Monday, November 22, 2010

The Fusion Tea comes in a Healthy Package

Spices and herbs may help you avoid disease

Imagine going to your doctor with joint pain and leaving with a prescription for ginger. Before the advent of synthetic drugs, that might have happened. Herbs and spices have a long history as folk medicine, and not without merit. Today, researchers are working to quantify their health benefits.

"We don't have enough evidence to say herbs and spices are 100-percent disease-preventing, but several have positive outlooks," says Milton Stokes, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Oregano: The strongest health benefit for oregano, shown at left, is that it's been linked to food preservation. In 2003, researchers found that applying a concentrated oregano extract to prepared meats may destroy Listeria bacteria. "The same chemical constituents that give herbs and spices their pungency are also powerful bacterial inhibitors," says Catherine Donnelly, Ph.D., professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Vermont. "Oregano is one of the best bacteria killers." Its phenols -- a type of antioxidant -- destroy the cell membranes of bacteria.

Ginger: In 2001, a headline-making study found highly concentrated forms of ginger helped reduce osteoarthritis-related knee pain. "Ginger improved pain to a degree almost the same as anti-inflammatory medications," says researcher Roy Altman, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. There is a catch, though: " Altman says. Ginger's most consistently proven benefit is its ability to relieve nausea.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Guidance Panel for Tea

Beverage Guidelines from the Experts

The Beverage Guidance Panel distilled its advice into a six-level pitcher, much as food experts have done with the food pyramid. The group published its recommendations in the March 2006 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Here are the descriptions of two levels of six-level pitcher :
Level 1: Water
Water provides everything the body needs—pure H2O—to restore fluids lost through metabolism, breathing, sweating, and the removal of waste. It's the perfect beverage for quenching thirst and rehydrating your system. When it comes from the tap, it costs a fraction of a penny per glass. Water should be the beverage you turn to most of the time.
Level 2: Tea
After water, tea is  the two most commonly consumed beverages on the planet. Drunk plain, they are calorie-free beverages brimming with antioxidants, flavonoids, and other biologically active substances that may be good for health. Up to three or four cups of  tea a day appear to be fine. Green tea, especially the strong variety served in Japan, has received attention for its potential role in protecting against heart disease, while coffee may help protect against type 2 diabetes. (2, 3) More research on the health benefits of tea and coffee is needed, but one thing is for certain: The addition of cream, sugar, whipped cream, and flavorings can turn tea from a healthful beverage into a not-so-healthful one. For example, a 16-ounce Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino with Chocolate Whipped Cream contains 470 calories. Tucked in this beverage (which is actually closer to a dessert) are 12 grams of saturated fat—nearly a day's worth—and 71 grams of sugar, the equivalent of 17 teaspoons of sugar. (4) Keep in mind that for pregnant women, the jury is still out on whether high coffee or caffeine intakes increase the risk of miscarriage, but it seems prudent to limit caffeinated beverages to one cup per day. (For more information about coffee and chronic disease, see Ask the Expert: Coffee and Health.)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Soft drinks: Go for healthy traditional drink instead

THE amount of soft drinks consumed by Malaysians is increasing daily. According to a recent news report, about 1,000 canned drinks are consumed every minute in Malaysia. Soft drinks contain approximately three to 20 teaspoons of sugar. Most of them are nothing but carbonated, coloured, acidified, flavoured, sweetened water that spell danger to health.

They are also a prime source of extra calories that can contribute to weight gain.

Once thought as harmless refreshment, soft drinks have come under scrutiny for their contribution to the development of Type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and other chronic conditions.
Some scientists say fructose sugar in some soft drinks acts like fat.

Unlike other sugars, which are broken down by other body organs, fructose heads straight to the liver and is deposited as fat.

The high phosphorous level in soft drinks inhibits bone growth. Studies show that children who frequently drink sodas are more vulnerable to broken bones, childhood obesity and diabetes.

The question may arise as to what drinks should be served as alternatives, especially during festive seasons. If Malaysians could make some effort to revive traditional recipes, we could make our own soft drinks which would be healthier and cheaper.

These traditional drinks are not only tasty and refreshing but also contain medicinal value.


Read more: Soft drinks: Go for healthy traditional drink instead http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/21sofs/Article/#ixzz14ulRwYfG

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Change the subject to Fusion Tea

Fusion Tea is soothing, a quality to be craved in these stressful days.  Some call it nature’s tranquilizer, able to smooth away stress and lift the spirits. It is more subtle and meant to be sipped, not gulped.

From a single evergreen plant come the thousands of nonherbal teas consumed around the world. 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. 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.

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. Camomile, lemon grass, peppermint and linden are some of the more popular herbal teas, or infusions. Herbal teas are often believed to have curative properties. While sipping tea, subject is changing to The Fusion Tea, the citrus herbal and Spice Blended for todate taste for healthier and tastier.

Making a good cup of fusion tea is simple. First, heat the teapot by filling it with water that has just come to a boil. And place 1 teabag per cup in the a cup or mug of 250ml hot water (the amount may vary according to taste). Allow the tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes; stir and press teabag slightly. Sip the fusion tea til it finished... chat about how delicious fusion tea tastes...

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Tea "healthier" drink than water.

Image of a mug of tea
The researchers recommend people consume three to four cups a day
Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits, say researchers. The work in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition dispels the common belief that tea dehydrates.
Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, but it can also protect against heart disease and some cancers, UK nutritionists found.
Experts believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promote health.

Healthy cuppa
These polyphenol antioxidants are found in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been shown to help prevent cell damage.
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" Tea replaces fluids and
contains antioxidants so its got two things going for it "
Lead author Dr Ruxton

Public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton, and colleagues at Kings College London, looked at published studies on the health effects of tea consumption.
They found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack.

Some studies suggested tea consumption protected against cancer, although this effect was less clear-cut.
Other health benefits seen included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus bone strengthening.
Dr Ruxton said: "Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it's got two things going for it."

Rehydrating
She said it was an urban myth that tea is dehydrating.
"Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid.

"Also, a cup of tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth," she added.
There was no evidence that tea consumption was harmful to health. However, research suggests that tea can impair the body's ability to absorb iron from food, meaning people at risk of anaemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtimes.
" Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink "
Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation

Dr Ruxton's team found average tea consumption was just under three cups per day.
She said the increasing popularity of soft drinks meant many people were not drinking as much tea as before.
"Tea drinking is most common in older people, the 40 plus age range. In older people, tea sometimes made up about 70% of fluid intake so it is a really important contributor," she said.
Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation said: "Studies in the laboratory have shown potential health benefits.
"The evidence in humans is not as strong and more studies need to be done. But there are definite potential health benefits from the polyphenols in terms of reducing the risk of diseases.

"In terms of fluid intake, we recommend 1.5-2 litres per day and that can include tea. Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink." The Tea Council provided funding for the work. Dr Ruxton stressed that the work was independent.
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