Benefits of Rooibos Tea!!

Pronounced "roy-boss" and means "red bush" in Afrikaans. Studies have shown this tea is comparable to green tea in the amounts of polyphenols it contains. It shows anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity.

Rooibos is totally pure and natural. It contains no colorants or preservatives.

Rooibos helps delay the aging process! The aging of our bodies is caused by toxic compounds called free radicals which are produced as a by-product of normal cell function. These free radicals attack our healthy cells. Over our lifetime this damage contributes to aging and our immune system weakens. Recently, Japanese scientists have found that Rooibos tea contains a mimic of the enzyme Super Oxide Dismutase (S.O.D.), an antioxidant which attacks the free radicals and limits their damaging effects.

Rooibos helps to relieve stomach ulcers, nausea, constipation, and heartburn.

Have a cup of Rooibos before you get ready for bed to ensure a good night's sleep! Rooibos has been found to help with insomnia, disturbed sleeping patterns and headaches. It contains no caffeine and has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system.

Rooibos helps to give you strong bones and teeth because of its calcium, manganese and fluoride content.

Rooibos helps pacify infants with colic, stomach cramps and sleeping problems. Simply mix some Rooibos tea with expressed breast milk or formula. It is 100% natural with no colorants or preservatives. It is a mother's miracle.

Rooibos contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc for healthy, smooth skin. This wonder tea is especially useful when applied to skin irritations like itchy skin, eczema, sunburns, diaper rash and acne.

Put used rooibos tea bags in the refrigerator or freezer. After a hard day's work, put on tired or red eyes to soothe and relax.

Rooibos contains magnesium which is necessary for a healthy nervous system.

Rooibos increases the absorption of iron in the body.

Rooibos contains potassium and copper minerals that are necessary for several metabolic functions.

Rooibos is often prescribed for nervous tension and mild depression as it makes a relaxing sedative.

Rooibos contains no oxalic acid and can therefore be enjoyed by persons suffering from kidney stones.

Rooibos helps to control your appetite thus can be beneficial in weight loss.

Rooibos helps you recoup after a hangover.

Rooibos makes a great thirst-quencher and sport drink. Because of its mineral content of iron, potassium, zinc, manganese and sodium, it restores the body's equilibrium after strenuous exercise.

Rooibos is very versatile! Drink it hot or cold, with or without milk, sugar or honey. Add lemon or mix it with fruit juices for a lovely blend. Rooibos tea is also used in cooking and baking. It replaces the liquid content in recipes for soups, marinades, sauces, stews and cakes for added flavor and nutrition.

And Rooibos tastes divine! It is less bitter than most teas.

Rooibos - Some of the benefits

Pronounced "roy-boss" and means "red bush" in Afrikaans. Studies have shown this tea is comparable to green tea in the amounts of polyphenols it contains. It shows anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity. Rooibos is totally pure and natural. It contains no colorants or preservatives. Rooibos helps delay the aging process! The aging of our bodies is caused by toxic compounds called free radicals which are produced as a by-product of normal cell function. These free radicals attack our healthy cells. Over our lifetime this damage contributes to aging and our immune system weakens. Recently, Japanese scientists have found that Rooibos tea contains a mimic of the enzyme Super Oxide Dismutase (S.O.D.), an antioxidant which attacks the free radicals and limits their damaging effects. Rooibos helps to relieve stomach ulcers, nausea, constipation, and heartburn. Have a cup of Rooibos before you get ready for bed to ensure a good night's sleep! Rooibos has been found to help with insomnia, disturbed sleeping patterns and headaches. It contains no caffeine and has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. Rooibos helps to give you strong bones and teeth because of its calcium, manganese and fluoride content. Rooibos helps pacify infants with colic, stomach cramps and sleeping problems. Simply mix some Rooibos tea with expressed breast milk or formula. It is 100% natural with no colorants or preservatives. Rooibos contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc for healthy, smooth skin. This wonder tea is especially useful when applied to skin irritations like itchy skin, eczema, sunburns, diaper rash and acne. Put used rooibos tea bags in the refrigerator or freezer. After a hard day's work, put on tired or red eyes to soothe and relax. Rooibos contains magnesium which is necessary for a healthy nervous system. Rooibos increases the absorption of iron in the body. Rooibos contains potassium and copper minerals that are necessary for several metabolic functions. Rooibos is often prescribed for nervous tension and mild depression as it makes a relaxing sedative. Rooibos contains no oxalic acid and can therefore be enjoyed by persons suffering from kidney stones. Rooibos helps to control your appetite thus can be beneficial in weight loss. Rooibos helps you recoup after a hangover. Rooibos makes a great thirst-quencher and sport drink. Because of its mineral content of iron, potassium, zinc, manganese and sodium, it restores the body's equilibrium after strenuous exercise. Rooibos is very versatile! Drink it hot or cold, with or without milk, sugar or honey. Add lemon or mix it with fruit juices for a lovely blend. Rooibos tea is also used in cooking and baking. It replaces the liquid content in recipes for soups, marinades, sauces, stews and cakes for added flavor and nutrition. And Rooibos tastes divine! It is less bitter than most teas.

