstable or having any of the diseases stated in the Ministerial Regulations.
(5) Having not yet been vaccinated against smallpox; or inoculated, or undergone any other medical treatment for protection against

disease; and having refused to have such vaccinations administered by the Immigration Doctor.
(6) Having been imprisoned by judgment of the Thai Court; or by lawful injunction or judgment of the Court of a foreign country, except

for when the penalty is for a petty offence, or negligence, or is provided for as an exception by the Ministerial Regulations.
(7) Having behaviour which could cause possible danger to the public; or having the likelihood of being a nuisance or constituting any

violence to the peace, safety and security of the public or to the security of the nation; or being under warrant of arrest by competent

officials of foreign governments.
(8) Reason to believe that entry into Kingdom is for the purpose of being involved in prostitution, the trafficking of women or children,

drug smuggling, or other types of smuggling which are against public morality.
(9) Having no money or bond as prescribed by the Minister under Section 14 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).
(10) Being a person prohibited by the Minister under Section 16 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).
(11) Being deported by either the Government of Thailand or that of other foreign countries; or having been revoked the right of stay in

the Kingdom or in foreign countries; or having been expelled from the Kingdom by competent officials at the expense of the Government

of Thailand unless exemption is provided by the Minister on an individual basis.

Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General may issue the following types of visas:

- Transit Visa
- Tourist Visa
- Non-Immigrant Visa
- Diplomatic Visa
- Official Visa
- Courtesy Visa

Tourist Visa On Arrival

People often confuse this type of visa with the visa exemption. It is not difficult to understand why, but the main difference is that this an

actual visa. It is available to a far fewer number of countries. It is important to note that this option is not available at all points of entry.

Click the link below to see a list of border crossings where the visa on arrival is available. This will allow entry for 15 days.

Tourist Visa

For those wishing to stay longer than 30 days in Thailand and not deal with visa runs, this visa should meet your requirements. The

tourist visa will entitle you to 60 days in Thailand. You will need to apply for this embassy outside of Thailand at an Embassy or

Consulate. The application is very simple.

Multiple Entry Tourist Visas

You can indicate how many entries you would like to have when applying for a tourist visa. For example, you could apply for a double

entry tourist visa if you wanted to stay for 120 days in Thailand. The first time you enter Thailand, the visa will be marked. You will be

given 60 days in the same way you would if you were entering on a single entry tourist visa. The difference is that when your 60 days are

over, you are free to do a visa run to a nearby border. When you decide to re-enter Thailand, you will be granted another 60 days. The

concept is the same as having two tourist visas in one. The same logic can be applied to triple entry tourist visas which would give 180

days.

Different places will yield different results in obtaining these longer term visas. Quite simply, some places tend to act more favorably than

other places. Generally, countries in the west are quite friendly. I can attest to the fact that Washington DC has always handled my

requests promptly in a hassle-free manner. However, there are many reports claiming that certain places are terrible for applying for visas.

The most notable that comes to mind is Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Manilla also frequently gets criticism. These things change from time to

time. As of now, there are some favorable places to go which are quite close for those already in Thailand. Penang, Malaysia and

Vientiane are often used by many. Companies specializing in making visa runs easy and effortless have introduced services that take

travelers to Vientiene and back in order for them to obtain a new tourist visa. This provides a loophole to the new restrictions placed on

the visa exemption scheme.

Overstay

While it is not a good idea to overstay your visa in any country you visit, it does happen from time to time. If you find yourself in this

situation in Thailand, you should rectify the situation as soon as possible. If you are caught by the police, you could potentially face a

large number of problems including imprisonment. The current fine for overstaying your visa is 500 Baht per day. The maximum amount is

20,000 Baht.

Extension

As opposed to overstaying your visa, it would be a much better idea to extend it. Extensions can easily be applied for in Thailand. The

fee is 1900 baht. If you enter under the visa exemtion program, you will be granted an additional 7 days. However, those on a Tourst

Visa will get an additional 30 days to stay in Thailand.

Validity

A single entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months. Multiple entry tourist visas range in their validity. For example, a double entry tourist visa

will be valid for 6 months.

Other Visas

Information about the other types of visas will be forthcoming; however, they are not nearly as important to the average traveler as the

aforementioned types of visas and the visa exemption.

