goji berries health Updates

goji berries healthOolong Tea - A Healthy Refreshing Drink

Green tea is often touted as a wonder drink providing all sorts of health benefits. Studies have shown that green tea can prevent cancer, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system and reduce hypertension. Although green tea gets the spotlight, many of these same health benefits can be attributed to all sorts of tea including oolong.

Tea is, after all, tea. The only difference between green, oolong, and black tea is the way it has been processed after harvesting. White tea is a little bit different because of the way it is grown, but all tea is from the same plant - Camelia sinensis. And this plant has naturally occurring antioxidants that are beneficial to human health.

Antioxidants are also present in other types of food such as nuts, fruits, vegetables, and wines. They are good for disease prevention by combating free radicals - substances in the body linked to cancer, Parkinson's disease, senile and drug-induced deafness, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's.

There are several components in tea that act as antioxidants including catechins, flavanoids, and polyphenols.

White, Green or Oolong?

Oolong tea is produced by allowing the tea leaves to oxidize for a short time after picking. Oxidation is the process which makes the leaves turn dark on exposure to oxygen. Oolong is semi-oxidized; black tea is fully oxidized; and green tea is un-oxidized.

Fresh tea leaves are high in catechins. Processing the tea reduces these levels, so the more the tea is oxidized the lower the catechin levels. This means that white tea has the highest levels of catechins closely followed by green tea.

Catechins are the media darling of green tea promoters and usually receive the most coverage when discussing the health benefits of tea. There is one point, however, which is often overlooked: As the levels of catechins decrease during oxidation, the levels of theaflavins and thearubigins increase.

These two substances are found in higher concentrations in oolong and black tea than in green tea and have anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. A 2001 Chinese study indicated that the antioxidant properties of green tea and black tea are equal.

So it appears that oxidation does not eliminate the health properties of tea, but simply reduces one type of antioxidant while increasing other health-promoting compounds.

So is Oolong Good for You?

It is safe to say that all tea is good for you, but since we are particularly interested in oolong, let's see what the medical literature has to say.

• Diabetes - Oolong tea may be an effective adjunct to oral hypoglycemic agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
• Eczema - Japanese researchers reported that patients with a form of eczema improved after drinking a liter of oolong tea daily.
• Allergies - Two catechin derivatives (C-1 and C-2) with potent antiallergic activity were isolated from Taiwanese oolong tea.
• Bacterial infections - Oolong tea polyphenols strongly inhibited the enzyme activities of some types of streptococci.
• Cavities - Oolong tea polyphenolic compounds could be useful for controlling dental caries.
• Obesity - Consumption of oolong tea stimulates both EE and fat oxidation in normal weight men.
• Cancer - Oolong tea extract has a chemopreventive action against hepatocarcinogenesis.

Great stuff! Drinking oolong tea will make you healthier, live longer, be more beautiful and have great teeth!

The Bottom Line

Drink oolong tea for your health, but don't lose sight of this simple fact - people have been drinking tea for thousands of years because it is a great tasting beverage. Sit back, relax, and savour the sensations as you sip this wonderful drink. It's good for the soul, and what's good for the soul is certainly good for the body. __________________________________

References:

• J. Agric. Food Chem., 47 (5), 1906 -1910, 1999. 10.1021/jf981114l S0021-8561(98)01114-5
• Archives of Dermatology, January 2001
• Diabetes Care 26:1714-1718, 2003
• Appl Environ Microbiol. 1993 April; 59(4): 968-973.
• The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 131:2848-2852, November 2001
• Caries Res. 1993;27(2):124-9.
• Jpn J Cancer Res. 1996 Oct;87(10):1034-8.
• Journal of Nutrition. 2001;131:2248-2251.

Copyright � 2006 by Ross MacIver TeaFromTaiwan.com

This article may be redistributed freely on the Internet or in ezines as long as the resource box and hyperlinks remain intact.

Ross MacIver is the webmaster of Tea From Taiwan, a Taiwan-based merchant of high-quality oolong tea. Taiwan produces the best oolong tea in the world. All the tea carried by Tea From Taiwan is hand picked and hand processed. The tea is shipped worldwide by Taiwan air post.

Losing It My Way!

Diets! We all have been on one from time to time and some of us never get off trying different diets in hopes of shedding the excess pounds. We often talk about the perfect diet for ourselves and the best way to keep our energy up when we workout (workout nutrition). After reading many opinions on this subject I have come to a conclusion that there is a difference between the perfect regimen and the perfect regimen for YOU!

