Green Tea and Cancer Prevention - Does it Really Help?

Do you know that the chances of an average American getting cancer has risen in the past few years from 1 in 12 to 1 in 3? Shocking but true.

The unfortunate part is that even with numerous advancements in science and technology, cancer is one ailment which still remains invincible. There is no sure shot cure yet. But wait, there is one easy and natural way to prevent this fatal disease - Green Tea.

Green tea and cancer prevention has been getting all the due attention in the past few years. After all, if all it takes to keep oneself away from cancer is to consume this herbal tea, who would say no to such a pleasant offer?

How green tea and cancer prevention works?

This herbal tea is a rich source of active ingredients called Polyphenols. These Polyphenols have wonderful antibacterial, antioxidant and anti cancer properties. They work by killing the free radicals which are basically responsible for causing majority of diseases.

Its anti cancerous properties prevent the abnormal growth of cells which is the underlying cause of cancer.

The best part about this medicinal herb is that it aids against all types of cancers - breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer etc.

Now, the only practical problem here is consuming this tea on a regular basis.

To get the required amount of Polyphenols for effective cancer prevention, you would need to consume at least 5-6 cups of this beverage daily. This is practically difficult and monotonous too.

So, why not look out for a better option - Natural green tea supplements.

These supplements contain the concentrated form of this medicinal tea. So all you need to do is to take 1-2 capsules a day and relieve yourself from all your health related worries.

Another advantage with these supplements is that they facilitate the regular and optimal intake of this amazing herb.

When you set out to buy these supplements, make sure to pick the one which comes with an enteric coating. The benefit of this coating is that it saves the supplement from getting dissolved in the acids present in the stomach.

On reaching the small intestine intact, it gets fully absorbed and hence the body can receive the full effects of the active ingredients present in this tea.

So, there you have it. Now, you know the close relation between green tea and cancer prevention. I am sure you will ensure taking the right steps to protect your family from this fatal disease.

If you need my assistance in selecting an effective natural green tea supplement for you, visit my website listed below. After knowing about green tea and cancer prevention, ignoring this would be a big mistake.

Dan Reeves is a dedicated advocate and researcher of the incredible benefits that natural supplements have to offer. Visit his website http://www.supplementshome.com now and discover which products Dan recommends after extensive research.

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Black Tea and Its Amazing Health Benefits

Even though the field of tea research is comparatively very young and majority of the research has been conducted over green tea. Besides green tea, researchers and scientists have diversified and started exploring health benefits of black tea as well. The main difference between green tea and black leaf tea is that, the later is put through fermentation process. The process of fermentation converts the antioxidants present into other compounds, which provides different but no less health benefits than green tea.

A research conducted in Netherlands over a period of fifteen years, studied on about 552 people on supervising the health benefits of particular flavonoids, found that more than seventy percent of the flavonoids came from black tea. The results of the research indicated that, production of certain kind of cholesterol called "LDL cholesterol", which are believed to be the main cause of heart strokes and attacks have decreased with regular intake of flavonoids. It also additionally concluded that men drinking four to five cups of black tea per day had a lowered risk of heart attack when compared to men drinking two cups a day.

A study conducted in Saudi Arabia concluded that, there is a fifty percent reduced chance of coronary heart diseases to people who consumed black leaf tea. There are numerous health benefits of consuming black tea.

Some of them are:
• Black leaf tea has well authenticated cardiovascular benefits.
• Research also illustrate that drinking black tea can be helpful in deactivating certain kinds of mouth viruses such as herpes (also known as cold sores).
• It helps prevention of diarrhea, pneumonia and many varieties of skin infections.
• Consuming black tea increases the rate of metabolism in human body and burns a lot of fat.
• The fluoride content of black leaf tea strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent tooth decay.
• It helps to decrease glucose levels in the body, which helps people suffering from diabetes.

The antioxidants called TF-2 produced by black tea aids preventing and fighting cancers. TF-2 is a strong antioxidant which breaks down the cancerous cells and leaves the healthy cells unaltered. Many scientists' make a disclaimer that some more research needs to be conducted for a solid proof of these statements. By drinking the black tea with out any additions, the health benefits are sure to increase.

Black leaf tea is becoming more and more popular these days because of its health benefits. If you are a tea consumer, why not try consuming black leaf tea? Give it a try and check if it helps in improving your health condition.

Olivia has been writing articles on many subjects for 2 decades. You can see some of them at Sorel Winter Boots and Kitchenaid Meat Grinder.

