IMEX Associates

Herbal Tea for Health and for Happiness

Health, wellness and longevity is on the minds of many right now, as the media reveals more about the way the foods we eat and toxins we take in can impact our overall health and well-being. In the wake of this nutritional awakening, tea is becoming very popular not only as an enjoyable beverage, but also as a healing substance and as a weight loss aid.

Tea is the world’s second most popular drink, second only to water. Chinese teas are especially revered for their high amounts of polyphenol antioxidants they contain which provide the body with a fierce artillery against free radicals, or cell-destroying compounds. ORAC scores, which measure antioxidant aptitude of plant-based foods, are often higher for teas than they are for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Herbal teas, also referred to as tisanes, are actually not teas at all, but instead are the result of any fruit, flower, herb or spice that is steeped in boiling water. Herbal infusions can literally be made out of any plant or root in existence. The only true “teas” are those that are derived from the Chinese Camellia sinensis plant, such as black tea, green tea or white tea.

Herbal teas, as well as traditional teas, are renowned for their soothing and healing abilities. For centuries, humans have used tea and herbal tisanes to heal by cleansing the colon, detoxifying the bloodstream, calming anxiety, preventing dental problems, helping clear the mind and promoting overall wellness.

As holistic medicine and natural and organic foods have gained in popularity with the public, vitamins and supplements have become a common part of weight loss and nutrition planning. Herbal teas are vastly considered to be one of the most productive brands of herbal supplementation.

Herbal tea has a history almost as long as the human race itself. It’s impossible to know exactly when humans began making and drinking herbal infusions, but it’s been documented that there is evidence that the Ancient Egyptians enjoyed the taste and health benefits of herbal teas long before even than the earliest appearances of the Chinese teas.

Most herbal teas are known to have at least some medicinal properties. For instance, blackberry tea is a used as a treatment for diarrhea. Dandelion tea is known to improve liver function or reduce the severity of gallstones. Essiac tea is a commonly used holistic cancer fighter. Gingseng root tea is famed for stabling the body’s abilities to cope with stress. Kombucha tea, made from mushrooms, is another cancer fighter and is said to be packed full of antioxidants. Poppy tea, a natural relaxant and pain reliever, has been used for thousands of years by healers all over the world. Ginger tea is famous for soothing upset stomach and improving circulation. Rooibos tea, hailing from a remote part of South Africa, is said to be wonderful for acne and other skin conditions.

There are, of course, nearly endless numbers of herbal teas, each with their own unique flavor and medicinal qualities, with new possibilities of combinations to discover every day.…

Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate Helps To Burn Off Excess Fat

Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate is the twenty first century’s version of the healthy beverage that dates back as far as human history. The medicinal use of herbs and green tea can be found in ancient Egyptian writings dating back to 1000 BC, and also in Chinese herbal books compiled during the Han Dynasty that date back as early as 2700 BC.

Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate takes the wisdom known throughout the ages and mixes it with modern science to produce a refreshing, great tasting and low calorie drink that naturally increases energy and metabolism. It’s the metabolic benefits that make this the perfect drink to compliment any weight loss or weight management program.

A Work Out in a Bottle

With its natural “thermogentic” action (meaning causing or pertaining to the production of heat) this amazing product helps to burn off excess fat just by consuming it. It comes in a concentrated powder form that easily mixes with water and is good either hot or cold. It has a long list of beneficial effects that include…

A� Natural antioxidants

A� Helps to increase metabolism, and burn fat

A� Helps to curb the appetite

A� Increases stamina

A� No “jittery” feeling

Mixing ancient herbal wisdom with modern ease of use and convenience, this drink can easily replace coffee and/or soft drinks for a healthy and uplifting addition to a healthy diet. And, if that’s not enough… it also comes in four great flavors!

Liquid Exercise

We all know that nothing can replace a physically active lifestyle and moderate exercise on a regular basis. But, in today’s world an active day can be seen as laboring on a computer at work, or driving the kids to and from their multiple activities. These are “sitting activities” that can be done while enjoying a refreshing cup of tea that will give you the energy you need to get through the day, and burn fat at the same time!

