FitSugar

Rooibos – Red, Red Tea

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:30:00 -0800

Always on the lookout for a new cup of tea to enjoy, I have recently taken to drinking a cup of rooibos, pronounced Roy-boss, after dinner. Also known as red tea or bush tea, rooibos hails from South Africa and is not really a "tea," but an herbal tisane. High in antioxidants this tisane is a great dessert substitute. It is caffeine free so it won't keep you up past your bedtime, and it is naturally sweet so you don't have to add extra calories in the form of some sweetener like sugar or honey.

The number of health claims is a little overwhelming. It is said to:

Ease irritability, headaches, nervous tension and insomnia.
Act as an anti-spasmodic agent, to relieve stomach cramps and colic in infants.
Can be used to treat hay fever, asthma and eczema.
Slow the aging process when placed directly on the skin.
Boost the immune system.

Unfortunately, the scientific studies of rooibos are limited and the few studies completed do not support the myriad of health claims. Rooibos is, however, high in many essential minerals, like: copper, iron, potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc, and magnesium. It is also high in alpha-hydroxy, which is why it works on the skin topically.

I drink it for the taste and if it boosts my immune system that would be a great bonus. Numi Mellow Red Rooibos is my favorite because it is organic and fair trade. Do you like rooibos? Tell me in the comments section below.

Source

St. Patrick's Day Tea: Green and Healthy

FitSugar — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 10:07:54 -0700

This St. Patty's Day, if green beer is not in your diet (or even just not for you) then this festive tea may be worth a try.

Blended with Green Peppermint, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips and Green Rooibos, this St. Patrick's Day Tea is one healthy (and green) drink. What makes it so healthy? Why, the peppermint and the rooibos, of course.

Peppermint tea has been thought to have healing effects, as a result of the menthol that it contains. It may ease irritable bowel syndrome, nausea and vomiting. It can also control mild asthma and even help to manage stress. Some even drink peppermint tea as a way to ward off colds.

Rooibos, a South African plant, has gained much attention for the relief of nervous tension, various digestive problems and allergies. Interestingly enough, in South Africa, the drink of choice for expectant mothers is rooibos tea because this caffeine-free herbal infusion has been shown to soothe the body's reaction to allergies and rashes. Most recently, antioxidant activity has also been attributed to the tea as well.

As for the chocolate, well do I even need I explain why that's good? Buy it from TeaGarden.com for $13.50 (3.5 ounces).

Tea and Bone Density

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:00:00 -0700

I am always up for a cup of tea. I like all colors and varieties. Herbal, green, black, rooibos, iced, hot, with lemon, with cream - I am game for any and all.

I just learned of another reason to take time out for tea: It may slow the loss of bone density. A new five-year study measured the bone density of 275 women at the beginning and end of the study. They found that women who regularly drank black and green tea had higher bone densities. The results did factor in the use of calcium supplements and smoking history.

Researchers believe that it's the estrogen-like properties found in the phytochemcial called flavanoids, which are abundant in tea, that are protecting bones against thinning.

While the study focused on elderly women in their 70s and 80s, I think it is never to young to start a healthful habit. So put on the kettle and have a cup of tea.

Source

Luna Tea Cakes: Vanilla Macadamia

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:45:00 -0800

Have you guys ever tried Luna Tea Cakes? Since you all are such big fans of Luna Bars I thought I'd give these a try. Although the package claims the snack is good "for mood balance," since it contains a lot of antioxidants from the Rooibos Red Tea and some omega-3s, I am more interested in how it tastes. Really, I am more interested in how my energy bar measures up nutritionally instead of psychologically.

Interested in those details too? Then read more.

This tea cake tasted like a healthy cookie, chewy and sweet. I liked that whole goji berries were visible in the bar. Not that I believe all the hype about this fruit, but those berries remind me of The Inappropriate Yoga Guy that GiggleSugar introduced me to.

Serving Size	1 Tea Cake	1 Peanut Butter Cookie Luna Bar
Calories	150	180
Total Fat	4g	6g
Saturated Fat	1g	3g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg
Sodium	140mg	150mg
Carbs	28g	23g
Fiber	4g	3g
Sugar	8g	12g
Protein	2g	10g

Anyway, I posted the nutritional info for a regular Luna Bar as well, and as you can see there isn't a huge difference. They both tasted pretty good, but if I had a choice, I'd probably go for a regular Luna Bar instead since it has more protein and fiber, and less sodium. If I wanted to eat a healthy cookie, I'd probably just make some myself like these Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Maintain It: Just Rewards

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 13:30:00 -0800

You have lost all the pounds you wanted and hit your target weight (RIGHT ON!!!) so the really hard part is over. But keeping the weight off also takes some discipline. Here is where making all those lifestyle changes comes in handy. Steer clear of sweets and alcohol when it comes to rewarding yourself and create some new healthy, just rewards.

For a job well done, buy yourself some flowers or even just a single stem of your favorite bloom if you're watching your pocketbook as well as your waist line. You'll be treating your senses of sight and smell instead of your sense of taste, but still quite satisfying. By trimming the stems and changing the water regularly, those flowers will last a lot longer than the taste of a Snickers bar.

For some other ideas read more

Buy yourself a small token of "self" esteem like socks or earrings. I love accessories - you can get them on the cheap and they can transform old outfits. These are great self rewards if you're still dieting too, since they will always fit.

Drink some herbal tea for dessert. The warm liquid aids digestion and if you don't use sugar or honey the caloric impact is minimal. Pick a couple of different teas to try that are naturally sweet. Chamomile or rooibos teas (I really like Honey Bush) are tasty and can satisfy the sweet tooth.

So treat yourself right without upping your caloric intake and losing your willpower and more power to you.