Use White Tea, Witch Hazel and Rose Extract For Health

White tea, witch hazel and rose extract should be at the heart of your anti-aging routine. The effects that these three simple products can have on the wellness and wellbeing of your skin is quite phenomenal, and all of this is backed up by scientific research.

 

A team of researchers at the University of London recently took part in a study in collaboration with Neal’s Yard Remedies to find out the effects of white tea, witch hazel and rose extract on human skin cells, studying their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. During the study it was found that actually all three of these substances are extremely good at both preventing and healing incidences of inflammation.

 

This is important because inflammation causes the vast majority of diseases that can befall the human body, including things like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular problems and arthritis. As inflammation progresses, the diseases develop.

 

The three substances mentioned above were looked at during the study to measure their anti-collagenase, catalase and anti-elastase activity. The researchers then got some human skin cells and added hydrogen peroxide to stimulate inflammation, before adding these extracts to see what happened. The researchers saw that all three of the products were extremely effective at reducing or even preventing the inflammation.

 

An earlier study that was carried out on white tea, green tea, witch hazel and rose extract also confirms the results of this study. It also points out that collagenase and elastase are important enzymes in the aging process, as they are partly responsible for the degeneration of cells. This demonstrates that all of these substances also have powerful anti-aging capacities, especially white tea, as it has the highest levels of both these substances.

 

Another study, done in 2011, also showed that fruit flies who were fed with rose extract had a reduced mortality, showing that this flower extract could help you to live longer.

Categories: anti, anti aging, human skin, inflammation nbsp, rose, rose extract, skin cells, tea, tea witch, white tea, witch, witch hazel

Sipping in Style: How to Drink Tea Like a Boss

Tea is a staple part of every Brit’s diet, but did you know it’s good for your health, as well as your sense of wellbeing? According to five new studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tea may be able to protect your wellness against stroke and heart disease, decrease your blood pressure, boost your brain power, and help you lose weight. Prediman Krishan Shah, MD, director of the Division of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, explains, ‘It contains antioxidants, which may help fight free radicals known to contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries.’ Moreover, the caffeine content in tea stimulates your nervous system, which, in turn, increases the rate at which your body burns fat. And the amino acid theanine in tea works with the caffeine to influence your brain’s neurotransmitters, leading to increased alertness and mental productivity.

 

If you want the health benefits, but aren’t so big on sipping tea with your pinkie up, we’ve got some awesome recipes from top mixologists, chefs and nutritionists so you can sip in style:

 

1. The Tea-Totaler: For this recipe, courtesy of Bill Anderson, beverage director at Vie in Western Springs, Illinois, you will need:

 

• 1 c chamomile tea, steeped


• 1 c sugar


• 1 c soda water

 

Anderson directs, ‘Dissolve sugar in piping hot tea, and let cool. Fill glasses with ice half way with tea syrup. Top off with soda water. Serves two to four.’

 

 

2. Burn Juice: This recipe, provided by Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, CSSD, LDN, serves one. You will need:

 

• 1/4 c brewed green tea, cooled


• 1 roma tomato


• 1 celery stalk


• 1/2 red bell pepper


• Dash of cayenne


• 3 ice cubes

 

‘Combine all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth,’ says Blatner. ‘Not only do you score a metabolism boost from the caffeine-rich tea, but a compound in cayenne pepper called capsaicin helps control hunger and increase fat burn. Plus, this drink has only 35 calories and provides 140% daily vitamin C.’

 

 

3. Tropical Green Tea Smoothie: Blatner notes, ‘The almond milk provides bone-building calcium and immune-boosting vitamin D, while pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme for healthy digestion.’ As with the above recipe, you blend all the following ingredients until smooth:

 

• 8 oz brewed green tea, chilled or room temperature


• 8 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk


• 1/2 c frozen mango chunks


• 1/2 c pineapple chunks


• 1 Tbsp honey

 

 

4. Ginger Green Tea Lemonade: Blatner’s Ginger Green Tea Lemonade recipe is great for digestion, as well as your overall health. You will need:

 

• 1 c brewed green tea, hot


• 1/4 c sliced and coarsely chopped fresh ginger


• 3/4 c lemon juice (about 4 lemons)


• 6 Tbsp agave nectar


• 2 c sparkling water

 

Blatner instructs, ‘Create ginger water by pouring hot tea over chopped ginger and set aside for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour 3/4 cup ginger water into a pitcher; discard remaining liquid and ginger. Add lemon juice, agave, and sparkling water to pitcher. Serve over ice in glasses garnished with lemon slices. Serves six.’