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Health Benefits of Tea Flowers and Mindfulness Exercises

The Use of Flowers and Herbs in Eastern and Early Western Medicine:

Eastern medicine and even early Western medicine utilized the various benefits experienced through the use of herbs and flowers. Today, many of these benefits are combined in blooming tea, a tea brewed from tea balls or tea flowers.

What is a Tea Flower?

A tea flower is the same as a tea ball, hand sewn leaves of usually green or white tea that surround a colorful flower that blooms when you drop it in hot water. Thus the name blooming tea. Both flowers and tea are healthy and tasty.

What kinds of Flowering Tea are there?

There are a variety of these tea balls made from different tea leaves and containing different flowers, each with a distinct and beautiful effect. The flowers that bloom within the tea balls enhance the benefits of drinking tea while providing aroma that is therapeutic as well. Each variety of flower has its own special benefits that include many antioxidant qualities.

Herbal versus "True" Tea:

All types of "true" tea (as opposed to herbal tea) come from the same plant - Camellia sinensis. Herbal teas come from various herbs that may be brewed like tea, but are not from the same plant as real tea. The major difference between black tea, green tea, and oolong tea is how the leaves are processed after they are picked.

Green and White Tea:

Both Green and White tea contain polyphenols. Phenols (a chemical compound containing an aromatic benzene ring with a hydroxyl group (OH) attached) are potent antioxidants that attach to free radicals in your body helping to neutralize the free radical negative effects.

White tea seems to have more polyphenols and is considered a cancer-fighting antioxidant. Research at Pace University has shown that white tea extract may actually help retard the growth of bacteria that cause staphylococcus infections, pneumonia and dental cavities. Researchers say that white tea may destroy the disease-causing organisms.

Compounds in white tea have also been found to be effective in enhancing skin cells' immune functions and in protecting the skin from harmful effects of the sun.

Green tea offers many health benefits for those who drink it regularly. Besides offering antioxidant benefits, green tea is believed by many to be excellent as a weight loss supplement Regular use of green tea is an accepted, healthy habit..

Flowers in Blooming Tea:

There are a number of flowers and flower combinations used in tea flowers. Their flavors and aromas vary and enhance the experience through color and beauty thus accommodating your mood.

Benefits include the presence of antioxidants that, as in green and white tea, reduce levels of damaging free radicals that in turn help prevent aging and aid in a number of other areas of health. Flowers are caffeine free whereas green and white tea contain caffeine.

A few of the types of flowers used in blooming tea include osmanthus, lily, jasmine, rose, chrysanthemum, magnolia, globe amaranth, peony, carnation and others. To understand more about the health benefits of tea flowers and where to obtain them, visit A Tea Flower Moment.

Mindfulness and taking tea:

In today's hustle, bustle world, where each day we must deal with a damaged economy and violence whether in the media, on the street or at home, stress has become a major factor in our deteriorating health. Stress reduction is important due to the damaging effects it has on our bodies.

Stress causes the inappropriate release of adrenaline which in turn causes the heart to beat faster and harder, shunts blood to certain organs and muscles at the expense of other organs, and changes hormones, specifically cortisol, a hormone that is important in fat, sugar and protein metabolism. A simple habit started hundreds of years ago in England and thousands of years ago in Asia, combined with making the most of the moment through mindfulness exercises can combat the effects of stress.

A Tea Flower Moment is a website dedicated to helping people navigate their daily stresses without experiencing the often devastating effects of stress. By teaching mindfulness exercises, giving helpful daily tips on mindful living and encouraging the healthy daily habit of enjoying the beauty of blooming tea in a peaceful environment, you combine goodness for your body with goodness for your soul.

A Tea Flower Moment Club offers membership for monthly shipments of tea flowers to encourage keeping the daily healthy habit and mindfulness exercises. Products for creating the perfect environment and for enjoyment of the moment are also part of the website. Visit today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Eschler

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Peppermint Tea - Why Drinking it is Good For the Health

Peppermint is a popular herbal tea that is characterized with its strong minty aroma and distinctive taste. It is also known today as mint tea. It is a favorite of many because it does not only have a great taste but it also offers relaxing experiences and various health benefits.

The menthol content of peppermint gives the tea its minty aroma and its superior flavor. Peppermint contains volatile oil, vitamin B, calcium and potassium. The tea is associated with several health benefits because of the healthy properties of peppermint.

Peppermint tea promotes digestion and helps ease diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome as well as stomach cramps and stomach aches. Its menthol flavor helps us to get away with bad breath and relieve us of headaches. It could even help ease cough and colds as well as mild asthma. Sore throat can also be done away through gargling with peppermint tea. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses produced by diseases are also suppressed because of its menthol content. Muscle pains and chronic complaints are also prevented by drinking peppermint tea. It can also be used to treat skin diseases by using it in baths. A decongesting therapy can also be done by inhaling the steam of peppermint tea. Drinking this herbal tea simply offers quite a long list of health benefits.

