Tea is one of the most common beverages enjoyed around the world, second only to water. Not only does it taste delicious, it has many benefits for living a healthy lifestyle. Iced tea and black tea are the most common among Americans, however, the world offers four true teas: white, green, oolong and black tea. “True teas” come from the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal tea and rooibus tea, are technically not “true teas,” even though they are enjoyed just as much. Drinking tea gives many healthy benefits, but also requires about 8 tea servings a day in order to truly see tea-healing results. You may think, “Wow, that’s a lot of tea! I can’t drink 8 cups of tea a day I will be up all night!” One cup of coffee has about 135mg of caffeine, while a true tea has anywhere from 5mg per cup in white tea to the highest of 45 mg per cup in black tea. Herbal and rooibus are caffeine free and still have numerous, healthy benefits. Here’s a closer look at the teas and the benefits you may experience:
White Tea:
Benefits: detoxifying the body, losing weight, improving cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease
White tea is the purest form of tea making it very delicate. Brew around 150° for 1-2 minutes.
Green Tea:
Benefits: improves heart health, reduces cancer risk, aids in weight loss, lowers cholesterol, improves bone density and oral health, helps with fat oxidation in the body and has anti-aging properties
Green tea has been slightly oxidized during production. Japanese green tea has been steamed and Chinese green tea has been pan seared. Brew around 170° for 1-2 minutes.
Oolong Tea:
Benefits: supports weight loss, relieves eczema, strengthens heart health, reduces blood pressure, stabilizes blood sugar levels & diabetes, relieves physical and mental stress.
Oolong teas are slightly more oxidized than green but not as much as black tea. They can be fermented anywhere from 8% to 85%. Brew around 185° for 2-3 minutes.
Black Tea:
Benfits: can improve cardiovascular health, by increasing artery elasticity and reducing blood pressure!
Black teas are more oxidized than white, green and oolong teas. Brew around 210° for 3-4 minutes.
Herbal Tea:
Benefits: relax and sooth the body. Sip a cup in the evening to wind down from the day
Herbal teas are not made from actual tea leaves it is made from a combination of dried fruits, herbs and flowers. Brew around 210° for 4-5 minutes.
Rooibus Tea:
Benefits: It is known to help improve skin problems such as acne and is rich in antioxidants.
Rooibus tea also knows as red bush tea in the most popular drink in South Africa. This tea can be enjoyed as just the red bush tea or have different herbal blends added to it for different flavors. Rooibus is more durable and can be enjoyed like a breakfast black tea with added milk (substitute) and natural sweeteners. Brew about 210° for 4-5 minutes.
Now that you know about the choices and health benefits of tea…it’s time for a cup! Go out and try some! You have nothing to lose but weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, aging, cardio vascular disease and much, much more!
With “sun-burn season” officially over, that cooling bottle of Aloe vera often gets pushed to the back of the medicine cabinet. Research, nevertheless, suggests this plant provides year round benefits that everyone can profit from.
Stemming (literally) from the Xanthorrhoeaceae family, Aloe barbadensis, commonly called Aloe vera grows well in temperate climates and requires minimal care. It flourishes most in direct sunlight. The plants ability to retain water helps it to thrive in dessert-like and drought conditions.
Most of us are aware of the cooling effects of the “mucilaginous” (gooey) gel and have used it in treating burns, cuts and rashes. Fewer people, however, are aware of the anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral characteristics of it.
Taken as a juice, gel or powder, Aloe vera can help to:
- Soothe digestive discomfort
- Maintain adequate vitamin/mineral status (It contains all major vitamins with the exception of vitamin D)
- Cleanse the body from harmful toxins
- Reduce joint swelling and inflammation
Don’t miss out on these benefits simply because of the seasonal stigma of the plant! Keeping Aloe around all year long can keep you healthy everyday of the year, not just the 94 days of summer.
Submitted by Jenna, ASU Intern. Thanks, Jenna!
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago. Add a comment
The possibilities are endless, but here are just a few:
- Eliminate refined foods, sugars, artificial sweeteners, food additives, caffeine (sodas, coffee)
- Add lots of fruits and veggies-especially green leafies-and beans, nuts & seeds
- Lemon juice cleanse drinks – 1-3 days
- Juice fasting - green vegetable juices are best (not fruit juices)
- For deeper cleansing benefits, try supplement programs that can detox, renourish and support the organ systems: Isagenix, Metagenics, Garden of Life, Biogenesis
If you’ve never cleansed before, seek professional advice for safest and best results.