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Royal Thai Embassy , Thai Consulate

2008-08-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

Thai fisherman pants

2008-08-08T21:41:00.002-07:00

Thai fisherman pants are lightweight unisex trousers that are made very wide in the waist, one size fits all. The additional material is wrapped around the waist and tied to form a belt. They are usually made of cotton or rayon. Although traditionally used by fishermen in Thailand, they have become popular among others for casual, beach, and exercise wear as well as for backpackers and pregnancy.

Thai fisherman pants are nearly identical to the traditional attire of Intha males, who live on Inlay Lake of Myanmar. They are known in Burmese as Shan baun-mi.

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BLACK PANTS FISHERMAN LONG LAGENLOOK Fits - 2X 3X 4X - C264S

Khao San Road

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Often referred to as a backpacker ghetto, Khao San is changing very rapidly with the modernization of Bangkok. Slightly more upmarket

places are springing up all the time. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of cheap places to be found in the area. This is the place I first

when when I came to Bangkok, and I had no reservations. There are literally hundreds of places to stay. The area is a popular night

spot for young locals as well. The nightlife on the street and in the surrounding area has something to offer pretty much everyone.

Khao San Road is located in the Banglamphu area of Bangkok. The greater area is sometimes referred to as the old city for the simple

reason that it is one of the oldest parts of Bangkok. The central location used to be the Grand Palace which should undoubtedly be on

your list of things to see in Bangkok. The proximity to some of Bangkok’s most sought after tourist attractions makes this place worthy of

serious consideration. This is especially true if you are on a tight budget.

The road itself is not that long. From one end to the other would take about 10 minutes. In that 10 minute walk you are sure to run into

some interesting things. Because Khao San draws in people of all types from virtually everywhere in the world, you will run into a great

deal of diversity here. This is a sore spot with many who criticize the street. As there are so many backpackers around at any given hour,

people often associate the area with type of people seen loitering about doing hippy-like things. It is not uncommon to see someone

throwning up on the street, passed out on their own knees, or having their hair braided on the street with large bottle of Chang next to

them. Often people take a shot at these folks with a somewhat valid arguement that this is not what traveling is supposed to be. After all,

is this what you are going to Thailand for? That being said, it is my opinion that one should go for themselves and make up their own

mind about the place. While I no longer stay there, I do find myself going there for a night out from time to time or to meet up with people

who do stay in that area. Truth be told, if I didn’t have another place to stay in Bangkok, I would still probably opt for the Khao San area.

While some will claim that Khao San is not the “real Thailand” experience, I tend to think that … hey, it is in Thailand, right? With a

Burger King at one end, a Subway at the other, and a McDonalds and Starbucks in between it is pretty obvious to say that the area has

been affected by the presense of tourists. The fact of the matter is that it is cheap, close to major attractions, and a great place to meet

other travelers to jump off to some other places in Thailand with.

Accommodation

Obviously, there are a few types of rooms that will be available to you. The cheapest rooms will not accept reservations most of the time.

The mid-range to more upmarket places will generally take bookings in advance.

Budget

In this price range you can expect a pretty basic room with a place to sleep and a fan. Don’t expect much more than that. Some places

have some pretty good deals that will get you a bathroom with cold water attached, but the cheapest rooms will not offer this. A few of

the things that are a pain with budget rooms are the fact that they might not have an electrical outlet for you to use. For example, to

charge your phone at My House on Soi Rambutrri, you need to hang the phone from above your door because the outlet is located near

the top of the door on the outside of many rooms. Shared bathrooms can be a bit problematic in that they are not always the cleanest of

places. Toilets get clogged because people decide to flush their toilet paper which should be deposited in the wastebasket. Showers

can be filthy as people tend to leave small slivers of soap or other empty belongings behind. Most of the better guesthouses clean up

regularly, and you won’t face this problem all that often. From time to time, reports of bedbugs come.

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Tea: The Best Green Tea Blends

2008-08-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

The Best Green Tea Blends
Green tea is fast becoming one of the hottest ways to look after your health. More and more research is surfacing that suggests that drinking green tea may be one of the simplest things you can do to live a longer and healthier life.

Green tea is special because of the way that it's processed. Though it comes from the same plant as black tea, it is produced in an entirely different way. During processing, black tea is allowed to oxidize, or ferment. Green tea however, is simply dried and then steamed or fired to prevent the oxidation process from occurring. It sounds like a simple difference, but it causes some very powerful differences between the two types of tea.

