Sep
30
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Tom G.antion asked:
A tea isn’t completely devoid of the extra kick if it states that it is caffeine free. Not all of the caffeine can be taken out by the decaffeinating process only most of it. As with any other type of tea, green tea naturally contains caffeine. It is a relatively easy process to remove the caffeine from your tea, but there is a little more to it than you might think.
Caffeinated or Decaffeinated?
Start off with some background. The well-known black tea, oolong tea, green tea and white tea are just a few of several types of tea. The most caffeine is found in black tea, while green tea is in the middle and white tea has the least. Coffee contains more caffeine than tea. One half or a third of the caffeine in coffee is found in a cup of tea.
It is rather surprising when you consider some general facts about tea plants. Caffeine will be stronger the smaller the tea leaf. A higher caffeine content is also in the tea leaves that are fermented longer. However, according to some sources the health benefits of green tea is ruined by the decaffeination process. So while you may be able to find comfort in a warm cup of green tea that is caffeine free it is a no-win situation.
You will want caffeine free if you have a problem with caffeine. Caffeine green tea is not completely devoid of caffeine, so you should keep this in mind if you have a severe reaction to any amount of caffeine. Which means you should probably stay away from teas altogether.
If you can even drink caffeine free green tea then herbal infusions may be an option. These do not contain any tea whatsoever despite the being mislabeled as teas. Herbs or flowers are often contained in these products and can be brewed in tea bags or balls just like teas. Chamomile is an example of the alternate ingredients included in herbal infusion which is a type of flower.
Caffeine green tea is a great choice if you are trying to limit your caffeine intake. The health benefit of green tea generally outweigh the negatives of a little bit of caffeine when you look at the big picture.
TED
A tea isn’t completely devoid of the extra kick if it states that it is caffeine free. Not all of the caffeine can be taken out by the decaffeinating process only most of it. As with any other type of tea, green tea naturally contains caffeine. It is a relatively easy process to remove the caffeine from your tea, but there is a little more to it than you might think.
Caffeinated or Decaffeinated?
Start off with some background. The well-known black tea, oolong tea, green tea and white tea are just a few of several types of tea. The most caffeine is found in black tea, while green tea is in the middle and white tea has the least. Coffee contains more caffeine than tea. One half or a third of the caffeine in coffee is found in a cup of tea.
It is rather surprising when you consider some general facts about tea plants. Caffeine will be stronger the smaller the tea leaf. A higher caffeine content is also in the tea leaves that are fermented longer. However, according to some sources the health benefits of green tea is ruined by the decaffeination process. So while you may be able to find comfort in a warm cup of green tea that is caffeine free it is a no-win situation.
You will want caffeine free if you have a problem with caffeine. Caffeine green tea is not completely devoid of caffeine, so you should keep this in mind if you have a severe reaction to any amount of caffeine. Which means you should probably stay away from teas altogether.
If you can even drink caffeine free green tea then herbal infusions may be an option. These do not contain any tea whatsoever despite the being mislabeled as teas. Herbs or flowers are often contained in these products and can be brewed in tea bags or balls just like teas. Chamomile is an example of the alternate ingredients included in herbal infusion which is a type of flower.
Caffeine green tea is a great choice if you are trying to limit your caffeine intake. The health benefit of green tea generally outweigh the negatives of a little bit of caffeine when you look at the big picture.
TED
Sep
29
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Kevin Pederson asked:
It has been given different names but the nutritious value of yogurt makes it useful for our continuous and profoundly used up body. It should be part of your daily diet as it helps with increasing ways of creating a clean digestive system. The process of making yogurt must have developed somewhere in Asia or Europe as there is a huge supply of milk.
In Europe and Asia, cow’s milk is very prevalent; buffalo’s milk is also used in India. In Russia goats and sheep’s milk are a good source of providing milk from which the rich and smooth yogurt is formed. Yogurt can be made by the use of Soya which is considered as a very healthy drink.
By being an excellent desert, yogurt also happens to be very nutritive with many golden benefits written to its name. It has all the essential source of proteins, vitamins and minerals. These help to create a proper balance for your body. High content of calcium also proves to be excellent for our digestive system. It helps it cooling down your system rather than burning it up with acidity problems. As the proteins are easily digested you can have this very easily which tends to do wonders to your body.
It can also be made into butter milk wherein 90% water is used, but the taste happens to be very good for your mouth and your stomach accepts it easily. People who have tender digestive system can have this daily which would help them tremendously. As the digestabilty factor of the yogurt is better in comparison to the milk due to which you can have it very easily. It is been said that consuming at least 250 gms yogurt a day would help to improve your thiamine. This thiamine helps in maintaining your appetite as well as the continuous growth of your body.
Acidity can be easily fought by drinking butter milk. If this butter milk happens to be sour it turns out be even better as it helps in fighting the influx of lactic acid in the system. You can use yogurt in different forms which makes it more interesting and also very appetizing for many children and adults too. It also contains Vitamin B12 which is very good for your body. There are three types of yogurt regular, low-fat, and skimmed milk.
As yogurt contains live bacteria it proves to be very useful for your body providing all the necessary health benefits needed by you. It has been tested that people who have yogurt thrice a week can increase their life span than the one’s who had it just once a week. Your immunity increases by having yogurt. It has a fine resistance to fight diseases. Eating yogurt helps with vaginal yeast infection. It also helps in weight loss which for many may be a very significant problem. Lactobacillus is a pro-biotic bacterium which helps in curing arthritis as well as preventing it.
GREG
It has been given different names but the nutritious value of yogurt makes it useful for our continuous and profoundly used up body. It should be part of your daily diet as it helps with increasing ways of creating a clean digestive system. The process of making yogurt must have developed somewhere in Asia or Europe as there is a huge supply of milk.
In Europe and Asia, cow’s milk is very prevalent; buffalo’s milk is also used in India. In Russia goats and sheep’s milk are a good source of providing milk from which the rich and smooth yogurt is formed. Yogurt can be made by the use of Soya which is considered as a very healthy drink.
By being an excellent desert, yogurt also happens to be very nutritive with many golden benefits written to its name. It has all the essential source of proteins, vitamins and minerals. These help to create a proper balance for your body. High content of calcium also proves to be excellent for our digestive system. It helps it cooling down your system rather than burning it up with acidity problems. As the proteins are easily digested you can have this very easily which tends to do wonders to your body.
It can also be made into butter milk wherein 90% water is used, but the taste happens to be very good for your mouth and your stomach accepts it easily. People who have tender digestive system can have this daily which would help them tremendously. As the digestabilty factor of the yogurt is better in comparison to the milk due to which you can have it very easily. It is been said that consuming at least 250 gms yogurt a day would help to improve your thiamine. This thiamine helps in maintaining your appetite as well as the continuous growth of your body.
Acidity can be easily fought by drinking butter milk. If this butter milk happens to be sour it turns out be even better as it helps in fighting the influx of lactic acid in the system. You can use yogurt in different forms which makes it more interesting and also very appetizing for many children and adults too. It also contains Vitamin B12 which is very good for your body. There are three types of yogurt regular, low-fat, and skimmed milk.
As yogurt contains live bacteria it proves to be very useful for your body providing all the necessary health benefits needed by you. It has been tested that people who have yogurt thrice a week can increase their life span than the one’s who had it just once a week. Your immunity increases by having yogurt. It has a fine resistance to fight diseases. Eating yogurt helps with vaginal yeast infection. It also helps in weight loss which for many may be a very significant problem. Lactobacillus is a pro-biotic bacterium which helps in curing arthritis as well as preventing it.
GREG
Aug
12
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:
There might be other ways of getting rid of a yeast infection, but yogurt yeast infection cure has to be the number one practiced home remedy. Just about everyone who uses home remedies to cure their yeast infection has heard about or used yogurt yeast infection cure.