Tea made from peppermint is prepared by either using dried peppermint leaves or fresh peppermint leaves. It can also be mixed with honey or lemon juice. It is done by adding dried or fresh peppermint leaves to hot or boiling water and then steeping it for several minutes before straining.

Peppermint tea is easily prepared and it offers a great deal of health benefits besides its refreshing taste and aroma.

My name is Darren and I love to drink Coffee & Tea. If you love herbal teas then I think that you will find the information about peppermint tea available on my website of great interest.

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English Tea, With Fall Colors

By M.H.REED

The annual fall display of foliage entices many who celebrate the season to drive into the “country” for an up-close look at leaves that have turned from green to brilliant copper, bronze and gold. But a ground-level view can be limited — often one cannot see the dazzling forest for the trees.
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To take in miles and miles of the splendid show at one glance, from the comfort of a well-appointed aerie, consider making a reservation for Sunday afternoon tea, offered between noon and 3 p.m. at 42, the restaurant on the 42nd floor of the Ritz-Carlton Westchester.

A traditional three-tiered server comes stocked with tea treats. At the top are delicious scones, house-made jam and clotted cream. The middle tier is for savories, an assortment of dainty cut sandwiches made with high-quality breads; well-seasoned fillings might include curried chicken salad with raisins, Black Forest ham with Gruyère, and egg salad and cress. Sweets fill the bottom tier — perhaps miniature lemon curd or custard tarts, buttery cookies and chocolate bonbons. Assortments change from time to time.

Pots of black, green or herbal tea are replenished often.

While English tea time is later in the day, and 42’s service may not be quite as grand as that of London’s Palm Court at the Ritz, 42 offers a matchless view and, at $37 (plus tax and gratuity), rings in at half the price. M. H. REED

42, at the Ritz-Carlton Westchester, One Renaissance Square, White Plains; (914) 761-4242; 42therestaurant.com. Afternoon tea, Sundays, noon to 3 p.m.

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Coffee Consumption May Help Alzheimer's Patients

From a previous DHB alert you've heard about research linking caffeine and Alzheimer's patients, now another study offers very promising results - moderate caffeine intake reverses memory loss in mice bred to develop Alzheimer's.

The caffeine also reduced the level of beta-amyloid protein (a hallmark protein found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's) in both the blood and brains of the mice. The study is set to appear in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and brings high hopes of trials that could begin on humans very soon.

Alzheimer's, for those fortunate enough not to know about this life altering condition, is an irreversible and progressive disease that destroys thinking and memory.

In the end, patients don't have the ability to do even the simplest everyday things, cooking, dressing, driving a car, making decisions, running errands.

This isn't the normal forgetfulness of aging... rather the limitations are such that they interfere with your daily life. In the majority of cases Alzheimer's symptoms show up after age 60. Recent estimates have as many as 2.4 to 4.5 million Americans living with this awful disease.

This highly promising work builds on earlier studies by the team of researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center that found caffeine intake in early adulthood prevented the onset of memory problems in mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease.

The team became interested in caffeine's potential for treating Alzheimer's after some Portuguese researchers reported that those with Alzheimer's had consumed less caffeine in the last 20 years than those without the disease.

There have been several uncontrolled trials that reported moderate caffeine intake might protect against normal memory decline due to aging, though this latest work is more highly controlled, allowing experts to isolate the effects of caffeine on memory.

"The new findings provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable 'treatment' for established Alzheimer's disease, and not simply a protective strategy," researcher Gary Arendash, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of South Florida, says in a news release.

"That's important because caffeine is a safe drug for most people, it easily enters the brain, and it appears to directly affect the disease process."

In the work, 55 mice bred to have Alzheimer's symptoms were divided into two groups; one was given 500 mg (equal to 5 eight-ounce cups of regular coffee, 14 cups of tea or 20 sodas) of caffeine in their daily water supply after they started to exhibit memory problems. The other group of mice got plain, de-caffeinated water.

After 2 months the caffeine-drinking mice did much better on tests of their memory and thinking skills. The skills were the equal of normal mice without dementia who were the same age.

The mice who drank water without the added caffeine, the control group, kept doing poorly on the tests of thinking and memory.

The brains of the caffeine-drinking mice also saw the level of beta-amyloid, the protein that forms the sticky clumps of plaques found in Alzheimer's patients brains, cut almost in half.

