FitSugar

Relax Already: Make a Cup of Tea

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:32 -0700

Stress is a common phenomenon of a hectic workday, when everything speeds up to an unmanageable pace. To help slow things down and relax a bit, brew a cup of tea. This simple action can create profound results. Unlike chugging an ice-cold drink, sipping something hot takes time and a bit of patience. A cup of herbal tea like chamomile, known for its relaxing qualities, can provide a moment of calm and help you recharge so you have energy to tackle the rest of your day.

Two Popular Beverages Linked to Throat Cancer

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:30:00 -0700

A cup of hot tea can be soothing on a cold day, but a new study urges you to think about the temperature of your beverage before you start sipping. Drinking scalding hot tea that is greater than 158°F (70°C) has been shown to increase the risk of throat cancer. Participants in the study who made black tea and drank it two minutes after pouring were five times as likely to develop throat cancer as compared to those who let their tea sit for four or more minutes. Researchers think the relationship between super-hot tea and cancer is connected to repeated injury to the lining of the throat.

I didn't know this but cancer of the esophagus is one of the deadliest cancers out there, and 500,000 people worldwide die each year from it. So take preventative measures by allowing your hot tea to cool so that it's warm or lukewarm, and less than 149°F (65°C).

Unfortunately, there's more bad news when it comes to esophageal cancer. If you drink alcohol then you'll want to read more.

Another study shows that a person who experiences a red face or flushing after drinking alcohol may have an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. About one-third of Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans display this red-face phenomenon, accompanied by an increased heart rate and nausea. It's cause by an inherited lack of an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). Many doctors are unaware that ALDH2-deficient people have this elevated risk, and they should be since the survival rate of esophageal cancer is really low, about 15.6 percent. Even moderate drinkers are at risk, so for those who suffer from a red face after drinking, it's best to avoid alcohol. Tell me, do you turn pink when you drink?

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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.

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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.

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Tea Kettles for a Cure

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0700

You know that I'm always in the mood for a nice relaxing cup of tea. Now your health can benefit from all the healthy antioxidants found in tea while you benefit others with these tea kettles from a couple of great causes!

Here is the LIVESTRONG kettle by Chantal (for $39.95). A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of this will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which provides funds for cancer research, education and support for those affected by cancer. In the signature "Livestrong" yellow color, this has a 1.8-qt. capacity.
This KitchenAid Cook for the Cure stainless steel tea kettle ($51.99) has pink silicone handles. For every teakettle sold, KitchenAid will make a $5.00 donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for breast cancer research and outreach.

Fit's Tips: What a great gift idea! Buy some of you favorite tea to accompany it and you'll be doing something kind for a friend and helping these foundations too!

Diet Tip: Close the Kitchen

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Snacking after dinner often leads to overeating. It just happens that the mindless munchies take over and you end the day by consuming more calories than you burned during the day. If you are dieting you definitely want to avoid that, since your goal is to be in a caloric deficit.

To break the late night snacking habit, I propose that you close your kitchen at 8:00 pm, or whenever you finish your dinner. Yep, just think the kitchen is closed. Don't open the pantry or the cabinet with the crackers, cookies, chips, chocolate - is it just me or do all tempting treats begin with the letter "C"? Keep the refrigerator closed.

The only exception to the Kitchen Closed rule would be to make a nice cup of herbal tea. Chamomile tea can satisfy your sweet tooth and help you wind down at the end of the day. As I write this I am enjoying a cup of decaf Earl Grey with a splash of non-fat milk.

Have You Heard of: Alter Eco Fair Trade

FitSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 15:45:00 -0700

I've told you about Fair Trade, and how it's so important to support companies and businesses with the Fair Trade label. Rapunzel, Divine Chocolate, and Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates are great companies to buy from.

Just to remind you, Fair Trade means that the farmers were given a fair price for their products, so they can in turn pay their workers the proper salary. No child labor or forced labor was used when you see the Fair Trade label.

