Tag Archives: Health

Your Brain on Mindfulness

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When stress hits, how do you relieve it? If you’re a college student, you might say you play video games, binge your favorite TV show, or sleep. These are all excellent ideas when you’re bored, but they don’t necessarily resolve the issue, which is stress.

Stress is defined as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” The word itself evokes feelings of anxiety and causes you to sweat. So why do we stress? According to the Mental Health Foundation of the United Kingdom, stress is often caused by new experiences, unexpected events, and even when we feel like we don’t have control over a situation.

While a healthy diet and exercise have been the fundamental ways to fight stress for years, mindfulness meditation is another way to achieve peace of mind. Psychologists J. Creswell and Bassam Khoury think of meditation as a way of training your attention to attain a mental state of calm concentration and positive emotions.

Mindfulness meditation can be broken up into two phases: attention and acceptance. The attention phase is about tuning into your surroundings and focusing on what is happening in the present moment. The acceptance phase involves monitoring your feelings and sensations without judgment. Instead of reacting to your thoughts or feelings, you accept them and let them go.

You can begin mindfulness meditation anywhere and anytime, whether through meditations or mindful moment practices like taking time to pause and breathe before replying to that text from your boss. Take your time, find a safe space, and breathe. Notice the breathes as you inhale and exhale. As thoughts come and go, recognize them and bring your attention back to your breath. You are now mindfully meditating and one step closer to a stress-free lifestyle.

The Secrets Of Her … A Lazy Woman’s Skin

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It is 4 a.m. and the alarm that I set has ruined yet another night of good sleeping.

Being a full-time college student and full-time employee can be very hectic and stressful. Waking up every morning takes me an extra thirty minutes, long after my alarm goes ringing off. Every morning I lie awake for those thirty minutes contemplating if getting out of my bed is worth it or not. When I finally decide that it is, now I am thirty minutes behind on my schedule. I have to Comb my hair, brush teeth, iron clothes, make hot tea, grab my gallon of water and I’m running out the door to make it to work on time.

Who has time for make up when you’re in a race to beat time? For me, I’d rather go bare faced than to look like a clown in a rush. I’d love to be at the stage where I can be the type of woman to sit and sip a cup of herbs with her husband, while going through a 10-step facial routine before bed, but I’m not. After completing long hours of homework at the end of day, I am on to the shower and back to bed to get some rest before the next day! As an on the go college student, I’ve adapted to a 6-minute skin care routine every night before my shower. Although I am not going to share my 6-minute routine, I will give you four tips on how to develop clear soft skin and a popping glow.

Photo Courtesy of PointsKitchen.com

First and foremast, you want to make sure you are drinking a proper amount of water every day to keep your body and skin hydrated. Water is the most important element for your body and drinking it can provide many of benefits.

Photo Courtesy of Walmart.

Tip #2, Witch Hazel is your friend My favorite brand is made by Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner 16 and sold at Walmart. All you have to do is just pour little Hazel on a dry towel and massage it into your face. You should see the dirt being removed from your face and feel your pores opening. It is such a tingly refreshing feeling.

 

Photo Courtesy of Walmart.

Tip #3, Cocoa butter is amazing. My favorite brand of Cocoa butter is by Palmer’s of course. A 350 ml bottle from Walmart can take you a long way. I used to work the job of a day care teacher and my babies would always ask me if I had brought them marshmallows. Sadly, I lied and told them yes, but they could only find them if we could go a whole day without anyone in the class having to flip to a red card as a discipline consequence.Needless to say, they never received the chance to eat marshmallows with Ms. P!

Photo Courtesy of Dollar General

Last but not the least, have you heard of Vitamin E oil? The dollar general sells the body Vitamin E oil at a low price of $2. Vitamin E has proven to make the skin healthier and provide a nice glow. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents formation of free radicals that damage our skin cells. Its antioxidant properties neutralize the oxidant effect that damages collagen and makes the skin dry and forms wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and discoloration. Vitamin E also contains anti-inflammatory properties and can protect and repair the skin from cellular damage.

Ladies take care of your skin and your skin will repay you with a healthy glow. It is important when being a lady on the go that you don’t look like you’ve been on the go. Who needs make up when your skin is popping?

