Tagged with 'tea'

Yerba mate triumphs as nature's most balanced stimulant. More than a drink, yerba mate has become a cultural phenomenon throughout South America and provides some health benefits too.

Two delicious and easy goji berry tea recipes to support overall health and vision using Dragon Herbs teas, goji berries and heatproof teapots.

Fun fact: Black, green, oolong, and white teas all come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis). It’s how they’re processed that sets them apart...

Noteworthy tips for reducing your risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

Let ashwagandha shuttle you to dreamland. This root is a common ingredient in moon milk and is used by chefs all around the globe.

The groundhog said…6 more weeks of winter. Boo! Between the snow, rain, frigid temps, dark days and all-around busy lifestyle, that’s a recipe for a total rundown.

The short days of winter play a role in your body’s production of serotonin and melatonin in the brain, two factors that powerfully influence your mood and mojo. Use these five techniques to find your winter energy.

1 Turn Off Your SFF

Self-Fulfilling Funk! People with seasonal mood changes tend to have a lot of negative anticipatory thoughts before the season begins, as well as throughout.  

Here’s the deal, if you expect to feel bad, chances are you will. To stop this habit of SFF, tell yourself a more helpful story.

If you tend to say, “I hate winter,” replace that mind loop. Make it positive but realistic.

For example,

• I can get through winter; I’ve done it before.
• The weather affects my mood, but so do other factors, like what I do with my time.
• During winter, I can focus on projects I tend to put off in warmer months, when I just want to be outside.

2 Rethink Comfort Food

Too tired to make dinner? Food deliveries tend to spike in colder months. Whether you have the pizza deliver guy on speed dial or your go-to dinner is mac and cheese, most typical comfort foods zap our energy. Simple carbs, like foods made with white flour (pasta, pizza), break down fast so you feel a quick boost followed by an even quicker crash. Choose fiber-rich grains instead and lots of protein, like black bean soup, quinoa bowls, and oatmeal are some balancing options.

3 Just Move

If slump is your symptom, movement is the cure. Consistent low-intensity exercise decreases people’s fatigue by 65%. A slow jog, jumping jacks, a few pushups or plank pose – it all works.

4 Winterize Your Summer Fun

Once you give in to the winter blues and start hibernating, it’s difficult to dig yourself out. Push hard to be more like your summer self. Find ways to incorporate the things you enjoy doing in the summer. If you have a green thumb, start a windowsill herb garden. Love to hike? Consider indoor rock climbing or put on snowshoes and take a walk. Add yaktracks to your shoes to get the traction you need to jog outside!

5 Try Tea

Drinking tons of caffeine can make you feel “slothlike.”  Cut back and turn to caffeinated tea for more lasting energy. Studies show coffee may have a more noticeable energy spike and dip (that’s the crash you feel) than tea.

These tips will keep you going strong – dark, cold weather be darned.

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Live Superfoods

You've seen it in stores, you've seen it at coffee and tea shops, but you may not be that familiar with matcha. It's just green tea, right? Well, yes and no. It's not just green tea, it's green tea (to paraphrase Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel) turned up to 11.

So what exactly is matcha?

Matcha is made from the leaves of the green tea plant (Camellia sinensis). It is cultivated using centuries-old farming techniques, where the leaves of the plant are partially covered from sunlight for several days to several weeks prior to harvest. This increases the chlorophyll content and gives the leaves their vibrant green hue. It also bumps up the amino acid content of the leaves, particularly L-theanine.

Once harvested, the leaves are steamed and air-dried; these leaves are called tencha. If the tea leaves are of superior quality, they are then de-stemmed, de-veined, and stone ground into a fine powder. This final product is matcha.

Matcha is traditionally used in the Japanese tea ceremony and is found in many other Asian dishes.

What are the health benefits of matcha?

Green tea has been hailed as an antioxidant-rich superfood, yet, a cup of green tea only captures a handful of the health benefits of the tea leaf. Since matcha is the entire tea leaf that can be dissolved in water or other liquids, you get all the healthful nutrients. You'd have to drink ten cups of green tea to get the same benefits as one cup of matcha.

And what benefits they are! Matcha tea just isn't high in antioxidants, it blows other antioxidant powerhouses, like pomegranate, goji, and blueberries completely out of the water, with not just double the antioxidants, but up to ten times the free radical-fighting power.

Matcha is rich in a particular type of antioxidants called catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which help to combat free radical damage from stress, UV light, and other chemicals.

