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It’s healthier than you think

I once heard someone describe tea as nothing more than “boiled leaf juice.”

Well, it is – but at the same time, it’s so much more than that.

Green Tea has been around for centuries and has been used to treat a wide variety of health ailments, from acne to fatigue to bloat. Although it’s recently gaining popularity in weight loss pills and skincare products, Green Tea deserves a lot more credit than we give it.

Inside Green Tea

Many people attribute Green Tea’s weight loss success to its small concentrations of caffeine. While this does add a little extra kick when it comes to burning calories, Green Tea is also chock- full of the following:

Polyphenols: Phytochemicals that act as antioxidants, stripping the body of harmful toxins and bi-products called free radicals. Polyphenols are what give Green Tea its bitter flavor.

Catechins: Green Tea contains 6 polyphenols that are known as catechins. Studies have shown that catechins may be able to prevent certain types of cancer.

EGCG: Epigallocatechins is the most active and studied of Green Tea’s catechins. EGCG can decrease your risk of developing atherosclerosis by lowering your cholesterol.

Alkaloids: Nitrrogenous compounds that can increase energy levels

Benefits of Green Tea

Because of its high concentrations of the above chemicals, Green Tea offers a wide variety of health benefits. Although it might not be the cure-all solution to everything as some people would have us believe, the studies have shown that Green Tea can certainly help in the fight against cardiovascular disease, cancer, and weight gain.

Cardiovascular Disease:: Millions of Americans are at risk each year are at risk for heart disease and stroke due to high blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels. However, recent research suggests that green tea may be able to reduce lipids and lipoproteins in the blood, thus helping to lower your risk of heart attack.

Cancer: Although research is still being conducted, the catechins found in green tea may be able to break down cancer cells and may even protect DNA against damage caused by oxidative stress. To find out more about this study, click here.

Weight Loss: According to the American Society of Nutrition, the catechins in Green tea could may enhance exercise-induced loss of abdominal fat.

Bottom Lines

Depending on how you look at it, Green Tea may be nothing more than a bitter beverage or the ultimate cure-all for weight loss and heart health. Whether you drink it on a regular basis or simply swallow it in supplement form, Green Tea appears to offer more than meets the eye

Olive oil is common throughout the ages. It was sometimes used in food, in jokes, or even as a symbol of peace and glory. However olive oil is not just for the kitchen, it can be used thoughout the house, and on your body.

Uses in the House

Olive oil can buffer and shine up old furniture, leather, and even wooden fixtures.

Uses on your Body

Olive oil can help you get the close shave you have been looking for. Simply apply it before and after you scrap off those bristles to give those cheekbones a little extra shine.

Your hair and nails can also benefit from this lovely oil. By applying it to your damaged, tangled or frizzy hair, you are more likely to stop traffic.

Skin loves olive oil. It thrives on the feel of its touch and loves to take a bath in it. Or you could even use it as a moisturizer.

Ear aches can be exceptionally painful and annoying. When you do not have the time or money to go to the doctor’s try using olive oil to soothe the pain. Gently put a little oil on a cotton ball and spread the oil around the outside of your ear cavity.

Other Fun and Random Uses

Perhaps the most random use of olive oil is that it can help cats. By putting a teaspoon of olive oil in their food, your kitty is well on her way to less hairballs and a shinier coat. Also, olive oil is less harmful than the other leading anti hairball solutions out there.

Overall, Olive oil is truly a gift from mother nature. It can fix household items, cure your body, and even help your cat! If you do not have this oil in your house, you might want to consider going to the store right away!

That delicious smell of taco meat floats around the kitchen like a cloud, making you want tacos- NOW! However, before you pile on the cheese and lettuce, here are a couple of things that can make your tacos tastier, healthier, and yummier.

Basil- Just adding a little bit of this stuff can increase the amount of spice in your meal. Basil gives tacos that extra kick that is often lacking.

