Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Some Interesting Facts About Iced Tea

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dave_K._Richards]Dave K. Richards

Making its debut appearance in the 1800's, iced tea has come to capture the minds of both the young and old in society. In its rawest and simplest form, it comes as a cold cup of tea that has been served with an accompanying glass of ice.

This conception was realized decades ago but, like with all good things, innovation did not stop there, not for something as lovely as tea. Nowadays, not only is iced tea sold in form of a packaged drink but it can also be mixed with other flavors such as lemon, lime, raspberry and other substances to give it a desirable taste. These can take the form of garnish or be immersed to as to seep their own flavors thus add to the texture of the tea itself.

Iced tea almost did not make it in the American market due to its foreign origins, but the efforts of one entrepreneur made this beverage take the front as the world's most consumed substance after water alone. By adding ice to his tea so as to entice people to purchase his wares on a hot afternoon, he introduced a product that has gripped millions of people the world over. I am quite sure that had he been in the proper presence of mind he would have tried to obtain a patent for the idea!

With tea aficionados, the beauty of the drink lies in the flavor and taste and there are fears that the added ice might dilute the taste as well as produce that unlovely cloudy appearance. How do I then get to both have my cake and eat it? There are tea blends especially prepared for the making of iced tea in such a way that it has less tannin so gets less cloudy. You have no need to take such drastic steps however. The cloudiness in no way affects the taste and to counter the dilution effect one simply needs to make the tea a little bit stronger; a little bit mark you!

Preparing iced tea has evolved and different forms for its brewing have been discovered a testament to the love of tea. Basically, for the best effects and full enjoyment, one needs only brew the tea as usual, letting it cool, adding ice and voila, instant iced tea is made. A little lemon juice or boiling water added can remove the cloudy cover and as you already made the tea brew a little extra strong-a little mark you-, the taste and experience will be the same as usual. If anything, the added time spent trying to find the proper combination of additives could make for an enjoyable experience.

As stated earlier, iced tea can be home-made or store bought. With literally dozens of flavors and recipes being abound, one could simply take a step into their local tea den and be torn apart, being spoilt for choice. Peach, chai, lemon, citrus, chamomile, raspberry and black currant are just among the few recipes abound for those without the time to make their own.

Companies that manufacture and market bottled or iced tea include Arizona Beverage, Lipton, Snapple, Nestea and several others. Iced tea might not have much in the way of energy boosting to offer but the other advantages to be had are too numerous to speak of. Brew you own, buy a cup or purchase a bottle of it, iced tea will offer you all and much more in the way of safe and pleasurable drink.

Dave Richards is a tea expert. For more great tips on [http://teahealthtips.com/iced-tea/]iced tea health benefits, visit [http://teahealthtips.com]http://teahealthtips.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Some-Interesting-Facts-About-Iced-Tea&id=6571929] Some Interesting Facts About Iced Tea

Monday, November 28, 2011

Earl Grey (Earl Gray) Tea - Origins

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Hartpence]Chris Hartpence

Like any timeless classic, the origins of Earl Grey Tea (sometimes incorrectly spelled as Earl Gray Tea) are shrouded in mystery. The blend was named for the Second Earl Grey, who was a British Prime Minister in the 1830's.

According to some stories, the blend was presented to him by a Chinese Mandarin whose son was saved from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men. Other accounts have the tea arriving as a gift given to one of Lord Grey's envoys, while he was traveling in China, with orders to deliver it to his Lord upon his return to England.

Yet another account holds that the original recipe was given to George Charlton by Earl Grey himself. Mr. Charlton was a partner in Jackson & Co., and Jackson of Piccadilly claims that the recipe has been in constant production since, and has never left their hands.

To add an additional twist to the myth of how the tea came to be, the Grey family themselves reports that the blend was created by a Chinese Mandarin for them, specifically to suit the water at Howick Hall in Northumberland (which is the Grey Family Seat). Bergamot was chosen in particular to help offset the high lime content in the local water supply in that area, and the blend first gained prominence because Lady Grey used it for entertaining in London, and was eventually asked if it could be sold to a broader market.

In order to facilitate this, a company called Twinings was given the recipe, and marketed it from that point on as 'Earl Grey Tea.' (note that although many websites, and even a fair number of printed materials list it as 'Earl Gray Tea' there is no brand bearing that particular spelling. This is mostly a function of slight differences between the Queen's English and American English).

Whichever of these stories is ultimately correct (and it is possible that all of them contain certain essential truths), one thing that can be fairly said is that Earl Grey Tea, by whatever spelling, is probably the best known of the English teas, at least on the international stage. There have been countless references to it in books, movies, and television series over the years, and its distinctive flavor makes it hard to forget.

Find out what ELSE you may not know about   Earl Gray Tea and related blends, by visiting us on our website: http://britishshoppe.net/teas/100-earl-grey-tea-50-bags.html

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Earl-Grey-(Earl-Gray)-Tea---Origins&id=6581943] Earl Grey (Earl Gray) Tea - Origins

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Tea - Health In A Cup

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Idaline_Hall]Idaline Hall

With the exception of water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world--about 20 billion cups of it are drunk each day. Even in the U.S., where coffee has long been the beverage of choice, tea is rapidly gaining ground--for its pleasing taste and its increasingly recognized healing power.

Strictly speaking, tea leaves come from a shrub of the tea family, Camellia sinensis. They develop unique characteristics during processing, degrees of which vary to produce three distinct types of teas--green, black, and oolong.

Green tea is the least processed. The leaves are dried soon after picking, which prevents fermentation. Its delicate flavor makes it a good "stand-alone" tea that's traditionally drunk between meals.