The Five Healthiest Beverages You Can Drink (Including Two You May Not Have Heard Of)

The Five Healthiest Beverages You Can Drink
(Including Two You May Not Have Heard Of)
by www.SixWise.com

http://www.sixwise.com/Newsletters/2009/March/18/The-Five-Healthiest-Beverages-You-Can-Drink.htm?source=nl

When you’re feeling parched and need to quench your thirst, the beverage you choose can make a big difference to your health. And while most of us know that soda and other sweet drinks are not the healthiest choices around, which beverages are truly health-promoting remains more of a mystery.

Ironically, while we need fluids for our very survival, continually choosing the wrong ones may push your health out of balance. So here we’ve detailed some of the best of the best when it comes to good-for-you drink choices. With these healthy beverages you really can do no wrong.

1. Water

Water is crucial for survival -- it's the base of all your body fluids, like blood and digestive juices, it helps nutrients from your food get absorbed and be transported, and it helps eliminate waste. Even becoming mildly dehydrated (when you lose as little as 1 percent to 2 percent of your body weight) can seriously impact your body's ability to function.

How much water do you need? It's commonly said that you should drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day to stay healthy, but this is really just a rule of thumb, as so many factors (weather, age, activity level, health) affect how much water your body needs.

In general, you can prevent dehydration by focusing on staying hydrated throughout the day. Keep water with you and drink it regularly -- before you get thirsty. If it's hot outside or you're exercising (or pregnant or breastfeeding), you'll need even more fluids so drink more water.

A word of caution: not all water is good for you. Tap water can be potentially contaminated with chemicals, pesticides or even pharmaceutical drugs. And bottled water, which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has weaker regulations than the Environmental Protection Agency requires for tap water.

Plus, the bottles themselves often contain bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that mimics the female hormone estrogen, impacting fertility, reproductive health and potentially promoting cancer, heart disease, diabetes and liver problems.

To put your mind at ease and get safe, superior quality water that will promote your health rather than harm it, Sixwise.com highly recommends The Wellness Kitchen Water Filter. It reduces chlorine, chloramines, cysts, VOCs, pesticides, and herbicides below detectable levels for the life of the filter.

The Wellness Kitchen combines the best filtration and enhancement technologies to deliver the purest and most natural tasting water available. It effectively reduces harmful contaminants, while at the same time enhancing the water with adding important yet delicate wellness "ions and minerals" that your body needs.

And for times when you're on the go, the staff at Sixwise absolutely loves The Wellness H2.0.

The Wellness H2.O is a personal, reusable BPA-free water bottle that features a unique filtration system that not only purifies ordinary tap water, but also enhances the water for better absorption and hydration. With this special filtration process you'll have access to high quality water wherever you go.