Lime- Take a lime and cut it into 6 pieces. Then squeeze the lime over your taco to enhance the flavor.

Pico- This blend on tomatoes and other veggies can help you feel less guilty for eating an extra taco or two.

Dressing- Try a ranch guacamole dressing to help spice up your life.

Guacamole- The more fruits and vegetables the better! With guacamole, your taste buds will sing and their soft taste.

A couple of things that will make your tacos yummier, but not necessarily healthier is by putting seasoning into the meat. Before you fully cook your hamburger, try pour a little bit of taco seasoning for extra flavor. This will greatly enhance the flavor and smell of the meat. Another thing to put on your tacos is taco sauce (or mild sauce). As with Taco Bell, most people like to have a liquid flavor to their meals.

Sour Cream- Adds the right amount of dairy to your creation.

Tortilla Strips- A little extra crunch never hurt anyone! Why not try putting tortilla strips to add a little bit of a salty flavor to your meal.

Try even creating new ways to make your taco nights more interesting. Ask each family member what they want in their taco and try it out. With these helpful times, you are well on your way to a tastier and happier taco time!

Everyone loves pancakes as a yummy breakfast food. Since we were kids, pancakes have symbolized family-time (and in some cases, a lazy parent who doesn’t want to cook that much!). The only problem with pancakes is they often can lead to a muffin top. So what are some ways to indulge in this yummy goodness without feeling too guilty?

Fruits!

Putting fruit is the best way to make a pancake healthier and tastier. With certain fruits, you are adding vitamins that will help you and your children grow healthier and stronger. Putting bananas and strawberries can add some extra flavor and antioxidants. Or even putting in raspberries and blueberries will help with the antioxidant area as well.

Syrup!

Syrup is one of the leading contributors to an unhealthy pancake experience. But there is a way to eat pancakes with syrup and not feel guilty. Companies have come out with syrups that are sugar-free, and come with other healthy vitamins.

Other Ingredients!

Using butter can add the extra fat that you do not want. Try using a fat-free butter or “I can’t believe it’s not butter!” to give yourself a decrease in calories.

When a pancake batter calls for milk, try substituting some of that with water. This will decrease the amount of fat and calories you will be consuming.

Putting oatmeal in your pancakes can help give them a little bit of extra flavor and vitamins. Oatmeal can be cleverly hidden from your kids in the pancakes.

By following these simple steps, pancakes can become more of a tradition than a rarity. Putting fruit, using healthier syrup, and doing other things like substituting milk for water can help you feel less guilty for making pancakes. Try looking up your own ways of lessening the fat in pancakes to make a healthier meal for you.

A lot of fun recipes call for canned goods. Things like taco soup, pumpkin spice soup, and other various things. Most people do not wash their canned beans before they use them. They don’t because they think it’s ok to put them in without a wash, or they are just too lazy to do it. In this article we will discuss several beans and if it is necessary to wash them.

Green Beans

A green bean can is usually filled with water, salt, and…green beans. So do they need to be washed? For some people it is advisable to wash them. It doesn’t lessen the flavor or nutrients, but it does help get rid of the excess salt in it. For people who have high blood pressure, washing green beans is recommended.

Kidney Beans

Beans have fiber in them already, but did you know that the liquid in kidney beans can cause even more gas? Studies have shown that they can lead to more gas if you don’t wash them.

The Others

The fact of the matter is, most beans are not canned correctly. When factories have a lot of product they need to go through, a couple of things might get missed. For example, some cans might contain residual pesticide, or even plant toxins. If you fail to wash these, you will be getting unwanted toxins in your body.

In Conclusion

Who wants to eat the weird goo anyway? The goo that gets all soapy whenever you put it in your soup doesn’t look too healthy to eat.

Thus far, it looks like it won’t kill you to eat a can of beans without washing them. However, it won’t hurt them either if they get washed. You won’t have to worry about getting unwanted toxins in your system.

