Written by Anita Burns
I want to start out by first stating that I am not anti-modern medicine. I have great faith in our modern medical system for most things. If I were to break a bone, or require emergency surgery, I wouldn’t want to stick strictly to herbal medicine. I believe that both systems have a right and good place in healing.
For centuries Europeans and Asians viewed disease as a dysfunction of the whole body, or a whole system. Cures were aimed at bringing the body back into balance so that it could heal itself.
Although traditional thought on disease also included superstition, ignorance of anatomy, and in some places unhealthy beliefs about hygiene, much that was useful about medicine was known and practiced.
In both East and West, disease was often cured with plants that were either proven or intuited to have an effect on a particular system in the body that was injured or unbalanced. In Europe, the "Five Humors" theory was developed. In the near east, the "Three Dosha Ayurvedic" system was the basis of medicine. In the Far East, the "Five Elements" theory was practiced.
Superstition about demons, curses, and in Europe, lack of basic knowledge of hygiene aside, these systems were mostly effective. In the opinion of some alternative health researchers today, they were as effective as modern allopathic method for many diseases.
Not much is known about medical practices of Africa (except for ancient Egypt), and the ancient Americas, but they too, used herbs and plants, along with surgery and other medical techniques.
In the last two centuries, there has been a rise in the “scientific method,” a way of investigating and “proving,” in the Newtonian sense, whether a substance really works as a medicinal or not and in what way.
In the western world, especially North America, allopathic medicine took root and holistic medicine, viewed as old fashioned and unscientific, was pushed more and more into the background. In Europe and Asia, with centuries more behind them of holistic practices, both schools of though and medicine practices are accepted and sometimes integrated. However, in the United States, allopathic medicine has taken hold and has tried—and is still trying—to stamp out any other form of health care.
Allopathic medicine promotes the belief that most disease is caused by a pathogen invading the body and that an anti-pathogen can destroy the invader to heal the body. Although great strides have been made in the cure of many diseases, often the allopathic medicines create side effects almost as disastrous as the disease itself.
With the possible exception of cancer and aids, we are no longer in a disease crisis in the United States as we were when smallpox, polio, fatal influenza, TB, and more were rampant. However, we are in a health crisis. By ignoring the whole body in favor of allopathic specificity, we have swung the pendulum too far to one side.
Health is not just the absence of disease. It is vitality, energy, clear thought, immunity, and strength. How we treat our minds and bodies has an effect on health. We are ultimately responsible for the health and well being of our bodies. However, somewhere along the way, we seemed to have abandoned that belief.
We have adopted a code that says we put the responsibility for health in the hands of a select few who have legal and actual power over our life and death. Unfortunately, even Medical Doctors (MDs) have been caught in their own trap. For an MD to recommend any form of holistic medicine—acupressure, chiropractic, herbs, homeopathies, and such, is often to risk their reputation and their future as licensed doctors that they worked so long and hard to achieve.
The public has made this worse by relinquishing any responsibility for their own care and well being. If a doctor recommends herbs or another form of card and the patient isn’t cured, he/she can sue the doctor. Doctors live in constant dread of malpractice lawsuits, which is one factor in the high cost of malpractice insurance that runs up the cost of medical care.
Granted, there are tons of MDs who are so incompetent that they deserve the lawsuits but many are simply doing what they can in an atmosphere of a sue-happy public. They trap works both ways. Laws in the United States often take away our right to choose health care and force us into the form of health care that has gained the most power through government lobbying and economic considerations. This led to a massive public outcry in 1993 that resulted in some concessions by the government to allow more freedom of choice where over the counter herbs are concerned. Nevertheless, it really did very little to open the field in an equitable way.
An herbalist in the United States cannot legally diagnose nor prescribe an herb for anything, even as simple as white willow bark for a headache. Nor can an herbalist suggest that you take an aspirin.
Herbalism is a system that takes into account pathogens, whole body balance, body chemistry, tradition, and scientific proof of the herb’s effectiveness in treating disease. In many places in Europe, herbalism is an accepted health care choice, as is naturopathy, homeopathy, and aromatherapy. In the United States, the FDA is gaining more and more power to tell us what we need to do for our well being, and what we can’t do.