Yoga in TXK

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Yoga is a Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation. It is a system of breathing techniques, physical postures, and often practiced independently to promote physical and emotional well-being. Yoga is a great exercise that helps you relieve stress, burns fat, allows you to gain flexibility and mobility, detoxify the body, aids in organ function, improves your posture, helps with concentration and build your confidence. Citizens across the ArkLaTex practice exercise with yoga every day. 

Image Courtesy of Texarkana Yoga

Texarkana, Texas offers the citizens TXK Yoga. Texarkana Yoga is located off I-30 on Mall Drive. The studio is a clean, modern and simply decorated to create a welcoming, peaceful and focused practiced.

Texarkana Yoga has ten instructors each offering a diverse teaching style and are very passionate about their yoga craft. TXK Yoga instructors have each been trained under a 200-HR Yoga Alliance teacher trainer program. Current yoga instructors list as: Brittany Carder, Venus Lillis, Leslie Looney, Denise Means, Lauren Correll, Sandra Mullins, Lynnell Westerman, and Jim Booker.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana Yoga

The owner Jen Dickerson has spent half of her life in yoga and has over 23 years of experience. Jen mostly teaches the power yoga sessions heavily influenced Bryan Kest’s teachings and inspirations. Jen said “Her mission in life is to bring yoga to everyone who has a pulse. No mater your background, shape, size or physical condition, there is a form of yoga for everyone”.

Classes are offered every week on time schedule from Sunday- Saturday and often taught by different instructors on different days, along with fun and creative yoga workshops during the holidays, wellness, and nutrition classes. The different yoga classes to be offered is Sunrise yoga (Hot), Hot yoga, Cool yoga, Warm yoga, and Mornings for men.

Texarkana Yoga offers a special membership option for students at the rate of $55 a month with unlimited sessions or $10 drop in per session. For more information on TXK Yoga log on to https://www.texarkanayoga.com/ , visit 2011 Mall Drive #5 Texarkana, Texas 75503 or call 903-293-1626.

Download the Texarkana Yoga app today via Android or IOS to sign up for classes.

Kids’ Yoga with Santa!

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Texarkana Yoga is offering a Kids yoga with Santa workshop on Sunday, December 16 from 5-6:30 p.m. The workshop will be instructed by Brittany Carder. Brittany said “I consider my classes an opportunity to teach mindfulness and awareness of the body and the breath, allowing students to cultivate inner peace for themselves as well as build strength and increase flexibility and endurance”. The workshop will be co-instructed by Venus Lillis who has been practicing yoga for about 10 years and teaching since 2017. Venus regularly teaches Hot Power Yoga, Kids Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Warm Yoga.

Image Courtesy of TXK Yoga

This fun-filled Christmas themed class will encourage self-expression, social interaction and mind/body awareness through games and yoga poses! Santa will make a special stop by the studio at the end of each class to encourage wellness & good behavior! Each child will get to sit on Santa’s lap and receive a special treat bag!

Kids may bring a bottle of water, please no other drinks or snacks. Mats provided. Wear comfortable clothing.

Limited Spots Available! Class drop-in is $15. For more information or to sign up for yoga with Santa click here.

Park Yourself Here

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With Bowie County (Texas) and Miller County (Arkansas) combined, Texarkana is home to over 65,000 residents. The City of Texarkana, Texas has placed eleven beautiful parks, recreation and running trails throughout local neighborhoods (Tamut, Pleasant Grove ISD, Texas ISD, Liberty Eylau ISD) of Texarkana with the mission to improve the quality and life of citizens.

(TAMUT & PGISD) Bringle Lake Park East, West and Wilderness are three different areas combined in one. Bringle Lake, known for being the most popular park and having the best running trails, is found right by the A&M Texarkana

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks
(7602 Bringle Lake Road
Texarkana, TX 75501)

Bringle lake Wilderness Area is 144 acres of nature area. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the wilderness area and the park is of day time use only. Bringle Lake Wilderness features ten foot wide bike and running trails that lead right into Bringle Lake East at approximately two miles.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks (7500 Bringle Park Rd)

Bringle lake East is an eight acre park that sits on the east side of Bringle Lake Wilderness. The park features bike and running trails, a playground for children, picnic areas, a floating fishing pier, grills and restrooms.

Surrounded by an abundance of trees and nature, the relaxing walking trails on Bringle Lake East are designed to bring you right into the boardwalk of Bringle Lake West.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks (7602 Bringle Lake Road Texarkana, TX 75501)

The west side of the Bringle Lake is an open seven acre park offering a boat ramp, fishing piers, trails, exercise equipment, volleyball sand courts, restrooms, playgrounds and a 1500 Sq. Feet  pavilion looking over Bringle lake.