I am not talking about the diet that creates the best physical response. We all can agree on that some dietary practices are very close to perfect, but either people don�t stick to them because these diets are too strict or remove the foods that you love to eat from the diet.

We all have heard the phrase "The best diet is the one that you will stick with." But yet most do not follow this simple rule that is needed to keep off the pounds for life.

Pick out a diet book/program and try to follow it to the letter and I guarantee you that within a week you�ll either have quit the program or moved on to another program. You will only last so long doing a diet just as it is, everyone must take a diet and make it their own.

Over the past two years I have been on a journey to designing a diet that both I can stick with and a diet that my body absolutely loves and gives me the needed energy to do my workouts and see the results I desire out of my daily efforts.

• I rely on chicken, turkey, beef, tuna and eggs as my main protein sources with small amounts of whey protein around my workouts and evening snack. I could do better in variety of course but this is what works for me and it�s easier to meal plan.

• One thing that I have learned over these two years is if the food tastes too good I will overeat it! One of my strategies is to not make my meals too tasty but keep them edible this prevents me from overeating and keep me accountable to my goals better.

• Most of the time I eat the exact same foods every day, I know not too tasty and its boring but its edible, easier to prepare, I can cook in bulk and this saves me time for the more important things in life such as caring for my parents.

• Since my carbohydrate tolerance is very low I do need to watch how many grams I consume of carbohydrates each day this ensures that my performance does not decline and my body is a happy camper. I also need to limit my fruit intake as this triggers my body to pack on the body fat.

• When I travel I either take almonds or a protein bar with me, this has saved me money and has kept me accountable to my goals and most importantly my love for fast foods has been diminished and that�s a very good thing!

That's my top 5 things that I do to make a diet my own. Curious what you all do make your diet your own.

Conclusions?

I believe that a person needs to establish the amount of calories he/she needs to eat to maintain there weight and fuel up workouts this will make it easier for the person to shed the pounds more effectively after all it�s the energy balance equation we are looking for, eat too many calories then what your body burns and you will gain body fat burn more calories then what you consume and you will lose body fat it is simple but most people don�t use the energy balance theory.

Some people can eat many things, many people can only eat some things, a few people can eat anything, any people can eat a few things and all people have to figure out for themselves what things they can and can't eat. I can't tell you what will work for you and personally I'm not listening to anyone else but my own good judgment for myself and what my body tells me. It's worked pretty well for me going on two years now.

Nelson Roque is a Fitness/Body Mind Weight Loss Mentor who has lost 75 lbs; he is also a sports nutritionist who focuses on total body well-being.

For more information please visit the following website for daily inspiration and motivation to get your journey of a healthy active lifestyle started.

http://www.theweightingroom.com

If you have any questions, concerns or need help with getting motivated / inspired you may contact me at nelson@theweightingroom.com

Top 3 Drinks to Carry in a Hip Flask

A hip flask is a very convenient and discrete way of carrying alcohol around. Made of silver or chromed metal with a leather cover, it is a classy way of drinking outside the house. After getting one, the first question a person will ask is: �What will I put in it?� Here are some drinks that will make any hip flask worth carrying around.

Vodka

On a hot summer day, the taste of chilled vodka will make any hip flask priceless. Being one of most popular distilled drink, it comes in a lot of different flavors. People who love the taste of citrus can go for a Kubanskaya which is made up of an infusion of dried lemon and orange peels or a Limonnaya which has a hint of lemon flavor.

For the folks who want to get a kick from their drink, they can opt for some Okhotnichya or Pertskova. Okhotnichya is a unique drink that is made by combining coffee, lemon peel, anise, cloves, ginger and other herbs and spices with sugar and a hint of wine. Petrovska, on the other hand, consists of black peppercorns and red chilli peppers.

For those who would like to have a taste of a classic drink, he can try some Starka which has been passed down from the early centuries of vodka production. This type of vodka can be mixed with brandy, port and dried fruit. It can even be mixed with infusions from fruit tree leaves. Some brands of Starka are even aged in oak casks.

Irish Whiskey

There is a reason why this is called �The Water of Life� by the Irish. As a matter of fact, as much as many Scots may hate to admit it, they learned the art of distillation from the Irish. And, it was said that the Irish learned how to make this from monks who create distilled drinks with curative powers. Made from grains and fruits, this drink is made for royalty. Anyone who would like to have a taste of the liquor that was enjoyed by the Tudor kings and in the court of Queen Elizabeth I wherever they go should have some of this drink in his flask.

