Finds Clinical Trials by Tufts University in Boston

 So the news was bound to make the front page: Canadians are suffering from hypertension at an unprecedented rate. Nearly one fifth of adults (or 4.6 million of us) has hypertension or high blood pressure. And similar studies have been released linking hypertension to the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease later on in life. Although Canada may lead the world in treatment for hypertension there are some preventative steps that we can take to avoid going down that road altogether, or at least lessen the chances.

The February issue of The Journal of Nutrition published a study that suggests that having just three cups a day of Hibiscus tea could help to lower blood pressure formed by mild hypertension in adults.

In the clinical study 65 participants were given either 3 240ml servings of brewed hibiscus tea or a placebo.

The results?

After six weeks hibiscus tea lowered systolic blood pressure by a margin of 7-percent while also lowering diastolic blood pressure by 3-percent.

The conclusion of the study was summarized in an abstract:

“These results suggest daily consumption of hibiscus tea, in an amount readily incorporated into the diet, lowers BP in pre- and mildly hypertensive adults and may prove an effective component of the dietary changes recommended for people with these conditions”

 What Else Can We Do?

Dr. Norm Campbell, medical professor at the University of Calgary (Alberta) has a few suggestions:

“The good news is there’s a multitude of different things we can do. A healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat is very effective, as is regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight,” said Campbell.

I’ll raise a glass of hibiscus tea to that.

So it’s cold & flu season. Bleh. I’ve already survived a run in with H1N1 (aka swine flu or Hamthrax) back in October…it was a mild case but still would have preferred not to get it. And over the weekend I noticed a little *tickle* in the back of my throat. Uh-oh. Time to take some precautionary steps. I already take multi vitamins, drink lots of fluids, excercise on a constant basis but sometimes it’s inevitable. Well not this time…nope. No way. Like the great Jesse Ventura (in Predator) once said ‘I ain’t got time to bleed’.

False alarm. Must have been my constant chatting as of late. Well it gave me the opportunity to test out a mouth rinse that I came across that incorporated tea.  I dug into my vaults and retrieved this great recipe that uses chai tea. The spicy notes of the chai (cardamom, anise, ginger) really help to freshen your breath.

Chai Mouth Wash

• 2 drops clove oil
• 2 drops cinnamon oil
• 2-3 tbsp vodka
• 1 1/2 cups distilled water
• 1/2 cup brewed chai tea

Combine the clove and cinnamon oil with the vodka in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour in the water and chai, then mix well. Use about a tablespoon at a time and refridgerate the rest. Can be stored for about a week in the fridge.

A recent study published in the July edition of the journal Cancer Prevention Research suggests that the  polyphenols found in Green Tea may prevent the cell damage that leads to cancer development and progression.

A clinical trial conducted in Italy with 26 participants showed that the consumption of green tea helped lower the likelihood that prostate cancer would develop over the course of the 1 year study.

So why not incorporate some green tea into your daily routine?  We have some great tasting green teas including a Strawberry Green Tea that is packed with polyphenols including ECGC.  This one is especially tasty as an iced tea too!

So here is a story you don’t hear about everyday:  It turns out that the Chinese Department of Health has been conducting under cover surveillance at herbal tea shops and found that some were lacing their tea blends with what they describe as ‘Western Drugs’.

Lab tests showed the presence of two drugs: Paracetamol and Chlorpheniramine

Paracetamol, or what we here in the West refer to as acetaminophen – aka Tylenol, a common drug available over-the-counter to help relieve pain and fever.  Although many people will agree that it is generally a safe drug for short term relief, over exposure has been linked to liver damage (since it is processed through the liver)

Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that blocks the naturally producing histamines in the body, and is used to control allergies and common cold symptoms (such as itching, sneezing, and runny nose).  It is also not recommended to be used by breastfeeding mothers as it can pass through the milk and harm the baby.

It’s a sad reality to see that even in China local shop owners are  trying to get a ‘heads up’ on their local competitors by trying to enhance their products.  Maybe they weren’t aware of the side effects or didn’t care if people were reporting illnesses.   Or maybe they were.  Reminds me a lot of a story I read where Red Bull was found to containe trace amounts of cocaine .

It goes to show you that regardless of what the product is the practice of trying to get a one up on competitors has been going on for ages.

Snake Oil Anyone?

Congratulations!  2008 is firmly behind us, for better or for worse.

It seems that every year people (including myself) resolve to change or improve on something beginning in January.  Usually we get off to a good start: signing up at the gym, watching what we eat, throwing out those bad habits, and generally opting for nice over naughty.  But what happens that causes us to fall off the band wagon? I think its really about biting off more than you can chew – a resolution nuclear melt down if you will.  What compounds this problem is the fact that we are coming off of one of the worst months (habit wise) – December.  We have used December as a reasoning for our over indulgence ( a little more pie, racking up the credit cards, one more beer) and lack of commitment (staying on budget, staying active, and eating healthy)

So I’ve figured that this year I am going to take it slow- maybe change things gradually.  I have heard that for something to become part of a routine you have to be disciplined enough to stay with it for a minimum of 6 weeks.  So lets give that a shot.  Here is my short list of recommendations for staying on track with realistic resolutions for this year:

• Lose the fat, not the weight.