 

 

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks (4303 North Park Road)

Does your dog need a breath of fresh air too? There is a local park for your pet. Kylee Sullivan Dog Park has a fenced in area for them to play with other dogs their size or feel free to roam on the dog trails. The dog park can be found on North Park Road, open seven days a week.

Right beside the Kylee Sullivan Dog Park you can find Spring Lake Park, located in a central area of Texarkana.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks(4303 N. Park Road Texarkana, TX 75501)

With 145 acres, this park features a spring fed lake, concert area, playground units, rotary splash pad, 18 hole disc golf course, picnic areas, 1.75 mile trail walking throughout the park , baseball and softball diamond, fishing, and restrooms. Spring Lake is the host of “Movies in the Park” during the Spring and Fall season offering new and classic releases.

Bell Park is in the heart of “New Town”. It is a four-acre neighborhood park offering a multi purpose baseball court, four sets of playground equipment, pavilion, restrooms and picnic tables. Bell Park is commonly used for community events and family gatherings. Around the corner from Bell Park , in the Highland Park area there is a 5 acre playground nestled in a beautiful tree line historic area. Ferguson Park is found just south of College Drive and Adjacent to the Collins Senior Center.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks (2612 New Boston Road Texarkana, TX 75501)

Located on New Boston Rd. Beverly Park is a 7 acre playground park with a heavily wooded area and that features playground equipment and picnic tables. Beverly Park is perfect for your lunch time activities.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks

Right off 7th Street, home to the recreation staff services is located at 3222 West 7th Street. The South West Community Center and Park is 20,000 sq ft building featuring a gymnasium, multi-purpose room, game room and kid’s library, meeting rooms, exercise room and kitchen. The Southwest center offers weekly recreational activities such as yoga and Zumba classes, youth and adult open gym activities, senior citizen’s bingo, and pool table and games.The Center also offers seasonal programs and sports event, health fairs, summer youth programs and much more. Meeting rooms can be reserved for individual, groups, or family functions. The park area of the Southwest Center offers four lighted tennis courts, playground equipment, and a multi-purpose open space area.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks(201 Oak St. Texarkana, TX 75501)

(LE ISD) Kidtopia is a playground designed for kids by kids! Located in Downtown Texarkana, the park is the perfect place to let kids express themselves. Kidtopia features a multi purpose playground, public restrooms and don’t forget your skates for Skatetopia.

Skateopia is the newest adjacent to Kidtopia in Downtown Texarkana. Built completely from custom concrete and designed by our local skateboarding community,the Skate Park is made for users of all skill levels to enjoy.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks(201 Oak St.
Texarkana, TX 75501)

Featuring ledges, stair sets, down rails and an open bowl section, the park is great for all-wheel use. At Skatetopia, operational hours differ from Park curfew and both are open for day use only.

 

 

 

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks(410 Findley St. Texarkana, TX 75501)

Located just off of highway 59, Findley park is a 5-acre, tree-lined neighbor hood park. Featuring a basketball court, playground and multi purpose recreational area.

 

 

Scott Joplin Park is a beautiful wooded area and a great place to cool off on a hot summer day.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks(1621 W. St.
Texarkana, TX 75501)

This 7 acre park features various play equipment, public restrooms, a pedestrian walking bridge and a 1260 Sq. Feet  pavilion perfect for picnics, family gatherings and community social events.

The park is located at 1621 West Street, just off of State Highway 59 in South Texarkana.

 

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks

 

Karrh Park is a 33-acre gem surrounded by wooded areas and a quiet neighborhood. Karrh Park features four softball fields and is the home to the Girls Softball Association where leagues and tournaments are in full swing from the month of March to October.The park provides a serene picnic area with a small pond for recreational fishing,(1656 Sq. Feet) pavilion, playground equipment and public restrooms.
Located at 2102 South Ann Street (just off of State Highway 59 South)

Located at 3419 Leopard Drive in the Liberty-Eylau area of Texarkana, Grady T. Wallace Park features 5 softball fields, 12 soccer fields and is the home to the Texarkana United Soccer Association with children and adult leagues in the Spring and Fall. Wallace Park offers active recreational space covering over 70 acres.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana, Texas Parks(3315 Leopard Drive
Texarkana, TX 75501)

Featuring  playground units, a walking/jogging trail around the 5-acre lake, a basketball court, two pavilions (2400 Sq. Feet) for social gatherings and public restrooms.

