Archive for November, 2009

The origin of tea can be traced back to over 4000 years

The origin of tea can be traced back to over 4000 yearsago in China. According to Chinese legend the emporer ShenNong, a scholar and medical expert discovered tea in 2737B.C. One day while he was boiling water under a tea tree, aleaf from the tree dropped into the water and Shen Nungdecided to try the brew. The drink was found to be not onlyinvigorating but also to be a rather powerful medication.The emporer immediatedly placed Green tea on his list ofmedicinal herbs.

The three main types of tea are green tea, oolong tea andblack tea. All come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis.Herbal and fruit teas come from plants and fruits and arenot tea in the strictest sense of the word. The differencebetween green, oolong and black tea is due to the method bywhich the tea is produced. With black tea the Camelliasinensis leaves, after they are plucked are left out longenough for them to fully oxidize before being dried. Inthe case of oolong tea the leaves are only partiallyoxidized and dried, but in the production of green tea theleaves are steamed, rolled and dried before the oxidizationprocess can begin. Thus with Green tea a more significantpart of the nutritional and enzyme content of the leaf isleft intact.

The benefits of Green tea to one’s health has beenincreasingly demonstrated by modern scientific research.Many of these health benefits come from the fact that teacontains high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols orflavonoids. These compounds are most prevalent in green andwhite teas, but are also present in varying degrees inOolongs and black teas. Green tea flavonoids showantioxidant activity. Antioxidants impair the ability offree radical cells to harm the molecules that make up ourbodies. We all know that fruit and vegetables are goodsources of antioxidants but recent scientific research haveshown that one or two cups of green tea has the same’radical scavenging capacity’ as five portions of fruit andvegetables. Of course we should all eat plenty of fruit andvegetables every day but why not top up our antioxidantintake by also drinking green tea every day!

Green tea offers many health benefits. Recent medicalstudies suggest green tea to be of benefit in many areasincluding the following:-Boost the immune system-Reducing levels of cholesterol-Reduces high blood pressure-Lowering of blood sugar-Digestive and respiratory health - tea is antibacterial-Oral hygiene - help to prevent tooth decay.-Acne and other skin conditions.-Arthritis - displays anti-inflammatory properties.

Another potentially huge benefit of green tea could as anaid to weight loss. In fact this area is already attractinghuge attention. The American Journal of Clinical Nutritionrecently published the results of research conducted over aperiod of 6 weeks in which a group of healthy men weregiven green tea extract whilst the other men in the studywere not given the extract. Calorific useage was measuredon a daily basis and the results concluded that the mentaking the green tea extract burned more calories than themen not given the extract. Other studies show very similarresults. More research needs to be conducted in this areabut the signs so far are encouraging. Anyone for greentea?!!

About the Author: Lorraine Bevere is the webmaster of FOG Tea, Inc. which is a premier source of information about tea. For more information, go to: http://fogtea.com

Many veterinarians stress the importance of oral hygiene because tooth and gum problems are common medical conditions seen in pets. If left unchecked, an unhealthy mouth can affect the liver, kidneys, heart and even the brain.

So when you lean in to give your pet a smooch, ask yourself ?Does my pet need a breath mint?? Studies show that 98% of pets with bad breath are suffering from severe plaque build up. Bad breath not only means that your pet’s mouth may be a warehouse for unhealthy bacteria, tartar and plaque, but it can also point to unhealthy intestines. In addition, the quality of your pet’s food can contribute to the status of your pet’s breath. Low quality food can cause digestive problems, thus promoting bad breath.

Can I Share My Toothpaste With My Pet? Absolutely not!
Pets aren’t like us: they swallow whatever you use to clean their teeth. Human toothpaste simply isn’t edible. Nor is the heavy minty flavor really desirable to pets. Human toothpaste can give your pet some serious stomach problems.

Did you know??
Certain breeds of dogs and cats are genetically predisposed to unhealthy teeth and gums? For example, the Maltese is the number one dog breed with tooth and gum problems. In the cat world, the Siamese and the Abyssinian, charming as they are, have serious tooth problems and often get some of their teeth pulled during their youth. Other factors include viruses, bacteria and not enough abrasive foods.