Taking things one step further, the team also studied long-term caffeine intake in normal mice, but after 10 months of treatment with caffeine, there wasn't an improvement in their memory or thinking skills.

The investigators suspect that the caffeine might help to restore memory by reducing the enzymes that are needed to create beta-amyloid. Caffeine might also help to reduce inflammatory changes in the brain that might also lead to an over-abundance of the protein.

Researchers cannot tell us what begins the Alzheimer's process, though experts know that the damage begins 10-20 years before any symptoms appear on the outside.

If you've noticed changes in you, or someone you love, know that early diagnosis gives you the heads up - helping you preserve as much cognitive ability as possible.

While you can't repair the deterioration process that's happened silently over the years, you can learn more about treatments (or clinical trials) that can give you a chance to hold on to your brain function for months or even years.

Early diagnosis for Alzheimers patients also gives you the time to plan... to make your own choices about where you'll live, as well as make financial and legal decisions you want to have control over before a condition like Alzheimer's makes this impossible.

Next just head on over to the Daily Health Bulletin for more information on how coffee consumption effects your health, plus get 5 free fantastic health reports.

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Choosing a Coffee Table

The humble coffee table is one of the last things we usually think of when decorating a house, but it provides an important social function as well as being a big part of the decoration of the living room. For those reasons alone you spend a little bit of time trying to find the perfect coffee table for your house.

The first thing you think about when buying any kind of table is your budget. This is because not only will it narrow down your options, but it goes a long way to deciding on what kind of material you can afford. For example if you're thinking of buying a cheap wood coffee table then your budget wont have to be as much as if you are buying a solid oak table which costs a lot more.

You should also think about the function you want your coffee table to provide. For example, do you want it to just be a decoration, or do you want it to provide another function as well such as storage space? These are all questions that you need to answer before you even start looking for a coffee table.

When you actually go to start looking, I always find it helpful to look around on the Internet first just to get an idea of the prices on the market at the time as well is what you can expect to pay for different kinds of material. A little bit of extra research can save you a lot of money in the long run.

You can find out more information about buying a new oak coffee table as well as the traditional square coffee table by using the links provided.

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Green Tea Weight Loss - The Healthy Drink

Green tea weight loss drinks are becoming more popular by the week, as more people realize the health benefits of drinking it. Tea is the most widely consumed beverage on earth and has an over 4000-year history as a health promoting drink - and now the green tea weight loss benefits are boosting its consumption even more.

The tea plant, technically known as Camellia Sinensis, produces green, black and oolong tea. The difference in the type is a result of the different ways in which the tea leaves are processed after harvesting.

The majority of the tea currently available in Jamaica and the world is black tea. Although all these three varieties have health benefits, green tea is far more superior to the others in this regard. Medical research has confirmed what the Chinese have been saying for centuries: that green tea contains special health preserving and revitalizing power.

Antioxidants - Green tea contains a group of compounds called polyphenols. They are powerful antioxidants which are responsible for the therapeutic properties of green-tea. One of these substances, called EGCG for short, is 200 times more powerful as an antioxidants than vitamin E. Green tea contains much more antioxidant than black tea.

Caffeine - a stimulant which is present in the green variety in much smaller amounts than in black tea or coffee. In small amounts, it can be an excellent energy enhancer, but it is best to limit one's intake as excess caffeine consumption may be unhealthy.

Others - this tea contains over 500 aromatic oils as well as small amounts of several vitamins and minerals.

Health benefits

Cardiovascular disease - the tea lowers the 'bad' cholesterol while increasing the good cholesterol. It reduces blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and acts as a blood thinner.

Cancer - in laboratory experiments, green tea extract prevents cancer of the lung, the liver, prostate and the skin, esophagus and colon Human studies suggest that drinking two or more cups of this tea a day reduces the overall risk of cancer by 10 per cent

Longevity - Studies conducted on Japanese women showed that greater than average drinkers had a lower mortality rate than other women. Researchers believe this to be due a stimulating effect of tea on the immune system.

Oral health - Researchers show that drinking green tea protects the teeth and gums from disease. The polyphenols in tea inhibits the growth of cavity forming bacteria. So, you might like to consider making it your favorite drink. I personally recommend a convenient instant herbal concentrate which can be used hot or cold and also contains additional health promoting herbs. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Green tea has many health benefits, but with the newly claimed weight loss benefits it's easy to see why it's gaining in popularity. To discover more about the green tea weight loss benefits check out my weight loss tips blog today and claim your free report.

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Wu Long Tea Qing Cha - The Blue Green Wonder Tea

Wulong tea is grown in the province of Jujian in China, and in Taiwan, and it is largely the most popular tea being served in China. It is said to have properties that no other tea can match.