As previously mentioned, matcha is rich in amino acids, especially L-theanine. This amino acid promotes a sense of relaxation, calmness, and well-being. This may explain why Japanese monks would consume matcha during long periods of meditation to remain calm yet alert.

Matcha is also used in detoxification, due to its high chlorophyll content, and given that it provides a calorie-free energy boost, is used to promote weight loss.

How do I consume matcha?

Traditionally, matcha is served as tea, whisked in a bowl; the flavor is described as grassy or vegetal and very intense. However, matcha can also be added to a latte, smoothie, or other blended drink. It can be mixed with cereals and yogurt in the morning, and it has been used to cook with in Japanese and Chinese cuisine for many generations. You can even use it in desserts!

What kind of matcha do I want?

Matcha comes in different grades based on quality; it goes to reason that you'd want the best matcha possible, but that is also going to be the most expensive kind. Ceremony grade matcha, which is reserved for high profile tea ceremonies, will set you back around $50 for a 15-20 servings. Easier to find and still potent is classic grade.

The matcha you usually find in lattes or used for cooking purpoes to be cafe grade or kitchen grade. Of the two, cafe grade is a bit better, but also a bit more expensive. Both offer tremendous health benefits.

In short, if you're looking for a healthy superfood that offers physical and mental benefits, look no further than matcha green tea. It's good, and good for you.

Sources

MatchaSource.com, “The Benefits of Matcha Green Tea” read here.

DrWeil.com, “Discover Matcha Tea” read here.

Coffee's Allure

Not many of us can say no to the allure of waking up to a piping hot, steaming cup of coffee. The aroma, the comfort... coffee becomes more than a beverage. For some of us, it becomes a ceremony, a ritual. If you have problems getting your day started without a hot cup of coffee every morning, you are not alone. Eight out of ten adults admit to being coffee drinkers!

However, this daily ritual may have some negative side effects on our health. Drinking too much coffee has been linked to elevated blood pressure, increased rate of heart disease, and increased anxiety. The harsh acidity of coffee can cause stomach problems for some.  

Green tea and yerba mate are two coffee alternatives that are gaining popularity due to their reported health benefits. The biggest health benefit of green tea and yerba mate is their high antioxidant levels. 

Now you have another option for your morning ritual - a warm and comforting beverage with all the health benefits of tea and mate, none of the negative effects of coffee, and  that offers a boost of natural, focused energy: guayusa. 

Guayasa - What & Why

Guayusa (pronounced gwy-you-sa) is a native tree leaf that has been brewed like tea by indigenous people in the Ecuadorian Amazon for thousands of years. Like our own morning ritual of waking up to a hot beverage, guayusa was traditionally prepared by families each day before the sun rose. They would sit around the fire drinking guards of guayusa together as the sun rises, sharing stories and myths; village elders teaching the youths about ancestors, social values, and hunting techniques. 

While it is not a tea, guayusa is prepared like one. The dried leaves of the caffeinated Amazonian holly tree (ilex guayusa) are dried and steeped in hot water. Guayusa does not contain the tannins found in tea, which means the flavor is not astringent or bitter; guayusa tastes silky and clean, with a sweet finish. 

Guayusa not only tastes good, it is good for you, with health benefits that range from physical to mental. The antioxidant benefits found in tea are doubled in guayusa. That means twice the free-radical fighting, anti-aging, cancer fighting benefits. Guayusa can boost more than just antioxidant properties, however; it contains a number of health boosting compounds!

Beneficial Compounds Found in Guayusa

• Theobromine

  is a compound found in raw chocolate, it can reduce inflammation and blood pressure while acting as a diuretic.

• Polyphenols, flavonoids, and saponins

  are phyto-chemicals believed to have cancer fighting benefits, and are potent antioxidants that reduce inflammation while stimulating the immune system.

• Chlorogenic acid

  is a phytochemical researched for its ability to aid weight loss by exhibiting anti-obesity properties and improving fat metabolism.

• L-Theanine

  is an amino acid that produces dopamine, the hormone responsible for producing a feeling of wellbeing. L-Theanine calms the mind while increasing alertness. It can increase focus, improve memory, and improve learning ability. 

Not bitter 

Guayusa has added health benefits beyond those of coffee and tea, tastes great, and does not have the bitterness sometimes associated with teas and yerba mates.

Caffeine without jitters  

The benefits of guayusa continue; one cup of guayusa has the same caffeine levels as a cup of coffee, and twice that of a cup of tea, with none of the jitters that can accompany coffee consumption.

Go ahead and smile!  

Guayusa also does not stain teeth like coffee or tea can, so one additional benefit to swapping out coffee for guayusa is whiter teeth!