Originally, health regulation was intended to protect us from charlatans pushing “snake oil cures” and bogus cancer cures. But, when economics entered the picture, Pandora’s box was opened. In 1993, the spark that flamed the public outcry was a proposed regulation that would require all herbs and vitamins to be dispensed only through prescription by licensed physicians. It would have made it a crime to take vitamin C or by garlic capsules without a prescription from a doctor. The prices for herbs and vitamins would probably have soared and we would have been cut off from one more avenue of health care.
Even with the current trend in insurance companies covering or offering discounted alternative health care services, we must not relax. WE must take back our right to have dominion over our own bodies and have the right to choose our health care. If regulation of herbs comes in the way, the FDA has made it clear it wants it to, herbal companies will be forced to spend millions of dollars in testing for each herb before the FDA would approve their use as a medicinal. Previous testings or centuries of proven efficacy in use would not be accepted.
Herbal companies would then have to recoup their expenditures by increasing their prices. Imagine spending $80 for a bottle of Milk Thistle tincture instead of $5-$12. In addition, many useful herbs would simply disappear because they are too easy to obtain cheaply in the wild (like milk thistle) or can be homegrown. Herbal companies couldn’t risk not recouping their losses and would likely drop them from their inventory.
Herbalism has a long history. We don’t know when humans first decided and discovered that some plants did more than nourish the body by feeding the belly. Perhaps it was by watching what some animals did when feeling ill, or by “divine intervention.” We don’t know.
However, as far back as we have written evidence of medical practices, we have reports of herbs and plants successfully used as medicine. Garlic may be the oldest known medicinal plant. Garlic cloves have been found in caves inhabited 10,000 years ago. A prescription for garlic was found on a Sumerian clay tablet from 3000 B.C. Chinese doctors mentioned Cinnamon as a medicinal as far back as 2700 B.C. Since then, there has been a lot of scientific testing on herbs including testing by the United States government.
Herbalism works closely with the body’s own immune system. You may be surprised to learn that the American Medical Association (AMA) has only recently recognized the body’s immune system at al in relation to health. It has also come as a recent surprise to the AMA that nutrition, exercise, and mental/emotional attitudes affect health.
Preventing ill health and disease has been a longstanding tradition among holistic health practices but has arrived as a new and innovative—if somewhat suspicious—concept to modern U.S. allopathic physicians.
It is finally coming to light (again) that we can only defeat illness by paying more attention to health and less attention to treating disease. However, there is also a trend for some MDs and some lay people to want herbs to act as a lateral substitute for allopathic medicines—to treat pathogens and ignore the rest of health. In other words, they are trying to pound a square peg into a round hole.
With herbs, the whole system must be taken into account and they generally do not work quickly and miraculously to erase symptoms as do many allopathic medicines. Most herbs work more slowly, and in combination with other herbs, to help the body regain health on its own. Sometimes this comes quickly, sometimes slowly, but true health is regained, not just a suppression of symptoms without examining lifestyle and emotional causative factors.
In a “natural supplement” retail where I once worked, we had customers who made the same mistake. They would come in and ask me “What do you have for energy?” They may work 14 hours a day, take care of a family and spouse, sleep four hours a night, eat mostly caffeine, fat, and sugar but they wan the magical pill that will eliminate fatigue. A suggestion of seeing a physician for a check up, proper diet, and rest as a possible relief from fatigue would be rejected and they would buy a bottle of Guarana. Guarana a natural source for strong caffeine. It can be useful for a burst of energy but if proper rest and nutrition are ignored, the body can be depleted even further possibly resulting in more serious health problems.
Herbs are not drugs. However, by their complex structures, medicinal foods (herbs) create many of the same benefits as drugs—mostly without unpleasant side effects.
For example, in a Nutrilite press release dated January 7, 2000, researchers conducted a six-month study of lutein. In the study, “blood levels of lutein increased by 28% in 21 participants, closely matching levels found in individuals who consume lutein-rich diets incorporating yellow and green fruits and vegetables. The rise was small but still significant. Researchers believe this may lower the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that affects roughly 1.7 million people over the age of 65.”