In the U.S., about 90 percent of tea consumed is black tea. The leaves are chopped after picking, so air oxidizes, or ferments, their compounds. The result is a full-bodied, malty flavor.

Oolong tea falls right in the middle. It's slightly fermented, so it's richer than green tea but not as intensely flavored as black.

You may encounter white or yellow tea, made from tender buds instead of the leaves. These delicate, slightly sweet teas are more expensive and may be harder to find.

Both black and green teas contain a variety of active ingredients, including tannins and polyphenols. These powerful antioxidants neutralize the effects of oxygen molecules in the body, which range from wrinkles to tumors. They have been shown to help prevent low density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) from sticking to artery walls, decreasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Harvard researchers found that people who drank a cup of tea a day were less likely to have a heart attack than non-tea drinkers.

Tea also contains chemicals that kill bacteria in the mouth, which could help reduce tooth decay. Green and black teas have very different tastes but nearly the same active ingredients.

Herbal teas are not true teas because their leaves do not come from the Camellia sinensis shrub; however, they are very popular as both a soothing drink and a medicinal option for minor complaints. In fact, many healing teas contain active ingredients that are nearly identical to those in prescription drugs. The advantage to using herbal teas is that they're much less likely than drugs to cause side effects.

Herbal teas are prepared in different ways, depending on the ingredients you're using. Most are made by steeping the dried leaves in hot water, a process called infusion. Teas made by infusion are usually ready in about 3 minutes. When you're making teas with roots, berries, or stems, however, you'll need to use a different process, call decoction. This simply means simmering the ingredients for about 20 minutes in a covered container. The longer cooking time is necessary to extract the active ingredients from the tough, woody fibers.

A cup of tea contains about 50 mg. of caffeine, half the amount in a cup of coffee. Caffeine isn't harmful for most people, but it may cause anxiety and insomnia. Also, caffeine blocks the body's absorption of calcium, which may be a problem when you're trying to get more of this bone-building mineral. The caffeine in tea is absorbed in the body more slowly than that of coffee. Drinking tea instead of coffee is a sensible way to get less caffeine in your diet and more health benefits.

Respectfully submitted by Idaline Hall. For more informative articles on [http://healthquicktips.com/Teas]the health benefits of tea, visit: [http://HealthQuickTips.com]http://HealthQuickTips.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tea---Health-In-A-Cup&id=6581191] Tea - Health In A Cup

Thursday, November 24, 2011

The British Are Coming!

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Hartpence]Chris Hartpence

If you're looking for a unique gift idea to give a friend, family member, or loved one, may I recommend tea? If you live in Europe, then odds are good (or at least, significantly better) that you drink tea at least somewhat regularly, but if you live in the States, you're in a distinct minority if you do.

Regionally, iced tea has a pretty solid stronghold in the American south, but even there, mostly what you get is some variety of orange pekoe, but this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and there are a number of excellent tea blends from Europe that offer a variety of delights to the taste buds.

For the most part, if the person you're considering buying for enjoys a good cup of coffee, you can be fairly well assured they'd enjoy sampling from a variety of teas too. Often, you can find gift baskets or collections of assorted sampler packs that will offer a wide variety of teas for reasonable cost. The upshot to this approach as a gift is that for little money, you will be able to expose your coffee or tea aficionado to a good variety of flavors, and who knows? Your gift might open the door to a new love affair with teas!

Most often, such assortments or sampler packs are thematically arranged. One might feature teas exclusive to the orient, while another might be slanted toward a selection of Irish breakfast teas, or well known blends from around the world, such as Earl Grey tea.

As you are browsing through the possibilities, one thing you'll note is that the British and their near neighbors, while not having a monopoly on the industry, have, in fact, produced a staggering number of blends, and having sampled many, if not most of these, I can tell you that if you haven't tried them, you are missing out! Treat yourself or someone you know to a sampler pack of various teas from around the world. You will be glad you did!

Find out what ELSE you may not know about   Earl Grey Tea and related blends, by visiting us on our website: http://britishshoppe.net/teas/100-earl-grey-tea-50-bags.html

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-British-Are-Coming!&id=6583328] The British Are Coming!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Green Tea Benefits - Prostate Cancer and EGCG

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=William_B_Harrison]William B Harrison

Prostate cancer is a growing problem everywhere, most particularly for men living in the developed world. In the United States, approximately one in six men well be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life, and about one in every thirty-six men will die from it, making it the second leading cause of cancer related death amongst American men. And, as the population ages, it becomes an even greater threat as 80 percent of men 80 years old or older have cancer cells in their prostate. The momentum behind green tea as part of a lifestyle that promotes longevity and aids in disease prevention and management has been picking up very quickly recently, but what hard scientific data exists to suggest that it might stay the scourge of prostate cancer?

Tea, all of it, comes from more or less the same plant. The differences between green tea, black tea, oolong, white tea, or puerh are the mostly the result of growing conditions, processing, as well as the age and origin of the actual plant (from a clone, specific cultivar, etc.). This is of important because the process of making oolong or black tea involves oxidation by bruising, cutting or otherwise compromising the leaves and exposing the oxidative enzymes inside to the air outside, thus the rusty colour and distinctive flavour profiles, but it also has a serious effect on the chemical components of the end product, i.e. what ends up in your cup.

Green tea and white tea varieties are of particular interest when considering potential health benefits, due to green tea's high concentration of the extremely powerful polyphenol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, or EGCG. A mind numbing number of clinical and laboratory studies have been done on EGCG and its effects on human prostate cancer, and produced some VERY encouraging data.