And quite a few people who haven’t had a yeast infection have heard about yogurt yeast infection cure popular remedy too. That said, if you’ve not heard about yogurt yeast infection cure before, you might be wondering how something like yogurt could help cure your yeast.
Well to begin with, there are a few ways and means by which you can use yogurt as a yogurt yeast infection cure, and most of them tend to be messy. But if you can stand that part there’s no denying the fact that yogurt yeast infection cure does help quite a few yeast suffers with their problem.
It should, I believe, also be noted that the yogurt yeast infection cure that I’m talking about is the unsweetened plain variety, and if it has live cultures then that’s even better. Your yogurt should also have Acidophilus in it as this is the main fighting agent. Don’t, whatever you do, use sweetened yogurt as the yeast bacteria will be happily singing your praises for the next few generations to come!
KYLE
There might be other ways of getting rid of a yeast infection, but yogurt yeast infection cure has to be the number one practiced home remedy. Just about everyone who uses home remedies to cure their yeast infection has heard about or used yogurt yeast infection cure.
And quite a few people who haven’t had a yeast infection have heard about yogurt yeast infection cure popular remedy too. That said, if you’ve not heard about yogurt yeast infection cure before, you might be wondering how something like yogurt could help cure your yeast.
Well to begin with, there are a few ways and means by which you can use yogurt as a yogurt yeast infection cure, and most of them tend to be messy. But if you can stand that part there’s no denying the fact that yogurt yeast infection cure does help quite a few yeast suffers with their problem.
It should, I believe, also be noted that the yogurt yeast infection cure that I’m talking about is the unsweetened plain variety, and if it has live cultures then that’s even better. Your yogurt should also have Acidophilus in it as this is the main fighting agent. Don’t, whatever you do, use sweetened yogurt as the yeast bacteria will be happily singing your praises for the next few generations to come!
KYLE
Mar
13
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Wangeci Kinyanjui asked:
Any member of the human race likes it best when his own life is progressive and all round meaning his finances are at par with his personal or family needs and also his body system is perfect. Nonetheless, human nature doesn’t make us any different from our ‘wild cousins’ in the forest or wherever on earth, we are made of mortal bodies that could get really sick and die just like them. That’s why we experience stubborn infections from nowhere that only leave us believing in possibilities and potentialities of getting better with the mental ability of our doctors and the strength of their prescriptions. Have you ever been ill and wished you could just ‘think’ your symptoms away or you did not have to take so many pills?
How about being cut–off from the society because every one thinks someone cursed or bewitched you and your entire friends disappear to the hill for fear that you could contaminate them? Some of these diseases such as yeast infections could completely be mis-perceived by the larger society to be something else thus generating unnecessary stigma to the victims.If you could be one of those people who are just about to surrender the long and enduring battle with the ********* yeast infections then you realize what this devastation can make you do. Well,the doctor you met recently told you that your condition is a disgrace and then from the blues another disregarded ‘Practitioner’ gives a yogurt yeast infections remedy. Puzzled,by this, you demand a credible evidence to support his argument.
Without wasting time he invites you to his tiny one room house where you meet a couple of women with similar cases chattering and giggling amongst their own embarrassments with the vaginal yeast infections. There you stand at the entrance baffled with what you have just seen with fear paralyzing every part of you. All you know is that you have not been here before and even though they are all feminine, one cannot be sure how the folks are likely to treat you. But before you grasp it, the drama unfolds as they all stand up in your honor something long forgotten in your brain library and one who seems to be their leader walks towards you, then she extends her body towards yours for a hug and she utters some magnificent welcoming words contrary to the bad picture you initially had.
They even hit a chorus just for you as their culture depicts.As the practitioner reveals to you later,those women suffered the same humiliation as yourself and they formed a wellness group to preach the goodness of yogurt yeast infection option. The ultimate reason being the remarkable and magical powers it portrayed in making their lives worthwhile again.
This then gives you a memorable reason to start counting your blessing again as the unnoticed practitioner turns your then miserable life around. He continues to explain to you how the yogurt works using female dummy made purposely for demonstrations but it looks so real to you.In normal circumstances,yogurt has one perfect purpose which is to quench your thirst and supplement nutrients content in your system.
Conversely this practitioner thinks your system compass should point south where the exit check point rests! What is more exciting,the exit function has now become entry point, unbelievable! Believe it? When this is over it becomes totally clear to you why those women faces’ were radiant as you walk home to start up your remedy knowing this yogurt yeast infection option is adorable.
LUIS
Any member of the human race likes it best when his own life is progressive and all round meaning his finances are at par with his personal or family needs and also his body system is perfect. Nonetheless, human nature doesn’t make us any different from our ‘wild cousins’ in the forest or wherever on earth, we are made of mortal bodies that could get really sick and die just like them. That’s why we experience stubborn infections from nowhere that only leave us believing in possibilities and potentialities of getting better with the mental ability of our doctors and the strength of their prescriptions. Have you ever been ill and wished you could just ‘think’ your symptoms away or you did not have to take so many pills?
How about being cut–off from the society because every one thinks someone cursed or bewitched you and your entire friends disappear to the hill for fear that you could contaminate them? Some of these diseases such as yeast infections could completely be mis-perceived by the larger society to be something else thus generating unnecessary stigma to the victims.If you could be one of those people who are just about to surrender the long and enduring battle with the ********* yeast infections then you realize what this devastation can make you do. Well,the doctor you met recently told you that your condition is a disgrace and then from the blues another disregarded ‘Practitioner’ gives a yogurt yeast infections remedy. Puzzled,by this, you demand a credible evidence to support his argument.
Without wasting time he invites you to his tiny one room house where you meet a couple of women with similar cases chattering and giggling amongst their own embarrassments with the vaginal yeast infections. There you stand at the entrance baffled with what you have just seen with fear paralyzing every part of you. All you know is that you have not been here before and even though they are all feminine, one cannot be sure how the folks are likely to treat you. But before you grasp it, the drama unfolds as they all stand up in your honor something long forgotten in your brain library and one who seems to be their leader walks towards you, then she extends her body towards yours for a hug and she utters some magnificent welcoming words contrary to the bad picture you initially had.
They even hit a chorus just for you as their culture depicts.As the practitioner reveals to you later,those women suffered the same humiliation as yourself and they formed a wellness group to preach the goodness of yogurt yeast infection option. The ultimate reason being the remarkable and magical powers it portrayed in making their lives worthwhile again.
This then gives you a memorable reason to start counting your blessing again as the unnoticed practitioner turns your then miserable life around. He continues to explain to you how the yogurt works using female dummy made purposely for demonstrations but it looks so real to you.In normal circumstances,yogurt has one perfect purpose which is to quench your thirst and supplement nutrients content in your system.
Conversely this practitioner thinks your system compass should point south where the exit check point rests! What is more exciting,the exit function has now become entry point, unbelievable! Believe it? When this is over it becomes totally clear to you why those women faces’ were radiant as you walk home to start up your remedy knowing this yogurt yeast infection option is adorable.
LUIS
Feb
16
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:
Freshly applying yogurt yeast infection remedy is found to be the best way to get the yogurt where you need it when you need it, but it can be very messy. The way to go about applying yogurt yeast infection remedy is to coat the outer lips or the labia, the vulva, and inside the ****** with the yogurt. To insert yogurt yeast infection remedy into the ****** you might want to use a speculum. You will find that you get immediate relief from the itching and the burning sensation.
However, and this applies for the yogurt yeast infection remedy where you need to introduce the yogurt into the vagina, don’t keep the yogurt for a long period of time. This can irritate you as much as not having applied the yogurt yeast infection remedy in the first place. So be sure to wash it off after it’s done its job and apply a new coating only when you need it.