 

 

5. Crimson Toddy: This recipe comes from Chris Cason, Tea Sommelier and Co-Founder of Tavalon Tea. You will need:

 

• 4 oz boiling water


• 1 tsp Crimson Punch tea (or any citrus and sweet tea blend)


• 2 oz bourbon


• 1 Tbsp agave nectar


• 1 orange slice


• 10 whole cloves


• Cinnamon stick

 

Cason details, ‘Steep tea in boiling water for five minutes, then strain into insulated measuring cup or bowl. Cover to keep hot. Press cloves into the orange slice, and then place the slice at the bottom of a glass like a brandy snifter. Pour in bourbon, and then pour in the hot tea. Stir in agave nectar with cinnamon stick. Serves one.’

Categories: agave nectar, Benefits, brewed green, ginger water, green tea, heart disease, hot tea, lemon juice, nbsp nbsp, Recipes, sparkling water, tea

Water or Herbal Tea: Which is Better For You?

Herbal tea can be an important part of complementary wellness, but which is better for your wellbeing – herbal tea or just pure water?

 

Most experts recommend that you should consume around two litres of fluid every day. Not all of that has to be in the form of water, however, contrary to popular belief. You can take some of your fluids in the form of soups, fruits, vegetables, regular tea and, of course, herbals teas. These all contain water, but add a bit of variety to your daily fluid intake. In addition to this, herbal tea can have some great health benefits.

 

Chamomile tea is a popular one. It has a slightly sedative effect on the nervous system which means it can help to calm you down and can also contribute towards helping you get a good night’s sleep. It appeared in the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit book, where the little bunny’s mum used it to help soothe his sore tummy – and this is really the case, as the tea can reduce tummy aches, indigestion and spasms. Those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome often swear by this tea for reducing the severity of attacks.

 

Ginger tea is another good one – it has been used for centuries and can help to relieve nausea and vomiting in pregnant women in a safe way. It also has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and can be used to help reduce the pain of arthritis and to ease painful period pains. Ginger tea is also often used for treating colds and flu, as it helps to reduce mucous congestion.

 

Lemon balm tea has been shown to help reduce agitation in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It can also be good for those who are prone to anxiety and can help to calm and soothe. It is often used to settle night time digestion and help with sleep, too.

Categories: effect, ginger tea, herbal, herbal tea, nbsp, reduce, tea, Water

Could Your Daily Cup Of Tea Contain Too Much Fluoride?

We all know that tea contains caffeine, and therefore it is important for our wellness and wellbeing to only drink it in moderation. What has not previously been understood, however, is that tea may also contain too much fluoride.

 

The national newspaper The Daily Telegraph has reported that those who drink cheaper supermarket blends of tea could be at increased risk of developing problems with their bones and teeth. This news story comes from a study that has looked into the fluoride levels in different brands of tea, and this included the economy products from leading supermarkets.

 

Although fluoride is a mineral that is normally associated with healthy bones and teeth, an excess of the mineral can lead to something called fluorosis. This fluorosis causes bone pain and stiffness and can lead to a discoloration of the teeth, too.

 

During the study, researchers found that the cheaper or ‘own brand’ supermarket teas often contained higher levels of fluoride than the more expensive ‘brand name’ equivalents. The researchers calculated that if you regularly consume around a litre of tea per day, you are likely to be consuming more than the recommended levels of fluoride every day, and this could be damaging to your health.

 

Fluorosis generally occurs in countries where the natural levels of the mineral are high, and is therefore rarely found in the UK, but this study means that the problem could be on the rise in the UK. Tea drinkers are therefore warned that they should exercise caution when drinking large amounts of tea (although of course they should already be cautious of this due to the damaging effects of consuming too much caffeine).

 

It is thought that the fluoride enters the tea bags because the tea plants absorb fluoride when the plants are grown in acidic soil. The leaves of the plant then contain levels of fluoride.

Categories: Fluoride, fluorosis, levels, nbsp, tea, teeth

How to Take Care of Your Diet without Breaking the Bank

You want to enhance your diet and start taking care of your wellbeing, but healthy foods are so often the most expensive option. Why should you have to choose between your health and your financial wellness? According to a recent study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), eating healthily can be fairly cheap – it just depends on the choices you make.

 

1. Fresh fruits and vegetables: ‘Fruits and vegetables pack a powerful nutrition punch,’ says registered and licensed dietician Mandy Seay, author of Your Best Health. ‘They contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide benefits for the entire body.’ This means that you need to go for the least pricey produce, which, in the case of vegetables, means potatoes, lettuce, eggplant, greens, summer squash, tomatillos, and carrots. For the most economical fruits, try watermelon, bananas, apples, pears, pineapple, and peaches. To further reduce your costs while maximising on nutrition and flavour, make sure you shop for produce that is in season.