 

Boo! It’s the Flu!

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Are those Hollywood horror films just not doing it for you? Do you need more of an adrenaline rush this Halloween season? Watch your local news station talk about influenza. That’ll get you what you need.

October has been particularly terrifying this year, and not because of a ghoul next door. Recent news updates featuring those stricken by the infections fatal blow have caused some concern about this year’s seasonal flu. The latest in these stories is North Carolina’s Mrs. Scarlett VanStory Levinson, a 29-year-old lawyer who died October 2nd due to what authorities are calling flu complications. According to ABC News, the young woman suffered a flu related heart attack that lead to her death. Articles such as this often cause uproar in communities, leading to an influx of precautionary measures. In response to this, many will turn to the flu shot without question. But just how helpful will the flu shot be in keeping you happy and healthy this year?

The CDC has assured us that all vaccines this season will protect against four different types of the influenza virus, and they recommend getting one before the virus spreads in your community. While flu season starts on the first of October, the State of Texas has reported low numbers for cases thus far and say that the majority of cases in 2017 did not occur until January. Arkansas has reported very similar findings.

Compliments of qimono on Pixabay

Statistics aside, what this really comes down to is your preference. The CDC  can never be 100% sure of which virus will spread, how it will spread, or what effects it will have. They have laboratories who work to make educated guesses about what strains to protect against seasonally, but they aren’t promising anything specific.

The effectiveness of the shot also varies by season, and is affected by your age and health. Different vaccines are appropriate for different ages and each person is going to react differently. If you have poor health or a damaged immune system, getting the shot might be more meaningful to you. There is always a chance that the shot has absolutely no benefit at all. Getting the flu shot might have just as much benefit to you as not getting it, but it might have more. There’s no definitive way of knowing.

In terms of the dangers of the flu vaccine, there aren’t many. The CDC says that in no way can the flu vaccine cause the flu. Severe allergic reaction is possible if the receiver has an egg allergy, fever can occur, and there have been 1 or 2 cases per 1 million vaccinated people of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disorder “…in which a person’s own immune system damages their nerve cells.” Though it is unclear what the direct cause is, this disease is one that people generally recover from, though the thought is scary. Between 3,000 and 6,000 people get it yearly (with and without vaccination) in the United States and very few die from it. Adults 50 and older, and those ever diagnosed with the Campylobacter jejuni bacterium or other infections, are the most susceptible.

So, should you get the flu shot? It is entirely your call. Whatever you feel like is best for you, your family, and those around you is your answer. Do your own research, and make your own educated decision. At the end of the day, it is your body. Just don’t be upset if everyone at the office Christmas party blames you for their ailment! It’s human nature.

 

Don’t Let the Flu Catch You

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You are coughing, you can’t breathe, every part of your body hurts.  You roll over and look at the clock, it’s 3 a.m.  You have to get up in a couple of hours to go to class and you realize you have the flu.  What do you do?  What could you have done to avoid this conundrum?

Unfortunately, not everyone knows what to do when they are sick.  They feel they must go to school or work, despite running fever and feeling ill.  This is how the flu spreads.  Here are a few tips to avoid spreading or catching the flu.

  1. If you feel ill, and especially if you are running fever, stay home.
  2. Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  3. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
  4. Wash your hands often.  If soap is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  5. Don’t touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.  Germs are often spread by touching something contaminated and then touching your face.
  6. Keep your home and workspace clean and disinfected.
  7. Get plenty of sleep.  Your immune system has to work overtime when you are tired.
  8. Exercise.  A healthy exercise routine keeps your body healthy.
  9. Avoid stress as much as possible.  Oftentimes, stress can weaken your immune system and cause physical symptoms.
  10. Drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.  Keeping yourself hydrated and eating a healthy diet is a good way to support immune system function.
  11. Take a quality multivitamin.  Keeping your macro nutrient levels up can help support a healthy immune system.
  12. Above all, get your flu shot.  Pharmacies give the flu shot and it is covered by most insurances.  This preventative measure can save you tons of money on cold and flu medications and loss of work.