Yogurt Tampon is simply what it says it is. All you need to do is take a tub of the unsweetened yogurt yeast infection remedy and dip a tampon into it. Then you can insert the yogurt yeast infection remedy covered tampon into your ****** for instant relief. Don’t keep this yogurt tampon in too long however as any good effects will be wiped out and you might find yourself back to square one.
Frozen tampon applicator is an ingenuous method of getting the yogurt yeast infection remedy where it should be without having to resort to the use of a speculum. Take a plastic tampon applicator and fill it with yogurt yeast infection remedy. Freeze it until the yogurt has turned solid and then insert into the ******. The sensation will be immensely cooling especially at first, but it makes applying the yogurt yeast infection remedy into your ****** much easier and less cumbersome. Besides which, there’s not even one tenth of the mess to deal with, and you can freeze some of these in advance as well. Just make sure to keep it away from your other frozen goodies!
Frozen glove fingers is a variation on the theme of the frozen tampon applicator, but it works just as well. Take a disposable glove and fill each finger with the yogurt yeast infection remedy. Freeze and take out and use as needed. One thing that you might want to be careful of when using any of these methods where you’re inserting yogurt yeast infection remedy into the vagina, is that you might find yourself dripping when the yogurt starts to melt! So you might want to wear a pad or a panty liner until your remedy is finished.
Some people have used syringes without needles method of getting the yogurt yeast infection remedy into the ****** with great effect. Take a syringe – without a needle of course – and fill with yogurt yeast infection remedy. Sit with your legs spread wide apart and placing the business end of the syringe into the mouth of your vagina, ****** the yogurt inside.
Eating yogurt is also a good yogurt yeast infection remedy, but more to the point it’s a good way to prevent a yeast infection. While just eating the yogurt won’t give you the properties of the acidophilus when and where you need it immediately, it can help by building up and maintaining healthy levels of the acidophilus when you don’t have a yeast infection. In this way it can help to prevent yeast infections from occurring in the first place.
ALFREDO
Freshly applying yogurt yeast infection remedy is found to be the best way to get the yogurt where you need it when you need it, but it can be very messy. The way to go about applying yogurt yeast infection remedy is to coat the outer lips or the labia, the vulva, and inside the ****** with the yogurt. To insert yogurt yeast infection remedy into the ****** you might want to use a speculum. You will find that you get immediate relief from the itching and the burning sensation.
However, and this applies for the yogurt yeast infection remedy where you need to introduce the yogurt into the vagina, don’t keep the yogurt for a long period of time. This can irritate you as much as not having applied the yogurt yeast infection remedy in the first place. So be sure to wash it off after it’s done its job and apply a new coating only when you need it.
Yogurt Tampon is simply what it says it is. All you need to do is take a tub of the unsweetened yogurt yeast infection remedy and dip a tampon into it. Then you can insert the yogurt yeast infection remedy covered tampon into your ****** for instant relief. Don’t keep this yogurt tampon in too long however as any good effects will be wiped out and you might find yourself back to square one.
Frozen tampon applicator is an ingenuous method of getting the yogurt yeast infection remedy where it should be without having to resort to the use of a speculum. Take a plastic tampon applicator and fill it with yogurt yeast infection remedy. Freeze it until the yogurt has turned solid and then insert into the ******. The sensation will be immensely cooling especially at first, but it makes applying the yogurt yeast infection remedy into your ****** much easier and less cumbersome. Besides which, there’s not even one tenth of the mess to deal with, and you can freeze some of these in advance as well. Just make sure to keep it away from your other frozen goodies!
Frozen glove fingers is a variation on the theme of the frozen tampon applicator, but it works just as well. Take a disposable glove and fill each finger with the yogurt yeast infection remedy. Freeze and take out and use as needed. One thing that you might want to be careful of when using any of these methods where you’re inserting yogurt yeast infection remedy into the vagina, is that you might find yourself dripping when the yogurt starts to melt! So you might want to wear a pad or a panty liner until your remedy is finished.
Some people have used syringes without needles method of getting the yogurt yeast infection remedy into the ****** with great effect. Take a syringe – without a needle of course – and fill with yogurt yeast infection remedy. Sit with your legs spread wide apart and placing the business end of the syringe into the mouth of your vagina, ****** the yogurt inside.
Eating yogurt is also a good yogurt yeast infection remedy, but more to the point it’s a good way to prevent a yeast infection. While just eating the yogurt won’t give you the properties of the acidophilus when and where you need it immediately, it can help by building up and maintaining healthy levels of the acidophilus when you don’t have a yeast infection. In this way it can help to prevent yeast infections from occurring in the first place.
ALFREDO
Jan
12
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Wangeci Kinyanjui asked:
There is no uncertainty about the success of yogurt yeast infection remedy because many people have already accomplished results with it.As such one should not be silent in agony while they could only spare a little yogurt that they use for drinking to pamper their irritated ******* organs. Before I take you through the various methods used to apply yogurt yeast infection remedy, I must make sure you understand something about yeast infections so you do not just sprinkle that yogurt on your ******* organs without a hint of what should be treated.
Let me tell you that before you treat any ******* infections, first make sure that you have received a diagnosis from the doctor.If he has confirmed that what you have is yeast infection, then go ahead and use yogurt yeast infection remedy.The yeast infection would have adverse effects on the internal parts of your ****** and also the external parts.As such the point of using this yogurt yeast infection remedy should aim at healing both the internal and external problems whichever is rampant.Just like every other drugs, one must know how often to apply this yogurt yeast infection remedy during the day or night.Again one must recognize the best method to them which must be the one that is not causing any form of discomfort when used.
In addition, one mu
HARVEY
There is no uncertainty about the success of yogurt yeast infection remedy because many people have already accomplished results with it.As such one should not be silent in agony while they could only spare a little yogurt that they use for drinking to pamper their irritated ******* organs. Before I take you through the various methods used to apply yogurt yeast infection remedy, I must make sure you understand something about yeast infections so you do not just sprinkle that yogurt on your ******* organs without a hint of what should be treated.
Let me tell you that before you treat any ******* infections, first make sure that you have received a diagnosis from the doctor.If he has confirmed that what you have is yeast infection, then go ahead and use yogurt yeast infection remedy.The yeast infection would have adverse effects on the internal parts of your ****** and also the external parts.As such the point of using this yogurt yeast infection remedy should aim at healing both the internal and external problems whichever is rampant.Just like every other drugs, one must know how often to apply this yogurt yeast infection remedy during the day or night.Again one must recognize the best method to them which must be the one that is not causing any form of discomfort when used.
In addition, one mu
HARVEY
Jan
6
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Gray Rollins asked:
Candida is naturally occurring yeast found in the body and its overgrowth has been found to be a frequent complication or even a causative factor in many of today’s illnesses. Treatment is available and isn’t as complicated as you may think.
Yeast is normally found in the mouth, throat, intestines and genitourinary tract. When friendly bacteria and a properly functioning immune system are not present, balance of the system may be lost and Candida overgrowth may occur.
Someone with an overgrowth of yeast can experience any number of unpleasant symptoms such as a yeast infection, fatigue, rash, depression and anxiety. The symptoms of Candida overgrowth are frequently treated with anti-fungal remedies. Even with these remedies, however, if your diet is not changed to create an environment within the body to prohibit the overgrowth of Candida, relief is sure to be temporary, and problem symptoms will return.