History has its place, and the knowledge that time and experience brings is second to none. The ancient knowledge of the beneficial effects of natural herbs are still alive and well today, and can be experienced with this healthy and nutritious tea. And, YOU can capture that ancient knowledge of how to burn fat, control your appetite, and increase your energy with every sip.

Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate brings thousands of years of human history right into your tea cup. And, although that sounds a little outrageous, in a sense it’s true. Modern technology has brought us many nice things… but, with only what nature provided, our early ancestors had a lot of things right. And, herbal tea was certainly one. And now, Herbalife has taken it to the next level with this incredible product.…

Type 2 Diabetes – How Can Type 2 Diabetics Avoid the Medication Merry-Go-Round?

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are approximately 28.5 million people in the United States known to be suffering from diabetes and around 1.9 million new diabetics are diagnosed every year.

Diabetes is one of the top causes of morbidity and mortality in this United Stated. In this nation where freedom abounds, many diabetics become slaves of their blood sugar levels. Most diabetics become trapped in the anti-diabetic medication merry-go-round that simply ends with long-term complications. And so, for most of these people, one question keeps popping inside their heads: “can Type 2 diabetics really avoid the medication merry-go-round? “

The good news is: there is a way to free yourself from anti-diabetic medications and escape unscathed. Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease. It is the end result of being inactive and being overweight or obese. And because it results from an unhealthy lifestyle, changing your ways can give a real solution to your ongoing metabolic problem.

Your activity: Believe it or not, your regular physical activities serve as a great contributor to better control of your blood sugar levels. Being physically active makes your large muscles contract more. And with more muscle contractions, more sugar is converted to energy resulting in a lower blood sugar level. Remember the days when you were quite young? Did you ride around your local streets on your bicycle with your friends, or play team sports? But as you grew older and took on the responsibilities of earning an income, even building your own business, exercise became a neglected activity. And with decreased physical activity, you became overweight and obese and maybe developed Type 2 diabetes. To prevent this from happening, or to help reverse your condition, why not add more physical activity to your life; you will become more physically fit. As your become more physically active, the muscles firm, and your body becomes slender and fit.

Your diet: Diet is another important cornerstone in the management of Type 2 diabetes. With a healthier well-balanced diet, much better blood sugar control can be achieved.

According to the American Family Physician, eating a healthy high fiber diet is a great help for anyone with Type 2 diabetes. A high fiber intake also helps you to lower your blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, it adds bulk to your food helping you feel full for longer with a lower number of calories or kilojoules.

And don’t forget, a high intake of soluble fibers gives you better blood sugar control by delaying the absorption of glucose.

Type 2 diabetics should never rely only on their anti-diabetic medications to have control of their blood sugar. If you are tired of the endless cycle of oral anti-diabetic medications… then insulin injections… then oral anti-diabetic medications again, changes need to be made in your lifestyle. After all, Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease and so, lifestyle modification plays an important role in controlling it.…

Raspberry Tips and Tricks

The small amount of work you put into your raspberry patch is well rewarded. Have you seen the cost of raspberries in the grocery store? You can go big if you like, or keep your patch small by starting with half a dozen strong cultivars from the greenhouse. A small garden is easier to care for than a great big one, and so worth your time.

Site and Soil

Almost any soil is satisfactory for growing raspberry plants. It should be well drained but not too sandy unless irrigation is available.

Select a gently sloping area with good drainage. Poor drainage often increases the chance of late spring frost injury and the occurrence of diseases such as anthracnose and spur blight.

Planting

Plant raspberries in the early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Work liberal amounts of well-rotted manure or good compost into the soil.

Plant 3 to 5 feet apart in rows 6 feet apart. Spade a deep slit in the soil, place the root ball inside, and carefully fan out the roots. Be sure to water thoroughly. Firmly press the soil around the roots.

