The Health Benefits Of Green Tea

There few drinks with as many important health benefits as green tea, and the Chinese have long known about the many benefits of this exciting foodstuff. The Chinese have been using green tea in traditional medicine to treat problems ranging from headaches and insomnia to depression and stomach aches.

Modern research

Research done by modern scientists has backed up the traditional benefits of green tea, with many studies, both in Asia and the West, finding solid evidence of the many health benefits associated with drinking green tea on a regular basis. On often cited study showed a sixty percent decreased in the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women who drank green tea on a regular basis. The study concluded that a compound in green tea served to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

In addition, other research seems to indicate that green tea has the ability to lower both total cholesterol levels and the ratio of good cholesterol (HDL) to bad cholesterol (LDL).

Some of the many conditions for which green tea is thought to be effective include cancer, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular problems, infections and lowered immune system function.

The power of green tea

The secret to the power of green tea is thought to lie in the fact that it is so high in polyphenols. The most significant of these ingredients is thought to be epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is known as a powerful antioxidant, and it has been shown to both inhibit the growth of cancer cells and kill cancer cells without injuring healthy body tissue. EGCG has been shown to be effective at lowering the level of bad (LDL) cholesterol, and in helping to prevent blood clots from forming. This may be why green tea has shown such promise in preventing heart disease and stroke.

In addition, scientists have been studying the role green tea may play in what has become known as the French paradox. Many people find it amazing that the French, who eat diets rich in fatty foods, have a much lower level of heart disease than do Americans. The answer to the French paradox is thought to lie in the healthful benefits of red wine. Red wine contains resveratrol, which is a polyphenol thought to mitigate the effects of the fatty French diet. Studies have shown that EGCG, a main ingredient of green tea, is twice as powerful as the ingredients found in red wine.

What makes green tea so special?

While green tea, oolong tea and black tea are all made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, green tea is different in the way it is processed. The leaves of green tea are steamed, which helps to prevent the oxidation of the important EGCG compound. Black tea and oolong tea, on the other hand, are made from leaves that are fermented, and this means that the EGCG they contain is converted to other, less effective, disease fighting chemicals.

In addition to its many traditional health benefits, there is even evidence that green tea can be helpful when trying to lose weight. One study found that those who consumed a combination of green tea extract and caffeine burned a higher number of calories than those only taking caffeine.

The Healing Power Of Milk Thistle

The prickly milk thistle has been used in the treatment of various liver problems for more than 2000 years, and many of the earliest healers were well acquainted with this valuable plant. The milk thistle is actually a member of the sunflower family, even though it features flowers of purple instead of yellow. The milk thistle plant has the ability to stimulate the flow of bile from the liver. It is this bile stimulation that is thought to account for the effectiveness of milk thistle in treating ailments of the liver and aiding digestion.

Modern research into the properties of milk thistle

Modern studies have backed up the findings of these ancient doctors, and have substantiated the fact that milk thistle does indeed help to protect the liver from damage, and even has the ability to heal damage that has already been done. In Europe today, many doctors consider the milk thistle plant a preferred treatment for liver disorders from cirrhosis to hepatitis.

Milk thistle appears throughout the world, including many parts of North America, both as cultivated plants and as wild varieties. Many scientific sources will refer to milk thistle by its scientific name, silybum marianum, or by its active compounds, known collectively as silymarin. There are concentrated stores of silymarni found in the black fruit of the plant, and those fruits are typically harvested at the end of summer.

Other uses of milk thistle

Even though milk thistle is most closely associated with treating ailments of the liver and digestive system, it has shown promise in treating a number of other ailments as well. Some of these ailments include such things as gallstones, high cholesterol, allergies and even skin cancer. Milk thistle is known to be a powerful antioxidant, and it is those antioxidant properties which may be responsible for the protective and healing effects of the herb.

Modern medicine uses an injectible form of milk thistle as a powerful antidote for those who have consumed poisonous mushrooms, and the extract has even been studied for possible use in minimizing the liver damage which often results from chemotherapy. It is thought that milk thistle has the ability to speed to elimination of toxins from the body, due to its effect on the liver and bile secretion.

Milk thistle is available in a wide variety of preparations, including tablets, soft gels, capsules and tinctures. Those using milk thistle to treat liver ailments are often advised to take a standardized extract of 400 to 600 mg every day, taken in three equal doses.

Milk thistle tea

While there are a number of recipes for teas made with milk thistle, most are far too weak to have significant health effects. Teas contain only trace amounts of silymarin, due to the inability of the substance to dissolve well in water. Products made from the leaf of the milk thistle are also of no medicinal value.

When buying milk thistle extracts, either at the local health food store or over the internet, it is important to look for standardized extracts, and to purchase products only from established and repeatable companies who use industry standard manufacturing processes. Good manufacturing processes are vital to maintaining and enhancing the healing power of milk thistle.

The Beauty Of The Pomegranate

The pomegranate has been a much loved part of the diet of many cultures for thousands of years, and scientists have recently begun to take a look at its possible health benefits, over and above those derived from the vitamins and minerals it contains. Some studies have suggested that the juice of the pomegranate contains nearly three times the antioxidants found in such foods as green tea and red wine. In addition, the pomegranate contains substantial quantities of such important minerals as potassium, such important vitamins as vitamin C and niacin, and significant amounts of fiber as well.

Traditional uses of the pomegranate

The pomegranate has long been used in traditional folk medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including sort throat, inflammation and rheumatism. These folk uses of the pomegranate are common throughout the Middle East, Iran and India, where the fruit is common.

The pomegranate has a touch rind which is either dark red or brownish in color, and it is similar in size to an apple or an orange. The edible part of the pomegranate is the juicy red pulp.

The history of the pomegranate

The name pomegranate is derived from the Latin term for “fruit of many seeds”, due to the many seeds the interior of the fruit hold. From ancient times onwards, the pomegranate has been associated with fertility, and this fruit often makes appearances in the folklore of ancient Egypt and in Greek mythology as well.

Eating a pomegranate can be a labor intensive experience, as the edible seeds must be eaten one at a time to avoid the bitter membrane that encases them. There are a number of varieties of pomegranate available throughout the world, and one of the best ways to distinguish between these types is by the color of the seeds, which range from light red and dark pink through a deep scarlet color.

What to look for

When buying pomegranates, it is best to choose those with the best color, and those which feel heavy. Pomegranates that are dry looking and wrinkled, or which have a cracked rink, should be avoided. Pomegranates will keep at room temperature for two or three days, and in the refrigerator for up to three months.

In most parts of the United States, the pomegranate is typically available from September through November. Availability of fresh pomegranates varies by region of the country, however.

A typical pomegranate contains only about 100 calories, making an excellent food for dieters. Most nutrition experts recommend eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and pomegranates are an excellent addition to anyone’s daily diet.

In addition to fresh pomegranates, pomegranate juice is another popular way to enjoy this popular fruit. Pomegranate juice can be used to make a wide variety of products, including jellies, sauces, marinades and vinaigrettes. In addition, the seeds of the pomegranate are often sprinkled over salads and desserts, or used to garnish meats, poultry and fish.

With all these things going for it, it is no wonder that the pomegranate enjoys such long lasting popularity. While it is not in season for very long, adding a fresh pomegranate or two to your late fall diet can be very rewarding.