Once you have established that you have a yeast infection there are a variety of dietary changes that you can make to improve your health. Refined sugar should be eliminated from your diet entirely as it encourages the growth of yeast. Don’t eat fruit – or drink fruit juices – as they contain natural sugars that promote the growth of yeast. Don’t drink beer, wine or liquor as the alcohol also provides sugar, and many of these products are fermented with yeast. Bagels, muffins, pastries, breads and crackers should also be eliminated from the diet as they contain yeast and sugar. Anything with vinegar – which is made with yeast culture – should be avoided as well. Mushrooms should be avoided as should peanuts and peanut butter, cheeses, and meats that are dried, smoked or pickled. Beverages that should be avoided are fermented drinks such as root beer and cider, black tea, and coffee, including decaffeinated. http://www.candidarelief.com/aboutcandida/
Both herbal remedies and prescribed medications can be helpful in treating a yeast infection. Increasing your intake of raw garlic and soluble fiber will help your body to fight the yeast infection. A supplemental dose of acidophilus will help to make your intestinal track more acidic which helps to kill off the Candida. Other recommended supplements include volatile oils, such as peppermint oil or oregano oil in capsule form as the straight liquid may be toxic, tea tree oil and olive leaf extract. Check with your herbalist as to dose, mode of use and formulations. For antifungal remedies not available over the counter check with your doctor about side effects, costs and availability.
Early in the treatment many people notice a worsening of their symptoms. When the Candida is killed it releases proteins and toxins. This process is known as die-off and is temporary. With strict adherence to the diet, and treatment regime the patient will usually begin to notice improvements in two to four weeks.
Keeping your immune system, “friendly” bacteria, and Candida in proper balance is possible with a combination of proactive changes; by altering your current diet, and with the responsible use of medicinal or herbal treatments you can maintain a healthy body.
KEVIN
Candida is naturally occurring yeast found in the body and its overgrowth has been found to be a frequent complication or even a causative factor in many of today’s illnesses. Treatment is available and isn’t as complicated as you may think.
Yeast is normally found in the mouth, throat, intestines and genitourinary tract. When friendly bacteria and a properly functioning immune system are not present, balance of the system may be lost and Candida overgrowth may occur.
Someone with an overgrowth of yeast can experience any number of unpleasant symptoms such as a yeast infection, fatigue, rash, depression and anxiety. The symptoms of Candida overgrowth are frequently treated with anti-fungal remedies. Even with these remedies, however, if your diet is not changed to create an environment within the body to prohibit the overgrowth of Candida, relief is sure to be temporary, and problem symptoms will return.
Once you have established that you have a yeast infection there are a variety of dietary changes that you can make to improve your health. Refined sugar should be eliminated from your diet entirely as it encourages the growth of yeast. Don’t eat fruit – or drink fruit juices – as they contain natural sugars that promote the growth of yeast. Don’t drink beer, wine or liquor as the alcohol also provides sugar, and many of these products are fermented with yeast. Bagels, muffins, pastries, breads and crackers should also be eliminated from the diet as they contain yeast and sugar. Anything with vinegar – which is made with yeast culture – should be avoided as well. Mushrooms should be avoided as should peanuts and peanut butter, cheeses, and meats that are dried, smoked or pickled. Beverages that should be avoided are fermented drinks such as root beer and cider, black tea, and coffee, including decaffeinated. http://www.candidarelief.com/aboutcandida/
Both herbal remedies and prescribed medications can be helpful in treating a yeast infection. Increasing your intake of raw garlic and soluble fiber will help your body to fight the yeast infection. A supplemental dose of acidophilus will help to make your intestinal track more acidic which helps to kill off the Candida. Other recommended supplements include volatile oils, such as peppermint oil or oregano oil in capsule form as the straight liquid may be toxic, tea tree oil and olive leaf extract. Check with your herbalist as to dose, mode of use and formulations. For antifungal remedies not available over the counter check with your doctor about side effects, costs and availability.
Early in the treatment many people notice a worsening of their symptoms. When the Candida is killed it releases proteins and toxins. This process is known as die-off and is temporary. With strict adherence to the diet, and treatment regime the patient will usually begin to notice improvements in two to four weeks.
Keeping your immune system, “friendly” bacteria, and Candida in proper balance is possible with a combination of proactive changes; by altering your current diet, and with the responsible use of medicinal or herbal treatments you can maintain a healthy body.
KEVIN
Dec
29
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Ron King asked:
Drinking tea — research shows it to be a healthy activity, because tea contains antioxidants that help fight cancer and even slow the aging process. Vitamin C, found in some teas, helps fight illnesses and colds. Some teas contain polyphones, which strengthen teeth by reducing plaque and also help aid digestion by increasing the flow of digestive juices in the stomach.
Tea, in short, has many healing properties. Here are 10 natural healing tea therapies.
1. Black Tea
Black tea blends are the most popular in the Western world. After the leaves are picked, they go through full fermentation that makes the leaves darken to almost black. Black tea can be flowery, fruity, and spicy or even have a nutty taste. Black tea, known for lowering the risk of stroke, contains antioxidants, which help reduce clotting of the arteries. Black Tea varieties include: Black Tea, Rose Black Tea, English Breakfast Black Tea, and Earl Grey Black Tea.
2. Chamomile Tea
Considered a floral tea, Chamomile has a very aromatic, fruity flavor and is a member of the daisy family. This tea helps with toothaches, insomnia, and muscle cramps, plus it reduces the swelling of skin irritations.
3. Green Tea
Green tea with its huge nutritional benefits is the most popular tea in Asia. Varieties include: Jasmine Green Tea, Jasmine Dragon Pearl, Green Peony Tea and Roasted Japanese Green Tea. After green tea is picked, it is dried using hot air. The leaves are then pan fried, but not fermented, which helps preserve the high nutrient and vitamin content. Vitamin C in green tea helps boost the immune system and promotes overall good health. Fluoride, found naturally in green tea, strengthens bones and prevents dental decay.
4. Oolong Tea
Oolong tea, known for aiding indigestion and lowering cholesterol levels, is made from large, mature trees. The leaves are left to wither after being picked, which removes moisture. Semi-fermentation happens after the leaves are left in the shade. Oolong tea has a a full-bodied taste, a pleasant aftertaste, and a sweet fruity aroma. Some varieties are: Jasmine Oolong Tea, Ice Peak Oolong Tea, Hairy Crab Oolong Tea and WUYI Rock Tea.
5. Red Tea
Grown in Africa, Red Tea is rich in antioxidants. This kind of tea has been proven to help boost the immune system, and is also caffeine-free. Varieties of Red Tea include: Florida Orange Red Tea, Organic Cape Red Tea, Organic Green Red Tea and Organic Green Summer Red Tea.
6. Rosebud Tea
A floral tea, Rosebud tea is made using rosebuds from a rose bush. The tea has a very sweet, floral aroma and a light, sweet taste; it is often brewed with other types of tea. Essential oils in this tea help aid circulation.
7. White Tea
Made by using very young tea leaves that are still covered in down, white tea leaves are not fermented. Instead, they are steamed and dried in the sun. Because of the lack of fermentation, white tea contains a high concentration of chemical compounds, known to help fight cancer. The brewed tea has a silver-white appearance because of the downy leaves. It has a sweet aroma and fresh flavor. White tea varieties include: Silver Needle, White Peony, and Jasmine Silver Needle.
8. Paraguay Mate
Very popular in South America, Paraguay Mate is brewed with spices and sipped with a straw from a gourd. The tea is used to aid many health problems, including depression, digestion, and boosting energy levels.
9. Wild Holy Tea
Wild Holy Tea has a bitter taste. It is used for medicinal purposes: to detoxify the body, aid in blood circulation and improve digestion. With regular consumption, Wild Holy Tea has been shown to help control blood pressure and obesity.
10. Milk Tea
The most popular tea in India and Sri Lanka is an Indian black tea mixed with spices. It’s called Milk tea because it is usually brewed with milk and spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. Milk tea added with other types of tea, such as green tea, contributes to overall health.
DOMINGO
Drinking tea — research shows it to be a healthy activity, because tea contains antioxidants that help fight cancer and even slow the aging process. Vitamin C, found in some teas, helps fight illnesses and colds. Some teas contain polyphones, which strengthen teeth by reducing plaque and also help aid digestion by increasing the flow of digestive juices in the stomach.
