Drink coffee or tea for your health

Hi lovely ladies,
There is new research out that says that our morning coffee or tea is beneficial to our health.  The most benefit comes from the caffeinated versions.  (I drink decaf but might switch one cup a day to caffeine)  But researchers say that even decaf has some benefit from other compounds such as the antioxidant chlorogenic acid in coffee.  A 2011 Harvard study found that female coffee drinkers who averaged four cups a day cut their risk of endometrial cancer 25% and with three or more cups of caffeinated coffee they lowered their odds of basal-cell carcinoma 20%.  Both coffee and tea may also be mood boosters.  Coffee has been linked to a decreased risk of depression and tea is linked to less anxiety.  (when I drink a cup of caffeine coffee I have to say that my mood does change for the better!....so I wasn't just imagining it!)
This part I don't like.....adding creamer interferes with the absorption of antioxidants.  And creamers can also contain partially hydrogenated oils which contain heart-damaging trans fats......I have to rethink my french vanilla creamer :(  We should use soy or almond milk instead.  (cow's milk is also suggested but that's another blog post.....no more cow's milk.....it is not good for us!)
The tea's mentioned with the most benefit are black, green tea (rated the best), white and oolong....all members of the Camellia sinensis family have health benefits such as aiding in fighting infections and slowing cognitive decline.
Coffee brewed without a paper filter.....in a French press or espresso pot...retain an oily residue that contains cafestol, a substance that raises LDL (bad) cholesterol .

So, ladies let's meet for coffee!

This info was taken from an article by Rachel Meltzer Warren in March 2012 Good Housekeeping Magazine.

Foods for a white smile

Here are some foods that are helpful in keeping your smile white.  I would love to whiten my smile but I do not think that it is good to eat a lot of cheese.  So that one I would keep to a minimum.  The other suggestions I will definitely listen to!

1. Cheese

 Cheese contains calcium, which strengthens teeth as well as the jaw. And its waxy texture helps brush away food particles.

2. Green Tea

This beverage is packed with polyphenol antioxidants that fight plaque-forming free radicals and help prevent gum disease. Brew your tea with plain old tap water, which is fortified with fluoride, and drink it after meals because antioxidants curb bad breath, too.

3. Mushrooms

The most common natural source of vitamin D in the produce section, these fungi help you absorb tooth-strengthening calcium. Also, research suggests that a component in shiitake mushrooms may help prevent cavities by lowering plaque buildup, says Jackie Newgent, R.D., author of Big Green Cookbook.

4. Pistachios

Like most nuts, pistachios have huge amounts of magnesium, which increases the absorption of calcium; they also have beta-carotene, which may lessen gum inflammation, the main cause of periodontal disease.

5. Yogurt

Probiotics, aka good bacteria, don't do only your digestive tract good. According to research, probiotic-rich foods like yogurt offer protection against gum disease by lowering levels of bad bacteria in the mouth. Plus, yogurt is a solid source of calcium, whey protein and phosphorus, the ultimate strong-tooth trio, Newgent says. (Mix in, don't spill, the liquid lingering on top; it's the stuff that hits the protein sweet spot.)

The offenders

You know the obvious offenders—coffee, tomato sauce, wine (even white; it's very acidic, which weakens enamel and leads to stains). Post-happy hour, rinse and brush or use no-water-necessary Colgate Wisp mini-brush pouch pack, $5 (for 16). And enjoy your Starbucks with milk. The combo creates a chemical reaction that may protect teeth, says Irwin Smigel, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in NYC.


These helpful tips are from "Self" magazine.

Good morning!

What do you do in the morning?  Are you getting ready for the gym, office, or a day of shopping (I would like that one) or do you work from home?  Regardless of what you have planned for the day it is important to have a morning ritual....well that is what I read......so I am posting a list by Kavit Haria.

1. Wake up. Don’t hit snooze. Jump out of bed as if someone threw a bucket of cold water on you. Half of your day’s success is actually showing up and being excited. Rest time is over, get out of bed now.
2. Drink a pint of water first thing in the morning. If you don’t like water on its own, squeeze some fresh lime into it. Water is great for you.
3. Make yourself a blend of fruits that excite you. I love a carrot-apple-ginger juice and drink it in the morning before eating and wait at least an hour or so before I eat.
4. Go out and take in the sunlight. I wake up when I see sun. Its energy, invigoration and excitement is absolutely amazing. Get up and spend a minute outside looking up in the sky taking in the morning light. Wrap up warm if it’s cold, but make sure you do it.
5. Spend time in silence. Be grateful for what you have. Mentally or on paper, plan the day out. If you don’t do the previous night, write out your to-do list of the most exciting and important things.
6. Cuddle your kids (or find some to cuddle). Kids bring excitement and awe in the way they think and view the world. Spending time around them helps you to cultivate the inner child within you.  Pet your dog or cat. (I added this one.)
7. Brush your tongue. Lose the morning breath and start off on a minty note.
8. Go for a walk. Or hop on the treadmill for 30 minutes. People who walk in the morning have more energy than those who walk at night after a long day. Use the walk to appreciate your surroundings and plan your day. In silence if possible.
9. Drink green tea, instead of coffee. Boosts your energy, provides antioxidants and has been promoted as a great natural healthy option.
10. Journal. A list of rituals without journaling in the morning isn’t complete. I find it the most exhilarating thing to be sitting down for a short period and just writing out whatever comes to my head, no matter whether it immediately makes sense to me or not.

Well what do you think?  I do agree with most of this list, not all.  
I don't get out of bed so easily because I don't sleep great.  I do drink a lot of water.  Actually more than my share.  I think that brushing your tongue is important and standing outside for a few moments if you can before work is invigorating.  I drink decaf coffee in the morning.  I could not drink green tea.  Love the smell of the coffee brewing!  Do you follow any of these morning rituals?  Or do you have others that work for you?

The Goodness Of Green Tea

Hi Ladies,
I really don't love the taste of green tea.  I do like tea but green tea is not one of my favorites.  Well that is going to have to change after learning some facts about this wonder tea!

Green tea is brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.  It has been enjoyed by many culture for more than 4.000 years.  It has been proven that green tea is effective in fighting many diseases.  It is known to promote longevity!

These are some of the amazing virtues of green tea......

1. Helps reduce the risk of cancer
Powerful antioxidants in green tea search out and destroy hazardous free radicals in the body.  Free radicals cause cellular damage, which can lead to disease such as cancer.  These antioxidants (called catechins) arrest the growth of cancer cells by preventing them from dividing.  Drinking green tea can reduce the risk of stomach, colorectal, esophageal, lung, breast, ovarian, pancreatic and skin cancer.

2.  Prevents Heart Disease

Green tea represses the protein angiotensin and lowers LDL cholesterol levels therefore helps to prevent  high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease.  Green tea also is a protector against thrombosis, which is the clotting of blood in the circulatory system.


3.  Contains the highest concentration of the powerful antioxidant EGCG
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the polyphenolic catechin, or wonder ingredient, found in green tea that is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells and DNA from free radicals.  EGCG is also twice as powerful as resveratrol, the beneficial antioxidant found in red wine.

Tea for Two
Make mine green!

Facts from this post were taken from "Focus on Health", Vol. 3, North Shore LIJ