Cut back the tops to about 6 inches in height (if needed) to encourage the production of vigorous new canes.

Watering

Mulch is your friend! Raspberries like moisture and lots of water without being boggy. Mulch between rows and around plants, 3-4 inches deep with straw or leaves.

Keep your raspberry patch watered, both to start and continuing on throughout its life.

Fertilizer

For maximum yields, fertilize your raspberry patch every year in the spring (around the middle of May), using about 1 pound of balanced fertilizer for every 20 feet of rows, or 1/2 cup around each plant. Broadcast the fertilizer between rows and work into the top few inches of soil.

Thinning

Raspberry canes grow the first year and produce fruit the next year. Do not allow any fruit to set on the canes the first year after transplanting. Old canes die out and new ones take their place.

Remove old canes as soon as the fruit is harvested. New canes and suckers should be thinned, leaving 6 to 8 strong canes per foot of row or about 7 strong canes per hill, depending on your layout. Trim all remaining canes to about 24 inches high.

Winter Protection

In colder climates like Minnesota, raspberries need protection from alternating cold and warm periods in the late winter. Follow these steps in the fall, around October, before the ground freezes:

After your raspberries are properly thinned, bend remaining canes over close to the ground and secure with dirt or stakes.

Pile straw or leaf mulch 4-6 inches deep over the canes.

Don’t forget to uncover the plants after all danger of frost is past!

Disease Control

Several diseases, the most common of which are viral or fungal in origin, can afflict raspberries. Stop disease in its tracks by planting certified stock from a trusted greenhouse, destroying old canes after harvest, thinning new canes properly, and cultivating carefully.

If you have a disease outbreak, contact your local extension service for help identifying and treating insects or fungal problems.

That’s it. Keep them watered, thin the patch as directed, protect in the winter, and enjoy your sun-warmed raspberries fresh from your very own garden.…

How to Brew Delicious Tea

Everyone knows that there are all kinds of tea on the market. What you may not know is that you need to use specific brewing techniques for each type. If you don’t use the right technique with the right type, you may end up brewing yourself a cup of BLEH instead of a cup of AAAAH!

Black tea is the standard coffee-alternative you find in the United States. It’s bold, rich, and astringent. You can find flavored black-teas, such as Earl Grey, or go for the more traditional English or Irish Breakfast. These are usually caffeinated (about half the caffeine of coffee), but you can find non-caffeine options.

Black-teas are dried and cured leaves, so it takes boiling water and time (three to six minutes steeping time) to unlock the optimal flavor. Be patient when steeping it: if you are using loose leaf, wait until you see the leaves uncurl. If you’re using the bagged sort, wait until the water turns a uniform color without stirring.

Green tea is a wonderful option that has gained popularity in recent years. Flavors range from the bold and smoky Gunpowder to the sweetly subtle jasmines. The caffeine content of most green-teas is less than black-teas, but can vary greatly.

Most people automatically ruin green tea by brewing it in water that is too hot. Water should be 160 degrees Fahrenheit or less, in order to preserve the green color and delicate flavor. Green-teas are often good for brewing multiple pots, but watch carefully and beware of over-steeping: three to four minutes is the maximum steeping time for green teas.

White tea is an option that is relatively new to the market, but the flavors are even more delicate than green-tea, with even less caffeine. It should be steeped in water just below boiling, for four to six minutes.

There are hundreds of varieties of herbal teas. Not only are herbal-teas delicious, but many of them claim to have healing properties. Chamomile has a light floral or grassy flavor and is said to be relaxing. Mint kinds supposedly calm the stomach. Fruity varieties like lemon and orange wake you up (without caffeine) and are a source of vitamin C. Generally speaking, herbal teas should be brewed at a lower temperature than black (slightly less than boiling), but longer than green (four to five minutes).

Tea is a wonderful way to relax and enjoy something that is good for you. Brewing it yourself takes time and a little practice, but it is a great way to connect with a slower and simpler era.…