One of the simplest ways to ruin any diet is to have tempting foods on hand and available for snacking.

By getting rid of all these temptation foods, there will be a lot of empty room on those cupboard shelves, so we’ve found a list of healthy ingredients that would be wise to replace those Twinkies with:

In the cupboard

• Beans: Black, pinto, kidney, chickpeas, lentils, refried
• Rice: Brown, long-grain, rice mixes
• Pasta: Whole-wheat spaghetti, fettucini, penne, bowtie, ramen noodles
• Other grains: Couscous, orzo, cornmeal, whole-wheat crackers, breadsticks, bread crumbs
• Onions
• Canned tomatoes: Diced, whole, seasoned, sun-dried, sauce, salsa
• Canned vegetable: Mixed vegetables, green beans, mushrooms
• Canned and dried fruits: Applesauce, cranberries
• Sauces: Pasta, pizza, tomato
• Soups: Canned soups, broth, and bouillon and dried soup mixes
• Meats: Canned tuna, salmon, minced clams, and chicken
• Peanut butter
• Evaporated milk
• Vinegars: Cider, red and white wine, balsamic
• Your favorite herbs and spices
• Oils: Olive, canola, peanut, and non-fat cooking spray

In the refrigerator

• Vegetables and fruits
• 100% vegetable and fruit juices
• Reduced-fat milk and yogurt (without added sugar)
• Reduced-fat cheeses: Cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, Monterey Jack, cottage, Parmesan
• Reduced-fat sour cream and cream cheese
• Whole-wheat and corn tortillas
• Eggs
• Minced garlic
• Sauces: Worcestershire, soy, teriyaki, and chili
• Ketchup and mustard (spicy and Dijon)
• Salad dressings with olive oil or reduced-fat

By stocking your kitchen with healthy ingredients, you will be encouraged to make healthy, whole, and unprocessed foods. Not only will this improve the quality of the food you eat, but research has shown that the longer you take to prepare your meals, the less you will end up eating.

Whether you’re new to the powers of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or a seasoned pro, we’ve pulled together some facts to help you maximize your use of this healthy oil.

How to Use It

If you grew up in an Italian household this might seem like we’re telling you how to use water, but the truth is, there are quite a few people who miss out on chances to use olive oil just because they don’t know how.

But we decided that’s not enough of a reason for anyone to miss out on this plant-based oil that’s full of monounsaturated fat that just might lower your LDL cholesterol levels. Olive oil also has the highest content of polyphenols—powerful antioxidants that can promote heart health.

So ready or not, here comes your olive oil crash course:

Taste it. Rather than being afraid to use olive oil because you’re afraid it will throw off the taste of your dish, run your finger around the rim of the bottle and taste the oil on its own.

Savor the slight nuttiness of the creamy oil. Remember that taste so that you can start using it in dishes that will complement that flavor.

Drizzle it. If you’re still hesitant to cook with it, start using it to drizzle over grilled vegetables, use it in salad dressings, or dip your bread in it.

The more you taste its flavor on foods you already love, the more confidence you’ll have to start sautéing your foods in this healthy oil.

Don’t let it go bad. There’s nothing worse than trying to ease yourself onto a new staple by buying too much and letting it go bad on you.

Make sure to close the cap on your olive oil tightly and keep it in a cool, dry place. This will help ensure that you get the best flavor out of your oil.

Whether you do it for your heart, or for your palate, don’t miss out on the benefits of olive oil any longer.

Coca leaves have been chewed and consumed as tea and a pain killer for thousands of years in the high Andes. Indigenous tradition and scientific studies have both confirmed that in their natural form, the leaves are completely safe and non-addictive — it takes intensive processing and toxic chemical ingredients to produce cocaine.

Despite this, the United States still aggressively pursues an eradication policy that encourages Andean governments to spray their forests with toxic chemicals to eliminate this crop, thereby eradicating the ability to make cocaine. In fact, I’m sure you know that it is illegal to import or possess the leaves under U.S. law.