Scotch Whiskey

Aged in oak barrels, this smooth and aromatic beverage can make any hip flask a blessing. Scotch whiskey is made from barley malt which has been dried over fires and stirred with dried peat that consists of grass and heather compost, giving it a smoky flavor. Some whiskies are made from wheat, corn and a small percentage of barley. There are many types of whiskey available in the market. The most popular kinds are either triple distilled or double distilled in pot stills. And, these are commonly a blend of grain whiskey and malt whiskey. For a taste of something unique, one can opt for a single malt whiskey that is made up of a combination of malt whiskies that have been made in different years.

With so many choices that can match a person�s style and taste, the different kinds of alcohol included in this list will make any hip flask an asset.

Looking for hip flasks? Visit ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com! You can also choose from a selection of ring bearer gifts and wedding party gifts.

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The latest Informaiton on Natural Healing

goji berries ukHealth Myths To Avoid Like The Plague

Everybody has their own little things that they swear by when it comes to maintaining good health. Many of these things they came up with on their own but most come from the propaganda that we're subjected to on the tube each night during the evening news or during the latest infomercial on how to get rid of your gout. It never ceases to amaze me the things that people will believe. Well, this article is going to blow the whistle on some of those health myths that many of us take as the gospel. It just ain't so.

One of the worst myths that seems to resurface now and then is the one that says taking a drink with dinner, they're talking about white wine and not hard liquor, is actually good for you and will help you live longer. Bull cookies. Alcohol has absolutely NO medicinal value and does nothing but destroy your brain cells, a little bit at a time. The person who came up with this cockamamie story must have worked at a winery or something. Alcohol is not going to lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, make you live longer or do anything good for you.

Here's another one that I love. Ever see those commercials about milk doing a body good? Well, let me tell you, pasteurized milk is not all that good for you. The problem is actually two-fold. The first problem is with the pasteurization process itself. The second problem is because the health of most cows is far from optimal. Combine these two things together and you end up with a product that is not any better for you than a pot of coffee.

Here's one that you're going to love. Low fat diets are supposed to be good for you. Well, think again. Now, I'm not saying to pig out on Burger King Whoppers all day long, but the truth about low fat diets is far from the myth that they're pawning off on us. See, the truth is, your body needs a certain amount of fat to function properly. Fat aids in blood clotting, vitamin absorption and brain function. The fat content in these low far diets is too low to aid in these functions. As a result, what happens when we eat a low fat diet is that we end up with blood that doesn't clot properly, a body that doesn't absorb vitamins, thus leaving us malnutritioned, and a brain that has essentially turned to mush. Why do you think it is that you feel so run down after eating these low fat meals and living on them for so long?

These few items are just the start. I'll have more in future articles. In the meantime, make sure you get the facts on diets and foods.

What you hear isn't always the truth.

To YOUR Health,

Steve Wagner

For natural treatments to a number of ailments, visit our website at http://www.natures-healing-remedies.com/ where you can get a free report on how the drug companies are killing us as well as get a 52 week series on a different ailment and treatment each week.

How to Use Flax Seed

You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to chew them good to break them up. Your stomach will not dissolve whole flax seeds and many of them will come out in your stools. Chew about a tablespoon in the morning. Then drink 8 oz of water. Make sure if you chew flax seeds that you drink water since the seed expand and become gelatinous.

There are brown and golden colored flax seeds. The golden cost more but there is not difference in their nutritional value.

You can grind them up in a grinder and add them to your smoothies. It is best not to use them in any cooking recipes. Heat destroys the value of the flax oil and makes it toxic.

I don�t recommend you buy ground up flax seeds as found on websites or in health food stores. Once you grind your flax seeds, you need to use them in your drinks or food soon after grinding so they don�t lose their nutritive value.

Even though Nutri Flax, ground up flax seed, is packaged so the flax seeds don�t see light or oxygen, what happens when you open the package? These flax seeds are going to be exposed to oxygen and light and as time passes they will become oxidized.

It only takes 10 to 15 minutes in light and oxygen for the ground up flax seeds to become oxidized and lose it nutritive value.

So if you decided to use pre-grounded flax seed like it Nutri Flax, store it in your refrigerator immediately after it is opened and used to minimize its oxidation.