The fermentation process that happens to black tea converts the natural anti-oxidants in tea to other compounds. So, while black tea is a healthy beverage, it is not as healthy as green tea, whose anti-oxidants are left in their natural state. In fact, green tea contains EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), one of the most powerful anti-oxidants.

Anti-oxidants play an important role in protecting our health. The anti-oxidants created by our bodies and those derived from our diet help to neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen containing molecules that are created as a by product of converting the food we eat into energy. Left unchecked, these free radicals damage our cells and DNA, leading to aging and disease.

A diet rich in anti-oxidants keeps these free radicals under control. To ensure that you get your daily dose of anti-oxidants it's important to eat a diet that's full of plant products, like fruits, vegetables and green tea.

Research has shown that drinking green tea is especially helpful at reducing your risk of disease. Some of the most positive research includes the following findings:

# Long term tea drinkers tend to have a lower body weight and lower percentage of body fat.

# Green tea has been shown to be effective at preventing many forms of cancer, including breast cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. In addition, some studies have shown that chemotherapy is more effective when the patient is on a regimen of green tea along with their chemotherapy.

# Green tea has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by helping to lower cholesterol and reduce your chances of a blood clot.

# Green tea has been shown to be an effective weight loss supplement. The anti-oxidants in green tea combined with the caffeine have been shown to speed up the metabolism and promote the oxidation of fat.

# It has been suggested that green tea may be helpful in preventing Alzheimer's disease.

# Green tea may be helpful in regulating insulin, so it may be a natural way to help prevent diabetes.

So, as you can see, there are many health reasons for drinking green tea. Most of us in the Western world have grown up on black tea, and may find the flavor of traditional green teas somewhat grassy in comparison. If you find that green tea simply doesn't taste as good to you as black tea, try drinking a green tea blend. When blended with other flavors, green tea can taste quite different than it does on its own.

There are a wide variety of green tea blends out there. It's important to choose the best quality of loose green tea, whether you're choosing a blend or a single tea. Many tea companies will use lesser quality tea leaves when they're blending the tea with other flavors, because they believe the difference in quality will not be as noticeable.

So, be certain that you choose your blended green tea from a reputable tea company to ensure that you get only the finest quality. If you're interested in choosing a green tea blend, here are some very good and very popular ones to try.

< Moroccan Mint – Moroccan mint green tea is one of the most popular blends. This is a blend of one or more kinds of mint flavoring with a green tea base. The flavor is light and refreshing and makes a great glass of iced tea as well as hot tea.

< Jasmine Green Tea – Another popular choice in green tea blends, this green tea is scented with the petals of jasmine. You'll also find Jasmine green tea mixed with vanilla, which makes the tea more flavorful. The combination of the scents of jasmine and vanilla make this jasmine green tea one of the most fragrant you can find.

< Vanilla Mint Green Tea – This is a refreshing green tea blend that will appeal to any tea drinker. Tea artisans mix high quality green tea with mint leaves and pieces of vanilla bean. These two flavors are pleasing to any palate. This makes a great iced tea for the summer as well as an aromatic and flavorful hot tea.

These are just a few of the many blends of green tea available. Experiment with the varieties available to find the ones that you like best. For maximum benefit to your health, experts recommend that you drink at least three cups of green tea each day. So, lift your cup of green tea and drink to the delicious flavor – and to your health!

Copyright: Copyright ? 2007-2008 Jon M. Stout
About the Author:
Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

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Green Tea By Elizabeth Arden For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Ounces

Can Drinking Tea Make You

2008-08-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Can Drinking Tea Make You Live Longer?
Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, after water. Asian cultures drink gallons of green, oolong and other teas, and the Brits consume large quantities of black tea.

In fact, everywhere in the world, tea is a regular part of life. In many cases, we drink tea because we like it, but as it turns out, it may be extremely healthy for us, too.

Over the years there's been tons of research on the benefits of tea to our health. And, as we learn more and more, it's becoming clear that drinking tea may be one of the best

things we can do to protect our health and prolong our lives. The University of Toronto Medical Journal outlines the many benefits that drinking tea can offer

Prevention of Heart Disease

Studies have shown that regular tea consumption can actually lower cholesterol levels circulating in the blood. In fact, some studies have shown tea to reduce total cholesterol by

as much as 6.5% and LDL cholesterol by as much as 11%. A reduction in cholesterol prevents atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries that carry blood become narrowed

due to a buildup of plaque. The plaque that builds up in our arteries is created when LDL cholesterol oxidizes.