Unless you’re the Coca-Cola company.

In an effort to preserve the traditional flavor of the best-selling drink, the company long ago convinced the U.S. government to exempt it from the law.

Coca-Cola manages to keep this importation of coca leaves secret by sending them to a nondescript processing lab known as the Stepan Company. In 1922, the Jones-Miller Act banned cocaine imports into the United States, but Coca-Cola (and its lab) was granted an exception. This exception remained a secret until the late 1980′s when the New York Times seemed shocked to discover the truth.

Approximately 100 metric tons of coca leaves are imported to the Stepan Company each year under “special permission” from the DEA. And if you don’t believe that it goes to making Coca Cola, then an almost as disturbing question is, “Where, then, does all the cocaine go?”

Whether the coca leaves are addictive or not, the American people deserve the right to know exactly what is making it into their favorite drink.

It seems like every few years we discover another fruit that has native people in much better health than our population, and we think that if we can only just introduce this berry into our diet than we will be cured from all our problems. This was the philosophy behind the sudden introduction of the acai berry into all of our juices, supplements, and even frozen yogurts.

Soon after its “discovery” in the lush forests of Brazil, this small, round, black-purple drupe was touted as a miracle drug that could cure everything from obesity to cancer. This immediately started a media craze and it seemed like anything that didn’t have acai in it was not going to be beneficial for you at all. However, the truth behind acai has slowly been trickling out.

In 2004, the multi-level marketing company MonaVie started selling an acai blend tonic for $40 a bottle and misusing celebrity names like Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray to promote the online sales of acai. All the claims about acai’s high levels of antioxidants, as well as the slew of various health benefits, were all proliferated without one shred of scientific confirmation.

But not only did an entire nation get duped into dousing their frozen dessert in acai syrup, but a lot of us also got our credit taken advantage of. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, thousands of consumers had problems with recurrent charges on their credit cards when they tried to cancel their free trials of acai-based products. There were even some websites that warned against acai-related scams and then turned out to be the same scams.

As of right now, there are multiple lawsuits underway against MonaVie, both for falsifying health claims, and slandering the names and reputations of certain celebrities.

Remember when the Atkins Diet first came out and you couldn’t go anywhere without someone throwing you a low-carb or no-carb alternative? Then slowly America stopped being quite as enchanted with the Atkins Diet once we found out how we are too in love with our carbs to be ready to divorce them just yet. But now we have these carb inhibiting diet supplements that mainly use white kidney bean extract to make it so you can eat all the carbs you’ve been genetically designed to want to eat, all while looking like one of those lean carnivores.

How Does It Work?

Although researchers and medical professionals are not exactly sure why white kidney bean acts the way it does, but essentially it keeps the body from digesting carbohydrates while they’re in the small intestine—the place they’re usually absorbed most readily.

Even though there hasn’t been enough research done on white kidney bean extract to determine the effects that white kidney bean extract has on the body long term, there has been enough studies to show that it can indeed promote weight loss. In one study done on sixty individuals who were slightly overweight, one group was given the white kidney bean extract to supplement their weight loss regimen while the other was given a placebo supplement. The results showed that 92 percent of the individuals using the white kidney bean extract reported weight loss, while only 64 percent of those losing the placebo saw weight change.

Anything To Be Worried About?

Even though white kidney bean extract shows promising results for weight loss, we still can’t endorse it as the silver bullet diet pill we’re all looking for. Sadly, the effects of carbohydrates leaving the small intestine undigested have unsavory results on the body. As soon as these whole carbs reach the large intestine they start to ferment which gives off gas, which in turn causes bloating and diarrhea. Even if this doesn’t sound that bad on paper if it means you get to put on those jeans from ten years ago, realize that even the people who saw weight loss from using white kidney bean extract shortly discontinued its use because the side effects simply outweighed the benefits. No pun intended.