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Marigrrl
Quit Date: December 1, 2010
Posts: 894 Location: New York
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Posted: October 29, 2004 1:30 PM Post subject: Six Body Benefits of Tea |
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Six Body Benefits of Tea
How teatime keeps you healthy.
by Holly St. Lifer
Think tea is just a wad of dried leaves stuffed in small bags? A hot beverage to have with breakfast? Think again! Tea is actually much more than that, according to Mary Beth Augustine, R.D., an integrative-medicine nutritionist at the Beth Israel Continuum for Health and Healing in New York City. The word refers to any brew made from herbs, spices, seeds, bark, stems, flowers or leaves. According to ancient Chinese legend, the first cup of tea was produced in 2737 B.C., when the leaves of a black tea shrub haphazardly fell into the boiling water of Emperor Shen Nung, the father of Chinese medicine. Ever since, Asian monks and herbalists have used teas to treat various ailments, from the flu to complexion blemishes. Here, some ways tea can heal you:
Allergy eraser: Thyme tea can help soothe and heal allergy-addled sinuses. A natural antihistamine, thyme also has antiseptic properties to help purge infections. Brew a cup and breathe over it (you'll get a cleansing facial, too) — or simmer yourself in a thyme-infused bath.
Flu fighter: Do you turn to echinacea or goldenseal the moment you feel a cold coming on? "Most people don't know you have to cycle off echinacea or you'll build up a resistance to it. And goldenseal is too potent for long-term use," says Victoria Zak, author of "20,000 Secrets of Tea." Next time, consider a tea of Pau d'arco, aka "the divine bark," an herb with immunity-building properties, which can be purchased at most health food stores and ingested daily. It is antibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial, and it's packed with iron, calcium, selenium, zinc, and C and B-complex vitamins.
Tummy tamer: Instead of popping Tums, brew some spicy tea to soothe digestive ailments. Ginger, known as "the hot root," warms you from head to toe and stimulates digestion-aiding enzymes. It also cures both morning and motion sicknesses. And look no further than your spice rack for relief from menstrual cramps, gas and heartburn: "Fennel, anise, coriander and cardamom all have antispasmodic properties and help create movement in the intestines," says Augustine, who suggests you add these herbs to your cup o' tea.
Beauty brew: Tea made from rose hips is the ultimate age-defying and skin-hydrating brew, thanks to nutrients such as longevity-promoting vitamin K and free-radical-damage-fixing bioflavonoids and citrics. Shiny horsetail grass is one of the richest sources of silica, an essential element in tissue repair. Revive lackluster hair, skin and nails by drinking tea prepared from this prehistoric plant. Make it work double duty by placing warm tea bags on your eyes to reduce puffiness. If your hair is dull from product buildup, try a rosemary tea rinse. Rosemary cleans hair follicles and promotes hair growth, says Zak. Use once a week for thick, super-clean hair and scalp.
Disease beater: In recent years, scientists have been lauding the cancer-fighting abilities of the powerful antioxidant polyphenols found in black and green teas. "These teas contain properties that not only protect the cells from carcinogens, they also shrink tumors," explains Paul Lechance, Ph.D., executive director of the Neutraceutical Institute at Rutgers University. "While we can't say you'll never get cancer if you drink tea, you are certainly doing yourself some good by drinking it." What's more: A study from the University of North Carolina concluded that people who drink three cups of tea a day reduce their risk of heart attack by 11%.
Hunger helper: If you're looking for an afternoon energy boost without all the fat of chocolate and the calories of soda, Augustine favors oatstraw tea. In addition to its high-fiber content that leaves you feeling full, this potion provides high nutritional value (vitamins A, D, B1 and B2, calcium, iron and selenium) and can boost immunity and energy. Augustine also recommends bitter herb teas such as chicory and dandelion as natural appetite suppressants. _________________
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londa
Quit Date: July 28, 2004
Posts: 2469 Location: new york, USA
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Posted: October 29, 2004 3:10 PM Post subject: |
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You are one awesome young lady. I love reading all your posts. We learn so much from what you post. I plan on going out and buying some tea.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love, Londa _________________
My name is Londa. I am 57 and I act like I'm 20. I love to laugh and smile. The more the better. Being kind to someone is the best thing you can do. |
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ms_tapestry
Quit Date: October 21, 2009
Posts: 2574 Location: Seminole, TX
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Posted: October 29, 2004 8:13 PM Post subject: |
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Thanks Mariko, I love tea. I start every day with a cup of Chai. _________________
Tonya
You must do the very thing you think you cannot do.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Cowgirl UP!
Quit Date: July 26, 2004
Posts: 5029 Location: Ala
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Posted: October 29, 2004 8:41 PM Post subject: |
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Mariko,
Londa is right you are a very informative young lady. I am so proud to have you part of my quit.
Kay _________________
All with a little help from my friends, COWGIRL UP |
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alleghany
Quit Date: -
Posts: 2049
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Posted: November 1, 2004 9:59 AM Post subject: |
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I hope everyone who is still looking at quiting reads this and considers making tea part of their quit!
Thank you for posting this ~ I'm going to make a huge "batch" of green tea today in honor of you, Mariko! _________________
Face your fears.
Quit date: June 6, 2004 |
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