Prevention of Cancer

Tea has been shown to reduce the risk of several forms of cancer. In fact, tea has been shown to reduce lung tumors by 80% in laboratory mice. Tea has also been effective in

human studies on cancer, including breast cancer, colon cancer and gastric cancer.

Weight Loss

Tea has also been shown to be an effective weight loss supplement. Tea increases energy expenditure, promotes fat oxidation and decreases fat storage. Many studies have

shown that drinking tea in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise can help you lose more weight than diet and exercise alone.

Improvement in Intestinal Tract Bacteria

Regular tea consumption can help improve the bacteria that live in your intestinal tract; eliminating harmful bacteria and helping beneficial bacteria to flourish. Tea has been shown

to reduce the level of H pylori bacteria in the stomach. H pylori is associated with the development of ulcers.

Getting Your Daily Dose

The recommended dose of tea for health benefits is about 30 ounces per day – the equivalent of 2 ½ cans of soda. While this may seem like a lot, it's easy to consume this amount if you replace some of the other beverages you consume with tea. Consider this:

Replace one cup of your morning coffee with a cup of tea instead – that's 8 ounces.

Have one bottle of green tea with lunch instead of a bottled soda – that's another 12 ounces.

For an afternoon break, make a relaxing cup of tea instead of a snack. You'll save calories and get another 8 ounces of tea.

Have a cup of lavender or mint tea before bed – you're getting another eight ounces of tea, and you'll sleep better too!

Which tea is best?

There are literally thousands of varieties of tea available – so much that you may be confused about which you should be drinking. Probably the best tea for you is the one that you like, because if you like it you'll drink more of it. However, if you're choosing tea strictly for the health benefits, here are some suggestions to help you choose the tea that will give you the most benefit.

Choose green tea over black – Green tea is unfermented, which means that more of the original anti-oxidants are intact. It is believed that green tea has more health benefits than black tea because these anti-oxidants remain in their natural state. If you don't like the flavor of plain green tea, there are dozens of flavored green teas. They are just as healthy, and taste great. In addition, you can find bottled green teas that are very convenient when you're on the go.

Choose caffeinated teas over decaffeinated – Caffeinated teas have the most health benefit. It is believed that the caffeine in tea works with the anti-oxidants to create the maximum effects. Those who are caffeine sensitive might try green tea, as its caffeine content is lower than that of black tea.

Make sure it's real tea – There are many beverages that are referred to as tea that are not really tea. True tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal teas, and teas like rooibos and mate are really tisanes –meaning they come from other plants. There's certainly nothing wrong with these teas, but they don't provide the health benefits that you'll find in a true tea.

Drink it the way you like it- Tea retains the same health benefits whether you drink it hot or cold and whether or not you add milk. Just remember to skip the sugar if you're drinking tea to help you lose weight.

With all the health benefits that we're discovering about tea, it's a pretty good assumption that tea may help you live longer. By putting off many of the signs and diseases of aging, you're also likely to be healthier and more active in your old age. Tea is a natural, refreshing way to improve your health and longevity.

Copyright: Copyright © 2007-2008 Marcus Stout

About the Author:
Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

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Twinings

English Breakfast Tea, K-Cups for Keurig Brewers, 25-Count Boxes (Pack of 2)
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How to Make a Perfect Cup of Tea

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Storage

Your tea will arrive in a plastic-lined paper bag with a fold-down top, which is suitable for temporary storage. For longer-term storage, it is best to use a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, preferably metal, such as a canning jar. Place in a cool, dry area, out of direct sunlight, such as a closed cupboard. Stored this way, your tea will last indefinitely.

Black Tea

1. Start with 3/4 of a level teaspoon of loose tea per 6 oz. of water. (You may adjust this to your taste, but start with this.)
2. Bring water to a rolling boil for approximately 10 seconds.
3. Pour boiling water over the tea leaves.
4. Infuse (steep) black tea for a minimum of 5 full minutes, unless instructed otherwise based on the tea you have purchased. TIME IT, TIME IT, TIME IT! Remove the leaf from the tea liquor and enjoy!

Green Tea or Semi-Black Tea

1. Start with 3/4 of a level teaspoon of loose tea per 6 oz. of water. (You may adjust this to your taste, but start with this.)
2. Bring water to a rolling boil for approximately 10 seconds. Remove kettle from heat. Allow water to drop to about 185 degrees, or if you have received temperature instructions, go by that, (check with a thermometer if possible, otherwise wait about 5 minutes for 185 degrees) before pouring over tea leaves.
3. Infuse (steep) green tea for two minutes, semi-black tea for seven minutes, unless instructed otherwise based on the tea you have purchased. TIME IT, TIME IT, TIME IT! Remove the leaf from the tea liquor and enjoy!

