Archive for October, 2009

It seems like health advice is rammed down our throats whenever we open a newspaper or watch the TV. Even one of my favorite drinks, green tea is under the medical spotlight.

 

It was when I chanced upon a report all about the potential side effects of caffeine and it mentioned green tea caffeine content as being something to be aware of that I sat up and listened. The thing I’ve found out over time is that when you get ten experts together you often get ten different views or opinions.

 

Where does that leave the poor old consumer who remains none the wiser, still scratching his head frustrated, not knowing what to do. Having to sift through information from studies and research is time consuming and very often there is conflicting data. However, the most obvious way of avoiding caffeine in a drink like green tea or for that matter any other beverage, is to drink a decaffeinated variety.

 

Sounds pretty straightforward to me and easy to do. But wait, I read somewhere that the process of removing the caffeine leaves the green tea with fewer antioxidants. These are the all important compounds and substances found in green tea that provide a lot of the health benefits we receive when we drink it. In this case all one has to do is drink a little bit more of the decaffeinated tea, ensuring you get the same level of antioxidants.

 

If like me you often find it difficult or inconvenient to brew green tea several times a day, there is an alternative. It’s now possible to find daily nutritional supplements that contain a decaffeinated, green tea extract. Just be sure it’s from a recognized maker who uses the best natural ingredients.

 

Peter Foremski
http://www.articlesbase.com/tea-articles/some-gossip-about-green-tea-caffeine-content-756347.html

In recent years, green tea has gained a lot of attention for its ability to prevent diseases and keep us healthy. Most of the attention has been on green tea’s ability to prevent cancer and heart disease, and some of the research results in this area have been quite promising. Look at some of the findings thus far.

Â? Green tea was shown to be an effective adjunct to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. A study concluded that patients who received green tea along with their chemotherapy showed a higher concentration of their chemotherapy drugs in their cancer cells than those who had chemotherapy alone.

Â? Green tea acted was shown to act as a scavenger against skin cancer cells, whether taken orally or applied to the skin.

Â? Green tea was shown to have a significant lowering effect on post menopausal women’s circulating estrogen level. We know that a high circulating estrogen level after menopause increases the breast cancer risk.

Â? A study conducted in China showed that regular tea drinkers had a significantly lower risk of biliary tract cancer and gallbladder cancer - even if they had gall bladder disease - than those who did not drink green tea.

Â? Another study showed that green tea consumption appears to have the ability to act as a sort of scavenger against a substance called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). ROS are a particular form of free radicals that contribute to the development of prostate cancer, when produced in excess.

Â? Green tea has been shown to prevent heart disease by preventing LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood from oxidizing. When LDL cholesterol doesn’t oxidize, it cannot harden into plaque and stick to arterial walls.

Â? Green tea has been shown to regulate blood sugar naturally. Researchers believe that it has potential to help control Type II diabetes.

But, there may be additional interesting news. It’s possible that green tea may increase the chances of success in liver transplants, as well. In the past, studies have shown that green tea’s anti-oxidants might be effective in treating several forms of liver disease. But now it seems that there may be even more good news about how green tea might help the liver.

Two different studies have shown ways that green tea might be helpful in increase the chance of success in liver transplants. One common complication in liver transplants is ischemia, or restricted blood flow. When blood flow is restricted after a transplant, the chances are greater that the patient will develop complications or reject the organ. Ischemia is more common in obese people, and when the transplanted liver is fatty.

One study showed that the simple act of rinsing a fatty liver in a solution that contained green tea extract before transplanting it reduced the chances of transplant failure.

In another study, some mice were fed EGCG, the most significant anti-oxidant in green tea, while others were not. They were all then subjected to surgeries resulting in ischemia that threatened to injure their livers.

The mice that were fed green tea had a 100% survival rate, while those that were not fed green tea had only a 65% survival rate. When the mice that were fed green tea underwent tissue analysis, they were found to have far less liver cell death and far more viable liver tissue than the mice who did not receive green tea.

In addition, the study showed that green tea has the ability to reduce the fat content of fatty livers by as much as 55%, while protecting the liver tissue.

This is great news for liver transplant patients. Each year, about 4500 livers become available for transplant from cadaver donors. In addition, living donor programs are becoming more popular and safe. Each year, more and more liver transplants are performed from living donors, who typically make a complete recovery within weeks of their surgery.