Tea, in short, has many healing properties. Here are 10 natural healing tea therapies.
1. Black Tea
Black tea blends are the most popular in the Western world. After the leaves are picked, they go through full fermentation that makes the leaves darken to almost black. Black tea can be flowery, fruity, and spicy or even have a nutty taste. Black tea, known for lowering the risk of stroke, contains antioxidants, which help reduce clotting of the arteries. Black Tea varieties include: Black Tea, Rose Black Tea, English Breakfast Black Tea, and Earl Grey Black Tea.
2. Chamomile Tea
Considered a floral tea, Chamomile has a very aromatic, fruity flavor and is a member of the daisy family. This tea helps with toothaches, insomnia, and muscle cramps, plus it reduces the swelling of skin irritations.
3. Green Tea
Green tea with its huge nutritional benefits is the most popular tea in Asia. Varieties include: Jasmine Green Tea, Jasmine Dragon Pearl, Green Peony Tea and Roasted Japanese Green Tea. After green tea is picked, it is dried using hot air. The leaves are then pan fried, but not fermented, which helps preserve the high nutrient and vitamin content. Vitamin C in green tea helps boost the immune system and promotes overall good health. Fluoride, found naturally in green tea, strengthens bones and prevents dental decay.
4. Oolong Tea
Oolong tea, known for aiding indigestion and lowering cholesterol levels, is made from large, mature trees. The leaves are left to wither after being picked, which removes moisture. Semi-fermentation happens after the leaves are left in the shade. Oolong tea has a a full-bodied taste, a pleasant aftertaste, and a sweet fruity aroma. Some varieties are: Jasmine Oolong Tea, Ice Peak Oolong Tea, Hairy Crab Oolong Tea and WUYI Rock Tea.
5. Red Tea
Grown in Africa, Red Tea is rich in antioxidants. This kind of tea has been proven to help boost the immune system, and is also caffeine-free. Varieties of Red Tea include: Florida Orange Red Tea, Organic Cape Red Tea, Organic Green Red Tea and Organic Green Summer Red Tea.
6. Rosebud Tea
A floral tea, Rosebud tea is made using rosebuds from a rose bush. The tea has a very sweet, floral aroma and a light, sweet taste; it is often brewed with other types of tea. Essential oils in this tea help aid circulation.
7. White Tea
Made by using very young tea leaves that are still covered in down, white tea leaves are not fermented. Instead, they are steamed and dried in the sun. Because of the lack of fermentation, white tea contains a high concentration of chemical compounds, known to help fight cancer. The brewed tea has a silver-white appearance because of the downy leaves. It has a sweet aroma and fresh flavor. White tea varieties include: Silver Needle, White Peony, and Jasmine Silver Needle.
8. Paraguay Mate
Very popular in South America, Paraguay Mate is brewed with spices and sipped with a straw from a gourd. The tea is used to aid many health problems, including depression, digestion, and boosting energy levels.
9. Wild Holy Tea
Wild Holy Tea has a bitter taste. It is used for medicinal purposes: to detoxify the body, aid in blood circulation and improve digestion. With regular consumption, Wild Holy Tea has been shown to help control blood pressure and obesity.
10. Milk Tea
The most popular tea in India and Sri Lanka is an Indian black tea mixed with spices. It’s called Milk tea because it is usually brewed with milk and spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. Milk tea added with other types of tea, such as green tea, contributes to overall health.
DOMINGO
Dec
7
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Tom Nuckels asked:
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble crystalline compound that contains phosphorus, nitrogen, and cobalt. The latter gives it a rich red color. It is heat stable in neutral solutions, but it is destroyed by heat in both acid and alkaline mediums. It is also sensitive to light and is destroyed by heavy metals and strong oxidizing and reducing agents.
Vitamin B-12 is the most complex compound of the vitamins. Its chemical symbol is C63H90CON14O14P. It contains one cobalt atom that is similar in structure to the position of iron in hemoglobin. B12 is the only naturally occurring organic compound that contains cobalt. The commercially available form of Vitamin B-12 is Cyanocobalamin.
It helps activate amino acids during protein formation and in the anaerobic degradation of the amino acid lysine. The coenzyme of cobalamin is a carrier of methyl groups and hydrogen, and is necessary for carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.
Cobalamin also provides important protection of the heart by way of its methyl transfer role. It is active in the synthesis of the amino acid methionine from its precursor, homocysteine. The synthesis occurs by first removing a methyl group from methyl folate, a derivative of the biologically active form of folic acid. This methyl group is then transferred to homocysteine and methionine is formed. It has been recently acknowledged that excess homocysteine in the blood is the cause of heart disease, blood clots, stroke and gangrene. Therefore, the understanding of this complementary action between B-12 and folic acid is a significant addition to our arsenal of weapons for the fight against heart disease. It is important to note that adequate amounts of both vitamin B12 and folic acid are necessary for methionine synthesis to take place. You can say keeping homocysteine levels low is a matter of life and death.
Methionine is essential for choline synthesis; therefore, vitamin B12 plays a secondary role in this lipid pathway. A choline deficiency that causes fatty liver can be prevented by cobalamin or the other methyl donors (betaine, methionine, folic acid).
It has been observed that fatty acid synthesis is impaired when this B vitamin is deficient. A lack of sufficient essential fatty acids results in impairment of brain and nerve tissue. The myelin sheath (the insulation around nerve cells) is malformed in a cobalamin deficiency and contributes to faulty nerve transmission. A prolonged B12 deficiency will ultimately lead to neurological disturbances.
DNA replication is dependent on the function of coenzyme cobalamin as a methyl group carrier. It is this role that explains why a deficiency of B-12 leads to megaloblastic anemia. This disorder is characterized by large immature blood cells and changes in bone marrow. Inadequate DNA translation leading to improper cell replication results in the large blood cells observed in this disorder. These large misshapen red blood cells are unable to transport oxygen. This results in anemia, leukopenia, thrombopenia and fewer, but larger and less mature, blood cells. Poor cell division in the gastrointestinal tract and epithelial tissues produces glossitis and megaloblastosis. Furthermore, general growth and repair are likewise impaired.
The characteristic symptom of a severe deficiency of this B vitamin is pernicious or megaloblastic anemia. This condition is most often caused by either inadequate consumption of B-12 or by a reduced gastric secretion of a mucoprotein called intrinsic factor. This intrinsic factor is necessary for proper vitamin B12 absorption through the intestinal tract. It is produced by the parietal cells of the stomach and binds onto the vitamin to transport it into the small intestine. In the presence of calcium, this transport mechanism attaches to the intestinal wall, facilitating absorption of the vitamin.
Pernicious anemia can also result from several other conditions, including:
Gastrectomy (surgical removal of the stomach)
Surgical removal of the lower ileum (were B vitamins are absorbed)
Developing antibodies to intrinsic factor
Hereditary malabsorption
Strict vegetarianism (absence of animal products in diet)
Homocystinuria (characterized by large amounts of homocysteine in the urine)
We now know that a deficiency of B vitamins (B6, Folic Acid & B-12) is the trigger for heart disease. This occurs when homocysteine levels rise unchecked by sufficient blood levels of these three B vitamins. There is good news in this message. Now, we know how to prevent heart disease and have a longer healthier life.
Too much homocysteine in the blood damages arteries and blood vessels causing the formation of arterial plaques. This results in arteriosclerosis and heart disease.
Other deficiency symptoms include glossitis, degeneration of the spinal cord, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal disturbances, fatigue, pallor, dizziness, hypotension, disorientation, numbness, tingling, ataxia, moodiness, confusion, agitation, dimmed vision, delusions, hallucinations, and eventually, “megaloblastic madness” (psychosis).