Yes thats right- this year I will not be concerned about hitting a magic number (unless I am entering a jiu jitsu tournament then I need to adhere to certain weight categories which means being aware of what the scale says in absolute terms).  One pound of fat is equal to 3,500 calories and burns no calories- it just kinda sits there.  On the other hand one pound of muscle can burn around 50 calories per day.   Since muscle is much denser than fat if we can replace a pound of fat with muscle we will visually look thinner regardless of what that scale is telling us.  Its similar to the question ‘What weighs more, a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers?’  Think about the volume those feathers will take up compared to the bricks.  Try to compliment any cardio excercise with resistance training – even if its at home (soup cans and sacks of potatoes can be creative solutions!).  And trade in those energy drinks, soda pop, and coffee for beverages that help to rehydrate your body without adding unnecessary calories.  I am personally going to be consuming more of our Waist Not Gypsy Gynostemma (Jia Gu Lan) Tea Blend

• Debt is Dumb, Cash is King

I am borrowing that line from Dave Ramsey, a financial counselor, radio host, and someone that has solid principles for keeping and managing your money. It really is common sense and sounds straightforward, but if you can cut up those credit cards and live on less than you make then you’ll be in good shape.  For those that are already pretty deep in the debt hole (and the majority of Canadians and Americans are really feeling it now more than ever) here are some suggestions for prioritizing those bills:

If you can’t pay all of your monthly bills, first pay the bills that are necessary for health, shelter, food and basic transportation. Then pay the secured debts such as your car loan.

Payments on unsecured loans, such as most credit cards, should come last.

Contact your creditors to try to negotiate lower rates.

And most importantly get on a budget and stay on it! A good rule to practice is to create an emergency fund – somewhere north of $1000 is a good buffer.  This has helped us one more than one occasion for unexpected expenses (broken furnace, flat tire, etc) and having $1000 easily accessible and put aside really helps relieve the stress.  If you dip into it, just build it back up when you have a chance.

• Enjoy Life

Whether you like to hike, travel, hang with friends, volunteer, or spend time with your family make sure you put a little more time aside this year to do just that.  It is easy to get caught up in the daily grind that we rarely take time to reflect and focus on the things that are important to us.  Finding some time to do what you are passionate about is a natural way to relieve stress.

More people are choosing Green tea over other types of tea because of its many health benefits.  An article published in the Toronto Star in March 2006 discusses the different products that are popping up that include green tea:

“More and more products laced with green tea extracts are popping up alongside the Starbucks frappucchino, including in chewing gum.” 

          People are not only choosing to consume green tea for its great taste, but they are realizing the health benefits of doing so as well.  For the full article visit:

http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/191456

I feel a tug at my waist, and I look down to see her pulling at the bottom of my top, happily chewing away looking up at me with expectant eyes. After I managed to take the material out of her mouth, she gently bumps her head against my thigh, begging for a scratch behind her ears. Who knew goats could be so affectionate?

I spent the evening wandering around my friends hobby farm, chasing chickens and checking out the vegetable garden she has with tomatoes, peppers, peas and tons of herbs and other good things growing.  Barn cats, as cute as can be, sprang at each other through the grass, then lazed around trying to catch the last few rays of warm sunshine.  One particularly excitable little rascal chased a duck whenever he got the chance, bounding away as soon as the duck retailiated. It was quite the sight and quite the experience.

My friend makes her own chocolate which is to die for. She creates yummy chocolate goodness from pure cacao beans and uses ingredients like goji berries and agave nectar to make the tastiest natural and healthy (yes, I said HEALTHY) chocolate I have ever had the pleasure of eating. She also makes her own marvelous cheese thanks to the shirt chomper who happily provides the goat milk to produce it.

After having a big BBQ and talking to other guests that came out for the day, I stretched out in a hammock under a shady tree and thought, “This is the life for me!”.  Since becoming educated in different types of tea and many of their healing properties, I have also further developed my knowledge of herbs, plants and other natural healing products. I like the idea of being able to live in a way that so few of us do.

Growing your own crops, caring for animals, feeding chickens and collecting eggs… Admittedly, it isn’t everyone’s dream job, but there is a lot of reward in the (very hard) work. There is a feeling of accomplishment, and of appreciation that you just can’t get from buying a carton of eggs or a frozen bag of beans at the grocery store. Buying a chocolate bar at the corner store does not even come close to comparing to the chocolate that my friend makes. Aside from the flavour, it is pleasing to know that everything in it is good for you. In a world where fast food and candy bars are taking over, it’s nice for once to know that I can eat something sweet and tasty without having to worry about what I am putting into my body.  The chocolate is the perfect pair to our Vanilla Chai Dream tea blend whether you are chasing goats around all day or unwinding after a hectic day at the office.

