More Tea Please!

Little did I know when I learned and wrote about January being National Hot Tea Month that I would be writing about tea so much on my blog.  It's like when you buy another vehicle and all of a sudden you start to see that same car and color everywhere.

Well today hubby purchased MORE tea.  As if we really needed any more tea in the house.  Seriously, tea is our family's staple beverage of choice like Kool Aid was many families beverage of choice back in the 70's when I was growing up, and even earlier.

Today's tea purchase included the following:

Blood Pressure:  The Chinese have used the herbs in this delicious, mild-tasting tea for thousands of years to help maintain healthy blood pressure function and to tonify the kidneys and liver.  The herbs are said to nourish the kidneys and liver, calm livery yang and clear heat.  Eucommia is highly esteemed as a longevity herb.  In modern times, it has been research for helping to maintain healthy blood pressure function.  Regular tonification of the kidney and liver was believed to contribute to good health and longevity.  It also was considered to help promote the healthy function of the back, bladder and joints.

Special Relaxing:  A rich and satisfying tea.  It is a relaxing herbal blend, designed to help you relax and recover from work or stress.  It contains no caffeine, additives, artificial flavors or preservatives.  You will enjoy the flavor or Special Relaxing Tea at any time of day any time of year.

Green Tea:  See what I wrote previously about green teas HERE and The Complete Guide to Green Tea. 

Ginger Drink:  An Indonesian traditional beverage, made from pure cane sugar and fresh Java ginger.  Quick and convenient, INTRA Ginger Drink is an ideal drink for all occasions.  Take delight in its distinctive rich flavor and stimulating aroma.  [  Ok, yeah this one really isn't a TEA - :-)  ]

Now I think I'll go try out that Ginger Drink.

Green Tea: Don't be Afraid!

Following up to my post about National Hot Tea Month and the benefits of green tea I thought I'd share a great article that explains the proper way to brew green tea.  I know, I know...who knew there was a "proper way" other than to boil your water and let it steep to your desired preference?  I actually learned this tidbit when I hosted a "Tea Party" bridal shower for a friend several years back who adored tea and drinks it daily.  I turned my living room and dining room into a real "Tea Room" with little round tables and chairs.

I digress, back to the subject...turns out that depending on the type tea you are brewing the temperature of the water is key.  Green tea should be steeped in water with a temperature of 170 degrees.  Read the article below for more facts.

Green Tea for the Fearless Newbie!

by Marlena Amalfitano

Make sure you come back now and enter my very first giveaway.  I'll be giving away a sampling of Green Teas from Adagio Teas.  They have so many to choose from you get to select 3-flavors so while you are over there, make sure to note which green teas you would like to try.  Then come back and enter them in the comments section. Open to residents of the United States Only. Mailing address must be within the United States.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

BIZARRE meets BENEFICIAL!

The Bizarre: January is NATIONAL HOT TEA MONTH

I know, right! Who comes up with these "holidays". LOL  However, I love TEA, hot or cold, but more recently I've been drinking more hot tea than ever.  In fact, tea is pretty much the beverage of choice in our household to the point that we have our favorite tea Blood Orange on auto-shipment from a great tea website - Adagio Teas.  This tea is a naturally sweet herbal caffeine-free tea made from blood orange peels with hibiscus flowers and rose hips. If you like flavorful herb teas give this one a try.

A new flavor I've been drinking lately is a black tea call Pumpkin Spice, also from Adagio Teas.  This black tea is blended with natural pumpkin spice flavor, cinnamon bark, cloves, ginger root, cardamom pods and marigold flowers.  I find myself drinking this tea in place of my morning cup of java, which means a lot less calories since I don't add cream to my tea.  Speaking of calories let me tell you about a benefit of a certain type tea.

The Beneficial: Green Tea aids in WEIGHT-LOSS

Every January people make New Year's Resolutions and/or goals, which often include loosing weight and/or exercising more, so what a coincidence that the month hosts a "holiday" that can aid in that goal!

Check out some of the facts below I pulled from Adagio Teas website Tea Knowledge section under weight loss.

Trying to lose weight? Another benefit of green tea!!

Compared to the placebo and caffeine, green tea extract consumption produced a significant 4% increase in 24-hour energy expenditure. If you consume 2,000 calories per day and don't gain or lose weight (you're in energy balance), an increase of 4% would translate roughly into an 80-calorie daily difference. Over a year, this could result in 8 pounds of weight loss.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nov 1999

Daily intake of the tea burns extra calories

"In a 1999 Swiss study, six out of 10 men taking capsules of green tea extract burned, on average, about an extra 80 calories a day-the equivalent of 3 tablespoons of ice cream, 7 potato chips, or 1 Dunkin' Donuts Munchkin. A second study, conducted by researchers from the US Department of Agriculture, saw an extra 67 calories a day burned in men who were assigned to drink about 5 cups of tea (not green) each day."

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, June 2003

Recent evidence shows that in the battle of fat loss, green tea may be superior to plain caffeine.

According to a new study, green tea appears to accelerate calorie burning -- including fat calories. Researchers suggest compounds in green tea called flavonoids may change how the body uses a hormone called norepinephrine, which then speeds the rate calories are burned.

Joe Weider's Muscle & Fitness, April 2000

Green Tea Helps Melt Off Pounds

Drinking just three cups a day of green tea seems to help you melt off extra pounds. A study by the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University found that participants who drank three cups of green tea a day lost twice as much weight as non-tea drinkers. A type of antioxidant known as catechins is credited with the weight-loss benefits of green tea. (Replacing a little tea brewing water with lime or lemon juice can help your body activate even more of the tea’s catechins.)

Rodale.com, June 2010

Green Tea Component Helps Decrease Body Weight

This study evaluated the influence of a green tea catechin beverage on body composition and fat distribution in overweight and obese adults during exercise-induced weight loss. There was a trend toward greater loss of body weight in the catechin group compared with the control group… These findings suggest that green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced changes in abdominal fat and serum [triglycerides]. 

Journal of Nutrition, February 2009

In light of all these facts, I think it's time I find me a nice green tea to drink on a regular basis. :-)

DISCLAIMER: I am not promoting Adagio Teas, nor do I make any type commission if you decide to purchase from them.  I'm sharing with you the company who I personally purchase tea from for myself and my family.  You can purchase green tea or any other tea from anywhere.  If by chance you would like to try this company out and would like to receive a $5 Gift Certificate see this Twitter Post. Valid for the next 24 hours only.  Otherwise you can leave your email address in the comment section below and I can send you one directly.