Green Tea, are you for me?

Green tea, seems to be one of the newest health kicks, even though its been around forever! It seems to be in everything, even weight loss pills and face cream. But what does it really do for your health, and how should you consume it?  There have been more than a decade's worth of research about green tea's health benefits.  The results have been shown to fight cancer and heart disease, lower cholesterol, burn fat, prevent diabetes and strokes, while staving off dementia.  Green tea has important antioxidants and compounds that help in maintaining good health.  

Green Tea can Fight Cancer?Green tea has antioxidants, called catechins.  They attack the free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer and blood clots. Grapes and berries, red wine, and dark chocolate also have hardcore antioxidants.  Because of green tea's minimal processing (the leaves are withered and steamed), green tea's catechins, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), are more concentrated.  A synthetic form of EGCG was used in shrinking prostate cancer tumors in mice, with much success.  Even though, human studies haven't returned the same magnitude of success as the lab/animal studies. I am amazed by a few human studies that have shown drinking at least two cups of green tea daily slows cancer growth.  One study conducted in Japan, involved women with Stage I and Stage II breast cancer, found that increased green tea consumption before and after surgery was associated with lower recurrence of the cancers.  Studies in China have shown that the more green tea that participants drank, the less the risk of developing stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer.  A recent analysis of 22 different tea & lung cancer studies, concluded that by increasing your daily intake of green (not black) tea by two cups may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer by 18%.  All in all, green tea's EGCG regulates and slows cancer growth and kills cells that are growing inappropriately with a 1-2 punch!

Green Tea can Heal the Heart?In a Japanese study, researchers found that drinking at least four cups of green tea every day may be related to the reduced severity of  heart disease among the male participants.  And a Dutch study found that the more tea consumed, the less severe the clogging of the heart's blood vessels, especially in women.  But note, lifestyle and overall diet were critical to the outcomes of these studies.  But green tea's antioxidants are dilators, they improve the flexibility of blood vessels and make them less likely to clog.  Antioxidant-rich blueberries and pomegranates can do the same.  Green tea, because of its antioxidant value, may have heart benefits, but it's not something Doctors regularly prescribe to people, because there isn't as much evidence as there is in exercise's ability to improve heart health.

Green Tea can Make you Lose Weight?Green tea and it's extract have been shown to fight obesity and lower LDL "bad" cholesterol (two risk factors for heart disease and diabetes ).  In the Japanese study, men and women were given varying amounts of green tea extract for three months. Those who got the highest amount lost fat and weight, had lower blood pressure, and lower LDL "bad" cholesterol.  Taking weight loss supplements that contain green tea extract probably won't hurt, unless you have liver problems.  But the best way to get the most out of green tea, even if your main goal is losing weight, is to drink it.  

The evidence certainly suggests that incorporating at least a few cups of pure green tea every day will positively affect your health.  However it's not going to cure anything and it should not be consumed as a drug.  It can certainly complement an already healthy diet.  When looking for green tea, stay away from "green tea flavored", or "green tea added", go for straight-no additive-natural green tea, either in bags or loose tea.  So, eat your fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, nuts, and go ahead, drink as much green tea as you want! 

 Resource: www.webmd.com

Wellness Wednesday

This Wellness Wednesday is coming to you on Thursday.... Valentine's day!!  A day of love!

Today, let your actions reflect benevolence, extending your kindness one to another.  Remember those special moments when someone touched your day, whether through a smile, kind word, cup of coffee, or a funny joke... It's the little things that make a world of difference.  Blessings come in small packages, so be blessed to be a blessing.  Stay well my friends!

Thank you to Shandell King for being my Valentine's day blessing & contributor!

Ditch the Diet!

Every where you look there is a new diet, everyone wants you to try.  On the magazines, celebrity endorsements, on the tv, on billboards, you get the idea.  Do you feel overwhelmed or frustrated? I know I do!  How do you choose which diet is right for you?  Meal plans, raw foods, juicing diets, pre-portioned meals, count calories, count points, take these pills, don't eat carbs?  After the holidays, it seems like a lot of my friends and family look for fast fixes, to get them to their "summer body", and they're always asking me for advice.