However, each year many patients die while waiting for transplants, and some transplants fail due to complications. Each year, about 5% of cadaver transplant patients die within one month of the transplant, and another 9% will die within one year. Statistics are better for live donor transplant patients, with approximately a 3% death rate in the first year, and just over 5% death rate in the first year.

If green tea can reduce the number of transplant failure by helping ensure a higher level of viable liver tissue and reducing the risk of ischemia, then liver transplants can see an even higher success rate than today. This, coupled with the increased success of live donor transplants makes facing a liver transplant far less frightening.

Green tea seems to hold a great deal of possibility for the future. There are numerous diseases that green tea seems to have the ability to prevent or help treat. As research continues, it’s likely that we’ll learn more ways that we can use green tea to protect our health.

Marcus Stout
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/can-green-tea-protect-liver-transplant-patients-108964.html

When purchasing any weight loss product, it is important to do your research. Many people are exchanging their opinions about Green Tea HP on DietBlogTalk.com

For an additional source, check out Green Tea HP on the very popular Sensational.com

Overview

Green Tea has swept the diet market by storm. Shoppers new to the diet scene might think that Green Tea is basically responsible for all things weight loss. And while Green Tea might certainly have an affect on the dieterâ??s body, it doesnâ??t appear to be all itâ??s cracked up to be.

Green Tea HP is yet another addition to the Green Tea hype machine. This supplement â?? apparently available in pixie (powdered) format â?? is supposed to enhance health and weight loss. But as weâ??ll discuss below, the ingredients formulation is less than convincing.

Ingredients at a Glance

Green Tea HP contains the following active ingredients: Green Tea, Acai, Noni Juice, Pomegranate Juice, Resveratrol, Trace Minerals, L-Theanine, and Bioperine.

Ingredients in Focus

The following are of note:

Green Tea is supposed to deliver antioxidants and boost metabolism, but it may also deliver caffeine, which can induce negative side effects in some consumers.

Acai, an Amazon fruit, contains various minerals, proteins, and lipids. It is best known, however, for its antioxidant properties.

Noni Fruit is high in carbohydrates and dietary fiber as well as being a good source of protein. It contains substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals as well. However, these nutrients reside in the whole fruit, and not in the juice of the Noni Fruit.

Pomegranate has become extremely popular over the last few years, sitting in the supermarket next to all the other â??superfoods.â? It is supposed to provide an unparalleled source of ellagic acid, and it works on a cellular level to protect cells from damage.

Bioperine is showing up more and more in dietary supplements. It is derived from black pepper and long pepper berries, and it is thought to increase the bioavailability of other vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.

Positives

�    Contains a variety of healthy ingredients.

Negatives

�    Website is rather unconvincing.

�    Formula is not unique.

�    Green Tea may have a negative impact on some consumers.

Final Thoughts

Green Tea HP is nothing to write home about. Neither is it something to get up in arms about. Instead, it remains one of the forgettable supplements on the Green Tea bandwagon. Consumers would be well served to exercise regularly, eat sensibly, and supplement with a proven fat burner and appetite suppressant. Green Tea HP simply doesnâ??t fit this bill.

Shane Crafton
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/green-tea-hp-744817.html

In order to clear your skin and restrict further occurrence of acne, it is quite essential for anyone to select the best acne products for getting the best results. Best acne products can include a trove of most exquisite products like creams, lotions, gels, cleansers, ointments and toners that effectively remove acne, eliminate whiteheads and blackheads, reduce blemishes and controls the further occurrence of acne.

Best acne products

While you are selecting the best acne products, you should have a regular consultation with your dermatologist for proper usage of acne products. Use acne creams that are rich in Salicylic acid, Sulfur, Vitamin E, grape seed oil, aloe vera, calendula, hazel and other essential oils. You can select a toner that has no alcohol content for alcohol often removes the top layer of the skin thereby increasing the production of acne. Acne gels that are rich in Azelaic acid, Benzoyl Peroxide and Retinoic acid can be used to reduce acne at all ages.

Herbal acne products

If you have a sensitive skin that does not allow the use of all products, then you can opt for herbal products to treat acne and acne scars. Use some of the best products that are extracted from herb and plant extracts. You can prepare a homemade mixture of the herbal acne face packs including items like green clay, honey, yogurt, lavender oil, cedar wood oil, rose water, sandalwood powder, almond oil, tea tree oil, cucumber paste and lemon juice. Massage the acne-rich area with this mixture and let it dry on your face. Then rinse it off using the best acne cleansing lotions.