I recently discovered a new line of foods called Alter Eco Fair Trade. They offer wonderful products such as White and Red Quinoa from Bolivia, Unrefined Cane Sugar from The Philippines, Coffee from Peru, and they also have Thai, Coral, Ruby, and Purple Rice from Thailand.

Alter Eco also has many different kinds of tea such as Chai from Sri Lanka, and Darjeeling Black from India. My favorite product must be their chocolate bars. These are made using a combination of Fair Trade ingredients such as cocoa, sun-dried raisins, and roasted cashews.

When you look on the back of an Alter Eco Fair Trade package, you'll find the unique story of the farmers and the area where it was cultivated. Not only do I love knowing where my food came from, but I love buying quality products from companies who pay their workers what they deserve.

Fit's Tips: Look for Alter Eco Fair Trade products at your local health food store, or if you visit their website, their products can be bought online. They're reasonably priced for what you get, and you'll feel good supporting a conscious company.

Drink Tea to Lower Skin Cancer Risk

FitSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 08:45:00 -0700

New research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology has found that tea drinkers have a lower risk of developing squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, the two most common forms of skin cancer.

This does not mean that you can go to the pool, order a tea and skip the sunscreen since no evidence was found that tea drinking lowered skin cancer risk in people who'd accumulated painful sunburns in the past. Also, the study did not look at the relationship between tea drinking and malignant melanoma, the least common but most deadly form of skin cancer. So continue to have your daily cup of tea, but wear sunscreen and protective clothing to be well on your way to lowering your risk of skin cancer.

Calm-A-Sutra of Tea: Video Competition

FitSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Do you like tea? Do you like making videos? Looking for a $20,000 scholarship? If the answer to all three questions is YES, then you need to enter the Calm-A-Sutra National Scholarship Contest. Sounds like the USA Tea Council is trying to get the youth market. Of course I have no problem with pushing tea on the youth of today since I am a tea devotee. All those health benefits packed into one wonderful drink - amazing.

In fact,YumSugar told me about the contest as I was sipping on a cup of jasmine green tea, and it just seemed like too much fun. Plus the title is so punny that I had to tell you all about it.

Here's the deal, all you have to do is make a 1 to 2 minute video infomercial on the health benefits of tea in the most "unusual, unique, and/or off beat scenario." Seems doable since you can do a lot of your research on tea facts here at FitSugar.

What do you win? A $20,000 scholarship, a trip to NYC and an appearance on the CBS morning show with American Idol's Justin Guarini (now that is the reason to enter, if you ask me).

Check out the contest rules and see if you are ready for Calm-A-Sutra and YouTube fame.

Stained Teeth? Coffee Is Not the Only Culprit

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:00:00 -0700

We all want our teeth to be bright and white. There are so many whitening products and toothpastes on the shelves at my local drugstore. Dentists, for a pretty penny, professionally bleach stained and colored teeth.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to have pearly whites, but these products can make your teeth sensitive to cold and hot temperatures. Which can be surprisingly painful, so why not prevent the stains before they start?

If you're concerned about your teeth becoming stained, try to avoid these as much as possible:

Coffee, tea, cola, and red wine - consider cutting back if it's not possible to ditch these altogether, and brush your teeth immediately after you drink them.
Smoking - Don't you have enough reasons to quit?
Certain fruits and veggies - apples and potatoes can stain your teeth, so brush after eating them. Teeth, like people, are unique and not everyone's teeth will react the same way to the same foods.
Minerals in the water you drink can also discolor your teeth. Some cities add fluoride to the water supply - excessive fluoride from water or mouthwashes can also cause discoloration.

Fit's Tips: Anything that can stain your carpet can stain your teeth - so brushing after each meal and snack can help prevent stains. Keep toothpaste and a toothbrush in your desk drawer at work, so you can brush after your morning coffe.

Also, make sure to floss your teeth daily and get your teeth professionally cleaned every 6 months. It's good to know that some of these stains can be gently scraped off by your dentist.

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