Wu-Long means "black dragon," and the legend tells us that a farmer who was looking for new flavors in his garden, was lost in thought when he saw spring out of a tea bush an enormous black snake of dragon. He was convinced that this was a sign from higher up. Quickly he grabbed a few leaves from the bush to taste them. This was the first Wu-long tea.

In fact Wu-long tea, sometimes spelled wulong or Oolong is the same as any other tea. Black tea, green tea, white tea, all come from the same bush. The differences in flavors are due to several reasons, first the land and geography as well as climate of where the tea is grown. Secondly the fermentation process that tea is subjected to during drying. Wulong tea is not permitted to ferment totally, but it is more fermented that green tea, that has no fermentation whatsoever.

It is brewed from entire leaves that were never broken, has a subtle taste with a nutty flavor, a hint of honey and hazelnut. Of course when we say that it has a nutty taste, it does not imply that it was brewed with nuts. It means that the natural flavor of the tea can remind us of chestnuts.

Besides its wonderful soft, flavor with a hint of chestnut, Oolong tea as do other green teas has some very definite health advantages. One of the most noted health benefit was made popular by Oprah Winfrey as it is a weight loss wonder.

Besides weight loss and weight control it has proven to be an asset in fighting disease like cancer, Parkinson, diabetes, heart related diseases, and much more. It is not a magic pill, but it can help.

People who have used Wu-long tea for weight loss have discovered, it's taste and the other benefits of green tea, and have continued using tea for medicinal reasons as well as for pleasure.

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Tea

Tea is soothing, a quality to be craved in these stressful days. It is more subtle than coffee and meant to be sipped, not gulped. A cup of tea has less caffeine than a cup of coffee — half the amount or less.

From a single evergreen plant, camillia sinensis, come the thousands of nonherbal teas consumed around the world. The variety depends on where the tea is grown and how it is gathered and processed. Some variables that determine the type of tea are whether the tea is made from long leaves or short leaves, early buds or later pickings; whether the leaves are whole, broken or rolled and, most important, whether they are allowed to oxidize.

The finest teas are consistent-looking and fresh. Because tea readily picks up foreign aromas and fades in contact with light, teas should be sold and stored in containers that are airtight and opaque. Shops that keep their teas in glass canisters are as bad as those that display coffee in open burlap bags. In the proper container tea can last up to six months. But it should never be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

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Black teas are dark, tannic teas made by allowing the fresh green leaves to wither and darken through oxidation (the term used in the tea business is fermentation). The process takes about a day, after which the leaves are dried by warm air. Black teas include winy Keemun and smoky Lapsang Souchong from China, Ceylon teas from Sri Lanka and India, Assam and Darjeeling, the exquisitely delicate tea grown in the Himalayan foothills. Traditional blends like English breakfast are made of black teas.

All Japanese and many Chinese teas are green teas, prized for aroma and finesse. They are processed by lightly drying the leaves. Some green teas are whole-leaf while others, including Chinese gunpowder, are made from leaves rolled into little balls, hence the name. Japanese matcha is powdered green tea. Green teas should be sipped plain, without the addition of sweeteners, lemon or milk. One exception is Moroccan mint tea, made by pouring sweetened green tea over lightly crushed fresh mint leaves.

Oolong teas are elegant whole-leaf Chinese teas partly withered and oxidized, something of a cross between green and black tea. Most that are exported are called Formosa, from Taiwan.

The best flavored teas are made with natural ingredients and essences, not harsh artificial flavors. For centuries tea has been infused with jasmine or rose petals for flavoring, and sometimes sold with the dried buds still in the tea. Earl Grey is flavored with oil of bergamot, a type of Chinese orange.

Verbena, chamomile, lemon grass, peppermint and linden are some of the more popular herbal teas, or infusions. Herbal teas are often believed to have curative properties.

Making a good cup of tea is simple. First, heat the teapot by filling it with water that has just come to a boil. Discard this water, and place 1 teaspoon of loose tea per cup in the teapot (the amount may vary according to taste). Pour in fresh water that has just come to a boil, 6 ounces for each cup. Allow the tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes; then, pour it through a strainer into a cup or mug. Some types of green tea should be made with water that has cooled down a bit. Using a tea bag eliminates the strainer, but it is still best to make the tea in a teapot so the water stays sufficiently hot.

When tea is made, the leaves release their caffeine first, so the amount of caffeine can be reduced by pouring off all the tea after 30 seconds, then adding fresh boiling water to the leaves or the tea bag. Christopher Smith for The New York Times

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