Green tea and semi-black tea leaf may be infused several times, depending on the tea you have purchased. Any tea purchased from The Tea Shop will arrive with instructions on the temperature to use, the time of infusion and the number of times to re-use the leaf. Green tea and semi-black tea, though they may be slightly more expensive than black tea by weight measurement, are ultimately less costly due to the number of times the leaf may be infused

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Twinings Darjeeling Tea, Loose Tea, 3.53-Ounce Tins (Pack of 6)

Darjeeling

2008-07-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

Darjeeling is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of Darjeeling district, in the Shiwalik Hills on the lower range of the Himalaya, at an average elevation of 6,982 ft (2,134 m). During the British Raj in India, Darjeeling's temperate climate led to its development as a hill station (hill town) for British residents to escape the heat of the plains during the summers.

Darjeeling is internationally famous for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tea plantations date back to the mid 19th century as part of a British development of the area. The tea growers of the area developed distinctive hybrids of black tea and fermenting techniques, with many blends considered among the world's finest. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway connecting the town with the plains was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 and is one of the few steam engines still in service in India.

Darjeeling has several British-style public schools, which attract students from many parts of India and neighbouring countries. The town, along with neighbouring Kalimpong was a major centre for the demand of a separate Gorkhaland state in the 1980s, though the separatist movement has gradually decreased over the past decade due to the setting up of an autonomous hill council. In recent years the town's fragile ecology is threatened by a rising demand for environmental resources, stemming from growing tourist traffic and poorly planned urbanisation.

History
The history of Darjeeling is intertwined with that of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Bengal. Until the early 19th century, the area around Darjeeling was ruled intermittently by the kingdoms of Nepal and Sikkim,[2] with settlement consisting of a few villages of Lepcha woodspeople.In 1828, a delegation of British East India Company officials on their way to Sikkim stayed in Darjeeling and decided that the region was a suitable site for a sanatorium for British soldiers. The Company negotiated a lease of the area from the Chogyal of Sikkim in 1835.Arthur Campbell, a surgeon with the Company and Lieutenant Napier were given the responsibility to found a hill station there.

Darjeeling is located at an average elevation of 6,982 ft (2,128 m) in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region on the Darjeeling-Jalapahar range that originates in the south from Ghum. The range is Y-shaped with the base resting at Katapahar and Jalapahar and two arms diverging north of Observatory Hill. The north-eastern arm dips suddenly and ends in the Lebong spur, while the north-western arm passes through North Point and ends in the valley near Tukver Tea Estate.

Darjeeling is the main town of the Sadar subdivision and also the headquarters of the district. Most of the district, including the town of Darjeeling lies in the Shiwalik Hills (or Lower Himalaya). The soil is chiefly composed of sandstone and conglomerate formations, which are the solidified and upheaved detritus of the great range of Himalaya. However, the soil is often poorly consolidated (the permeable sediments of the region do not retain water between rains) and is not considered suitable for agriculture. The area has steep slopes and loose topsoil, leading to frequent landslides during the monsoons. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the town falls under seismic zone-IV, (on a scale of I to V, in order of increasing proneness to earthquakes) near the convergent boundary of the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates and is subject to frequent quakes. The hills are nestled within higher peaks and the snow-clad Himalayan ranges tower over the town in the distance. Mount Kanchenjunga (8,598 m or 28,208 ft) — the world's third-highest peak — is the most prominent peak visible. In days clear of clouds, Nepal's Mount Everest (29,035 ft or 8,850 m) can be seen.

There are several tea plantations in the area. The town of Darjeeling and surrounding region face deforestation due to increasing demand for wood fuel and timber, as well as air pollution from increasing vehicular traffic. Flora around Darjeeling includes temperate, deciduous forests of poplar, birch, oak, and elm as well as evergreen, coniferous trees of wet alpine. Dense evergreen forests lie around the town, where a wide variety of rare orchids are found. Lloyd's Botanical Garden preserves common and rare species of flora, while the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the only specialised zoo in the country conserving and breeding endangered Himalayan species.

Twinings Darjeeling Tea, Loose Tea, 3.53-Ounce Tins (Pack of 6)

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