There have been numerous studies on garlic’s power to lower cholesterol in contrast to prescription drugs such as cholestyramine. Garlic has been proven to lower cholesterol and any herbalist worth his/her salt would combine garlic with other supporting herbs for a cholesterol lowering formula. But because cholestyramine is economically a money maker and garlic is not, pharmaceutical companies are not going to recommend that doctors prescribe garlic. Doctors who do—assuming they are aware of garlic’s ability in that area—risk ridicule and expulsion from membership in professional organizations such as the AMA.
How to get proof that herbs work as they are reputed to work and how to separate unfounded folklore and placebo from actual medicinal uses of plants is a problem. However, it is less so thanks to the open mindedness of many new researchers in the world. Studies done in France, Germany, China, England, and more abound. Much folklore about herbs has proven true, but much as also been discovered to be false. For example, boneset—eupatorium perfolatum—may sound like an herb to heal bones and some folklore prescribes it for that but it’s name comes from a traditional use as a cure for breakbone fever. It has proven to be useful in treating minor viral and bacterial infections by stimulating the white blood cells into action.
Folklore prescribes juniper for sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea. However, scientific testing shows it to be ineffective. Juniper does act as a diuretic and is included in an over-the-counter PMS medicine. It is effective as a part of an overall treatment for high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. High doses, over a long period of time can irritate the kidneys.
Be cautious of herbal books that do not take modern findings about the nature and action of herbs into account. Some recommended authors are Michael Castleman, Daniel B. Bowrey, Leslie & Michael Tierra, and David Hoffman.
Keep in mind that you are ultimately responsible for your health. No herb will make you healthy as long as you engage in unhealthy lifestyle habits such as eating a diet containing mostly foods devoid of proper nutrition, smoking, lack of exercise, and emotional stress. Herbs counteract pathogens and help your body heal itself but are not an excuse to engage in a disastrous, indulgent lifestyle.
http://www.metastudies.com/store/product.php?xProd=182
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Diabetic? Drink Chamomile Tea
Diabetic? Drink Chamomile Tea
Posted by veritas September 29, 2008
Usually when we write about the health benefits of tea, we focus on real teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant. But here is some great news about an herbal tea (really a tisane) made from Chamomile flowers: it helps prevent the complications that arise from diabetes.
According to WebMD, Chamomile tea can help prevent loss of vision, nerve damage and kidney damage caused by diabetes. From the article:
The rats that received the chamomile showed a significant decrease in blood glucose levels compared to the diabetic rats eating a normal diet. The chamomile also inhibited two enzymes, both of which have a role in the development of diabetic complications such as diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), cataracts, retinopathy (retinal damage of the eye), and nephropathy (kidney damage).
The article suggests two cups a day for diabetics and clearly the studies authors emphasize the daily consumption of Chamomile tea:
“These results clearly suggested that daily consumption of chamomile tea with meals could contribute to the prevention of the progress of hyperglycemia and diabetic complications,” the authors conclude.
Chamomile tea has also been shown to have positive effects for other medical problems: inflammation, ulcers, skin diseases, and cancer. Chamomile (like our white and green teas) also has lots of antioxidants which are very important for your body. So why not enjoy some Chamomile tea today?
http://www.heavenoftea.com/typesoftea/herbalteas/diabetic-drink-chamomile-tea/
Posted by veritas September 29, 2008
Usually when we write about the health benefits of tea, we focus on real teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant. But here is some great news about an herbal tea (really a tisane) made from Chamomile flowers: it helps prevent the complications that arise from diabetes.
According to WebMD, Chamomile tea can help prevent loss of vision, nerve damage and kidney damage caused by diabetes. From the article:
The rats that received the chamomile showed a significant decrease in blood glucose levels compared to the diabetic rats eating a normal diet. The chamomile also inhibited two enzymes, both of which have a role in the development of diabetic complications such as diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), cataracts, retinopathy (retinal damage of the eye), and nephropathy (kidney damage).