One of the best natural acne cleansers includes orange extracts that are specially suitable for oily and dirty skin. Along with tea tree oil, other effective acne cleansers include moisturizers and glycerin. Due to the anti-allergic nature of these cleansers, they penetrate deep within the skin thereby destroying the acne roots and refreshing your skin to the core.

Other than these natural and herbal acne products, you can use chemical creams in reducing blemishes, controlling oil secretion on the faces, eliminating whiteheads and blackheads, and reducing the occurrence of acne completely. But before you start applying the acne creams, make sure they suit your skin type. Decide for yourself whether you want to opt for chemical acne creams containing topical agents or herbal acne creams derived from natural extracts.

Other acne creams

Acne creams and gels containing topical agents include creams that are rich in Salicylic acid, Azelaic acid, and Sulfur. In order to remove acne effectively, you can also use creams that are rich in clay masks, herbal facemasks, rose water, sandalwood oil and lemon juice. Herbal acne treatments are also effective with the usage of various methods like Chinese, Tibetan, Ayurvedic and Japanese herbal medicines.

Use the antiseptic acne products rich in moisturizers, essential oils, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and minerals to fight against acne causing bacteria, clearing the skin pores and controlling acne/ acne scars.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/best-acne-products-treat-acne-instantly-and-effectively-85282.html

The cuisine of the Western region of China is well-known for its spiciness, but many Western palates overlook the complex interplay of savory, sour, hot and sweet flavors that underlie the fiery spice of the Szechwan pepper and other spices that give the Szechwan cuisine its characteristic burn.

For decades, most of the world was familiar mainly with Cantonese cuisine, and thought of it as â??Chinese cuisineâ??. In reality, though, China is an enormous country that encompasses nearly every kind of climate imaginable. The amazing variety of foods spices and climates have led to many distinct styles of Chinese cuisine. Szechwan cuisine, originating in a steamy, sub-tropical climate, includes smoked, pickled and spiced foods, as well as foods spiced with a heavy hand for both preservation and flavor.

While the Szechwan pepper, a fruit that grows in the Changing province, has always been used in Szechwan cooking, most agree that it wasnâ??t until Christopher Columbus brought the chili back from his travels. Besides the flavors that sear the mouth, Szechwan cooking uses interplay of flavors to create the full impact of a dish. Hot and Sour Soup, for instance, when prepared properly is neither exclusively hot, nor ultimately sour. Prepared with sorrel, lemongrass, tofu and other spices, its first impression is the heady, rich scent of roast meat and sour lemon. That aroma is belied at the first touch on the tongue â?? the soup is salty first, though not intensely so. The subtle blending of flavors melds, changing in the mouth to mildly sour â?? the sorrel and lemongrass making themselves known. It is not until the mouthful of soup has been swallowed that the fire sets in as the chili oil finally seeps into the taste buds.

This is not unusual for Szechwan cooking. The first mouthful of Kung Pao chicken seldom brings tears to your eyes. It is only as you chew and swallow and take yet another bite that the true heat of the dish begins to assert itself. Double Cooked Spicy Pork seems almost bland at first, with the flavors blending subtly in the background until the intense fire of the chili oil in which the pork is fried suddenly flames in your mouth.

Thereâ??s more than fire to Szechwan cuisine though. Smoked meats are common, and the smoking often makes use of unusual materials and flavors. Szechwan Tea-Smoked Duck is a delicacy that combines the flavors of citrus and ginger and garlic, juxtaposing them with a long, slow cooking over a fire laced with oolong and green tea leaves. The result is a succulent meat that melts in the mouth and leaves behind a hint of gingered orange.

One tradition of Szechwan cuisine that is becoming more common in the Western world is the Szechwan Hot Pot. Similar to a â??fondueâ??, a Hot Pot is more an event than a meal. Chunks and slices of raw meat, seafood and vegetables are offered to diners at a table that holds a â??Hot Potâ?? â?? a pot of chili oil over a flame. Each diner selects their food and dips it in the chili oil until it is cooked. Often, hosts will also offer a pot of simple broth for those guests who prefer a more bland meal, or canâ??t tolerate the spiciness of food fried in chili oil.

Savory, rich and spicy, Szechwan cuisine is cuisine based on intensity â?? intensely hot, intensely sour, and intensely delicious.