A long-term marginal b-12 deficiency has been associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It has been found that over 70% of older persons having a B-12 deficiency also have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s patients also exhibit lower blood levels of this B vitamin than patients who suffer from other brain or memory disorders. B-12 status correlates with the severity of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s patients. It is presently unknown whether the deficiency is a cause or result of the disease. However, cobalamin functions in numerous metabolic processes that affect nerve tissue. These processes include the synthesis of neurotransmitters and phospholipids which may explain B-12′s possible link with the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 deficiency are most commonly found in people over the age of 40 with increasing occurrences as age increased and is often a result of the reduced secretion of intrinsic factor. This condition is corrected with B-12 injections. Patients suffering form dementia often exhibit a deficiency of this B vitamin and supplementation improves mental functioning in some of these cases.
Vitamin B-12 absorption can be inhibited by many gastrointestinal disorders including, gluten-induced enteropathy, tropical sprue, regional ileitis, malignancies, and granulomatous lesions in the small intestine, tapeworm, bacteria associated with blind loop syndrome, and other disorders that impair the proper intestinal function. The need for B12 intake is increased by hyperthyroidism, parasitism and pregnancy.
The only source of vitamin B-12 in nature is microbial synthesis. Cobalamin is not found in plants, but is produced by bacteria in the digestive tract of animals or by microbial fermentation of foods.
Sources containing more than 10mcg/100 grams are organ meats (liver, kidney, heart), clams, and oysters. Good sources (3 to 10mcg/100 grams) are nonfat dry milk, crab, salmon, sardines, and egg yolk. Moderate amounts (1 to 3 mcg/100 grams) are meat, lobster, scallops, flounder, swordfish, tuna and fermented cheese. Other sources are fermented soybean products, poultry, and liquid milk products.
Because cobalamin is affected by temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius, some or all of this B vitamin is lost when meat is cooked.
The minimum daily requirement for B12 can be exceeded by ten thousand fold with no signs of toxicity. Excesses are excreted in the urine.
Many of the tests available to assess cobalamin deficiency have limitations and can give false results. For example, the MCV test (macrocytosis test) is not a sensitive test. Several conditions such as folacin deficiency, vitamin C supplementation, and antibiotics can result in high or low levels of B-12 being indicated in the essay. The Schilling test can give both false abnormal and false normal readings. Vitamin B-12 deficiency detection requires multiple testing methods and the patient’s symptoms being used in combination to diagnose.
References:
Garrison Jr., R.PH., Robert & Somer, M.A., R.D., Elizabeth, The Nutrition Desk Reference, 3rd ed., New Canaan: Keats Publishing, 1999,
pp 124-128, 431, 434
McCully, M.D., Kilmer S. & McCully, Martha, The Heart Revolution, New York: Harper Perennial, 1999, pp 1-10
WAYNE
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble crystalline compound that contains phosphorus, nitrogen, and cobalt. The latter gives it a rich red color. It is heat stable in neutral solutions, but it is destroyed by heat in both acid and alkaline mediums. It is also sensitive to light and is destroyed by heavy metals and strong oxidizing and reducing agents.
Vitamin B-12 is the most complex compound of the vitamins. Its chemical symbol is C63H90CON14O14P. It contains one cobalt atom that is similar in structure to the position of iron in hemoglobin. B12 is the only naturally occurring organic compound that contains cobalt. The commercially available form of Vitamin B-12 is Cyanocobalamin.
It helps activate amino acids during protein formation and in the anaerobic degradation of the amino acid lysine. The coenzyme of cobalamin is a carrier of methyl groups and hydrogen, and is necessary for carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.
Cobalamin also provides important protection of the heart by way of its methyl transfer role. It is active in the synthesis of the amino acid methionine from its precursor, homocysteine. The synthesis occurs by first removing a methyl group from methyl folate, a derivative of the biologically active form of folic acid. This methyl group is then transferred to homocysteine and methionine is formed. It has been recently acknowledged that excess homocysteine in the blood is the cause of heart disease, blood clots, stroke and gangrene. Therefore, the understanding of this complementary action between B-12 and folic acid is a significant addition to our arsenal of weapons for the fight against heart disease. It is important to note that adequate amounts of both vitamin B12 and folic acid are necessary for methionine synthesis to take place. You can say keeping homocysteine levels low is a matter of life and death.
Methionine is essential for choline synthesis; therefore, vitamin B12 plays a secondary role in this lipid pathway. A choline deficiency that causes fatty liver can be prevented by cobalamin or the other methyl donors (betaine, methionine, folic acid).
It has been observed that fatty acid synthesis is impaired when this B vitamin is deficient. A lack of sufficient essential fatty acids results in impairment of brain and nerve tissue. The myelin sheath (the insulation around nerve cells) is malformed in a cobalamin deficiency and contributes to faulty nerve transmission. A prolonged B12 deficiency will ultimately lead to neurological disturbances.
DNA replication is dependent on the function of coenzyme cobalamin as a methyl group carrier. It is this role that explains why a deficiency of B-12 leads to megaloblastic anemia. This disorder is characterized by large immature blood cells and changes in bone marrow. Inadequate DNA translation leading to improper cell replication results in the large blood cells observed in this disorder. These large misshapen red blood cells are unable to transport oxygen. This results in anemia, leukopenia, thrombopenia and fewer, but larger and less mature, blood cells. Poor cell division in the gastrointestinal tract and epithelial tissues produces glossitis and megaloblastosis. Furthermore, general growth and repair are likewise impaired.
The characteristic symptom of a severe deficiency of this B vitamin is pernicious or megaloblastic anemia. This condition is most often caused by either inadequate consumption of B-12 or by a reduced gastric secretion of a mucoprotein called intrinsic factor. This intrinsic factor is necessary for proper vitamin B12 absorption through the intestinal tract. It is produced by the parietal cells of the stomach and binds onto the vitamin to transport it into the small intestine. In the presence of calcium, this transport mechanism attaches to the intestinal wall, facilitating absorption of the vitamin.
Pernicious anemia can also result from several other conditions, including:
Gastrectomy (surgical removal of the stomach)
Surgical removal of the lower ileum (were B vitamins are absorbed)
Developing antibodies to intrinsic factor
Hereditary malabsorption
Strict vegetarianism (absence of animal products in diet)
Homocystinuria (characterized by large amounts of homocysteine in the urine)
We now know that a deficiency of B vitamins (B6, Folic Acid & B-12) is the trigger for heart disease. This occurs when homocysteine levels rise unchecked by sufficient blood levels of these three B vitamins. There is good news in this message. Now, we know how to prevent heart disease and have a longer healthier life.
Too much homocysteine in the blood damages arteries and blood vessels causing the formation of arterial plaques. This results in arteriosclerosis and heart disease.
Other deficiency symptoms include glossitis, degeneration of the spinal cord, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal disturbances, fatigue, pallor, dizziness, hypotension, disorientation, numbness, tingling, ataxia, moodiness, confusion, agitation, dimmed vision, delusions, hallucinations, and eventually, “megaloblastic madness” (psychosis).
A long-term marginal b-12 deficiency has been associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It has been found that over 70% of older persons having a B-12 deficiency also have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s patients also exhibit lower blood levels of this B vitamin than patients who suffer from other brain or memory disorders. B-12 status correlates with the severity of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s patients. It is presently unknown whether the deficiency is a cause or result of the disease. However, cobalamin functions in numerous metabolic processes that affect nerve tissue. These processes include the synthesis of neurotransmitters and phospholipids which may explain B-12′s possible link with the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 deficiency are most commonly found in people over the age of 40 with increasing occurrences as age increased and is often a result of the reduced secretion of intrinsic factor. This condition is corrected with B-12 injections. Patients suffering form dementia often exhibit a deficiency of this B vitamin and supplementation improves mental functioning in some of these cases.
