General Articles

Green Tea – Neither a Weight Loss Diet Nor a Supplement But It Works Wonders to Keep You in Shape

While market is flooded with various weight loss supplements and diet plans, an effective and easy way to lose weight goes unnoticed by a good number of health conscious people. Green tea or its extract is often known for its medicinal properties that can cure many ailments. However few people are aware that Green or organic tea has weight loss abilities as well. In fact many brands have launched specially formulated teas which are meant for burning fat easily.

Fighting obesity requires not only will power but also a well planned dieting routine that can be followed without getting fed up very soon. The real problem with a majority of fat reduction systems is that they restrict your normal eating habits and recommend eating things that are either tasteless or very expensive. In either of these cases you feel like quitting the program as soon as possible. The net result of this approach is that you gain back your weight soon after quitting the program.

Green Tea – An effective and natural way to fight obesity

Unlike many other supplements and dieting program, it works somewhat slower but its effect lasts longer. In fact it is easier to maintain your weight and figure if you consume organic tea on regular basis. Many people switch to green tea once they lose a considerable amount of weight.

Green tea is made from the same leaves from which your regular black tea is made. The difference is in the duration of processing. It is less processed that regular tea therefore maximum possible medicinal properties are retained. The extract of this tea is available in concentrated form which is available under various brand names in the market.

The extract of green tea is often considered more beneficial for overall health than using it as a beverage. However it is easier to consume organic tea as a drink than consuming it in the form of pills. You cannot continue using weight loss pills for a long time but you can definitely switch to green tea forever.

When it comes to weight loss, nothing is more natural than enjoying your cup of organic tea and losing weight simultaneously. Rich in anti oxidants, it works wonders for your metabolism and reverses the aging process to a great extent. Many research findings suggest that it also slows down the growth of cancerous cells and prevents many other diseases. What’s more, you never fed up with it because it is neither a diet plan nor a weight loss supplement.…

Top Warning Signs of Diabetes in Toddlers

Mostly kids are unable to explain any problem or communicate any discomfort they are experiencing. This makes the situation difficult to comprehend for the parents. In this modern fast paced society our kids are at an increased risk of many chronic illnesses including diabetes. As kids are too small to be able to recognize the signs of diabetes in them so it is the responsibility of the parents to keep a constant eye on their health and general fitness.

Though it is believed that children show different signs of diabetes but the warning diabetic symptoms in toddlers are more or less the same. If the toddler is suffering from type 1 diabetes, his pancreas becomes unable to produce insulin. If the child is suffering from type 2 diabetes, toddlers start to generate the needed amount of insulin but the body cells become unable to respond positively towards this insulin.

The increasing rate of obesity in kids is another sign of diabetes. If as parents you know well the warning of signs of diabetes in kids then you are in a better position of detecting the disease at its earliest.

Excessive Urination: It is the trademark of diabetes. It is the sign that is easily recognized by the adults. In type 1 diabetes the blood sugar level increase because of deficiency of insulin production. The sugar is then strained through urine. This sugar is diluted with water and then extracted via kidneys. This excessive water causes the kids to urinate even more often. The sign of diabetes can be noticed if child pees a lot during the day and gets up for the same during the night.

Extreme Thirst: Frequent urination leads to extreme thirst. The body of the diabetic toddler required excessive water. As they are getting dehydrated so they drink extra water to replenish the stock.

Extreme Hunger: Unexpectedly the kid stat to crave foods at abrupt intervals. Lack of insulin results in improper supply of energy to various body organs. The body then has to use fat as a main fuel for the body.

Unexplained Weight Loss: The most alarming sign of diabetes is that a healthy child suddenly starts to lose weight. Another sign of diabetes is a sudden loss in weight. It is important that parents consider this sign every serious and talk to their pediatrician.

Diaper Rash: These are very uncomfortable for the toddlers. If these rashes are not healing even after applying the ointments then it is better to ask for medical advice.

Tiredness: The children who suffer from diabetes also suffer from weakness. The body is unable to produce energy through the consumed food so the child feels tired and fatigued.

Apart from above mentioned signs of diabetes, the child starts to feel dizzy, depressed and nauseous.…

Olive Leaf Tea Health Benefits Revealed – The Secret Behind the Success of the Mediterranean Diet

Never heard of or experienced the taste of olive leaf tea? You are not alone. This pleasant tasting tea is not a common staple in tea houses or stores. But, it should be. The olive leaf has been a diet staple in many Mediterranean cultures for centuries. These same cultures enjoy a low incidence of viruses, heart conditions and cancers. We all have heard researchers, scientists and nutritionists promote the health benefits of olive oil and the Mediterranean diet.

What they do not tell you is that you can enjoy the health benefits of the olive leaf in a wonderfully pleasant tea as well. For those that are counting their fat grams and calories, this is way to enjoy the health benefits of the essential oils in olive leaf without the fat.

