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What are the health benefits of tea?

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Many people are coffee lovers including me.   But I also enjoy a cup or two of tea every day.   Add some tea to your day and you add many health benefits.   Tea is rich in antioxidants, some vitamins, and minerals, and has been linked to improved heart health, better digestion, and enhanced mental clarity.   Some studies have shown tea may decrease one’s risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer.   Whether you prefer green, black, oolong, white or herbal teas, each type of tea offers its unique array of health-promoting properties.   In this blog post I explore the many health benefits of enjoying some tea.    Black Tea What is it made from?   Made from leaves of a plant.   Oxidation , “leaves exposed to moist oxygen-rich air”, is what turns the leaves from green to a black color.   Examples:   English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling Black Tea, Ceylon Black Tea   Health Benefits:   Heart: Drink black tea often and you lower your risk of heart attack .   Why?   Because black tea co
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How can snacking on baby carrots improve your health?

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Who knew that simply snacking on baby carrots can have such a health benefit?   Baby carrots are not only a convenient snack, but they also pack a nutritional punch. These little orange wonders are high in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, essential for good vision, immune function, and skin health. They are also low in calories and high in fiber, making them a great choice for anyone looking to maintain a healthy weight and digestive system. How would simply snacking on baby carrots lead to improved health? Researchers at Samford University found that adding baby carrots to your day at least 3 times a week resulted in more carotenoids in your skin.   Why is this a good thing?   According to nutritionist , Mary Harper Simmons, “…people who consume and have high levels of carotenoids have higher levels of antioxidant activity going on in the body, which means that there are lower levels of inflammation and lower risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, buy it or make it?

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Who doesn’t love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?   What is the number one sandwich consumed at lunch in the U.S.?   You guessed it, the simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich.   So simple to make and it can be a pretty healthy addition to your diet.   But many people are buying a ready-made PB&J and not bothering to make their own PB&J sandwiches.   Years ago, a student noted they ate an “Uncrustable” for lunch.   I had no idea what this was so I looked it up.   I was really surprised that she was buying a ready-made peanut butter and jelly sandwich.   Even more surprising, this week I read that Smucker’s Uncrustables are now nearly a $1 billion a year business.   So popular that Smucker’s is building their third Uncrustable factory.   What are Uncrustables? Smucker’s notes Uncrustables are frozen sandwiches, prep-less, crustless and a day-saver.   These include not just the traditional “sandwiches” made from peanut butter and grape jelly, but also peanut butter and
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Is it time to ditch oat milk and return to real dairy milk?

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Plant-based milks like oat milk and almond milk have been in the news lately.   And not for a good reason.   So many people have flocked to replacing real cow’s milk with either almond milk or oat milk.   I was never a fan of plant-based milks and now there seems to be more concerns about plant-based milk’s “health halo”.   This week the Daily Mail came out with the headline, Oat milk linked to ANOTHER cancer-causing chemical as people flock back to dairy .   Earlier in October, the Daily Mail had another headline, Additive in oat and almond milk linked to colon cancer ”.   Both articles presented information I had not been aware of before. What is oat milk? Oat milk is a plant-based, non-dairy milk that is made by soaking oats in water, blending and then straining.   The texture is creamier than cow’s milk with an oatmeal-like flavor.   There are many flavors of oat milk and you can buy it unsweetened or flavored with vanilla or chocolate.   What is Daily Mail’s concern about
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Bone Boosters: Best Foods for Keeping Them Strong

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Listen to older people talk and you often hear about someone who fell and broke their hip, arm, leg, or other bones.   I visited a childhood friend recently and her arm was in a cast as she had fallen off her bicycle.   But one doesn’t have to be old to break a bone.   A relative was playing flag football, tripped due to a hole on the field, fell and broke her ankle. What foods can you add to your diet to boost bone health and to have stronger bones? What are some ways we can strengthen our bones?   Diet:   adequate intake of certain vitamins and minerals are needed for strong bones. Exercise:      Weight-bearing activities like walking, running, and strength training are great for bone health.   Lifting weights and strength training are 2 ways to “promote new bone growth and maintain existing bone structure”.    What nutrients are essential for building and maintaining bone density? Calcium:   almost everyone knows you need calcium for strong bones but so many people, especia
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