Tea & It’s MANY Benefits

How many of you drink herbal tea?  Do you think it has a bad taste?  Do you only drink it cold and sweetened with plenty of sugar?  If you answered yes to either of the latter two questions, you could be missing out on the many health benefits of herbal tea.  For me, tea is something I drink when I want to relax.  It soothes and calms me all the while positively impacting my health.  It’s one of those things that just helps me be at peace when I feel tension or stress.  If you think herbal tea is boring and bland, you may not have known the several types and flavors that are available on the market.  According to teabenefits.com, my go to website for all things tea related, tea is known as the “wonder drug”. They go on to say that teas made from camellia sinensis (warm weather evergreen) have cancer-fighting properties and plenty of antioxidants.  The benefits that these antioxidants provide include: preventing blood clots, lowering cholesterol levels, deactivating cancer promoters, and stimulating the immune system.  Tea also provides many vitamins and minerals.  Benefits include delay of aging, reduction of high blood pressure, fights against viral and bacterial infection, and improves the digestive and excretory systems.  I often drink tea when I feel a cold coming on and that often times seems to reverse the symptoms and I start to feel better.  Some types of tea also provide plenty of vitamin C, which can stop you from getting sick or improve your health if you’re already sick.  Other ailments that tea can improve are stomach aches from bloating or gas, headaches, freshen breath, and help you fall asleep and promote restful sleep.  I am a testament to many of the above ailments being reversed or improved from sipping the wonderful and diverse types and flavors of tea.  I use it as my medicine   If you didn’t have to, would you take prescription medicine?  I don’t like to, and I if my tea works, then I don’t have to look any further.  Won’t you give it a try and help yourself feel better the natural way?  I’d love to read your comments….Do you drink tea?  If so, what kind and what are the many benefits that you’ve experienced?

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Fake Sugars: What Hurts, What Helps?

If you’ve started to change your diet and are slowly reducing your sugar intake or  you’ve already gone sugar/grain-free, you may be feeling a little blue without a little sweetness in your life.  Well I’m here to tell you there is one “fake sugar” out there that is safe to use, from sweetening your coffee a little, to even using it in baking.  But before I go into detail about this wonderful sweetener, let’s go over some details about other so-called “fake sugars”.  Three well-known and often used “fake sugars” are Aspartame (Equal; NutraSweet), Saccharin (Sweet-n-Low), and Sucralose (Splenda). As was discussed in my blog Sugar: A Silent Killer?, sugar needs to be avoided.  However, thinking you’re in the clear by using the above substitutes is not the answer.

According to Dr. Mercola, Aspartame is the most dangerous sweetener around.  Reactions to aspartame include: headaches/migraines, nausea, abdominal pains, fatigue, sleeping problems, vision problems, and asthma/chest tightness.  Long-term effects of using aspartame include: Multiple Sclerosis, memory loss, hearing loss, hormonal problems, Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, and brain lesions.

Saccharin has the possibility of being carcinogenic.  Other possible reactions from the use of Saccharin include: headaches, breathing difficulties, skin eruptions and diarrhea.  Saccharin is also found in some infant formulas and may cause muscle dysfunction and irritability.

Sucralose, also known as Splenda, has been marketed with the indication that it is natural and just like sugar.  In reality, it is far from it.  Ingredients in Splenda include Chlorine, Dextrose, and Maltodextrin.  The latter two, indicated in Sugar: A Silent Killer?, are two disguised names for sugar which should be avoided.  Long-term studies conducted on animals indicate that Sucralose may produce the following reactions: bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, rash, swelling, wheezing, chest pains, palpitations, depression, and itchy eyes.

After all that…What should you use?  The answer is Xylitol.  This is my favorite sweetener for many reasons and the only one in my house.  Xylitol is amazing for the following reasons:

1. Mixes, dissolves and behaves like common sugar
2. Contains 40% fewer calories
3. Metabolizes slower than sugar
4. Rids the body of harmful bacteria in the mouth and upper respiratory system
5. Fights tooth decay
6. DOES NOT cause bloating or gas
7. DOES NOT cause a spike in blood sugar

Have you given up sugar?  Have you tried Xylitol?  I would love to read your comments and thoughts below

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Brussel Sprouts, YUCK!!! NOT :)

So I’d like to think I’m pretty versatile in the types of vegetables I eat, but always ready to try something new.  After hearing stories throughout the years about how bad they taste and how disgusted people are when spoken of, I finally decided to put Brussel Sprouts to the test.  Once I had taken my first bite, I decided……I love them!!  I basically steamed them for about 20 mins. and mixed them with some butter, salt and pepper.  FABULOUS!!  Plus I probably loved them even more because they were so cute   Due to my excitement of discovering a new vegetable to add to my repertoire, I would like to share the nutritional value of Brussel Sprouts.

It is said that Brussel Sprouts have a slightly bitter taste and smell quite strange while cooking.  If you are aware of these two facts you may want to have nothing to do with them.  But if you are daring enough to try them when cooked and seasoned up correctly, you could be in for a wonderful, tasty surprise.

Brussel Sprouts provide the following benefits:

~ Phytonutrients: Fight Cancer

~ Folate: Prevents birth defects

~ Vitamin C: 4 sprouts = 100% daily value

~ Vitamin K: Promotes healthy bones

~ Vitamin A: Promotes healthy skin

~ Vitamin E: Promotes healthy eyes and helps with Alzheimer’s disease

~ Glucobrassicin & Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fight inflammation

~ Low in Sodium

~ Good source of Fiber

As you can see, Brussel Sprouts are full of health promoting nutrients.  Please keep an open mind and try these often criticized and neglected cute mini cabbages

Sugar: A Silent Killer?

Some people think that sugar is okay in moderation.  First of all, is it?  Second of all, what is your definition of moderation?  The fact of the matter is many people do not realize how many foods and beverages in America contain sugar.  Sugar is a sneaky sleuth that is disguised with many aliases and hides itself in our food products without many of us being aware. Here are 10 common ways sugar is disguised in our food products.

 

• High Fructose Corn Syrup – Causes weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and can deplete your body of essential vitamins and minerals.  Often considered MUCH MUCH worse than ordinary table sugar.

• Cane Juice – Many believe that this is healthier than ‘sugar’ because it is not as refined and retains more nutrients.  However, it is STILL sugar and equally as bad for your health.

• Maltodextrin – Because this contains only 2-3 calories per serving and is easily digestible, some think it is better for you than ‘sugar’.  Maltodextrin can compromise the digestive system, cause upset stomachs, and allergic reactions to those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.

• Sucrose – ‘Table Sugar’ — Although it occurs naturally, it has the same negative effect on blood sugar levels.

• Mannitol – Known to speed up the process of tooth decay and also cause digestive distress.

• Brown Rice Syrup -  Does not taste as sweet as sugar, but contains the same amount of calories per gram.

• Dextrose – Causes tooth decay and is carcinogenic.

• Fructose – May lead to weight gain and cardiovascular disease.

• Glucose – Can lead to type 2 diabetes, immune problems and fatigue.

• Malt Syrup – Elevates blood sugar.

 

Have you heard of these?  Now is the time to take charge of your health.  Be more aware of the ingredients in the foods you buy and avoid these terrible consequences.  The key to a healthy lifestyle is to drink plenty of water, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, proper, healthy, antibiotic and hormone free meats, and healthy sources of protein.  Practice cooking at home majority of the time.  You might think this strategy would take a lot more planning.  Of course it will.  But isn’t a little extra time and the improved health of you and your family worth it?