 

2. Frozen and tinned fruits and vegetables: While you may not even deign to consider frozen and tinned fruits and vegetables, they’re a lot better than their reputation. According to Seay, ‘While given a reputation of having a lesser nutrient value, canned fruits and vegetables can be just as healthy and economical (if not more so) as their fresh counterparts.’

 

3. Oats: On the nutrition rockstar stage, oats are the headliners. Seay notes, ‘These whole grains are low in calories, high in fibre and protein, and are a rich source of many vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant chemicals. Oats offer protection against disease and reduce health issues that may already exist like high cholesterol or blood sugar. Oats are readily available, easy to incorporate into your diet, and inexpensive.’

 

4. Beans: If you want a low-fat protein, make beans your new best friends. These delicious and economical wonders – whether dried or canned – can have a huge impact on your wellbeing. Beans can help to lower your cholesterol, reduce your risks of heart disease and cancer, stabilise your blood sugar, relieve your constipation, assist with your weight management or weight loss programme and lower your blood pressure. Where have you bean all my life? (Sorry, I had to.)

 

5. Tea: As if you needed another reason to have a brew! Still, if you’re interested, when it comes to your health this low-cost beverage is worth every penny. Seay comments that tea ‘helps lower blood pressure, prevent cancer, and reduce the risk for stroke. Tea is also an antiviral, anti-cavity, and anti-allergy powerhouse.’

 

6. Nuts: ‘Nuts reduce the risks for coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other causes of mortality,’ Seay asserts. ‘All nuts contain some sort of health-promoting property. Eat a variety of them to enjoy all of the nutrition they have to offer. Here are just a few things you’ll find inside them: plant-derived omega-3s fatty acids, fibre, protein, vitamin D, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, niacin, folate, zinc, and antioxidants.’ Plus, they’re great value per serving.

 

7. Yoghurt: Yoghurt is a cheap sweet option anyway – albeit dependant on flavour and brand –but if you really want to save money you can always make your own yoghurt at home. Seay adds, ‘Yoghurt contains live active cultures, protein, calcium, and B vitamins. This super food has anticancer properties, lowers cholesterol, and wards off unfriendly bacteria while promoting and preserving intestinal health.’

 

8. Brown rice: ‘Brown rice, which contains a number of nutrients and antioxidants, is a whole grain that has been shown to reduce diabetes risks, assist with weight control, help lower and control blood sugar, and possibly inhibit breast and colon cancers,’ says Seay.

Categories: blood pressure, Blood Sugar, Brown Rice, Fruits, heart disease, nbsp, seay, tea, tinned fruits, vitamins minerals, yoghurt

Herbal Teas That Could Benefit Your Skin

 

Herbal tea has long been associated with a healthy diet, thanks to the lack of sugar and the belief that herbal remedies are good for us. With winter fast approaching, we’re suddenly looking for ways to overcome the drying indoor heating and lack of exercise (and the associated lack of water intake) that makes us dehydrated. It’s worth the effort to stay hydrated though, as your body needs water far more than you realise. Not only does drinking enough keep your skin plump and healthy, it also helps your body to fight illnesses and viruses which are prevalent in the winter months. This is because dry mucus membranes make it far easier for germs to get into the body, lowering your defence mechanisms. However, while it’s very easy to say you’ll drink water more during the winter, when it’s cold you don’t want to swig down a glass of ice cold water. Herbal teas are a great way to overcome this problem, as they offer flavour, warmth and plenty of hydration. It’s also been suggested that many herbs can help to improve the condition of your skin.

 

Teas with burdock and yellow dock root could help to alleviate dry skin and psoriasis, as well as dandelion root being great for cleansing your liver. Those with rose petal and hibiscus are a natural source of vitamin C which is known to boost the health of your skin, and you can add orange peel to boost both the vitamin C levels and the flavour of the tea. Rooibus tea has increased in popularity in recent years and is a known antioxidant from the African bush. If you can drink a cup of this a day, you’ll start to notice an improvement in your skin’s condition. Skin-focused teas often include a wealth of ingredients to help improve your skin’s texture and brightness. Those providing detoxifying effects that’s vital in order to give your skin time to recover and heal itself. If you can find a tea that promises to detoxify your skin, you may well notice that it also reduces the signs of ageing and plumps up your skin relatively quickly.