If you begin to feel ill, there are other things you can do to shorten the virus.  The over the counter, non-drowsy remedy Oscillococcinum is a great way to feel better fast.  You could also try taking Zinc, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin C to boost your immune response.

With the cold and flu season in full swing, it’s important to be vigilant.  Stay healthy!

 

Small Steps to a Stronger Immune System

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cold remdies
Ashley Morrow

As a college student, balancing work, school, and free time can become overwhelmingly busy and getting sick doesn’t help make it easier. Try using these tips as preventatives before full-blown cold or flu symptoms occur. Follow nature’s way to health!

Sips of Citrus- Adding a lemon or a lime wedge to water or tea allows the body to detox and rid itself of any impurities. Both fruits are a great source of Vitamin C, and they are an inexpensive alternative to orange juice or Vitamin C tablets. Lemon and lime both contain anti-microbial properties that assist in fighting bacterial or viral infections.

Tea Time- Herbal tea with Echinacea root can be found in most health food stores or grocery stores. Echinacea is a powerful herb that stimulates white blood cells, which help attack foreign bodies. This herb is also an anti-septic which is used to alleviate sore throats, allergies, colds, or the flu. Fair warning: tea with Echinacea does not taste great, but it beats a trip to the doctor.

Diet and Exercise- Compared to supplements and pills, eating your way to health is much more satisfying. Fruits and veggies containing Vitamin A, B-6, C, and E are the best immune boosters. Vitamin C can be found in many foods including broccoli, oranges, kiwi, and strawberries. Blueberries provide several B vitamins. Sweet potatoes and carrots are a good source of Vitamin A, and green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale contain Vitamin E.

Exercise increases and strengthens blood and lymph flow. The lymphatic system protects the body from infections by tracking down and killing any invading germs that have already entered the body. It takes only 20-30 minutes of exercise a day, but activity must be moderate and consistent to be effective.

Essential Oil Massages- Again, the lymphatic system is responsible for cleansing the body of waste by moving cellular fluid through the system. Lymph nodes are filtering centers for the blood and can be found all over the body including the throat and underarms. Massaging lymph nodes with essential oils such as rosemary, lemon, and grapefruit may aid in boosting the effectiveness of the immune system. Essential oils are all natural and may be found in health food stores, selected grocery stores, or online. If you are interested in essential oils, popular brands are Now and Young Living.

Cold Water Blasts- Some may not be eager to jump on this tip, especially during the cold months. Scientific studies from Canada and the Czech Republic show that exposure to cold water temperatures is a mild stressor that activates the immune system. This does not mean the entire shower must be a cold one. Take a regular warm shower and only use cold water the last 30-60 seconds of the shower time.

Drinking enough water, lowering stress levels, and getting enough sleep are also necessary for a healthy immune system.

Seeds for Life

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Spring is here and there is no better time than now to start your first fruit and vegetable garden. Having a home garden is beneficial for many reasons, the primary reasons are it being cost effective and your harvest is usually more nutrient dense than store bought produce. Growing your own garden can be very rewarding for you and the environment. If this is a task you are willing to tackle, there are several things you should know in order to ensure success of your first gardening attempts.

Having the proper gear is essential to growing a home garden; it makes gardening easier so that it feels more like a hobby rather than a task. Here are the basic but necessary tools every gardener should equip their self with.

Trowel-this small but mighty tool aids in digging holes for seeds and transplants.

Gloves-Blisters are inevitable, however, wearing gloves will help minimize harm to your hands and protect them from bugs and foreign objects found in the soil.

Sun hat/ cap-Protection from the sun is very important; use sunscreen as additional protection.

Water hose & Sprinkler- This will help minimize the hassle of watering plants. Simply turn the sprinkler system on for 15 minutes upon waking up in the morning, this will protect the vegetation from full sun radiation damage.

Hoe-This will assist in controlling weeds in your garden beds.

Wheel Barrow-For transportation of soil and compost.

Rake-For spreading soil and compost as well as mulch, hay and straw.

Shears- Will help maintain and prune plants.

After the necessary tools have been bought it is important to determine where exactly the garden will be and which type of garden will be used. It is recommend that it lie in a area where plants will see full sun, this means at minimum 6-8 hours. The garden should be isolated and free from other plants, trees and invasive species.

Traditional in ground gardens are more difficult to maintain but allow for larger garden beds. Plants should be at least 8 inches deep with varying distances apart.