It all starts with the gums looking almost red, and some of the teeth coated with tartar. When it comes to your pet’s mouth, don’t take anything for granted. When you examine your pet, slowly open his mouth with your fingers and ask yourself the following questions:

Does his breath smell like he just raided a rotten fish market?

Are any of his canines or molars discolored (gray, brown or green)? (Keep in mind that a pet’s teeth may be yellow due to early antibiotics like tetracycline?totally normal.)

Are his gums swollen and bright pink or angry red like a lobster with a sunburn? Note that normal colored gums should be light to medium pink. For some dark colored cats and dogs, gums may be gray.

Do you see any sores on the gums, particularly if you have a cat? They’ll look like craters on the top or bottom gum or lip.

Are his bottom teeth worn down like the soles of a shoe?

Do you see any swelling or sores on his face around the lips, under the eyes or nose? Bad teeth can result in a manifestation of external sores.

If you have a puppy or a kitten, do you see any double teeth?

Is he drooling like a newborn? Keep in mind that some dogs always drool, like the St. Bernard. If your pet is experiencing excessive drooling but doesn’t usually, it could indicate some problem.

Has he lost weight recently as a result of not eating enough?

It’s also important to observe your pet’s behavior as far as food is concerned. Has your pet been approaching his food bowl reluctantly? Has he been eating slower than usual and has he exhibited trouble biting hard things? Does your dog or cat cry during or after eating? Does your cat have the tendency to pick up food, spit it out, pick it up again and finally throw it to the back with his tongue?

If you’ve nodded your head to two or more of any of the questions above, then it’s clear that your pet has some dental health issues! You must take your pet to your veterinarian right away for an oral examination.

About the Author: Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. Enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please visit Lifes Abundance Dog Food for more information and products on dental health for dogs and cats.

The Downsides of Removing Using Lasers on Unwanted Hair

We all know the plus side of laser hair treatment. Done well, it?s safe, it?s relatively comfortable and depending on your definition, it?s as permanent as it gets. But that?s not the whole story.

Apart from the obvious need for eye protection, and occasionally painful treatments, the real problem is that there is simply no long-term information on just how effective ? or how safe ? laser hair removal treatment might be. Some research suggests that there are certain types of skin that react more to what is called laser irradiation, an overspill of radiation from the light. When you add this to the lack of clinical data out there, you can begin to see laser treatment as an unknown risk.

The main issue is that each time there?s an advancement in the laser systems used, they have been rushed onto the market without the recommended tests, showing the degree to which money and profit can influence professionals - those we feel we can automatically trust. Law suits in the mid-90s and the intervention of bodies like the FDA uncovered the shocking truth of consumers acting more or less as paying guinea pigs.

While the most recent developments have minimized patients? risk and discomfort, it must be remembered that understanding is still in its early stages. What you can be sure of is that burns, lesions, lasting discomfort and, of course, mild to full re-growth have been experienced by some consumers everywhere.

A particular side effect of laser treatment is known as ?striping?. Striping is a skin disorder caused directly by the laser, which leaves light, hairless stripes with sore, blotchy lines of red across the treated area. In most cases, striping eases and eventually disappears, but it can be a frightening thing to discover for new patients.

The trouble with pain as a side effect is that it differs from one consumer to the next. One person?s ?unbearable? is another?s walk in the park. Generally, laser treatment feels like a ?snapping? sensation, or being twanged with elastic. Of course it depends where you have it done ? the upper lip, bony areas, armpits and bikini line are almost guaranteed to hurt.

The good news is there are plenty of pain relief products out there. If it?s a particular fear of yours, you might also try cutting out caffeine and other stimulants, working on your stress levels and making sure you?re comfortable and relaxed in treatment. All of this can help turn pain into a manageable side effect. Undergoing treatment in the morning or at night, when tiredness might dull your senses, is also a preference for many consumers. Beyond this, make sure your laserologist is good and awake ? this can help reduce pain levels too!

When you remember the famous doctoral oath ?first, do now harm?, you have to wonder whether this stretches to a patient?s bank account, because this is often the sting in the tail of the worst laser hair treatment experiences