I love the city for many reasons… There is always something going on, and always entertainment of some sort, but for me, nothing beats the feeling I get sitting in a hammock looking at green field with a warm cup of tea in one hand and a homemade chocolate in the other.

For more info about, or to order the chocolate I mentioned above, send an email to: la_selva_girl@hotmail.com

I have recieved a lot of feedback and questions on my blog entry “Tired of Being Tired?… Help is Here” from May. Thank you all for your emails and comments.

 Of course, the main thing I recommend is a special blend of herbal tea that I have created called “Counting Sheep”. It is a blend of high quality egyptian chamomile and lavender that is a perfect combination to relax you before bed and help bring you a good night’s sleep.

Aside from the sleep tips found in “Tired of Being Tired?” there is something else that you more adventurous types may want to try…

 Many people believe  that certain stones have healing properties. These stones have been used for centuries across many cultures to improve both physical and mental well being.  Of course, you can’t just go pick up any old rock and make it cure your sleep problems – but there are certain stones that are said to have properties that aid in sleep.  The top three stones, in my opinion to help give you a peaceful nights sleep are malachite, amethyst and garnet.

Malachite

Malachite is said to be a stone of amplification. It amplifies the users mood whether positive or negative.  It also draws feeling of disharmony into it, cleansing these energies.  Some people believe that it has the abilty to draw out both physical and emotional pain from its user.  Because of these quailites the stone is believed to purifiy dreams and give the user peaceful dreams.

Amythest

Amythest is a great stone to help ease transitions and to bring tranquilty to its user.  It is a stone of protection and is said to have the abilty to turn negative energy into positive. It is frequently used to combat sleep disorders like sleep apnea, tossing and turning, and sleep walking.  The calming power of amythest combats nightmares, and in some people, gives intuitive dreams.

Garnet

Garnet has been used for centuries for healing and decoration. Some of the oldest garnet jewlery found dates back to 3000 BC.  So what did they know that so few of us know? There are two ways which garnet can help us.  Physically,  garnet is said to open up passages connecting to our hearts and improve circulation in this area which is important to sleep.  Mentally, garnet is said to help us connect our concious mind to our subconcious mind, a natural transition in the time between wakefullness and dreams.  It protects the user from nightmares (especially violent nighmares) and also sends vibrations that help the user to be creative in both wakefullness and in sleep.  It is often used for meditation purposes because it helps the user learn from their dreams and apply what they learn to their waking life.

 Tuck one of these stones into your pillow case and see how it works for you.

*Note: This is solely my opinion on aspartame based on personal experiences and research.

Diet Pepsi, Sugar-Free Gum, Low-Calorie Sweeteners. What exactly makes them taste sweet? In most cases the sweetener is a deadly chemical called Aspartame (also known as Equal, NutraSweet, Equal-Measure, etc).

If you are like me then you probably reach for the packets of artificial sweeteners when having that morning tea or coffee at work. It hit me one morning a few years back when I took a look at the packaging…a really good look: “Take only on the advice of a physician”. Woah! Hold on a second- I have to talk to a doctor before downing this stuff??! This piqued my curiosity so I decided to do a little more research into aspartame and WOW did it change my perception of this so called ‘miracle sweetener’.

There have been many scientifically backed studies that have linked aspartame consumption to the following ailments:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Headaches & Migraines
• Memory Loss
• Brain Tumors
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Heart Palpitations
• Anxiety attacks
• Joint Pain
• Birth Defects
• Cancer (Brain Cancer)
• Obesity (It actually causes you to crave carbohydrates)
• And a whole laundry list of other problems

So how did Aspartame get such a bad reputation?

Well lets go back to how it was discovered. Back in 1965 James Schlatter, a chemist with the G.D. Searle Company, was testing an anti-ulcer drug and discovered Aspartame by accident. In the 80’s it was then approved for first dry goods then beverages. And thus started our obsession with the so called miracle low-cal sweetener. (Note: Aspartame was denied by the FDA more than half a dozen times before they finally approved it for consumption.)

So What Exactly is in Aspartame?

Aspartame is comprised of three chemicals: Aspartic Acid (40%), Phenylalanine (50%), and incredibly wood alcohol/methanol (10%) -all labeled in various publications as ‘chemical toxins or poison’. This cocktail of deadly chemicals does a real number on the human body- affecting everything from memory loss (completely counter productive to the inherent properties found in many whole leaf teas) to Parkinson’s disease (see our blog on how to combat Parkinson’s Disease). Some of these ailments are noticeable right away, while others are acute reactions often occurring gradually.