The benefits to nutritional cleansing and detox truly are an important part of health and wellness! Here are just a few of the ways they may benefit your body:
- Lose Weight and Feel Great – Studies show fat cells can hold onto impurities as a mechanism for protecting itself from dangerous impurities. Cleansing aids the body’s ability to flush fat and increase metabolism.
- Strengthen The Immune System
- Aid Digestion and Elimination – Refined, processed, low-fiber foods, animal fats, lack of exercise, dehydration and stress all contribute to an irritable bowel and sluggish elimination from the intestinal tract. Cellular cleansing and replenishing with fiber-rich nutrients can allow for better elimination of impurities and is essential in the prevention of intestinal disorders.
- Restore Normal Sugar Levels – Abnormal sugar levels have been linked to serious health challenges and are often the result of weight gain. Effective weight loss and fueling of the body can aid in the body’s ability to restore normal sugar levels.
- Support Your Liver – Aid metabolism, promote normal thyroid function and much more!
- Support Healthy Brain Chemistry – Reduce food cravings and regulate moods and energy levels.
- Balance Your Hormonal Systems
- Support Your Vital Organs – Liver, colon, urinary tract, sweat glands, skin pores and the lymphatic system.
- Eliminate Unhealthy Cravings – Cleansing and replenishing helps regulate the body, creating cravings for what the body needs.
- Beautify the Skin – Skin is the largest organ of our body. Cleansing and replenishing rejuvenates our skin, making it appear younger and healthier.
- Create Abundant Energy and Better Sleep Cycles – Get more stamina, energy and mental clarity.
- Reduce Stress – and the associated negative health effects.
- Slow The Effects of Aging – Toxins and nutritional deficiency can lead to premature aging on an internal and external level, while cleansing and replenishing can result in a younger appearance and incredible energy.
- Maximize Absorption of Essential Nutrients – Nourish and support all major organ systems (heart, bones and nervous systems, etc.)
- Restore and Maintain Antioxidant Levels – Fight free radicals that damage cells and cause disease.
Enjoy the ultimate quality of life!! Cleansing and refueling the body are a revolutionary approach to optimal health and weight management. Imbalanced diets can rob the body of essential nutrients and only offer temporary results. Find a program that helps give your body the right nutrients, the right balance and the ability to support your organs and maintain a healthy body weight.
from 21 Reasons to Nutritionally Cleanse and Replenish
Cleansing the body at an internal level is a hot topic, and for good reason. We live in a very toxic world. Herbicides, petrochemicals, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, food additives and synthetic drugs can have an adverse effect on our cells, internal organs and state of health. Over 20 million pounds of antibiotics were injected into our farm animals last year alone. There are so many insecticides and pesticides on our fruits and vegetables that these noxious chemicals seem to have become part of our food pyramid. We are chronically exposed to harmful substances.
Because our soils are poisoned with chemicals and pollution and are continually stripped of their nutrient base, many of our foods are not supplying our bodies with the necessary nutrients – primarily minerals – to perform optimally. The nutritionally bankrupt body is an invitation to illness and disease.
America is in a true health crisis and preventable diseases are out of control. Cardiovascular disease is epidemic, 44 million people suffer from arthritis, 18 million have diabetes, 17 million suffer from asthma, 1 in 8 women develop breast cancer and 18 million children are obese. For the first time in history we may be witnessing a decline in the American life-span. “Visceral” fat (fat carried in the abdominal area) poses an even higher risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Supporting our body’s natural cleansing abilities helps combat this problem.
Since 1976, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been engaged in the National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS). In this study, adipose (fat) samples were taken from cadavers and elective surgeries from all regions of the country and the levels of toxins were measured. Twenty toxic compounds were found in 76% or more of all samples! These ongoing assessments have shown quite clearly that it is not a question of if we are carrying too many toxic compounds, but how much and how do they harm us. The ever increasing illness and disease in this country are indicative of how vital it is to cleanse and replenish NOW!
From 21 Reasons to Nutritionally Cleanse and Replenish
