Posts Tagged ‘Benefits’

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Discover The Many Benefits Of Herbal Medicine

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Today, it is no surprise to see everything labeled as natural or herbal. In just about any store you go in, all you see are millions of all herbal or all natural products including dietary supplements and herbal medicine products.


When did this tidal wave of herbal products start? One answer is that it all started when the media began to report widely on how important it is to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.


Knowledge of the benefits of herbal medicines and natural tonics goes back to our ancestors thousands of years in the past. All the way back to 2800 B.C., scientists and storytellers have reported on humans experiencing the amazing healing and health benefits of natural herbal remedies. And now it is your chance!


In fact, herbal medicine has been a big part of human history for the last 5,000 years according to archaeology and written records. All the way up to today, people have used herbal medicine and treatments to aid in a wide variety of ailments to improve their health and well being.


When NOT To Take Herbal Supplements And Herbal Medicine


Many herbs have a long history of beneficial use and practically guaranteed health benefits. An herb, or botanical, is either a plant or part of a plant (like the stem only) that is used for its scent, flavor, or therapeutic abilities. Although they are found in natural, herbal products are not guaranteed to be safe or without negative side effects. While they may come from plants, some plants (like certain mushrooms) are dangerous and can be damaging or poisonous to your health, instead of restoring it.


Unlike prescription drugs, herbal products are not clinically tested and proven to work for any particular ailment before they are marketed or sold to customers in health food stores like GNC (General Nutrition Center).


Also, the active ingredients in many herbal supplements and treatments remain unknown. Some supplements have been found some to contain metals, prescription drugs mixed in without any mention on the label, microorganisms or other substances.


Since most herbal products are not tested and certified by the FDA or other health authority, they may in actual fact cause health problems or complications. All of this is extremely rare as most companies do their own testing, and only use the beneficial types of herbs in their herbal products. Still, it may not be smart to try herbal products, at least before talking about it with your doctor, if you have any of these medical problems:


- High blood pressure

- Thyroid condition

- Parkinsons disease

- Blood-clotting problems

- Diabetes

- Heart disease

- Epilepsy

- Depression or psychiatric problems

- Liver problems

- Enlarged prostrate gland

- Glaucoma

- History of stroke or organ transplant


If you are pregnant or nursing, then you should take special care about using herbal products, as well as if you are about to have surgery. Some herbal products such as for weight loss or skin care are much less expensive than surgical procedures like liposuction or hiring a dermatologist, respectively. This is one other reason for the massive popularity of herbal treatments. So to always be on the sage side of things, make sure you always check with your healthcare provider before trying any herbal products you have a concern about.


It is also a good idea to talk to your doctor before using an herbal product if you are now taking any medications for a health problem. Often, an herbal supplement will not interfere with a prescription medication or even an over-the-counter product but it is always best to check with your doctor first. Some active ingredients in herbal medicines are known to interact with medications in ways that may be able to cause risks to your health.


Some benefits from herbal treatments and alternatives available on the market include but are not limited to:


1. Cost-effectiveness: Prescription drugs cost much more money than herbal medicines.


2. Lower Side Effects: Herbal medicines are generally a far healthier solution than prescription drugs due to potential harmful side effects caused by unpredicted body chemistry interactions. However as mentioned above, its important to remember that just because the word natural is included herbal medicines does not guarantee safety.


However, herbal medicines appear to have many advantages over traditional drugs, including a lower occurrence of side effects.


3. Effectiveness and Potency: Poor results with traditional drug treatments often makes people search for alternative treatments. Keep in mind, however, the potential of herbal medicines is different for everybody.


Genetics change from person to person, which affects how the ingredients work over time. Also a factor in the potency of an herb is the process and timing of harvest, as well as exposure to air and light


Ultimately, herbal medicine and herbal treatments have both weak and strong points. Keep in mind that herbal medicines are not a guaranteed and final solution to any health problem, but instead are generally effective at healing a health problem as well as being a wallet friendly solution.

Important Health Benefits To Black Tea

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

For thousands of years, the Chinese people have been drinking tea because of its refreshing and soothing effects. Like all three of the major Asian teas in the market, black tea comes from the plant called Camellia sinensis. But the difference between the tea types lies in how the leaves are processed, not on where they come from.

In the case of black tea, the leaves are first dried and then fermented. Black tea undergoes full oxidation, which actually accounts for its aromatic and rich taste. Compared to green tea and oolong or black dragon tea, black tea has a fuller taste and tastes better with age.

However, black tea is not only known for its intriguing flavor (comparable to wine!). New research suggests that it may be a major contributor of health-promoting nutrients in the U.S. diet.

Black tea health benefits lies in the presence of flavonoids in tea. Before, scientists believed that the process of fermentation changed the beneficial flavonoid polyphenol in black tea into another form, which is not thought to have any beneficial effects at all. However, newer studies showed that polyphenol or not, black tea health benefits can certainly do you a lot of good.

Below are the top five black tea health benefits enjoyed by those who love their cup of tea every morning:

Antioxidants

This is actually the one black tea health benefit you can get from drinking tea. Antioxidants are substances commonly found in vegetables, fruits, and beverages such as tea. Because of their disease-fighting abilities, antioxidants have been the subject of various scientific studies investigating their many benefits, from heart disease to cancer prevention.

Think of antioxidants as the rust-oleum paint that you put on your outdoor furniture to keep it from rusting. Just as oxygen in the air around us cause iron to rust, the oxygen particles in our blood can sometimes be destructive. In scientific circles, they call these highly reactive oxygen-containing substances as free radicals, and they are the reason why our body undergo massive cellular damage as we age or undergo degenerative diseases like cancer and heart illness.