Well, here you go... Ditch The Diet!

Live healthy, eat healthy, move your body, sleep, and be peaceful & positive.  Healthy living is not a quick fix, or the next diet craze... It's a lifestyle!  Loosing weight, lowering blood pressure, controlling blood sugar, getting your "summer body" requires healthy choices.  But I know you're wondering, well Ashley, what do you do?  I don't count calories, I eat smart!  I try to fill my body with whole foods, minimizing processed foods.  I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables!  I drink a lot of water, and I mean a lot.  I exercise, almost every day.  I eat breakfast every morning, even if its just fruit & greek yogurt.  I try not to eat after 9pm (for two reasons: 1. I feel like my food never digests all the way; 2. it always leads to crazy dreams for me).  I limit my alcohol consumption to special occasions.  I don't smoke, nor do I take many medications over the counter or prescription.  I am not on a diet.  When I choose to treat myself, I do, burgers, desserts, whatever, ask my friend Tiffany, or my husband!  I love sleep, and I try very hard to make sure I get at least 7-8+ hours a night!  I meditate and try to maintain a positive attitude.  I take care of my body, not because I want to look good in a swimsuit, but because I want to be able to live and enjoy my life with my children, and maybe play with my children's children.  If this body is going to last me another 60-70 years, I must take care of it now.
So, friends for your "summer body"... Ditch the Diet! Start living!  Embrace a healthy lifestyle, you will find that the "summer body" will be a healthier body, and will last all year long... Better yet, it will last a lifetime!

Wellness Wednesday

Today the US Postal service announced it will stop mail service on Saturdays.  But let's take that a step forward, and reduce our paper use.  This Wednesday's tip, is to pay your bills online.  It will not only reduce our paper use and trash in our landfills, but it will also reduce the amount of sensitive information being thrown away.  Also, some utilities will even give you a small discount for using e-bills. A lot of times you can actually schedule your payment through your bank or the company directly, easy peazy!  I found by paying bills online, it also reduces the chances of things getting lost, bills falling through the cracks, and it helps minimize clutter in my house (yay!). Keep in mind, sometimes wellness Wednesday isn't just about your physical wellness, but our environmental wellness too, which can ultimately impact our physical wellness.  So this Wednesday, enroll in online bill pay, and help reduce our paper usage, and the load of mail the US postal carriers will have to deliver on Monday.

It's the First of the Month....

It's the first of the month (in my Bone Thugs N Harmony voice)... Lol... And what are you doing for your health?
February is an awesome month to reevaluate those resolutions and make adjustments, but stick to them, don't give up!
February is American Heart Month.  Take the time to make sure your heart is ticking properly.  Wear Red to celebrate Heart Health!  Learn and Know your numbers!  Study up on stoke warning signs, it can happen to anyone.
February is also Black History Month.  Yes, I want you to learn about Black Americans who have made history or are making history today... Wait there's more....  But more importantly, if you are a Black American, African American, or a descendent of, I challenge you to put your health first this month!  African Americans have much higher incidence of heart failure than other races.  Its the leading killer of African Americans, it can be called the silent killer, don't let it sneak up on you.  We must prevent heart disease, not only by getting checked, knowing our numbers and our family's medical history, but also by living a healthier lifestyle.  Eat healthy foods, get in 30 minutes of cardio exercise a day, lowering our stress levels, keeping our weight within normal limits.  We can also teach the African American youth to live a healthier life, which will not only help cut down childhood obesity, but help prevent them from any future health issues.
February is the month of Love... Spread love to all those around you, sometimes a smile can go a long way with a stranger! But if youre thinking of gifts for that special someone, consider usable/reusable gifts... Instead of disposable cards and flowers, give a gift that keeps on giving... A recordable e-message, reusable coffee mug, jewelry (hint hint), potted flower or plant... You get where I'm going here!
February is the month for Super Bowl, GO 49ers!! Don't eat too many wings!  Mardi Gras, have fun but be safe.  The season of Lent, make healthy changes instead of giving up something.
February 1st, is also my father-in-law's birthday... So, Happy Birthday Harry!  Wishing you many more happy, healthy, and positive years!  

Happy February Friends!!