2. Kefir


To read the full article:
http://www.sixwise.com/Newsletters/2009/March/18/The-Five-Healthiest-Beverages-You-Can-Drink.htm?source=nl

Chai Tea: A Quick History of this Popular Ancient Beverage

Chai Tea: A Quick History of This Increasingly Popular Ancient Beverage
by www.SixWise.com

http://www.sixwise.com/Newsletters/2009/February/11/Chai-Tea-A-Quick-History.htm?source=nl

In the United States, chai (rhymes with “pie”) tea typically refers to the milky, spicy and slightly sweet tea beverage that has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. If you want to be in the know, ordering a chai tea is redundant, because “chai” is the word for tea in several different languages, so you’re actually ordering a “tea tea.”

The variety most Americans refer to as chai is actually called masala chai, which originated in India many centuries ago and means “spice tea.” Though there is no one exact recipe for masala chai (each region and household in India has its own), it is generally made of the following:

* A strong black tea
* Heavy milk
* Spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and pepper
* Sweetener, such as honey

Traditionally, masala chai is made by boiling loose tea leaves, then adding in freshly ground spices, milk and honey or other sweetener. Some say that this version of spiced tea was originally created in order to mask the poor quality of tea available in India while it was colonized by Great Britain. It’s said that the British kept the high-quality tea for themselves and gave the lower quality tea to the native people.

Today, chai vendors known as “chai wallahs” are common in many areas of India, and as Americans might gather to chat in a coffee shop, Indians often gather at a chai wallah to take a break from their days.

Is Chai Good for You?

Masala chai is said to produce a warming, soothing sensation as well as support digestion. Modern-day versions vary as to the health benefits they offer, depending on which particular ingredients are used. However, traditional masala chai is composed of numerous beneficial ingredients, such as:

* Black tea: Studies have shown that regularly drinking three or more cups of black tea a day can support your heart health, and a study in the European Heart Journal also found that drinking black tea improves the ability of arteries to relax and expand to keep blood pressure healthy. However, adding milk to the tea, as is common in chai, blocked this impact.

There is some debate as to whether or not adding milk to tea cancels out its beneficial properties. According to the Indian Tea Association, a UK study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a standard addition of 10-15% milk did not influence tea’s antioxidant properties.

* Ginger: The active ingredient in ginger is gingerol, a compound that's thought to relax blood vessels, stimulate blood flow and relieve pain. It's commonly used as a digestive aid and contains compounds that ease motion sickness and nausea and inhibit vomiting.

* Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant. A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that out of all spices, cinnamon is one of the richest sources of disease-fighting antioxidants. It also has anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties, which help prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets. And, it may help boost brain function and control blood sugar.

* Cloves: The active compound in cloves, eugenol, combines with other clove components to make this pungent spice highly anti-bacterial. It's also anti-inflammatory and the compound has been studied for use in preventing toxicity from environmental pollutants and joint inflammation.

How to Make Your Own Chai

Here at Sixwise.com we absolutely love Ajmera’s Xpress Chai. It’s creamy and delicious, and like its name implies, takes just an instant to make. The chai packets are great for taking to work or when you’re in a hurry, as you simply add hot water and your cup of tasty chai is ready.

That said, making masala chai at home is fairly simple, once you’ve gathered up the ingredients. Here’s a delicious recipe that takes just a few minutes from start to finish:

Indian Masala Chai

Ingredients:

* 4 tsp loose tea, usually black
* 1 piece of dry ginger
* 3 cardamom pods, crushed
* 3 whole cloves
* 1 piece of cinnamon stick
* 'Milk' and sugar to taste

Preparation:

* Chop up ginger into fine pieces and break up cinnamon stick.
* Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then add tea leaves and all the spices.
* Let everything brew at boiling for 30 to 45 seconds.
* Remove from heat, then let steep at room temperature for another minute.
* Strain out the tea and pieces of spice.
* Serve hot and fragrant, with only a touch of milk or sugar.