The article suggests two cups a day for diabetics and clearly the studies authors emphasize the daily consumption of Chamomile tea:
“These results clearly suggested that daily consumption of chamomile tea with meals could contribute to the prevention of the progress of hyperglycemia and diabetic complications,” the authors conclude.
Chamomile tea has also been shown to have positive effects for other medical problems: inflammation, ulcers, skin diseases, and cancer. Chamomile (like our white and green teas) also has lots of antioxidants which are very important for your body. So why not enjoy some Chamomile tea today?
http://www.heavenoftea.com/typesoftea/herbalteas/diabetic-drink-chamomile-tea/
Healthy Teas for Children
Healthy Teas for Children
Posted by veritas July 31, 2008
We are continually hearing about the health benefits of tea, so why not encourage our children to have a healthy tea as well? The only deterrance for most parents is caffeine. Caffeinated kids typically aren’t much fun for mom and dad. But lots of teas are naturally caffeine-free and make delicious and nutrious drinks for children. Specifically Herbal teas, especially Rooibos and other fruity teas, are great for kids. Here’s our recommended teas for children:
Rooibos Tropica tea. Fruity and delicious, this tea is also chock full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Rooibos teas have no caffeine and taste great iced, in case your kids don’t like warm drinks. The fruit content gives it lots of Vitamin C in particular. And it is good for your hair, skin, teeth, and bones as well.
Sweet Fruit Garden Herbal tea. Another fruity delight, this herbal tea is filled with vitamins and minerals as well as some antioxidants. This one also works as an iced tea.
Pina Colada Herbal tea has a more exotic taste to change things up. But it’s still loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The coconut makes for a great twist for the tastebuds.
All of the teas above can also be frozen into popsicles for a cold treat during the Summer. Here are some suggestions that are much better warm:
If your children prefer chocolate, there’s also Haute Chocolate Rooibos tea. It’s a cinnamon, chocolate, Rooibos mix that tastes great in a cup. It is very high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, so it makes a nutritious alternative to regular Hot Chocolate.
And for just before bed: Tranquil Dream Herbal tea. This herbal tea helps calm adults and children just before bedtime. It doesn’t work as well over ice; and the warm feeling also helps to relax you before bed. Chamomile is also an antispasmodic and helps relax small tummies before bed.
Finally, consider allowing some White teas. They do have a touch of caffeine (about 1% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee), but they are actual tea (from the Camellia sinensis plant). This means that they have some of the specific health benefits of drinking tea like hydrating and detoxifying the body along with the antioxidants. One option is to add just 1/2 a teaspoon of Silver Needle White tea when making tea for a child. This won’t change the taste, but will add the health benefits.
For a little more white tea, try Scarlet Cloud White tea. It has a nice strawberry flavor and is good iced or hot.
Hope these ideas help. In the end you’ll have to try various teas to find which one your child likes the best. In my experience, children take to iced teas more easily, since they are used to drinking cold beverages because of the juices, milk, and water they already consume. And fruity flavors are typically more appreciated. But if you can find teas your children enjoy, the health benefits make it more than worthwhile to encourage consumption!
http://www.heavenoftea.com/tea-and-your-health/healthy-teas-for-children/
Posted by veritas July 31, 2008
We are continually hearing about the health benefits of tea, so why not encourage our children to have a healthy tea as well? The only deterrance for most parents is caffeine. Caffeinated kids typically aren’t much fun for mom and dad. But lots of teas are naturally caffeine-free and make delicious and nutrious drinks for children. Specifically Herbal teas, especially Rooibos and other fruity teas, are great for kids. Here’s our recommended teas for children:
Rooibos Tropica tea. Fruity and delicious, this tea is also chock full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Rooibos teas have no caffeine and taste great iced, in case your kids don’t like warm drinks. The fruit content gives it lots of Vitamin C in particular. And it is good for your hair, skin, teeth, and bones as well.
Sweet Fruit Garden Herbal tea. Another fruity delight, this herbal tea is filled with vitamins and minerals as well as some antioxidants. This one also works as an iced tea.
Pina Colada Herbal tea has a more exotic taste to change things up. But it’s still loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The coconut makes for a great twist for the tastebuds.