What Are the Alternatives?

Instead of reaching for aspartame/ sweet n low/ sugar twin try using an all natural alternative such as honey. We sell a great assortment of flavored honey sticks at our virtual storefront. (Note: If you have children under 1 years of age see the alternative below as they should not consume honey)

Honey is great because:

• It is nutritious. Honey contains vitamins like B6, niacin, thiamine, minerals, iron, zinc and certain amino acids. Honey is completely safe for pregnant women to consume and can provide these much needed nutrients.
• Has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI). This essentially means that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream resulting in better digestion and higher rate of metabolism (for weight loss and maintenance).
• Energy. Honey is a great source of natural carbohydrates and has been proven to boost natural performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue in athletes. Our honey comes in pre sealed sticks which make them perfect for camping, hiking, or any other instance where you need a quick burst of energy to keep you going.
• Cold Fighter. Honey helps to boost your immunity against sickness as it is high in antioxidants. There’s some truth to your mother telling you to drink up a mug of honey lemon tea when you were a kid! Add honey to a cup of green tea for a double shot of antioxidants that will help kick start your immune system faster than I can fall off a horse (and that’s pretty flippin fast – Ask Beth, she has seen it first hand.).
• Love the Skin You’re In. Honey is added to a full spectrum of beauty products including skin care, hair care, tanning lotions, facial scrubs, baby care, and moisturizers. And there is good reason why- honey’s hygroscopic (ability to absorb moisture) properties are ideal for cosmetics because they help alleviate dried skin while rejuvenating.

If you have children that are extremely young it is advised that they do not consume honey as their digestive systems are not developed enough to fend off any spores created by the bacterium naturally found in honey. Agave nectar is a good option that does not spike blood sugar and can be purchased at most health food stores and organic food markets.

The short and sweet of it all: Quit consuming products that contain aspartame. If the above list of symptoms did not make the health concerns associated with aspartame consumption clear enough then consider this- when you ingest products containing aspartame, your body processes it and turns it into formic acid. Essentially formaldehyde… that’s right – the stuff that morticians preserve dead bodies with. So stop pickling yourself! Don’t just take my word for it… Take 20 minutes and do some research, and you will see that the miracle sweetener is anything but a miracle.

I spent my Canada day yesterday digging in the garden, because with the last few weeks of rain, the weeds had started to take over, and it was quite literally ‘a jungle out there’.   After a few hours of baking under the suns intense rays, I found myself a little too hot… Being as fair skinned as I am, I do not get a nice golden glow from the sun… The Irish in me lends to lots of freckles followed by a burn, which is exactly what I got.  I wasn’t careful enough with the sunscreen application, and believe me, I paid the price.  I’m still paying for it today,  however it is feeling MUCH better because I know a handy little secret about soothing burned skin.  Green tea.

The polyphenols in green tea help soothe and heal the skin more quickly than allowing a sunbrun to pan out on it’s own. It also helps to reduce skin peeling in the case of a really nasty sunburn like the one I got yesterday. 

 There are a couple of ways that you can use green tea to help ease a sunburn. The first and easiest way is to to run a bath and hang 3 or 4 green tea bags under the faucet. Let HOT water run over the tea bags so that the water becomes infused. When the water starts to run clear, add cold water to your bath. The last thing you want to do is have a hot bath when  you have a sunbrun. Make sure that the bath water is cool and this will also help to relieve the sting of the burn.  This is the best method for children with sunburns because it offers immediate all over relief.

A second way, and a good way to target specific areas is to create a green tea compress.  To do this, steep a pot of green tea and let it cool. Once cooled, poor the infusion on a washcloth or towel – try to use one that is old – because green tea will stain. Apply the cloth to the sunburned area, and allow it to sit for several minutes to cool your skin and combat the heat and stinging from the sunburn. This is especially good if you have a bad sunburn on your face, or on your shoulders where it is easy to drape a compress. 

If you REALLY want to get rid of that redness, and get extra fast relief, check out my own personal tried, tested and true bath blend, followed by the application of aloe vera gel. (Directly from the plant source is best for aloe vera, however, if you can only get your hands on the kind of after sun aloe vera that comes in a bottle, try to make the most natural choice possible)

In your bath water add:

Green Tea: Either use teabags, or pour a pot of cool tea into your bath. This will reduces inflammation and helps with radiation damage and aging.

Peppermint: Either crush and handful of fresh peppermint leaves into your bath, or add one to two drops of peppermint essential oil. This will help ease the heat of the burn because of it’s aromatic properties.

Vinegar: Add one or two cups of white vinegar to your bath water. The acetic acid in vinegar reduces skin inflammation and eases the pain of the burn.

Aloe Vera: The biologically active compounds in aloe vera help to heal the sunburn more quickly.