Since ancient times, olive leaf tea has been given to help fight many ailments of the times. The Brits gave olive leaf herbal tea to colonists and soldiers that were sick after returning from a tropical climate. The stories about the improvements in these individuals have promoted modern day science to find out about these claims.

Scientists found that the active compounds in the olive leaf are oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, as well as other powerful antioxidants. In a 2005 study done by the Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine Education and Research revealed that olive leaves have five times more antioxidant capacity than Vitamin C. It also found that this herbal tea has almost double the antioxidant power of green tea and grape seed extract. The high antioxidant content may also be useful in helping the body fight against premature aging and other illnesses.

The component, oleuropein is a natural pesticide and helps protect the olive tress from bacterial damage, as well. The properties of the oleuropein component have been proven to help protect the human body from viruses, bacteria and fungal infections as well.

The component, hydroxytyrosol, found in the olive leaf, is thought to be a powerful antioxidant. It is ten times more powerful than the antioxidant value found in green tea. Tyrosol is another powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells against injury due to oxidation.

Oleuropein has proven to have powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects. It appears to work like a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It is also responsible for the heart healthy benefits that are so well promoted. This component inhibits the oxidation of LDL (the bad cholesterol), and relaxes the arterial walls, helping to lower blood pressure.

Here is a summary of a few of the health benefits of olive leaf tea:

Anti viral properties

Known to lower cholesterol

Helps lower blood pressure

Has anti-fungal properties

Has anti-bacterial properties

Enhances and maintains a strong immune system

Lowers blood sugar.

Fights premature aging

Increase energy levels

Elevates your mood

Scientists and researchers are still investigating the health benefits of olive leaf tea. Until then, making olive leaf tea part of your daily routine may be something you should investigate yourself. As a naturally organic product, you can enjoy the taste and health benefits of a natural beverage until the promising researcher and scientists put their seal of approval on it. This unique beverage deserves a place on your tea shelf.

Of course, please consult your health care provider about the use of herbs for specific health concerns. The information provided here is not be taken as medical advice or as actual preventative or cure for any known medical condition or illness.…

Best Cure For Diabetes

Diabetes now can be cured easily, based on recent developments made by scientists at Toronto Medical center, as they claim they have found an important link between nervous system and diabetes, which could essentially be vital criteria in curing the disease.

Diabetes is the disease which is said to affect millions of people in the world and scientists are always looking out for ways to find better method to treat diabetes and eliminate it completely.

The test was conducted on mice with diabetes, and the result was positive as diabetes was completely cured in 24 hours. Mice suffering from diabetes were suddenly cured of the disease and this startled many scientists, which also led many to believe that it would work wonders even on human body.

However, there is still a long way to go, as scientists need to prove whether it surely work on the humans. Scientists are working on it and in a year or two they will produce the result. So if there is any possibility of complete cure from diabetes it would take one more year to be introduced.

However scientists are more excited about their findings and are hopeful that test result will be positive and would be surely a significant development in the medical arena. It would also reduce growing percent of people suffering from the disease and dying out of it.

Diabetes is a disease with two categories – Type 1 and Type 2. Most people suffer from Type 2 diabetes as compared to Type 1. Diabetes is said to be 6th on the list of disease causing death. When someone has diabetes, the body is unable to produce enough insulin, needed to transform glucose into energy. Diabetes Mellitus is a serious disease, but cause of the disease is not known. Many suggest it happens due to obesity, lifestyle or genetic factors.…

Type 2 Diabetes – Which Drugs Do You Think Affect Your Blood Sugar Levels?

The number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has really skyrocketed over the past twenty years.  Add to that the number who are prediabetic and those walking around who have no idea they will be diagnosed in the years to come.  At least 50% remain undiagnosed!  Research shows one in four has a disturbance in how their body metabolizes sugar.

Whilst we are aware that genetics and obesity plays a big role in the rise of diabetes some drugs including prescripton drugs, can actually induce this condition in otherwise normal people.

Known offenders include:

steroids

birth control pill

diuretics

beta blockers

It is not unusual for impaired glucose tolerance to develop during the treatment of hypertension, and the condition does not go away when treatment is discontinued. Other drugs can either increase blood sugar levels or decrease them.  Leading offenders that diabetics should avoid include:

Drugs that lower blood-sugars:

Salicylates (Aspirin), and acetaminophen (paracetamol) or Panadol, can both lower your levels, especially if taken in large doses

Phenylbutazone (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory)

Ethanol (in alcoholic drinks) especially when taken without food

Sulfonamide antibiotics

Coumarin anticoagulant

Trimethoprim (used for urinary tract infections)

Drugs that increase your blood-sugars:

Caffeine in large quantities

Corticosteroids such as prednisone, are used to block autoimmune conditions.  Even when applied topically it increases your levels

Ephedrine

Estrogen when the dose is high, modern oral contraceptives are usually not a problem

Frusemide and thiazide diuretics often raise the glucose by causing a loss of potassium

Lithium

Nicotinic acid in large doses.  Used to lower cholesterol can bring out a hyperglycemic reaction

Phenytoin or Dilantin, a drug used for seizures, blocks insulin release

Rifampin (used in the treatment of tuberculosis)

Sugar containing medications

Thyroid hormone in elevated levels, raises blood glucose by reducing insulin from the pancreas

If you find a sudden change in your blood sugar levels and you have started a new medication, don’t hesitate to check with your health care provider.