All of the teas above can also be frozen into popsicles for a cold treat during the Summer. Here are some suggestions that are much better warm:
If your children prefer chocolate, there’s also Haute Chocolate Rooibos tea. It’s a cinnamon, chocolate, Rooibos mix that tastes great in a cup. It is very high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, so it makes a nutritious alternative to regular Hot Chocolate.
And for just before bed: Tranquil Dream Herbal tea. This herbal tea helps calm adults and children just before bedtime. It doesn’t work as well over ice; and the warm feeling also helps to relax you before bed. Chamomile is also an antispasmodic and helps relax small tummies before bed.
Finally, consider allowing some White teas. They do have a touch of caffeine (about 1% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee), but they are actual tea (from the Camellia sinensis plant). This means that they have some of the specific health benefits of drinking tea like hydrating and detoxifying the body along with the antioxidants. One option is to add just 1/2 a teaspoon of Silver Needle White tea when making tea for a child. This won’t change the taste, but will add the health benefits.
For a little more white tea, try Scarlet Cloud White tea. It has a nice strawberry flavor and is good iced or hot.
Hope these ideas help. In the end you’ll have to try various teas to find which one your child likes the best. In my experience, children take to iced teas more easily, since they are used to drinking cold beverages because of the juices, milk, and water they already consume. And fruity flavors are typically more appreciated. But if you can find teas your children enjoy, the health benefits make it more than worthwhile to encourage consumption!
http://www.heavenoftea.com/tea-and-your-health/healthy-teas-for-children/
Eight cups of coffee or two cups of tea?
Eight cups of coffee or two cups of tea?
Posted by veritas July 2, 2008
I just saw this article about cutting the risk of stroke by 22%. Apparently you can drink eight cups of coffee a day or two cups of tea for the same effect. Eight cups of coffee? I think most people would be a jittering idiot after eight cups!
It reminds me of the old Wheaties commercials that pointed out a bowl of Wheaties was equal to 15 bowls of the other cereal. So one cup of tea equals 4.5 cups of coffee, at least in terms of stroke risk. Of course, just a few recent studies have shown tea also helps prevent heart attacks, lung cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, sleep apnea and cancer, of course. So cling to that coffee, if you must, but tea tastes better and is better for you. No matter how many cups you drink!
http://www.heavenoftea.com/tea-and-your-health/eight-cups-of-coffee-or-two-cups-of-tea/
Posted by veritas July 2, 2008
I just saw this article about cutting the risk of stroke by 22%. Apparently you can drink eight cups of coffee a day or two cups of tea for the same effect. Eight cups of coffee? I think most people would be a jittering idiot after eight cups!
It reminds me of the old Wheaties commercials that pointed out a bowl of Wheaties was equal to 15 bowls of the other cereal. So one cup of tea equals 4.5 cups of coffee, at least in terms of stroke risk. Of course, just a few recent studies have shown tea also helps prevent heart attacks, lung cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, sleep apnea and cancer, of course. So cling to that coffee, if you must, but tea tastes better and is better for you. No matter how many cups you drink!
http://www.heavenoftea.com/tea-and-your-health/eight-cups-of-coffee-or-two-cups-of-tea/
Yerba Mate tea: Energy without Jitters
Yerba Mate tea: Energy without Jitters
Posted by veritas June 20, 2008
Coffee is the morning beverage of choice for Americans for one simple reason: caffeine. It wakes you up and gets you moving no matter how little sleep you actually got the night before. But there is a healthy alternative to coffee that has the same effect: Yerba Mate tea. Teavana offers several Mate teas and all of them have 100% of the caffeine contained in a cup of coffee, but without the jitters.
What is Yerba Mate?
Yerba mate is different from traditional teas, because it is not from the Camellia sinensis plant that true tea comes from. Rather it is a herbal infusion from the Ilex paraguariensis tree native to South America. The leaves from the tea are dried and then steeped in hot water to make Mate teas (or infusions).