Vitamin B-12 absorption can be inhibited by many gastrointestinal disorders including, gluten-induced enteropathy, tropical sprue, regional ileitis, malignancies, and granulomatous lesions in the small intestine, tapeworm, bacteria associated with blind loop syndrome, and other disorders that impair the proper intestinal function. The need for B12 intake is increased by hyperthyroidism, parasitism and pregnancy.
The only source of vitamin B-12 in nature is microbial synthesis. Cobalamin is not found in plants, but is produced by bacteria in the digestive tract of animals or by microbial fermentation of foods.
Sources containing more than 10mcg/100 grams are organ meats (liver, kidney, heart), clams, and oysters. Good sources (3 to 10mcg/100 grams) are nonfat dry milk, crab, salmon, sardines, and egg yolk. Moderate amounts (1 to 3 mcg/100 grams) are meat, lobster, scallops, flounder, swordfish, tuna and fermented cheese. Other sources are fermented soybean products, poultry, and liquid milk products.
Because cobalamin is affected by temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius, some or all of this B vitamin is lost when meat is cooked.
The minimum daily requirement for B12 can be exceeded by ten thousand fold with no signs of toxicity. Excesses are excreted in the urine.
Many of the tests available to assess cobalamin deficiency have limitations and can give false results. For example, the MCV test (macrocytosis test) is not a sensitive test. Several conditions such as folacin deficiency, vitamin C supplementation, and antibiotics can result in high or low levels of B-12 being indicated in the essay. The Schilling test can give both false abnormal and false normal readings. Vitamin B-12 deficiency detection requires multiple testing methods and the patient’s symptoms being used in combination to diagnose.
References:
Garrison Jr., R.PH., Robert & Somer, M.A., R.D., Elizabeth, The Nutrition Desk Reference, 3rd ed., New Canaan: Keats Publishing, 1999,
pp 124-128, 431, 434
McCully, M.D., Kilmer S. & McCully, Martha, The Heart Revolution, New York: Harper Perennial, 1999, pp 1-10
WAYNE
Dec
3
Filed Under Health | Comments Off
Pat Carpenter asked:
We’ve all been there, at least in some form that complex and mystifying land of too many beverage choices and their accoutrements. While office jokes of the five-minute coffee order (“I’d like a double half-caff, three-fourths-skinny, dry mocha Rocha hazelnut, light whipped cream latte”) may be the first thing that comes to mind, the possibilities of tea variety and preparation are almost endless. Dallas, Houston, and the rest of Texas are the most familiar with black tea, demonstrated by their strong tradition of the sweetened, iced variety.
Tea’s health benefits are innumerable; infused with antioxidants, including the powerful catechins and ECGC, high quality teas are considered to be healthy, traditional beverages that, unlike coffee, can be safely enjoyed at will. Several studies show that drinking five or more cups of green tea a day actually reduces the risk of dying from many illnesses, including heart disease and stroke.
Now, that’s something your health insurance company will love. And that’s just one kind. Tea is actually the second most popular drink in the world next to water, and was enjoyed long before the modern era began. Texas and the rest of the Western world are slowly catching on to this.
I recently visited a tea house, which are starting to pop up in Austin, Houston, and other Texas cities. I was seeking simplicity, tired of waiting in line for that poor, anonymous office gopher to finish a ten-employee order that sounded more like a theater student’s warm-up exercise — or a very bad joke. This was a definitive error in judgment. While the experience was undeniably educational, my choices weren’t just varied, they were like looking into the endless spiral of time. The conversation with the clerk went something like this:
“I would like a nice cup of hot tea.”
“Uh, ok. What would you like?”
“Tea. I’d like a cup of tea. Oh, right. Well, what kind do you have?” (Mistake Number One.)
“Well,” she huffed, obviously a bit annoyed with such a novice. “We have most worldly varieties — black tea, red tea, green tea, yellow (Deep inhale.) “White tea, herbal tea, twig tea, fruit”
When did all this start sounding like a Dr. Seuss novel? “Uh uh, white. I’ll try white.”
“Chinese, I assume? How about a nice Bai Mu Dan?
“Sure.”
“Would you like milk? Soy? Rice? 2%? Whole?
“uh. No milk. Is there more than one kind of this, this Bai Mu Dan?” (Mistake Number Two).
“Well, sort of. Bai Mu Dan is a kind of white tea, but you can get it in different preparations, grades, and from several different provinces, although Fujian is the best. Would you like loose-leafed, pyramid-bagged, cold-pressed? Earthenware, glass, or porcelain tea pot? We can also do blends to make it half-caff or super-caff. Would you like honey, white sugar, raw sugar, brown sugar, agave nectar”
My thoughts trailed off somewhere along the sweeteners, off to the barbecues of Texas — where tea was mostly simple. And iced.
“Or would you prefer an oxidized tea?”
“Uh”My half of this conversation was composed entirely too much of monosyllabic mutters. “How ’bout just a cup of black coffee?”
Don’t worry. It’s not as hard as it sounds. I finally settled on a Bai Hao Yinzhen — the highest grade of white tea — an earthenware teapot, no milks or sweeteners (please). I figured my health insurance company would be proud. Then I promptly returned home and fired up the Wi-Fi for a night of research. I simply would not be duped by the world of hot beverages.
It turns out tea is not just tea — even in Texas. In fact, “tea” is often not tea at all. To be considered genuine, the drink must be infused from at least one part of the plant Camellia sinensis, (of course informally known as the “tea plant”), usually the leaves. What Americans call “red tea,” for instance, is not really tea, but a brew made from the South African rooibos plant; herbal drinks, similarly, are considered infusions. There are four main types of true tea: white, green, oolong, and black, all classified according to how the Camellia sinensis is processed.
Because the leaves of the plant can begin to wilt and oxidize within hours, the stage at which this oxidation ceases determines the type of tea. This process is called “fermentation” in the industry, but is formally known as enzymatic oxidation. The further this progresses, the more chlorophyll breaks down, the more tannins are released, and the darker the tea leaves become. Enzymatic oxidation is stopped at any given stage by heating — either by steaming, or through a dry cooking method.
White tea is considered the least processed, as oxidation is immediately halted after picking. Due to this lack of “fermentation,” white tea retains high levels of catechins, and because only young leaves or new growth buds are chosen, also retain more of the natural caffeine. The plant may even be shielded from sunlight to prevent it from developing chlorophyll, both factors giving it a pale appearance.
As fewer young leaves are harvested, and the process is more sensitive, white teas — particularly the good ones — are correspondingly more expensive. This type of tea is considered a specialty of the Fujian province in China, and the most popular include Da Bai (Large White), Xiao Bai (Small White), Narcissus, and Chaicha.
Green tea is slightly oxidized, and is the most globally well-known next to black tea. It is ubiquitous in Japan, so much so that it is often referred to simply as “tea.” Green tea is either dried separately or rolled into pellets, which are later called “gunpowder” teas.
Green tea’s health benefits have taken over the media spotlight in recent years, and with good reason. The infusion has been used as a traditional medicine in Japan, India, China, and Taiwan for millennia — treating everything from digestive disorders to uncontrolled bleeding. In 1191, the Zen priest Eisai wrote what is roughly translated as The Book of Tea, describing how to recognize and grow the plant, as well as how to apply it medicinally. Modern claims on the positive effects of green tea include everything from increasing fat oxidation (thereby raising metabolism), to treating neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The word oolong means “black dragon,” and it is believed the tea is named after one or more legends surrounding the leaves. Oolong teas are considered semi-oxidized, the level of fermentation ranging from 10% to 70%. The Chinese know semi-oxidized teas collectively as “blue-green tea,” and oolong as specific types of these. The most famous are produced in the Wuyi Mountains of the Chinese Fujian Province and in the Central Mountains of Taiwan.
Black tea is fully oxidized, and ferments for anywhere between two weeks and one month. In China, the tea is referred to as “red tea,” due to the liquid’s reddish-brown hue, while Westerners call it “black tea” due to the color of the leaves usually used. Black tea is the most popular tea in South Asia and certain parts of Africa, and can keep for up to two years when properly stored.