Looking after yourself and your type 2 diabetes is your show, so know which drugs affect your blood sugars levels, find a diet that works for you, lose weight, and increase your physical activity.  You are the CEO of your body!…

Types of English Tea

English tea is very popular not only in the UK, but all over the world. Some of the blends that are well known in Great Britain originated elsewhere first, but have become known as British tea none the less. Many people do not think about how many types of teas that are English. They assume that only a few select flavors of tea are actually British. The truth is that there are actually five types of teas that are considered English teas.

Four of the five English style teas derive from the same leaves – Camellia sinensis. It is the process that will affect the outcome of the flavor of each type. The other type of tea is derived from berries, roots, seeds, and flowers.

Camellia Sinensis Derived Teas

There are four types of English tea that are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant – oolong, green, white, and black tea. Each one is made in a different process to give it the unique flavor that it is known for. Not only does each of these teas taste different, they are used for different reasons as well.

Green tea is used as an antioxidant and has many health benefits for regular drinkers. The leaves are processed by not allowing them to oxidize. They are also dried very fast as well. This gives the tea a grassy flavor and the health properties it has become famous for.

White tea is the one with the least amount of caffeine. It is made by the very young leaves of the plant. They are steamed and sun dried to give them a much smoother and sweeter taste than other types of tea. White teas have antibacterial and antiviral properties.

The Black English tea has a very robust flavor. It also contains a lot of caffeine compared to other blend types. The leaves are fermented to make them dark in color. This means that they are more oxidized than other English teas. This is most popular tea type due to the fact that it retains its flavor for years, unlike other teas, and so is great for trade and shipping.

The Herbal Tea

Herbal tea is other type of English tea that is made from the berries, flowers, roots, and stems of various plants. The flavor of tea will depend on what plant is used to make it, as well as what part of the plant it is derived from. Herbal teas are not derived from the Camellia sinensis plant at all.

There are many flavors of herbal tea. Some of them are infused with other varieties types as well to make a delicious blend. It is quite common to find a flavored green variety today. This allows for a variety in flavors but grants one the health benefits from the green tea. Herbal properties have also been introduced into some black and white teas too.

No matter which type you decide to go with, you will no doubt enjoy the many English teas that are available.…

5 Ways Herbal Teas Can Treat Or Reduce Anxiety And Help You Relax

Drinking herbal teas, especially ones like chamomile, and various herbal blends, is often seen as a powerful and effective way to relax. This article explores five ways in which herbal teas can help you to relax, making an effective, natural, and inexpensive treatment for anxiety

1. Medicinal Effects:

Herbs have various chemical components which act on the mind and body a lot like prescription drugs, but in a gentler, safer, and more balanced way. Many of the herbs commonly used as teas have been established scientifically to have relaxing or calming effects. The herbs with some science supporting their use for relaxing include chamomile, tulsi (holy basil), lemon balm, lavender, sage, passionflower, valerian, and kava. Many of these are common ingredients in herbal blends, especially those designed to promote relaxation.

2. Warmth:

Imagine curling up in a warm blanket with a hot cup of something. Even thinking of this sort of thing can help us relax. Warmth relaxes us, and this is not just due to our minds, it is due to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces the stress response. Drinking herbal teas can help relax us by warming us up.

3. Aroma:

Aromas can be very powerful. Think of how certain smells can bring back vivid memories, often evoking strong emotions associated with those memories. Some chemicals are even able to produce measurable effects on the mind and body even at levels so low that they cannot be consciously detected. Infusions of richly aromatic herbs have great potential to impact our mood through their smell. Many of the herbal blends people drink to relax have been chosen and blended specifically to have a calming or anxiety-reducing effect. This effect can be powerful and immediate, helping us to relax even before we take the first sip.

4. Mindfulness:

Mindfulness is a powerful way to combat anxiety and related problems like depression. The act of focusing on the here and now can help us to be happier and work effectively. Herbal teas can be a focal point for our mindfulness, as we pay attention to the taste and smell of the cup of tea we are drinking, and as we take time out of our day to enjoy our herbal tea, which leads into our final point:

5. Enjoyment:

People often approach anxiety and stress like it is a medical problem; while there is some merit to this approach, it is also true that at times, we just need to kick back and enjoy ourselves. If you want to drink herbal tea to relax and to help reduce your anxiety level, the best way to do so is to pick an herbal tea that you enjoy the most, and drink it because you like the way it tastes. Your enjoyment will help you to relax more as well!…