Mate leaves are fascinating, much like true teas, because of the myriad health benefits they offer. For example, Yerba Mate contains 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and 11 polyphenols or antioxidants. This combination means that Mate can offer a number of health benefits that coffee drinkers can only dream of:
Stimulates the immune system. Yerba mate contains saponins, which stimulate the immune system and help protect your body against disease.
Helps reduce cholesterol intake. Glycosides in the Yerba mate leaf bind with cholesterol in your body and prevent the cholesterol from being absorbed into your system.
Help avoid cancer. Yerba mate is loaded with antioxidants, which defend the body against free radical damage, which can cause various cancers. Antioxidants are a main reason people drink teas and Yerba mate has an extremely high amount of antioxidants.
Increases Mental clarity and energy. It includes xanthine alkaloids – one of which is caffeine – which stimulates your mind and body and gives you energy. Just like caffeine, however the added nutritional content of Yerba mate (and different xanthines than coffee) mean you are less likely to have jitters, stomach discomfort, headaches, or a hard stop to the energy than with other caffeinated drinks like coffee.
Helps relieve allergies. Yerba mate also stimulates the adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids, which help suppress the inflammation and immune response of allergies.
Fights bad breath. Yes, it even fights bad breath by preventing the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath!
This doesn’t even take into account the vitamins and minerals in a Mate tea! By switching your morning coffee to a morning mate you get all of the mental and physical stimulation you need, but you actually help strengthen your body at the same time. This turns a negative into a positive.
Teavana offers one Mate tea in particular for coffee drinkers: MateVana herbal tea. It has a chocolately, nutty flavor that coffee drinkers tend to enjoy. And, just like coffee, this tea is a hot beverage that you can really enjoy in the morning. So why not try switching out your morning coffee for a morning MateVana for just a week. At the end of the week you can decide whether MateVana is a better choice for you!
http://www.heavenoftea.com/typesoftea/herbalteas/yerba-mate-tea-energy-without-jitters/
Posted by veritas June 20, 2008
Coffee is the morning beverage of choice for Americans for one simple reason: caffeine. It wakes you up and gets you moving no matter how little sleep you actually got the night before. But there is a healthy alternative to coffee that has the same effect: Yerba Mate tea. Teavana offers several Mate teas and all of them have 100% of the caffeine contained in a cup of coffee, but without the jitters.
What is Yerba Mate?
Yerba mate is different from traditional teas, because it is not from the Camellia sinensis plant that true tea comes from. Rather it is a herbal infusion from the Ilex paraguariensis tree native to South America. The leaves from the tea are dried and then steeped in hot water to make Mate teas (or infusions).
Mate leaves are fascinating, much like true teas, because of the myriad health benefits they offer. For example, Yerba Mate contains 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and 11 polyphenols or antioxidants. This combination means that Mate can offer a number of health benefits that coffee drinkers can only dream of:
Stimulates the immune system. Yerba mate contains saponins, which stimulate the immune system and help protect your body against disease.
Helps reduce cholesterol intake. Glycosides in the Yerba mate leaf bind with cholesterol in your body and prevent the cholesterol from being absorbed into your system.
Help avoid cancer. Yerba mate is loaded with antioxidants, which defend the body against free radical damage, which can cause various cancers. Antioxidants are a main reason people drink teas and Yerba mate has an extremely high amount of antioxidants.
Increases Mental clarity and energy. It includes xanthine alkaloids – one of which is caffeine – which stimulates your mind and body and gives you energy. Just like caffeine, however the added nutritional content of Yerba mate (and different xanthines than coffee) mean you are less likely to have jitters, stomach discomfort, headaches, or a hard stop to the energy than with other caffeinated drinks like coffee.
Helps relieve allergies. Yerba mate also stimulates the adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids, which help suppress the inflammation and immune response of allergies.
Fights bad breath. Yes, it even fights bad breath by preventing the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath!
This doesn’t even take into account the vitamins and minerals in a Mate tea! By switching your morning coffee to a morning mate you get all of the mental and physical stimulation you need, but you actually help strengthen your body at the same time. This turns a negative into a positive.