One of the most commonly touted research findings was published in Cancer Letters in 1998 and showed EGCG's ability to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in human prostate carcinoma cells. Many studies have followed that, confirming the results and more closely examining the mechanisms by which it is achieved.

A one year proof of principle study by the Sezione Di Biochimica at the Universita di Parma in Parma, Italy produced some very exciting results. A group of 60 volunteers with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, which is basically a microscopic lesion in the prostate which leads to the development of prostate cancer in 30% of cases, were treated in a double-blind placebo controlled study using 600 mg daily of a green tea catechin extract consisting mostly (51.88%) of EGCG. One year after the first biopsy (when no cancers were present), 9 cancers were found in the 30 participants who had received the placebo(go figure, 30%), while only 1 cancer was found in the group of thirty participants who received the Green Tea Catechins, which is down to about 3.3%!

These are only two examples of hard scientific data suggesting that green tea has some serious potential in the fight against cancer, but they are hardly enough to convince the energetic skeptic. So why stop here? Put the kettle on and get comfortable for some more reading! Knowledge is power and tea is medicine, take all you can get!

For more information on Tea and great deals on Premium High Mountain Tea, direct from source, you can visit William Harrison at his [http://blog.maemawktea.com]blog

Or on [http://www.facebook.com/MaeMawkTea]Facebook

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Green-Tea-Benefits---Prostate-Cancer-and-EGCG&id=6580877] Green Tea Benefits - Prostate Cancer and EGCG

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Can Coffee Makers Be Used to Make Tea?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joyce_Kaaland]Joyce Kaaland

Can coffee makers be used to make tea is almost an odd question. Tea has been made in them for some time and different brands advertise that you can make it in them. What kind of coffee makers can be used and are used to make tea best is the better question.

One cup simple pour-over drip makers often advertise they can make tea. They even offer directions such as in a clean coffee maker, put in a filter and place your loose leaves for one cup or a bag on the filter in the filter basket. Run one cup to one and a half cups of water through the it. To clean the it, discard tea bag and filter, then wash filter basket and the brewed tea container be it a mug or small decanter.

A second question about making tea in a coffee maker is why. There are a number of reasons. One reason has already been answered; it is quick and easy to use one. Another reason is it more economical than boiling water on a stove top kettle. And if you are making just one cup of tea, it is more economical than an electric kettle. For the same length of run time a coffee maker uses 800 watts, while the average amount of watts for an electric kettle is 1200 watts. Tea drinkers who also drink coffee point out the convenience of using one because it is always out on the counter and ready to use for either coffee or tea all the time.

Not only regular tea, but iced tea can be made in a coffee maker. The three methods include using iced tea concentrate, loose tea or using tea bags. Iced tea from concentrate usually comes in three different concentrate levels such as 5 parts liquid to 1 part concentrate, 10 parts liquid to 1 part concentrate or 7 parts to 1 part concentrate. These concentrates come in a wide variety of teas among them are oolong, herbal, chai and green tea as well as a number of fruit flavored ones. To make iced tea with a one cup maker, put the concentrate in the container for the amount of iced tea you want to make. Run the maker for hot water to fill the cup or mug halfway. Add ice cubes and stir to desired strength of iced tea you like. Note: one cup coffee makers make various amounts. Check the amount of hot water the coffee maker makes before brewing.

Some brands actually name their product as a coffee tea and hot chocolate maker. Others state the coffee maker has 4 brewing modes: regular, flavor plus for bold coffee, 1 to 4 cups, and iced coffee or iced tea while another is called a combo brewer for coffee and tea making. Yet, another is called a cold drip coffee and tea maker. Exact recipes for them come with most coffee makers that offer iced tea whether it is for loose tea or bags. If you want a sweetener or milk, be sure it in your container first and then make sure you have enough ice ready to stir into the container. These makers that make iced tea can be from a one cup to a 12 cup and can be a simple pour over model or a programmable digital one.

To answer the question, can   rel=nofollow [http://www.coffeemakersshop.com/product/TFC326_TOASTESS-Black-Coffee-Tea-&-Hot-Chocolate-Maker-1-Cup-with-Mug]coffee makers be used to make tea? Absolutely! Not only can they make hot tea a number of ways, but they can also make iced tea good enough for a tea connoisseur.

CoffeeMakersShop.com offers household coffee making products, electric tea kettles and accessories as well as commercial coffee making equipment from Grindmaster-Cecilware and Bunn along with all there accessories and options. Check us out at: http://www.coffeemakersshop.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Can-Coffee-Makers-Be-Used-to-Make-Tea?&id=6572030] Can Coffee Makers Be Used to Make Tea?

Friday, November 18, 2011

Green Tea Benefits - Heart Disease and Stroke

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=William_B_Harrison]William B Harrison

Green tea is increasingly becoming associated with its health promoting properties, but what can it do it to combat heart disease and strok? Let's look over some of the research being done into the antioxidants and other things found in tea and their use in combating various types of heart disease.

In the United States, Heart disease is the leading cause of death. According to the American Heart Association Statistics Committee, roughly 785,000 Americans had their first coronary attack last year in 2010, and something in the neighborhood of 470,000 had a recurrent attack; nearly one heart attack in the U.S.A. every 25 seconds, and one death every minute.