 

There are many teas on the market which contain milk thistle, burdock, red clover or oat straw – these are worth checking out as they work with the liver to purify it and cleanse. This is where a number of skin problems originate, so they are well worth trying if you are finding your skin isn’t looking its best. You can also add tea to witch hazel and apply it directly to the skin complaint if you need to – this will add a calming effect to combine with the internal healing process. Herbal teas are often overlooked in favour of the more common black tea and coffee, but they can offer some significant skin benefits when consumed regularly. If you cut back on the caffeine by choosing a decaffeinated variety, you’ll also save your body the dehydration that can cause. Naturally, a cup of tea can’t make up for a poor lifestyle, so these should be combined with plenty of exercise and a healthy diet. And if you smoke, give up as soon as possible to save your skin and avoid premature ageing, among a host of health concerns. But you may find that your skin begins to look plumper and healthier after just a week or two – the benefits make this well worth trying.

Categories: anti ageing, body, healthy diet, herbal, herbal teas, skin, skin nbsp, skincare, tea, teas, worth

Learn About These 8 Awesome Beauty Benefits Of Drinking Tea

Tea has been known since ancient times to possess health benefits. Tea is being extensively consumed especially in China. In all its forms- black, green and red, tea provides the body essential anti oxidants and has anti ageing components as well. So it improves your overall health both from the inside and the outside.

 

Improves Digestion

Herbal or black tea has amazing components and the powerful anti oxidants with which it is loaded, and they play a vital role in improving the digestion of our body. Regular consumption of 2-3 cups of tea especially an hour before your meals will prevent bloating and water retention in the body. Also, your food is digested fast and you do not feel the usual sloppiness which is very frequent after lunch or dinner.

 

Increases Metabolism

Black Tea or Green Tea with a dash of lemon juice in it is often recommended for weight watchers or overweight people, usually right in the morning. Tea is loaded with powerful nutrients that kick metabolism right in the morning with the very first cup. Fitness experts and Yoga trainers often advise people to consume a cup of green or black tea before working out, as it makes you sweat a lot, thereby reducing weight.

 

Strengthens Immunity

Regular consumption of green or black tea makes your immune system very strong and usually prevents petty diseases and allergies. Anti oxidants make your immune system strong enough to fight any foreign bacteria or virus, and hence keeps you healthy for a longer period of time.

 

Effective In Treating Under Eye Skin

Cooled tea bags are very effective in treating dark circles under your eyes. It can be quite irritating to always hide your skin under a concealer. And possibilities are that you have not come across any permanent treatment for dark circles. Having puffy eyes right in the morning feels really annoying. Try keeping cooled tea bags on closed eyes and let it stay for 20 minutes. Rinse with fresh water and moisturize your skin. You will see the difference in two days.

 

Gives Luscious Hair

Tea water is used as an effective conditioner that is rich in natural conditioning elements for your hair. Dull, limp and lifeless hair can be treated very effectively with water immersed in black tea bags. Shampoo your hair and give the last rinse with tea water. You will notice the luscious, silky texture of your hair and the sparkle in your hair and will be there for everyone to notice.

 

Antidote For Insect Bite

Very few people are aware that tea bags are very effective in treating bug bites and insect bites too. Rub tea bags wherever the insect has stung and in a few minutes the pain and irritation of the sting will break down and reduce.

 

Detoxifies

Drinking herbal tea and black tea, 2-3 cups a day helps in flushing out toxins and impurities from your body. This in turn makes your skin glow and gives you a light and healthy feeling. Flushing out toxins also boosts your moods, curbs depression and stress and makes you feel happy. You mind becomes more alert and focused.

 

Author Bio:

Alex George is a blogger for Removeskintags and in his free time he likes to research on various techniques to enhance skin care & beauty.

Categories: anti-oxidants, beauty, Benefits, black, Black Tea, cooled tea, hair, nbsp, regular consumption, tea, tea bags, tea water

Sweet Tooth: Study Shows Tea Made Woman Lose her Teeth

There are two stereotypes that we Brits have been attributed with having, mainly by those across the pond: we have bad teeth, and we drink tea all the time. Now, anyone can see the reason for the latter; a good cup of tea is a staple part of the British diet, but when it comes to the former stereotype, it’s hard to see where the bad teeth thing comes from. However, a study from the New England Journal of Medicine has put the shoe on the other foot, and shown that not only are American big tea drinkers, but this is causing them to lose their teeth altogether.

A 47 year-old woman from Michigan had severe pain in her back, arms, legs and hips, and her wellness was also affected by tooth loss and other bone problems. After treating her pain, her doctor, Sudhaker Rao, realised that his patient had consumed “astronomical amounts” of highly concentrated tea for nearly 20 years, and this had caused her fluoride levels to spike to more than four times the normal amount.