Unblended black teas are classified much like wine — according to their estate, year, and flush (or time of year in which the leaves were harvested). All black teas (blended or single origin) are also grouped according to production method — orthodox or CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) — and further classified based on quality. For orthodox black teas, the Orange Pekoe System is used to judge quality, while CTC’s are evaluated according to other standards.
Considering humans have been tea drinkers for the better part of 5,000 years, a cursory glance at classification is just the beginning. When given the time, we Homo sapiens are inventive little creatures, and, over the millennia, have perfected elaborate systems for brewing, storing, serving, and preparing tea. Certain varieties are purported to fetch thousands of dollars a pound, and are well worth the cost. Better yet, they may even extend your life. And, really, who couldn’t use a cuppa’ with the grandkids?
Tea’s benefits include increased energy, better health, and possibly a longer life.
DANE
We’ve all been there, at least in some form that complex and mystifying land of too many beverage choices and their accoutrements. While office jokes of the five-minute coffee order (“I’d like a double half-caff, three-fourths-skinny, dry mocha Rocha hazelnut, light whipped cream latte”) may be the first thing that comes to mind, the possibilities of tea variety and preparation are almost endless. Dallas, Houston, and the rest of Texas are the most familiar with black tea, demonstrated by their strong tradition of the sweetened, iced variety.
Tea’s health benefits are innumerable; infused with antioxidants, including the powerful catechins and ECGC, high quality teas are considered to be healthy, traditional beverages that, unlike coffee, can be safely enjoyed at will. Several studies show that drinking five or more cups of green tea a day actually reduces the risk of dying from many illnesses, including heart disease and stroke.
Now, that’s something your health insurance company will love. And that’s just one kind. Tea is actually the second most popular drink in the world next to water, and was enjoyed long before the modern era began. Texas and the rest of the Western world are slowly catching on to this.
I recently visited a tea house, which are starting to pop up in Austin, Houston, and other Texas cities. I was seeking simplicity, tired of waiting in line for that poor, anonymous office gopher to finish a ten-employee order that sounded more like a theater student’s warm-up exercise — or a very bad joke. This was a definitive error in judgment. While the experience was undeniably educational, my choices weren’t just varied, they were like looking into the endless spiral of time. The conversation with the clerk went something like this:
“I would like a nice cup of hot tea.”
“Uh, ok. What would you like?”
“Tea. I’d like a cup of tea. Oh, right. Well, what kind do you have?” (Mistake Number One.)
“Well,” she huffed, obviously a bit annoyed with such a novice. “We have most worldly varieties — black tea, red tea, green tea, yellow (Deep inhale.) “White tea, herbal tea, twig tea, fruit”
When did all this start sounding like a Dr. Seuss novel? “Uh uh, white. I’ll try white.”
“Chinese, I assume? How about a nice Bai Mu Dan?
“Sure.”
“Would you like milk? Soy? Rice? 2%? Whole?
“uh. No milk. Is there more than one kind of this, this Bai Mu Dan?” (Mistake Number Two).
“Well, sort of. Bai Mu Dan is a kind of white tea, but you can get it in different preparations, grades, and from several different provinces, although Fujian is the best. Would you like loose-leafed, pyramid-bagged, cold-pressed? Earthenware, glass, or porcelain tea pot? We can also do blends to make it half-caff or super-caff. Would you like honey, white sugar, raw sugar, brown sugar, agave nectar”
My thoughts trailed off somewhere along the sweeteners, off to the barbecues of Texas — where tea was mostly simple. And iced.
“Or would you prefer an oxidized tea?”
“Uh”My half of this conversation was composed entirely too much of monosyllabic mutters. “How ’bout just a cup of black coffee?”
Don’t worry. It’s not as hard as it sounds. I finally settled on a Bai Hao Yinzhen — the highest grade of white tea — an earthenware teapot, no milks or sweeteners (please). I figured my health insurance company would be proud. Then I promptly returned home and fired up the Wi-Fi for a night of research. I simply would not be duped by the world of hot beverages.
It turns out tea is not just tea — even in Texas. In fact, “tea” is often not tea at all. To be considered genuine, the drink must be infused from at least one part of the plant Camellia sinensis, (of course informally known as the “tea plant”), usually the leaves. What Americans call “red tea,” for instance, is not really tea, but a brew made from the South African rooibos plant; herbal drinks, similarly, are considered infusions. There are four main types of true tea: white, green, oolong, and black, all classified according to how the Camellia sinensis is processed.
Because the leaves of the plant can begin to wilt and oxidize within hours, the stage at which this oxidation ceases determines the type of tea. This process is called “fermentation” in the industry, but is formally known as enzymatic oxidation. The further this progresses, the more chlorophyll breaks down, the more tannins are released, and the darker the tea leaves become. Enzymatic oxidation is stopped at any given stage by heating — either by steaming, or through a dry cooking method.
White tea is considered the least processed, as oxidation is immediately halted after picking. Due to this lack of “fermentation,” white tea retains high levels of catechins, and because only young leaves or new growth buds are chosen, also retain more of the natural caffeine. The plant may even be shielded from sunlight to prevent it from developing chlorophyll, both factors giving it a pale appearance.
As fewer young leaves are harvested, and the process is more sensitive, white teas — particularly the good ones — are correspondingly more expensive. This type of tea is considered a specialty of the Fujian province in China, and the most popular include Da Bai (Large White), Xiao Bai (Small White), Narcissus, and Chaicha.
Green tea is slightly oxidized, and is the most globally well-known next to black tea. It is ubiquitous in Japan, so much so that it is often referred to simply as “tea.” Green tea is either dried separately or rolled into pellets, which are later called “gunpowder” teas.
Green tea’s health benefits have taken over the media spotlight in recent years, and with good reason. The infusion has been used as a traditional medicine in Japan, India, China, and Taiwan for millennia — treating everything from digestive disorders to uncontrolled bleeding. In 1191, the Zen priest Eisai wrote what is roughly translated as The Book of Tea, describing how to recognize and grow the plant, as well as how to apply it medicinally. Modern claims on the positive effects of green tea include everything from increasing fat oxidation (thereby raising metabolism), to treating neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The word oolong means “black dragon,” and it is believed the tea is named after one or more legends surrounding the leaves. Oolong teas are considered semi-oxidized, the level of fermentation ranging from 10% to 70%. The Chinese know semi-oxidized teas collectively as “blue-green tea,” and oolong as specific types of these. The most famous are produced in the Wuyi Mountains of the Chinese Fujian Province and in the Central Mountains of Taiwan.
Black tea is fully oxidized, and ferments for anywhere between two weeks and one month. In China, the tea is referred to as “red tea,” due to the liquid’s reddish-brown hue, while Westerners call it “black tea” due to the color of the leaves usually used. Black tea is the most popular tea in South Asia and certain parts of Africa, and can keep for up to two years when properly stored.
Unblended black teas are classified much like wine — according to their estate, year, and flush (or time of year in which the leaves were harvested). All black teas (blended or single origin) are also grouped according to production method — orthodox or CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) — and further classified based on quality. For orthodox black teas, the Orange Pekoe System is used to judge quality, while CTC’s are evaluated according to other standards.
Considering humans have been tea drinkers for the better part of 5,000 years, a cursory glance at classification is just the beginning. When given the time, we Homo sapiens are inventive little creatures, and, over the millennia, have perfected elaborate systems for brewing, storing, serving, and preparing tea. Certain varieties are purported to fetch thousands of dollars a pound, and are well worth the cost. Better yet, they may even extend your life. And, really, who couldn’t use a cuppa’ with the grandkids?
Tea’s benefits include increased energy, better health, and possibly a longer life.
DANE