Scary stuff. So what can tea, be it green, black, white or oolong, do to help? Quite a bit actually

� Cholesterol- Tea has been found to have a number of effects on cholesterol levels in the body. Green tea and white tea, having the most of the catechin EGCG (epi gallo catechin gallate), have been shown to be the most effective. Japanese research indicates that green tea reduces the levels of bad LDL in the blood stream and can actually reduce the risk of heart disease by 36%. Early research shows that the polyphenols in green and white tea can block the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and excrete it from the body. Some animal studies indicate that it might also promote the development of good HDL cholesterol.

� Green tea has also been found to reduce the activity of platelets, which are the agents of the blood that facilitate clotting. This is significant in preventing and managing heart disease and various forms of stroke, as blood that isn't too thick or "sticky" is less likely to clot up and block an artery

� Anti inflammatory- The anti-inflammatory properties of EGCG can be of huge benefit to any healthy dietary regimen, especially as arterial inflammation is thought to play a key role in the development of heart disease.

� EGCG has been found to inhibit lipid peroxidation, a process of oxidation that is involved with several pathologic conditions, most notably atherosclerosis (or hardening of the arteries). Yay antioxidants.

� EGCG has also been found to help people post cardiac attack and prevent the development of a cardiac arrhythmia. It has been found to inhibit the HERG potassium channels, which play a role in cardiac repolarization and are indicated in the cardiac electrical disorder Long QT syndrome (which causes arrhythmias) and extra cardiac tumors.

This is actually only a small part of the massive body of data that is beginning to pile up on the subject of tea and maintaining a healthy heart and circulatory system, but it is certainly enough to make you ask the question "What could it hurt to drink a little tea from time to time?" If you are healthy now, the answer is nothing. But if you are already on medications for heart disease, you should talk to your doctor as some medications are affected by heavy tea intake. Good luck in finding a diet that works for you, with or without tea, and live well!

For more information on Tea and great deals on Premium High Mountain Tea, direct from source, you can visit William Harrison at his [http://blog.maemawktea.com]blog. Or on [http://www.facebook.com/MaeMawkTea]Facebook

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Green-Tea-Benefits---Heart-Disease-and-Stroke&id=6585816] Green Tea Benefits - Heart Disease and Stroke

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Green Tea Benefits - Cancer Prevention and EGCG

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=William_B_Harrison]William B Harrison

Many population studies would suggest that green tea has properties that protect against the development of various cancers and countries that consume green tea on a very regular and frequent basis, like Japan or Taiwan, tend to have lower cancer rates. But these broad sorts of studies and inferences can't tell us for certain whether green tea helps prevent cancer in humans. They can't even prove whether green tea had all that much to do with it or not. However, a flood of new animal and clinical research that has been conducted over the last decade, coupled with this population based data, can help us paint a more complete picture.

Antioxidant compounds in green tea, particularly EGCG(epi gallocatechin gallate), effect different cancers in different ways, here are some examples of studies conducted on bladder cancer and colon cancer;

� Bladder Cancer-

In an issue of Clinical Cancer Research, published February 15th 2005, researchers showed how green tea could prevent the cancer's becoming invasive by affecting the process of actin remodeling. Actin remodeling plays a major role in cell movement and is regulated by a series of signaling pathways, of particular interest is the Rho pathway. By inducing Rho signaling, green tea made the cancer cells more mature and bound them more closely together. Both the maturity of the cells and this binding inhibit their mobility and by dent of that their invasiveness.


� Colorectal Cancer-

Researchers from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University published a study in 2003 of a group of mice predisposed to developing intestinal tumors revealing that after 12 weeks of treatment with green tea had developed significantly fewer tumors than those who had received no treatment.(Carcinogenesis, February 2003)
In research reported by Dr. Hang Xiao from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University during the Sixth International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention (sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research) showed that mice treated with a standardized polyphenol preparation containing mostly EGCG were less than half as likely to develop colon cancer when azoxymethane, a chemical that produces colorectal tumors with many similarities to human colorectal cancer, was introduced into their systems.


"In the control group, 67 percent of rats developed malignant tumors while in the treated group only 27 percent of rats had malignant tumors. Most important, tea polyphenols decreased the number of malignant tumors per rat by 80 percent compared to the control group" said Dr. Xiao in his statement to the conference.

These are two kinds of cancer, with only a few scientific studies to illustrate the efficacy of green tea as a weapon in the fight against them, but the picture these examples start to paint is a very clear and hopeful one. There is a wealth of this research and information on green tea's effect on other sorts of cancers such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, stomach cancer and on and on and on. Knowledge is power and tea is medicine, make sure you have plenty of both and live well!

For more information on Tea and great deals on Premium High Mountain Tea, direct from source, you can visit William Harrison at his [http://blog.maemawktea.com]blog
Or on [http://www.facebook.com/MaeMawkTea]Facebook

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Green-Tea-Benefits---Cancer-Prevention-and-EGCG&id=6585741] Green Tea Benefits - Cancer Prevention and EGCG

Monday, November 14, 2011

3 Ways On How Green Tea Can Help Your Health

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shad_Davis]Shad Davis

More and more people who have a weight problem start turning to green tea. Obesity is a worldwide concern because of the modern lifestyle: always on the run, always stressed, turning to food for comfort. The lack of physical activities is also one factor that encourages weight gain; and unfortunately, the fatter you are the less you are likely to work out.

Liposuction is one solution to the weight gain problem, but there are secondary effects and risk, as with any major surgery. There is another easier, more natural way to get rid of the fat on your body. The solution is Green Tea! This miracle drink is perfect for burning fats and offers you other benefits as well. Used daily, green tea helps your heath in three ways:

1. Encourages the burning of calories - it accelerates the metabolism and so the body burns more calories for everyday activities. This process is called thermogenesis: your body's heat increases, this raises the metabolism which in turn starts to burn more calories.