G.Entp8
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/szechwan-cuisine-356910.html

People have always been known to want to do and achieve things instantly. The same thing can be said in diets and weight loss. Impatience usually leads a dieter to resort to taking supplements or weight loss pills to try to get rid of those fats faster.

But recent controversies on the use of diet and weight loss pills have made several people hesitate at using them. Several pills are based on certain substances, like ephedra, that may be harmful for the body. This is why researchers are trying to come up with other potential resources to make pills that are safer to use.

A study conducted at the University of Geneva was recently published and it concerned itself with the weight loss benefits of extract. It said that the tea has certain antioxidants in them like catechin polyphenols and flavonoids that help in increasing metabolic rates of the body. The publication of the study’s results prompted several pharmaceutical companies to incorporate tea extract into their weight pills.

green tea, the plant:

This is the common name for the herb Carmellia sinensis. The tea plant came from China originally where it was cultivated specifically for its various health and medicinal benefits. Today, herbal tea is known to possess certain substances that can cure several diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and even ulcers. Because of its thermogenic properties, pharmaceutical companies are also using extracts of the tea plant as one of the main ingredients in weight loss pills.

green yea, the weight loss pill:

The theory of weight loss pills is based on the fact that losing weight is done in two ways: retard fat intake or expedite its burning. Weight loss pills are known to do both these things.

Ingredients in weight loss pills such as Hoodia Gordonii can suppress hunger and stop food cravings. Another important ingredient in weight loss pills is glucosamine which can delay the effect of insulin, thus directly transforming sugar into energy instead of fat. Other components of a typical weight loss pill include cocoa extract (a diuretic), citrus fiber, vanadium, and glucomannan, all of which have anti-hunger properties.

The addition of tea extract into weight loss pills has become common practice among pharmaceutical companies. Like cocoa extract, tea is also an effective natural diuretic. Green tea can help rid the body of extra water that contributes to bloat and puffiness of the body.

But aside from being a diuretic, green tea is also a major contributor to fat-burning. The catechin polyphenols found in green tea effectively increases the metabolic rates of the body and also reduce food intake. Green tea also contains the substance flavanoid that fight free radicals that might be harmful for the body.

Because of these properties, green tea therefore makes for an excellent and healthy component of pills

John Pawlett
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/green-tea-diet-patch-92871.html

It is not hard to understand why green tea is available in so many different forms since it has many plentiful beneficial components to offer. Green tea is found in regular tea form as well as liquid drink form, supplements and even a green tea capsule. A green tea capsule allows you to get the same nutritional benefits as a glass of green tea just in the convenience of a capsule form.

The main reason for the production of a green tea capsule is so that those who don’t like the taste of tea, don’t feel like they have the time to drink a full cup of tea, or have some other reason for not wanting a regular cup of tea can still incorporate the healthiness of green tea in their diet.Drink green Tea A green tea capsule allows you to take advantage of the nutritional benefits of green tea no matter what.

Two a Day is all You Need!

All the benefits of twenty cups of green tea can be gained from two capsules of green tea extract a day. Just a few of the many benefits you can get from a green tea capsule include: lowers cholesterol, slows arthritis, prevents the growth of cancer cells and the assisting with weight loss. In addition, DNA is kept intact and the membranes of cells are stabilized by the abundant antioxidants that come from green tea and is found in green tea capsules. If you have high cholesterol you will be able to take green tea capsules to convert less of the cholesterol into the form that clogs your arteries which helps create a positive influence on your health.

Since green tea provides chemicals that bind estrogen it is also proven to help with breast cancer because this hormone is thus not free to stimulate breast cancer cells. Women who consume the greatest amount of green tea before menopause also have benefits since it can lessen severe forms of both menopause and breast cancer. Also recurrence of breast cancer after treatment is less likely to occur with women who drink green tea. Women who take green tea are half at risk when compared to other women who don’t take green tea when it comes to developing breast cancer in their lives Greentea.

Morgan Buchanan
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/why-you-need-a-green-tea-capsule-79625.html

Consider a daily workout instead of a weekly visit to the gym. Schiff green tea diet provides you with the best way to workout everyday without the hassle of going to the gym!

The Schiff green tea diet is an all-natural diet product that helps promote thermogenesis and fat metabolism. The diet contains no Ma Huang or Ephedra herb. It is ephedrine-free so you won’t experience any jittery or nervous feelings.