The function of black tea health benefit antioxidants is to seek out these free radicals and destroy them. In so doing, these black tea health benefit antioxidants help protect your body from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution.

Caffeine

Unless you consider yourself a coffee connoisseur, one black tea health benefit that you would surely appreciate is its caffeine content. Black tea does the job that your coffee does – that is, to give you a little push as you wake up in the morning after pulling up an all-nighter. But while coffee has the unfortunate reputation of causing heart palpitations because of too much drinking (and hence, too much caffeine), your chance of suffering the same with drinking black tea is nil. That’s because black tea has two to three times less caffeine than coffee. An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg. caffeine, while black tea contains only 30 to 40 mg. per cup.

Health Benefits of Minerals

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Potassium: low blood sugar, regulate blood pressure, heart diseases, water flow in the body, muscle disorders, cramps, brain function, diabetes, kidney disorders, arthritis

Minerals are elements that originate in the Earth and cannot be created by living systems. Plants obtain minerals from the soil, and most of the minerals in our diets come from directly from plants or indirectly from animal sources. Minerals may also be present in the water we drink, but this varies from place to place. Minerals from plant sources may also vary, because soil mineral content varies geographically.

Calcium. The AI for calcium, based on the relationship between calcium intake and bone mass, is intended to provide maximum calcium retention. The AI was derived by examining balance studies and data on bone mineral density and bone mineral content. The UL for calcium is based on studies that examined the risk of hypercalcemia and renal insufficiency. Most men and women ingest less than adequate calcium at any stage of life.

Copper is essential trace element; one of the factors in hemoglobin formulation; helps stimulate the absorption of iron; plays a role in respiration. Helps maintain cell membranes; part of enzyme that protects against cellular damage; prevents per oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids.    

Iron Natural Food Sources-Cherry juice, liver, eggs, fish, wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, shredded wheat, dried fruits, poultry, red meat, kidney, nuts, and cereals.

Dating back to the miracle cures in Lourdes, France in 1858, spas have enjoyed the reputation of producing superior (health promoting) drinking waters. And if high mineral content were the sole criterion for drinking water quality, this reputation would still be deserved. Spa water, which generally has high levels of beneficial minerals, should be superior water.

Babies will consume a large quantity of calcium from their mother’s body during the pregnancy. On the average, a woman will need between 1200 mgs to 1500 mgs of calcium everyday. Prenatal vitamins fall short on this requirement because they typically will contain a dosage of 250 mg of calcium, and a woman must supplement her diet with calcium-enriched products such as yogurt, milk, or puddings made from whole milk products.

Mining a nutritional motherlode. Minerals may not be as high profile as vitamins, but they are just as essential for good health. Some are easily obtained from foods, while others may require supplementation. Remember, when it comes to minerals, balanced intake is the key. If you have questions or concerns, be sure to consult a physician or nutritionist. You may be pleasantly surprised at the results of putting mighty minerals to work for you.

Calcium. The AI for calcium, based on the relationship between calcium intake and bone mass, is intended to provide maximum calcium retention. The AI was derived by examining balance studies and data on bone mineral density and bone mineral content. The UL for calcium is based on studies that examined the risk of hypercalcemia and renal insufficiency.1 most men and women ingest less than adequate calcium at any stage of life.

Iron: Iron is, him also, an element essential with our body, it is not a vitamin but one mineral It has many virtues it is, amongst other things, present masses some in hemoglobin and helps the body when it is in effort by storing oxygen in the muscles. Iron is present in the meat, fish and the shells like in vegetables and eggs.

Health Benefits of Oolong Tea

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

 

Oolong Tea

Oolong Tea is a Chinese Tea, which is also referred to as the semi-green tea. It lies somewhere between the green and black tea in oxidation and has a taste much similar to green tea. Oolong tea is fermented, unlike green tea, but the process is halted just before the leaves start changing color (just as in case of black tea.

White Tea Should Not Be Ignored

As confusing as it is in the world of tea, another amazing tea comes out in the open. Introducing the great white tea! As everyone knows, all teas come from the same plant Camellia Sinensis. What makes them different from each other is the processing involved as well as the region they are grown.

Health Promotion Benefits

In China, tea has historically been used as a medicine. Many studies have been carried out up to the present day about the effects of tea. It has been known for some time that tea helps to control obesity and this is common knowledge in China.

What Are the Health Benefits of Oolong Tea?

The presence of polyphenols has itself been linked to many health benefits. It has been found to reduce the presence of markers associated with inflammatory diseases, including coronary artery disease. In addition to polyphenol, Oolong tea also contains two other antioxidants. It has more catechin than black teas and more thearubigin than green teas.

Oolong Tea and Weight Loss

(herbs come from a variety of plants). Over time, the plant has protected itself from photosynthetic stressors by forming chemical compounds known as polyphenols. Polyphenols, which include flavonoids, have the same beneficial class of compounds, antioxidants, that make fruits and vegetables good for you.

The Weight Loss Tea

Oolong Tea: the raw leaves are sun-wilted and then bruised, which exposes their juices to the air, so the leaves oxidise and start to turn brown like a cut fruit. They are allowed to oxidise only partially, giving them a rich, floral flavour. The tea is then dried fully; locking in the rich flavors that oolong tea is known to offer.

Dental benefits

Black tea helps keep harmful plaque bacteria in the mouth that cause gum disease

Tea, especially oolong, has been shown to suppress dental plaque deposition in humans ,and it helps to prevent cavities.

Oolong Tea: These semi-fermented teas have some of the same qualities as green and black teas; they are full-bodied with a fragrant flavorful and fruity, sweet aroma. Low in caffeine and relaxing.

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