2. Lowers the appetite- it is great help if you want to control your appetite. The nutrients in this type of tea send signals to the brain and stomach. This lowers the appetite, which means you get rid of cravings and you can finally stick to your new diet.

3. Increases the energy level - it makes you feel more energetic because it contains caffeine. Don't worry, the caffeine content in green tea is lower than that in coffee and it doesn't have any nasty side effects such as headaches or insomnia. This means you have plenty of energy for your daily activities and then some. You can start practicing a sport or start doing some cardio to lose weight even faster.

These three ways Green Tea acts on your health are everything you need to start losing weight. You increase your metabolism to get your fat burning furnace on, you lower your appetite so as not to stray and give in to temptation, plus you increase your energy and you are able to do more in one day, thus burning even more calories. So you may say green tea is the perfect solution to weight loss.

You can start drinking green tea today because it is all natural, it is great when you want to lose weight and it has effects on many other aspects of your health as well. I'm sure you've already heard that this miracle drink helps prevent many types of cancer, well, that is not all.

Green tea is also good for heart conditions, for the brain, for a series of psychological problems, for your skin and hair, for your teeth and breath and for so much more.

For more information about green tea please visit: [http://www.greenteafrenzy.com]http://www.greenteafrenzy.com. It would really be a shame not to take advantage of the miraculous properties of this amazing drink.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Ways-On-How-Green-Tea-Can-Help-Your-Health&id=6582061] 3 Ways On How Green Tea Can Help Your Health

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Green Tea - Why It's So Darn Good For You

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joanna_Al_Sebastian]Joanna Al Sebastian

If you want to be healthy and lose weight, you don't need expensive diets to lose the pounds, the Healthy Green Tea Diet can help you lose weight naturally. You don't need expensive diets to trim your waistline.

Sure there are hundreds of diets available out there. You just have to choose which fits you and your lifestyle. But how do you do that? Lower your fat intake, lower your carbs, count your calories throughout the day. They are all the same.

This is different from the other diets. This is not some fad. This diet has other health benefits aside from helping you succeed in losing weight.

From the name itself, you would probably think that all you really need is to drink a dozen cups of green tea alone. After a couple of days you'll be so sick of it you'll just end up discarding them just like the other diets you have tried before. You need to put some variations on your own green tea. You can also try drinking the capsule version and probably have the same effects. You just have to be more discerning before buying them as some may have side effects.

In any case, the green tea inhibits the creation of insulin that stops the dietary fat. It increases your metabolism similar to what caffeine does. The problem with that is our bodies have become immune to caffeine and a small dosage alone will not have any effect. A recommended intake for the green tea to have its effect is a minimum of 4-5 cups daily.

The healthy green tea and its natural caffeine content have an amazing effect in promoting weight loss. An added benefit also is that it has the most potent anti oxidant (which is believed to be more potent than Vitamins C and E) called the "EGCG". Researchers evaluated how, combined with caffeine, might affect weight loss and more importantly the ability to maintain the weight. According to studies those who took the EGCG/ caffeine during the period of the program continued to lose weight, lose their body fats and increase their metabolism.

The effect is due primarily to its anti-oxidant. What this means to you is that you will definitely lose weight and you can maintain your desired weight.

Thus with this diet, you will have more energy and you can definitely lose weight without exercising. It is of course recommended that you exercise if you want to see a rapid weight loss and better physique.

To discover some of major health benefits of the Healthy Green Tea Diet for weight loss, you can refer to the   rel=nofollow GREEN 4 TEA Diet.

Joanna Sebastian is a freelance blogger and a health enthusiast.

To find out more about the GREEN 4 TEA Diet, you can refer to: http://healthygreentea4diet.blogspot.com/

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Green-Tea---Why-Its-So-Darn-Good-For-You&id=6516578] Green Tea - Why It's So Darn Good For You

Thursday, November 10, 2011

How To Choose The Best White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) Tea

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stella_Yan]Stella Yan

White teas are a type of tea which comes from the Camellia sinensis or tea plant. White teas are very lightly fermented, with little fermentation, producing a light, refreshing mellow liquor which is rich in minerals and anti-oxidants. One popular type is called White Peony Tea, or Bai Mu Dan. White Peony tea is a beautiful white tea which has a very bright colored clear liquor that has no actual Peonies in it, however the aroma has a very light Peony fragrance to it.

It is predominantly produced in the Fujian Province of China, where it is treated with careful, non-intrusive methods of picking, drying and packaging the teas so that they do not break the leaves and their cell structure, so that the beneficial properties of the tea leaves remain intact.

White teas such as Bai Mu Dan have wonderful detoxifying properties as well as being known for helping with stress relief, protecting the body from toxins, helping with toothaches and the prevention of sunstroke, among many other purported health benefits!

While you are brewing your tea, which should be brewed in water that is approximately 75-80 degrees Celsius or 175-180 degrees Fahrenheit, it will unfurl with elegance, showing broad leaves and beautiful white tea buds amongst the water. Because of the aesthetic value of the tea, we recommend using a clear glass cup or teapot to brew your leaves in so that you can experience the full beauty of the White Peony tea.

You should brew your tea for 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like your white tea. The brewed tea is a gorgeous light apricot color which is clear and bright with no impurities. You will notice that the fragrance is meadow-like with a soft aroma of peonies. The flavor itself is smooth, mellow, relaxing and fresh.

