Provided by the NIH News in Health

Compounds in coffee may actually lower the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and liver cancer. (©Julius Schorzman)

Because it tastes so good, you may assume coffee is bad for you. Maybe you’ve heard rumors that your morning brew causes everything from heart disease to cancer. But researchers are finding that coffee poses little to no health risk for most people. Not only that, coffee drinking might have some health benefits.

Early research hinted that coffee might have some harmful effects. But most of those studies searched for links between people’s habits and their overall health. In such studies, it’s hard to know which effects come from coffee and which just show up by coincidence. Heavy coffee drinking sometimes goes hand in hand with unhealthy habits, like smoking and a less active lifestyle.

Continue Reading »

_____________

Sponsored by:

www.GREENBEAN-STORE.com
Visit our Pu’erh Tea section – for your health!

_____________

Saturday, August 01, 2009 by: Zephyr Faegen, citizen journalist

Earthy, rich and smooth with the comforting aroma of autumn leaves. Grade 1.

(NaturalNews) For over 2000 years, a special tea that originates from the Yunnan Province of China has been coveted for its preventative and curative properties. This tea is known as Pu-erh or Yunnan Tuocha. The tea’s cultivation can be traced as far back as the Han Dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE) and was made from the leaves of da ye or broad leaf tea. The leaves of this variety of old wild tea tree when picked, are taken and put through a process of delicate maturation that ends in the creation of what is called maocha.

Continue Reading »

___________________

Sponsored by:

www.GREENBEAN-STORE.com
Your source for healthy coffees and teas!

___________________

(07/26/09) A recent study performed in China found that long term tea drinkers had a 60% lower risk of experiencing an ischemic stroke, a type of stroke where brain arteries become partially or fully blocked.
___________________

July 26, 2009 —   posted by FitcomHealth.com

Tea drinking, particularly green tea consumption has always been known to foster good health. There is evidence that it can prevent certain forms of cancers and to allay Alzheimer’s. A new study has found that tea consumption to significantly lower risk of stroke.

Dr. Andy H. Lee, of Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, and his colleagues conducted a study in China and published their findings in the journal Stroke.

People in the study who reported drinking at least one cup of tea per week for more than 30 years had a 60% lower risk of ischemic stroke.

“Tea is a safe and healthy beverage…long-term tea drinking should be encouraged.”

~ Dr. Andy H. Lee, of Curtin University of Technology, Perth

Continue Reading »

Sponsored by www.GREENBEAN-STORE.com
_____________________

Nutrition Wise: Tea Extract, Caffeine in Espresso, Alcohol and Blood Pressure

*by Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN
Wednesday, January 07, 2009 :: Staff infoZine

Q: Does green tea or green tea extract help people lose weight? Q: How does the amount of caffeine in espresso compare to the amount found in regular coffee? Q: Is it true that alcohol can affect blood pressure?

Kansas City, MO – infoZine – American Institute for Cancer Research

Q: Does green tea or green tea extract help people lose weight?

A: According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, there is not sufficient evidence to determine if green tea can aid in weight loss. In fact, the research is conflicting. In one 2007 study, obese men and women who were given green tea extract (but still maintained their usual diet and activity patterns) showed greater decreases in body fat and waist measurement than those given a less-active compound. But other research, including one 2008 study that followed participants for four months, has found no difference in weight loss or change in waist measurements between groups given green tea extract versus a placebo. If you want to see if it makes a difference for you, there’s no harm in including some green tea among your daily beverages. When used in moderation, potential side effects include caffeine sensitivity and possible interference with blood thinning medications due to a small amount of vitamin K. Drinking green tea is certainly more economical than choosing supplements or extracts since an eight-ounce mug costs about 17 cents and contains an equal amount of active compound found in the pills or powders. In the end, you are probably best advised to focus on finding small ways to cut calories and increase physical activity each day rather than rely on weight loss aids like teas and extracts.

Q: How does the amount of caffeine in espresso compare to the amount found in regular coffee?

A: Espresso is more concentrated in caffeine than regular coffee, but the standard serving is much less, so drink-for-drink the two are fairly comparable in caffeine content. A six-ounce cup of coffee contains about 70 to 120 mg of caffeine, while a standard one-ounce espresso shot contains about 70 mg. Portion size is key however. A 16-ounce coffee (considered a “medium” at many coffee chains) can provide up to 300 mg of caffeine. A double shot of espresso in a cappuccino or latte offers about 150 mg.

Q: Is it true that alcohol can affect blood pressure?

A: Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is dependant on several lifestyle influences, among them: weight control, regular exercise, limiting salt and sodium consumption, and getting enough potassium – particularly by eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits. According to most experts, blood pressure control is usually not disrupted by alcohol, as long as it is consumed in moderation (no more than one standard drink a day for women and no more than two standard drinks a day for men). However, individuals can vary in how they respond to alcohol and should discuss it with their physician.

*Source: http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/32933/