Raised-bed increase the drainage and prevent your soil from holding too much water.

Container- the easiest and simplest of all garden beds, allow for the gardener to focus on one plant at a time and can be located anywhere within full sun’s reach.

Once the location has been decided, whether its in ground or in a raised bed, it is time to prep the soil. Soil is the most important aspect of a garden, it must be of good quality and free from sand, clay, glass and other contaminants and most importantly well aerated and dry for preparation of seeds and transplants. Clay tends to hold water, so strongly consider adding compost to alleviate standing water, which will attract mold, mosquitoes and other problems. Compost will make the soil more nutrient dense as an added bonus. Make sure to test the PH of the soil; most plants tend to prefer a more acidic environment. This can be achieved by adding sawdust or easily accessible pine needles.

Choose fruits and vegetables that grow well in your geographical zone, here in Texas these plants thrive in our environment.

Leafy greens such as Kale, spinach and lettuce that can even survive mild winters.

Squash/Zucchini-These crops will have a high yield; just a few plants can feed a large family.

Radishes-plant these in late spring or early fall, they are easy to grow and don’t require special soil.

Green Beans-plant right after the last winter freeze.

Peppers-Whether its Bell, Jalapeno, or habanera, they are sure to add spice to your life. Let ripen and watch the color change.

Tomatoes-produce large crops.

Herbs, Herbs, Herbs-even those without a green thumb can grow herbs.

Fertilize with sea minerals or fish fertilizer and ensure your plants get around 1 inch of water a week. If leaves are drooping and brown, they aren’t receiving enough, on the other hand if the stems are light green, or there is standing water by days end, you may be overwatering.

Most importantly, remember to start small, gardening should be an art, don’t overwhelm yourself and get frustrated. 100 sq. ft per person should provide an adequate yield to last through the year. As your plants grow, so will you.

Photo Some rights reserved by The Forum News

Health Benefits of Green Tea

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Originally cultivated in East Asia, Green tea has played a role in traditional medicine for more than 4,000 years in Indian and Chinese cultures. Due to scientific and population based studies, the importance of drinking Green tea is making a popular appearance in the Western world.

Green tea is made from the same plant as black tea, camellia sinesis, but what makes green tea different is that it undergoes less processing compared to black tea. Green tea leaves are plucked and briefly steamed making the leaves soft and pliable; the leaves are then set out and dried with hot air. Steaming the green leaves prevents oxidation that happens during the processing of black tea. Oxidation refers to the fermenting or browning of the leaves, just like a cut apple that begins to turn brown after it sits for a while.  The oxidation process in black tea takes up to three hours, but for green tea, the short method of steaming or pan frying prevents the leaves from fermenting and changing color. Naturally, since green tea does not oxidize, it contains beneficial health components and a higher concentration of antioxidants. The antioxidants in green tea help fight free radicals, which are compounds that change, damage, or even kill the cell structure. Free radicals can cause early aging, illness, or disease.

Listed below are some of the many health benefits of green tea found in The Natural Medicine Comprehensive Database:

  • Keeps arteries healthy and helps fight high cholesterol and helps in preventing heart attacks
  • Holds antibacterial properties to fight foreign intruders of the body
  • Reduces redness and inflammations of the skin associated with acne
  • Found to improve bone health and prevents tooth decay
  • High in Vitamin C and boosts the immune system
  • Known to reduce the risks for skin, lung, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancer
  • Used topically to soothe sunburned skin
  • Works as an appetite suppressant
  • Boosts metabolic rate resulting in weight loss
  • Contains anti-aging properties by reactivating skin cells that were almost at the end of their life cycle

Green tea is not a miracle drink, but numerous studies have given evidence of the many benefits of drinking green tea. Teaming this drink with a healthy diet and regular exercise routine may produce greater results. In tea drinking cultures, the recommended amount is 3 or 4 small cups a day.

Compared to black tea, some claim green tea has a bitter flavor; however, adding lemon, raw honey, pure maple syrup, or stevia can naturally sweeten and give a better taste.

Freshly brewed tea is best; tea in a can or a bottle has less antioxidants and usually contains high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. Loose tea leaves are ideal, but if buying by the box, check that the ingredients read “100% natural green tea leaves.” Many popular brands of herbal teas have additives such as food coloring, preservatives, and artificial flavors.

photo Some rights reserved by IsabelFeistPhotography