As white teas are becoming more popular worldwide, and especially in the United States, you can now find tea shops easily which carry white tea varieties. White Peony tea is one of the most common varieties of white tea, so you can find it now in many places, however you should know how to select a high quality Bai Mu Dan tea, rather than settling for a lower grade. In the remainder of this article, I will teach you to select a high quality top grade White Peony Tea.

Identifying a High Grade White Peony Bai Mu Dan Tea

When selecting a high grade White Peony tea, you need to consider the two most important aspects of selection. The first aspect is the appearance of the dried tea leaves which is a major indicator of how it was processed, and how it will taste after brewing. The second indicator is the experience of the tea itself. Both of these things will allow you to choose a delicious and incredible Bai Mu Dan.

Appearance of the Dried leaves:

In selecting teas, the first thing you should make note of is the appearance of the leaves, and this is especially true of white teas such as White Peony teas. In general, when you are shopping for a high quality White Peony tea, you should look for leaves which are still tender and small, with lots of buds. Having more buds in your Bai Mu Dan is a definite indication that it is high quality. The buds and backs of the leaves should be covered in fine downy hairs that are in good condition.

The leaves themselves should have a consistent color, and should be smooth to the touch, without any impurities or small particles of dust in the tea. Depending on the White Peony tea you select, you should get a clear color while brewing the tea leaves, though some teas produce a darker coloring than others, making the brewed liquor between a light peach color and a dark apricot color.

Be sure to choose your White Peony tea that has one or two leaf buds attached to tippy smooth tender young leaves that should have very strong, stretched thick tips that have a silver tone to them. Inferior or lower quality White Peony teas have thin leaves with less tips and broken leaves. Stay away from these teas as they will not produce a fine, elegant tea like a higher quality Bai Mu Dan will. White Peony tea is so tender and young that it should be consumed as quickly as possible, since the dried tea leaves will go stale or rancid if stored for a long time. You should drink your teas at their freshest, because the older, more cured dried white tea leaves will produce a vastly inferior and almost undrinkable cup.

The White Peony Tea Experience:

Your experience of your White Peony tea is the most important part of the process in selection of white teas. When we speak of the experience of the tea, we mean experiencing the aroma of the brewed tea, the actual liquor the brewed white tea produces and its flavor, and the appearance of the brewed leaves.

After brewing your selected White Peony tea leaves, the first way to experience your white tea is through smelling the aroma of the brewed leaves. The aroma of a very high quality top grade Bai Mu Dan will be lightly floral, but mellow and soothing.

Also pay attention to the appearance of the brewed tea as well. A high grade will have a bright clear apricot color with no cloudiness or impurities. You will also notice that the darker the liquor produced, the lower the quality of the White Peony tea leaves.

Next taste your brewed White Peony tea to experience its actual flavor. The taste should be smooth, relaxing and mellow with subtle nuances and layers to the flavor that hint of floral undertones and slightly smoky nuances. It should not be bitter or astringent, if it is, you have either improperly brewed your White Peony tea or have selected inferior tea leaves. Inferior teas, or leaves that have been stored too long may produce little to no flavor at all. To assure that your dried tea leaves are the most fresh, look at the dried leaves before brewing and make sure that they are well-proportioned with many buds, and have a light, not a dark color. White tea leaves which are broken, mixed or colored black yellow or look as if they were burnt should not be consumed.

Now that you know what to look for in the perfect cup of Tea, you should always choose the most optimal tea leaves and brew your white tea properly so that you can enjoy a fresh, mellow and sweet cup of tea which is relaxing, healthy and rejuvenating! Please read our article on How to Properly Brew White Peony tea   rel=nofollow http://www.teavivre.com/info/guide-to-making-white-peony-tea/ to find more information on the proper brewing of White Peony Bai Mu Dan tea leaves to achieve the perfect cup of tea!

Look at the original article from [http://www.teavivre.com/info/choosing-white-peony-tea/]http://www.teavivre.com/info/choosing-white-peony-tea/.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Choose-The-Best-White-Peony-(Bai-Mu-Dan)-Tea&id=6587803] How To Choose The Best White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) Tea

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Drink Matcha Green Tea To Lose Weight

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dmitry_Fedosev]Dmitry Fedosev

Matcha green tea is a special green tea that is made by finely grinding the whole tea leaves. Before grinding, the leaves are made to grow under the shade. This is what sets apart Matcha green tea from any other form of tea. People in Japan love to drink this tea and it is gaining popularity in other countries of the world at a fast pace. The tea not only tastes awesome but also it has got plenty of health benefits. Here are some of them:

Variety of uses

Other drinking as a tea, the Matcha tea powder is used as an ingredient while making confectioneries and also during the process of baking. It is also used in the preparation of lattes and ice-creams.

Boosts your metabolism

People who have poor metabolism are not physically very active and fit. Drinking Matcha tea is a very good way of normalizing and boosting your metabolism. After drinking this tea, your body will be able to burn calories at a faster rate. One of the main reasons is that this tea is very concentrated as compared with the traditional green tea. 1g of Matcha is equivalent to more than 12 cups of regular green tea.

Helps in managing your weight

As mentioned above, Match helps in boosting our metabolism and in turn it helps in managing our weight. It allows you to shed weight by burning calories. All you need to do is replace your regular cup of tea or coffee and then you will be able to shed off your weight quickly by drinking this tea.

Reduces the levels of cholesterol

If the levels of cholesterol is high, you can suffer from various heart diseases. However, some kinds of cholesterol are good for the body. People who are obese are often known to have higher levels of cholesterol. When you drink the Matcha tea, the levels of cholesterol will keep on decreasing and only the levels of good cholesterol will increase.