Serves 4
Recipe Source: Indiacurryrecipes.com

When you make this tea, make sure to take the time to really savor its flavors. We recommend sipping it while reading a really good book or chatting with really good friends.

Tea Time Increases Life Time

Tea Time Increases Life Time
From The McDougall Newsletter

Tea is the most popular beverage in many parts of the world and
levels of consumption are increasing. Historical records show that
the enjoyment of tea goes as far back as 5000 years ago in China.
This stimulating beverage remained an important part of the cultures
of China and Japan for thousands of years, and was finally imported
to Europe in the 1500s. Not until the early 1600s, however, did tea
drinking become popular in England and America.

There are four common categories of tea made from the same tea plant
species (Camellia sinensis). The difference in the varieties is the
result of the methods of processing. White tea is simply steamed
leaves. Oolong tea is partially fermented and green tea is steamed
to stop the oxidation. Black tea undergoes several hours of oxidation
during preparation (accelerated by heat and humidity). The degree of
processing after harvest changes the relative amounts and kinds of
chemicals found in the final beverage

White Tea = boiled and dried.

Green Tea = withered by exposure to the air, steamed, rolled, and
dried.

Oolong Tea = withered, shaken, fermented briefly, and dried.

Black Tea = withered, rolled, fully fermented, and dried.

Tea May Help You Lose Excess Weight

In experimental animal studies, tea results in a significant
reduction of “high-fat diet-induced” body weight gain, and reduces
the accumulation of fat in the abdomen and liver, and prevents the
development of hyperinsulinemia (elevated insulin levels associated
with weight gain).1 Research published in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition suggests that an extract from green tea may help
with weight loss by speeding up fat oxidation.2 Relative to a
placebo, treatment with the green tea extract resulted in a
significant increase in 24-hour energy expenditure. Treatment with
caffeine in amounts equivalent to those found in the green tea
extract had no effect on energy expenditure. Thus, tea may have
specific benefits for losing excess body fat -- and should be an easy
addition to the daily routine for anyone interested in becoming
trimmer.

Oolong Tea Helps Diabetics

In a recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care, oolong tea
was found to be very effective at lowering the blood sugar of
diabetics on medications. Compared to water, this variety of tea
decreased blood sugars from an average of 229 mg/dl to 162.2 mg/dl.
This decrease was not due to any weight loss by the diabetics, but
rather was a direct effect of the tea. The mechanism by which tea
lowers blood sugars is not known but it may be due to the
insulin-like activity of compounds (polyphenols) found in teas, and
the delay of glucose absorption through the intestine.

Synergetic Actions of Teas Prevent, and Maybe Treat, Cancers

Non-toxic approaches for the prevention and treatment of cancers are
very important because of the relative ineffectiveness of drug
therapy – little benefit has been realized for the patient’s survival
of most cancers. Anticancer drugs are also very toxic and costly.
Therefore, the likely possibility that green tea could improve the
quality of your life is valuable information.

Heavy consumption of tea, especially green teas in Japan, has been
associated with a decreased risk of cancer and artery disease
(atherosclerosis). In particular, people who drink green tea have
been reported to have lower incidences of cancer of the esophagus and
breast. Most promising are the consistent findings in animal models
that tea will reduce the development of skin, lung, colon, liver and
pancreatic cancer.3

Even small concentrations of tea’s active ingredient
(epigallocatechin-3-gallate) in the blood can stop the progression of
growth of cancer cells by any or all of the above mechanisms.
Effective levels can be reached with as little as 2 to 4 cups a day.4
There may even be a benefit for people after they have developed
cancer. Green tea consumption of three or more cups daily has been
found to delay the recurrence of breast cancer by about one-third.5