Teavana offers one Mate tea in particular for coffee drinkers: MateVana herbal tea. It has a chocolately, nutty flavor that coffee drinkers tend to enjoy. And, just like coffee, this tea is a hot beverage that you can really enjoy in the morning. So why not try switching out your morning coffee for a morning MateVana for just a week. At the end of the week you can decide whether MateVana is a better choice for you!
http://www.heavenoftea.com/typesoftea/herbalteas/yerba-mate-tea-energy-without-jitters/
Prevent Heart Attacks with Tea
Prevent Heart Attacks with Tea
Posted by veritas June 13, 2008
It seems everyday new studies are released that extol the benefits of drinking tea. One we haven’t touched on is the British Nutrition Foundation’s study that shows three cups of tea a day will significantly cut your risk of having a heart attack:
The clearest consistent evidence points to an association between tea consumption, in excess of three cups per day, and a reduced risk of myocardial infarction or a heart attack.
This is good news for the many avid tea drinkers in Britain.
The quote is from Dr. Carrie Ruxton in Britain’s Telegraph newspaper. Lately all studies seem to note the “three cups a day” rule, which is about 24 ounces of tea a day (three 8 ounce cups). But this study is odd because Dr. Ruxton found that milk did not effect the benefits of drinking for your heart. Typically studies find that milk dampens the health benefits somewhat, but apparently not for your heart (which is also good news for “avid tea drinkers in Britain” where tea is often taken with milk).
One other health benefit popped out of the study as well:
My study also found emerging evidence that older women – those most at risk of brittle bones – had significant increases in bone density if they drank more than four cups of tea a day.
Tea has become the miracle drink of the early 21st century!
Marie Claire also referenced the study and put the optimal intake of tea at three to eight cups a day. We would recommend mixing up the type of tea you drink, since the different processing methods slightly change the health benefits. Perhaps three cups of green tea with a cup of black tea and two of white is a good plan. I would also mix in a herbal or rooibos tea for the vitamins and minerals they provide. The White and Green teas offer the best antioxidants (cancer) and green gives you EGCG as well. And black stimulates your heart and keeps blood vessels soft while adding some caffeine.
Whatever you do, mix some tea into your diet! It seems clear that tea is better than simply drinking water, since it adds health benefits without adding any negatives. Do yourself some good with a cup of tea today!
http://www.heavenoftea.com/tea-and-your-health/prevent-heart-attacks-with-tea/
Posted by veritas June 13, 2008
It seems everyday new studies are released that extol the benefits of drinking tea. One we haven’t touched on is the British Nutrition Foundation’s study that shows three cups of tea a day will significantly cut your risk of having a heart attack:
The clearest consistent evidence points to an association between tea consumption, in excess of three cups per day, and a reduced risk of myocardial infarction or a heart attack.
This is good news for the many avid tea drinkers in Britain.
The quote is from Dr. Carrie Ruxton in Britain’s Telegraph newspaper. Lately all studies seem to note the “three cups a day” rule, which is about 24 ounces of tea a day (three 8 ounce cups). But this study is odd because Dr. Ruxton found that milk did not effect the benefits of drinking for your heart. Typically studies find that milk dampens the health benefits somewhat, but apparently not for your heart (which is also good news for “avid tea drinkers in Britain” where tea is often taken with milk).
One other health benefit popped out of the study as well:
My study also found emerging evidence that older women – those most at risk of brittle bones – had significant increases in bone density if they drank more than four cups of tea a day.
Tea has become the miracle drink of the early 21st century!
Marie Claire also referenced the study and put the optimal intake of tea at three to eight cups a day. We would recommend mixing up the type of tea you drink, since the different processing methods slightly change the health benefits. Perhaps three cups of green tea with a cup of black tea and two of white is a good plan. I would also mix in a herbal or rooibos tea for the vitamins and minerals they provide. The White and Green teas offer the best antioxidants (cancer) and green gives you EGCG as well. And black stimulates your heart and keeps blood vessels soft while adding some caffeine.
Whatever you do, mix some tea into your diet! It seems clear that tea is better than simply drinking water, since it adds health benefits without adding any negatives. Do yourself some good with a cup of tea today!
http://www.heavenoftea.com/tea-and-your-health/prevent-heart-attacks-with-tea/
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