Gives you relief from stress

Stress is one thing that can bog you down easily. People do so many things to beat stress but do not get desirable results. The content of L-Theanine is high in the Matcha tea. It helps you beat stress in the most natural way. Even in stressful conditions, you will remain calm. Some people tend to eat to more and gain weight during stressing situations. By drinking white tea, you can ensure that you do not gain weight because of stress.

Finding Match green tea powder is not that easy as compared to regular green tea. However, on the web there are many online shops that sell this tea at attractive prices. [http://www.tealux.ca/matcha_green_tea_powder]Matcha tea. Start drinking tea using [http://www.tealux.ca/matcha_green_tea_powder]Matcha green tea powder for lose weight today!

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Drink-Matcha-Green-Tea-To-Lose-Weight&id=6594771] Drink Matcha Green Tea To Lose Weight

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Little Known Health Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dave_K._Richards]Dave K. Richards

The camellia sinensis leaves are used to make green tea go through minimal stages when being processed. This tea comes from China and it is part of the cultures in the East. It is popular in countries such as South Korea, Japan and the Middle East.

Recently its popularity has spread beyond Asia to other countries in the west where black tea was more popular in the past. There are other countries apart from china that grow and process green tea. The types of tea produced in different countries differ because of different weather conditions, harvesting period as well as the process of production.

One of the main reasons that make green tea very popular in the east and more recently in the west is its medicinal value. Many scientists have been carrying out tests to try and prove the health benefits of this type of tea for over twenty years now. Some of the findings have indicated that people who drink this kind of tea are less susceptible to some types of cancer and heart disease. This tea has also been associated with weight loss. It contains caffeine and polyphenols which cause thermo genesis and oxidation of fat which raises the rate of metabolism without affecting the heart rate.

Tea as a beverage was accidentally discovered in China many years ago. Many parts of Asia use green tea as a beverage and medicine. In countries like Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand and Japan it has been used as a remedy for problems such as high or low blood sugar, indigestion, wounds and fever. In 1191, a Zen priest called Eisai wrote the Kissa Yojoki or 'the book of tea'.

The book is about the health benefits of tea which include curing hangovers, increasing alertness, helping one relax, getting rid of thirst, increasing urinary function and also acting as a stimulant. The book is in two parts. The first part describes the appearance of the tea plant such as the leaves, the flower, and the shape of the bush.

The second part explains the dosage for the different ailments. Although tea is said to cure many different diseases such as beriberi disease and many others, these claims are not scientifically proven. Some of the claims that are unproven include: prevention of cancer and even in some cases curing some forms of cancer. Green tea has also been said to treat multiple sclerosis. Another claim that is yet to be proven is whether or not it can cause weight loss.

Green tea has caffeine that is equal to a third of the amount found in coffee. This is a fact that many people are unaware of. There are negative effects of taking too much caffeine such as insomnia, nausea and frequent urination. There are varieties that do not contain caffeine and one should always check the package if they wish to take to have the one without caffeine.

One thing that is confusing about the caffeine content in coffee and tea is that tea has more caffeine when dry but after brewing coffee has more caffeine. Besides its medicinal benefits, green tea is a good and refreshing beverage.

Dave Richards is a tea expert. For more great tips on [http://teahealthtips.com/tea-health-benefits]tea health benefits, visit [http://teahealthtips.com]http://teahealthtips.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Little-Known-Health-Benefits-Of-Drinking-Green-Tea&id=6571939] The Little Known Health Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea

Friday, November 4, 2011

What Is Chamomile Tea Good For?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lynne_Evans]Lynne Evans

If you are or were a fan of the Peter Rabbit stories by Beatrix Potter you will know that Peter's mother gave him chamomile tea after he had eaten too many vegetables in Mr. McGregor's garden and so had a stomach ache. Chamomile tea, or tisane can calm a troubled stomach and works very well for period pains and the irritability associated with PMS/PMT. It can ease the pain of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and colon pains- I have a spastic colon and it certainly helps with that.

The word tea is perhaps misleading as no tea is used to make this drink; chamomile tisane is perhaps a better term for this drink. It is soothing and not only does it clam a troubled stomach, but it also soothes frazzled nerves- just the thing after a hard day's work or if you want a nightcap which won't keep you awake. Even without clinical trials and supporting evidence, if you take chamomile tisane before going to bed you should sleep soundly. It has a mild sedative effect and soothes the mind and body.

You can make a tisane with an ounce of the chopped fresh tops of the plant, leaves and flowers to one pint of boiling water. Pour the water over the herb and leaves to steep for 15 minutes. After that strain the liquid and drink a cup of it having added a little honey to sweeten it.

The tisane is also useful minus the honey to soothe the skin. If you have an itchy rash, chamomile tea will help if you dab it onto the affected area with cotton wool. It is also useful if you get sunburned and will soothe your burning skin.

If you have blonds hair you can lighten it with a decoction of chamomile made in the same way as the tisane, but boiling the herb in the water until the liquid has reduced by half. Use the water as a rinse to highlight your hair and make it shine.

The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans made poultices with the flowering tops to speed up the wound healing process. The tisane can help in the management of diabetes, but you should not use it if you are allergic to members of the daisy family.

Some clinical trials seem to point to the possibility that chamomile extracts can help treat some cancerous cells, but research is ongoing and no conclusions have been reached. It can, however boost the immune system and help to prevent colds and winter chills. If you have a cold it will help it go away more quickly and you will feel better after drinking a cup of warm chamomile tisane.