Protection from High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease

Tea may raise blood pressure right after drinking, but the long-term
effects in daily users may actually be a lower blood pressure and tea
may offer protection against the development of hypertension.6,7 In
addition, other studies have shown tea to have anti-inflammatory,
antithrombotic, and cholesterol-lowering effects – all important in
preventing the atherosclerosis that leads to heart attacks and
strokes. Tea may further prevent artery disease by inhibiting the
oxidation of cholesterol into a more artery-toxic, “oxidized,”
form.8,9

Other Health Benefits

Tea may protect against brain degeneration disorders, such as
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.10 Green tea seems to be kind
to the stomach – as opposed to coffee and “decaf”, which cause
stomach inflammation – and tea prevents chronic gastritis.11 Tea has
also been shown to have antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Tea has a pleasant taste, which people quickly learn to enjoy. One
of the attractive qualities of tea, even green tea, is that it
contains a desirable stimulant, caffeine, which relieves sleepiness
and fatigue in most people.

Overall, research has found that tea drinkers live longer and
healthier.12 Add this battle tactic of daily tea drinking to the
well-established benefits of an abundance of natural plant chemicals
found in a healthy, low-fat, plant-food based diet, and you will have
the best defense now known to science to keep disease away from your
body.

References:

1) Murase T, Nagasawa A, Suzuki J, Hase T, Tokimitsu I. Beneficial
effects of tea catechins on diet-induced obesity: stimulation of
lipid catabolism in the liver. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002
Nov;26(11):1459-64.

2) Dulloo AG, Duret C, Rohrer D, Girardier L, Mensi N, Fathi M,
Chantre P, Vandermander J. Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in
catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-h energy
expenditure and fat oxidation in humans.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Dec;70(6):1040-5.

3) Frei B, Higdon JV. Antioxidant activity of tea polyphenols in
vivo: evidence from animal studies. J Nutr. 2003
Oct;133(10):3275S-84S.

4) Lee YK, Bone ND, Strege AK, Shanafelt TD, Jelinek DF, Kay NE.
VEGF receptor phosphorylation status and apoptosis is modulated by a
green tea component, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), in B-cell
chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Blood. 2004 Aug 1;104(3):788-94.

5) Inoue M, Tajima K, Mizutani M, Iwata H, Iwase T, Miura S, Hirose
K, Hamajima N, Tominaga S. Regular consumption of green tea and the
risk of breast cancer recurrence: follow-up study from the
Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center
(HERPACC), Japan. Cancer Lett. 2001 Jun 26;167(2):175-82.

6) Yang YC, Lu FH, Wu JS, Wu CH, Chang CJ. The protective effect of
habitual tea consumption on hypertension. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jul
26;164(14):1534-40.

7) Hodgson JM, Puddey IB. Acute effects of tea on fasting and post
meal blood pressure. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S71.

8) Osada K, Takahashi M, Hoshina S, Nakamura M, Nakamura S, Sugano
M. Tea catechins inhibit cholesterol oxidation accompanying
oxidation of low density lipoprotein in vitro. Comp Biochem Physiol
C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2001 Feb;128(2):153-64.

9) Kurihara H, Fukami H, Toyoda Y, Kageyama N, Tsuruoka N, Shibata
H, Kiso Y, Tanaka T. Inhibitory effect of oolong tea on the
oxidative state of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Biol Pharm Bull.
2003 May;26(5):739-42.

10) Weinreb O, Mandel S, Amit T, Youdim MB. Neurological mechanisms
of green tea polyphenols in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. J
Nutr Biochem. 2004 Sep;15(9):506-16.

11) Shibata K, Moriyama M, Fukushima T, Kaetsu A, Miyazaki M, Une H.
Green tea consumption and chronic atrophic gastritis: a
cross-sectional study in a green tea production village. J
Epidemiol. 2000 Sep;10(5):310-6.

12) Nakachi K, Eguchi H, Imai K. Can teatime increase one's
lifetime? Ageing Res Rev. 2003 Jan;2(1):1-10.