This copious amount of tea drinking put the woman’s wellbeing at risk, with her bones becoming so brittle that her teeth had to be extracted. Rao commented, ‘Her bone density was very high, seven times denser than normal – it was like steel.’ There is a high amount of fluoride in US-brewed tea, and Rao believes that this was causing her bone problems. He noted, ‘There have been about three to four cases reported in the US associated with ingesting tea, especially large amounts of it. Most of us can excrete fluoride extremely well, but if you drink too much, it can be a problem.’

On a daily basis, the patient had been downing a pitcher of tea, which contains roughly 20 milligrams of fluoride. Since she has been prescribed a tea-free diet, the patient has recovered, but wellness experts have said that her case should not be forgotten. According to New York City doctor Joseph Lane, chief of the metabolic bone disease service at Weill Cornell Medical College, the tea case, and his own experience, shows that extreme consumption of almost any substance can be harmful. He noted a patient of his “overdosed” on fish oil. ‘Then she had a minor injury and bled a lot, almost like haemophilia – it turns out the patient had too much vitamin E in the blood,’ he explained. This goes to show that everything really should be taken in moderation – even, dare I say it, tea.

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Sweet Tooth: Study Shows Tea Made Woman Lose her Teeth

Categories: Fluoride, tea, Tooth Loss

How to Use Herbs to Prevent Yourself Getting The Flu

Did you know that herbal tea could help to protect you against getting the flu? You may think that this advice does not apply to you as you have had the flu vaccination and have no need for complementary medicine. This is not quite true: the flu shot only protects against certain strains of the flu, that is, the ones that the manufacturers of the vaccine believe will be most prevalent this year.

In order to protect your wellness against this horrible virus, the best thing to do is to build up your immune system. This does not stop you from contracting the virus, but ensures that you are strong enough to fight off the virus without being too detrimental to your wellbeing.

One of the best ways to achieve this is through a combination of herbal teas and meditation. Keeping mentally strong through de-stressing techniques, thinking positive thoughts, prayer and meditation for around 5 to 10 minutes per day can help to ward off the flu.

As far as tea goes, whole-plant infusions are the best possible kind to keep your body hydrated and well nourished. These types of herbs are packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and free radicals. Infusions should be made as strong as possible by using up to an ounce of the herb (or herb blend) with every quart of water, and it should be allowed to steep for at least four hours, or overnight if at all possible.

The herbs that are best for boosting up the immune system and fighting viruses are St. John’s wort (proper name Hypericum perforatum) and Echinacea. If you actually have the flu, the dosage that you take should be greatly increased as at that point the herb is having to work harder to fight off the virus.

Soups can also be used to get herbs like astragalus root, eleuthero, dandelion and burdock root into your diet, which also have excellent immune-boosting properties.

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How to Use Herbs to Prevent Yourself Getting The Flu

Categories: Flu, herbs, tea

Caffeine Concern: Is Coffee and Tea Bad for Heart Health?

There are various studies looking into the benefits (or lack thereof) of coffee and tea for heart health. However, though research supports both sides of the debate, all in all it looks like your morning cuppa is good for your wellbeing, and the latest study on coffee and tea scores points for your heart.

Researchers in the Netherlands have recently found that if you drink three to six cups of tea every day, you have a 45% reduced risk of death from heart disease. This is compared to people who drink less than one cup of Rosy daily, and their risk of non-fatal heart disease was found to be 36% higher than those if drink six cups of tea on a daily basis. When it came to java, two to four cups of coffee a day also supported heart wellness, lowering your risk of heart disease compared to drinking less than two or more than four cups daily.

Coffee drinking has been associated with other benefits, such as those found in one study. According to researchers, consuming three to five cups of coffee daily when you’re middle-aged reduces your risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease by 65%. The results of a 24-year follow-up study, reported in Circulation, also found that long-term coffee drinking is associated with a lower risk of stroke in women who don’t smoke, being 20% reduced among women who drink four or more cups daily, and a 12% reduced risk among those who drink coffee five to seven times a week.

So that’s coffee and good old-fashioned English breakfast, but what about alternative or speciality teas? According to a recent study published in the Annals of Epidemiology, which evaluated the drinking habits of 12,251 adults, if you drink seven or more cups of green tea every day, you can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease by 75% when compared with adults who drank less than one cup daily. An earlier study, published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation in 2008, noted that green tea quickly improves the function of the cells that line your circulatory system, and this is what protects your heart.

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Caffeine Concern: Is Coffee and Tea Bad for Heart Health?

Categories: Coffee, heart disease, tea