If you buy dried chamomile then ask for manzanilla or German chamomile, although other varieties will do. If you have some in your garden, harvest it when it is in flower and hang it up to dry in a warm area where there is plenty of air - a kitchen is usually fine.

Be prepared for winter and start having a daily cup of chamomile tea now for a healthier you this winter. http://www.herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com If you enjoyed this article why not check out this website which has information about different spices, how to make herbal teas and when to use them. It has information about many plants used in traditional medicine systems in Europe and Asia, as well as recipes to try. Why not click on the link to see what it is all about?

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-Chamomile-Tea-Good-For?&id=6609149] What Is Chamomile Tea Good For?

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Does Tea Help You Lose Weight?

 By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matt_C_McClure]Matt C McClure   "Does Tea Help You Lose Weight?"
This actually is somewhat of a tricky question, because as simple as it sounds it can't be answered with a simple yes, or no. This is because the answer is yes and no, and maybe all at the same time. How about I share with you how tea can actually help you lose weight.  With this said, do you want the real truth of what tea can and can't do for you...then keep reading.   Alright, for starters let's begin with why Tea doesn't help you lose weight:  *Tea does not help you lose weight if your are still eating the same foods that are responsible for that extra body fat on your body  Tea won't help you with weight loss if your don't change "the core" of your diet. You see we have the body fat we have on now, because of dietary habits. You are what you eat, and if you do not change this, then it doesn't matter how much Tea you drink, because you will not lose the weight.   � Tea also does not help you with burning fat off your body, unless...  You are drinking the right type of tea... The tea you are looking for, comes from a Tea plant with the scientific name "Camellia Sinensis," if you are not drinking this kind of tea, then you are missing out on the thermogenic, metabolism boosting/ fat burning potential that a glass of tea has to offer you...  So a lot of those herbal teas out there on the market do not contain this plant ingredient. In addition, some of the products out there that do contain it, contain a very low potency per serving size. So if you are shopping for tea, and you buy the cheapest stuff, you general get what you pay for - non-optimum results...  Alright enough with why tea does not help you lose weight, let's get to the good part....  Why Tea Does Help You With Weight Loss  I can summarize it with 3 principles:   *Thermogenic Properties *Alkalinity Balancing *Antioxidants vs. Toxins  The first one I mentioned above is Thermogenics. This is the concept of creating more heat in the body. In terms of weight loss, what happens is that your "free fatty acids," (a.k.a your unwanted fat cells), start breaking down in your body to be used as fuel instead of just stored fat.  Not only does it help boost your fat burning potential, it doubles your energy from using up fat as a fuel source and the extra dose of energy that comes along from Camelia Sinesis Tea's Caffeine.  In addition, if you drink a high quality tea, it can act as an anti-calorie drink. Try drinking a cup of tea and letting it burn 80 calories for you. That is the potential of a thermogenic camellia sinensis tea.   My next point: Alkalinity and Weight Loss (using Tea)  This one is HUGE... Actually I should say that it gets rid of the HUGENESS and allows you to rid yourself of stubborn fat.  You see have you ever heard someone say they have tried everything to lose weight, but "No Luck," because it didn't work... "Must be genetics."  More often than not it is not genetics it is diet and your body alkalinity.   You see everyone has a PH balance in their body. The problem is that most people, especially in the United States are highly acidic rather than being alkaline.  In America, we eat a lot of processed foods, and we leave out the greens, veggies, and all the good natural stuff. Thus, putting our bodies into an acidic state.   Now What Happens With Weight Loss When You Are Too Acidic?  Your body typically holds onto fat. You see it starts storing the excess acids in your body in your fat cells. This acts a force field buffer, to protect your vital organs from being damaged by the acid.   So if you do not balance out your alkalinity it may be difficult to lose all the body fat you want to. My recommendation is to start learning about alkalizing food, and make adjustments. In addition, most alkalizing foods, by themselves are great weight loss foods...   By the way, Tea is highly alkaline, so it definitely helps the process. This also why I prefer tea or coffee. Coffee is highly acidic, which does not make it the weight loss beverage of choice.  Why Not Kill 2 birds with one stone by eating & drinking low calorie alkaline foods; ultimately, becoming in an alkaline state so you burn fat, and increase your health dramatically.   Which brings me to a quick side point: Alkalinity and health... I saw a study based on 1,718 cancer patients... Out of these 47% had a ph level of 4.5, and the rest of the majority fell somewhere below a ph level of 6. For optimum health, your body ph needs to be slightly alkaline at 7.4... Based on research, keeping your body at this state can be quite preventative in regards to cancer and other diseases.   Avoid Cancer, Burn Fat, Be Healthy... Why Not? You cast the vote every time you put something into your mouth.   Alright, let me get to my last point of why tea does help you lose weight...  Last Point: Phytonutrients and Toxins...  You see tea is packed full of phytonutrients, some of these phytonutrients are the well known Antioxidants you probably have heard about.   Check this out, another reason why people have a hard time losing weight is because they have toxins surrounding their fat cells. If you want to get rid of the fat, you want to get rid of the toxins.   Tea helps with this because the antioxidants from tea help combat the free radicals and toxins in your body. Pretty simple, right?   Now Back to the beginning...  Does tea make you lose weight?   I would say yes, as long as you are eating a diet that is alkaline, balanced, and in the proper calorie range. If you would like some more helpful weight loss tricks, keep checking out   rel=nofollow http://thewellnessmatt.com.  Check out http://thewellnessmatt.com for more helpful wellness tips, tricks, and other techniques...  Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Does-Tea-Help-You-Lose-Weight?&id=6616385] Does Tea Help You Lose Weight?