Web Link for Nutri Flax

http://www.prolithic.com/hpages/efoods/nutrflax.ht ml

Flax seeds are composed of,

�41% fat � fifty seven % is omega 3

�18 % is monounsaturated

�16% is omega 6

�9% is saturated

�20% is protein

�7% is moisture

Daily requirements of the essential fatty acids

Daily most people require up to 3-6 grams of linoleic � omega-6 fatty acid And 1.5-3 grams of linolenic � omega-3 fatty acid

For treatment of specific diseases, increase amounts of these fatty acids are required. The actual amounts will depend on the type of illness, the health of the individual, and the diet that they eat. A guideline to the amount needed is,

.Linoleic � omega-6 (9-30 grams per day)

.Linolenic � omega-3 (6 grams per day)

Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. For more information on the essential fatty acids go to: http://www.fatty-acid-remedies.for--you.info

Wedding Cake - Food for Thought on Your Big Day!

Besides the bride�s dress, few things at a wedding receive more "ooohs" and "aaahs" than the wedding cake. On a day full of symbols and rituals, everybody, from Grandma Betsy to little Buddy, your ring bearer, will recall how lovely the cake looked � although Buddy may only remember if he got seconds!

What you want to avoid is choosing a wedding cake that might end up on YouTube as a wedding blooper. I once went to a wedding where the bride chose a stylishly elegant ice cream cake.

This still makes my list of �most memorable wedding cakes� because no one thought to take the frozen-hard-as-a-rock cake from the freezer beforehand and serving the guests involved an ice pick and a hammer. Now that was memorable!

To make sure your cake is as perfect as your dress and your groom, consider these things:

How large should it be?

The wedding cake of Britain�s Queen Victoria and Prince Albert weighed 300 pounds and was nine feet around. While yours may not be that weighty, by adding more tiers to the cake, it�s possible to serve as many guests as you�d like. Since the tiers symbolize prosperity � the more the better!

Don�t choose an ice cream cake in July!

Which season is your big day taking place? Summer is a popular time to get married but some cakes, like the previously mentioned ice cream cake, wouldn�t work for an outdoor June wedding.

Likewise, a cake with buttercream icing might not work in summer�s soaring temperatures as it tends to melt - and there�s nothing worse than a melting wedding cake!

Summer might be a great time, though, to decorate the cake with real flowers or fruit in season, like strawberries or peaches. For winter, try a carrot or spice cake with cream cheese filling.

Which decorations are best for you?

White icing is traditional and symbolizes purity, but these days your cake can go wherever your imagination takes you.

Are you and your spouse avid bungee jumpers? Will your pet schnauzers be standing up with you?

Maybe you�re a little more traditional and would like the wedding cake to match the color in your bridesmaids� dresses or to fit the lacy, elegant Victorian theme you�ve chosen.

Other options for decorating the cake include cake jewelry, which you can save as a souvenir of the day, silk flowers or even real flowers, which are very popular. Your wedding cake can be sweet and simple, sleek and modern, or frilly and fussy, depending on your individual tastes.

How Much Should You Spend?

Like the ring, the dress and the reception, wedding cakes also come in all price ranges. One of the determining factors of the price of your cake is the quality of ingredients. More expensive cakes will probably be baked from scratch with fresh ingredients.

Of course, size and amount of labor involved in decorating will also affect cost. A high priced baker may charge up to $8 to $10 a head.

If cost is a factor in your wedding budget, you might want to consider making your own cake. One word of caution, practice beforehand allowing plenty of time to create a cake you will enjoy looking at in your wedding photos.

When choosing a wedding cake recipe, be sure it has the buoyancy and mass needed to support multiple cake tiers stacked one on top of each other. Here is a recipe that fills the bill:

Classic White Cake

6 cups sifted cake flour

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups butter or margarine

3 cups sugar

2 cups milk

1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

12 egg whites

Preheat oven to 325�F. Grease bottom of pans and line with waxed paper. Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Set aside. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Set aside.

With a mixer at slow speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with the milk. Beat well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Gently fold egg whites into batter.

Pour into prepared pans. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Makes 12 cups batter.

This delicious cake recipe comes from �Cake Decorating Made Easy!� One reader had this to say about our Video Books:

"I have already recommended your video books. ...it is very easy to learn how to make the flowers and borders and how to make fondant and smooth a cake, and worth every penny."

C. Schlein

Casselberry, FL

It was once the custom, rather than eating the wedding cake, for guests to throw pieces of it at the bride.

Happily, those days are gone!

Samantha Mitchell, Co-Author Cake Decorating Made Easy! Vol. 1 & 2 The World's First Cake Decorating Video Books. For more recipes and decorating tips (from our �Cake Decorating Made Easy!" Video Books) to help you create a cake you�ll love as much as your future husband, sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.CakeAnswers.com

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