The green tea diet has a high amount of active ingredients that have a lot of antioxidant and thermogenic benefits in store for you. The beneficial antioxidants are called catechin polyphenols. These substances interact with other compounds present in order to stimulate thermogenesis and encourage fat to burn.

The most powerful catechin polyphenol found in the green tea diet is called EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate. EGCG has almost the same effect on your fats like ephedra but minus the dangerous side effects that commonly accompany ephedra-induced metabolism. With the Schiff green tea diet, you lose weight without giving up on your body’s health!

The green tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis, which is a native herb of China. This plant is extracted from is believed to have been in use for more than four thousand years.

The substances present in the diet have been widely recognized over the world as an effective dermal protection against Ultraviolet light radiation. The antioxidants can also help prevent cancers including stomach, ovarian, colon, oral, prostate, breast, and cervical cancers.

Being on the diet can also help in reducing harmful intestinal flora while increasing beneficial intestinal flora. It is the main reason why it has curative effects on cancers. This is also the reason why it can reduce oxidative stress in smokers and non-smokers and acts as a powerfully anti-inflammatory substance.

A single dose of the Schiff green tea diet has been to known to show a dramatic improvement in antioxidant levels in the body. It also helps preserve good cholesterol levels and lower down the bad cholesterol. In addition to that, the diet has anti-bacterial properties that help prevent teeth cavities.

And if the benefits listed above are not enough, further researches were made through the years. Having green tea in a diet supplement sometimes is not enough to promote weight loss. This is why this famous diet comes with standardized formulation to guarantee optimum results.

The Schiff green tea diet contains guaranteed levels of EGCG - 270 milligrams a day. The EGCG is used in combination with specific amounts of caffeine - 150 milligrams a day. These two substances make this diet product something to reckon with.

Included in each diet package is an easy-to-follow eating and workout plan. It has also made their tablets in easy-to-swallow sizes containing 225 milligrams green tea extract, 90 milligrams EGCG, and 50 milligrams caffeine.

Losing weight has never been this easy.

Julie Health
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/schiff-green-tea-diet-111362.html

One of the problems man encounter with their physical appearance is when receding hairline begins to appear and finding the best hair loss treatment is one of the things they seek. There is in fact an increasing demand for such treatments today. The problem is that people who are having this condition are seeking for the best treatment without first determining the underlying causes of their hair problem.

Issues

Hair loss is one of the most sensitive man issues that have cropped up through time. Most men, about 90 percent of them, suffer baldness or what is known medically as androgenetic alopecia. Its medical term suggests that genetics play a major role in thinning hair and eventually a gradual reduction in hair. Most men who suffer androgenetic alopecia at a younger age are known to have balding ancestors on either side of their parents. There are other factors though that contribute to this aside from genetics and hormonal causes, and these are one’s diet, environment factors, and the use of specific bodybuilding supplements.

Herbal treatments

Herbs are an alternative way of treating hair loss. It is a natural treatment without the negative side effects.

• Gingko Biloba. This herb is popularly known to aid blood circulation leading to the brain. Increased blood circulation indicates more nutrients that are brought into the hair follicles thus preventing hair growth retardation.
• Green Tea. This herb is known to be one of the best treatments for your hair follicles. It contains catechins that restrict the change of testosterone into DHT, one of the leading causes of male pattern baldness. Green tea also has components that relax the blood vessels, in effect, improving the blood circulation into the hair follicles.
• He Shou Wu. This is one of the treatments used by the Chinese for several ages already. This is a traditional Chinese medicine that is known to sustain kidneys and liver. The blood on the liver feeds the head and the hair and thus helps control the balding process. This herb is clinically proven to be the best baldness treatments. Dosage is recommended at five tablets taken three times a day.

 

Getting Help

A breakthrough product in the market provides a natural approach to promote hair growth. It nourishes new hair without causing any side effects. It means natural healing for balding problems. Besides herbs, this product is the best hair loss treatment that is available online.

Jason Meyer
http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/the-best-hair-loss-treatment-3-herbal-healing-cures-for-your-hair-loss-748267.html

and other teas
and how should you drink tea? how many times daily, weekly, monthly?

Green tea is a natural dieuretic, which means it keeps the body from retaining water. Also it is a natural source of antioxidants which is good for health and the immune system. It has been proven that the antioxidants in green tea can prevent diseases such as certain cancers, rhematoid arthritis, and others.