Is Herbal Tea Safe During Pregnancy?
Most herbal teas are safe to drink during pregnancy, just be sure to carefully check the label and consult with your doctor before you try anything herbal. Certain ingredients, when taken in high doses, can be harmful to your unborn baby. It is also important to note that herbal teas aren't regulated by any specific agency. Some of the ingredients can create diarrhea or heart palpitations if over-consumed, so try not to experiment with any ingredients you aren't completely familiar with at this time.
A number of herbal tea blends might contain cohosh, pennyroyal, mugwort, ma huang, and even ephedra. If your tea contains any of these ingredients, it's probably best to avoid. None of these ingredients are good to consume during pregnancy.
If you decide to make your own herbal tea, just use common sense with the herbs you choose. Make sure every herb you use is washed thoroughly to be free of pesticides, and try to avoid picking "wild" herbs unless you are absolutely sure what they are.
Most people find that herbal teas are relaxing, calming, and soothing to the senses. They have natural healing properties, and also are caffeine free to promote a good night's sleep. If you are considering switching to herbal teas you will find that you benefit from the natural anti-oxidant properties of many of the herbs used in teas, and may be less prone to colds, infections, and may have more energy and generally feel better.
Again, I want to stress that caution should be used if you have never used herbal teas before, as they can cause slight reactions in some women. If you are unsure about a certain tea blend, it's probably better to pass at this point. No use in being "adventurous" if it can have some negative affect on your baby. You can always make your own "safe" herbal teas using decaffeinated green tea or hot water with various juices, spices and dried fruit.
BlueWaterArticles.com: - Is Herbal Tea Safe During Pregnancy?
About the Author
Steven Broffman is a writer at Specialty Tea Health Benefits, a site dedicated to the health benefits of various teas. Read more about herbal tea & pregnancy at www.allteabenefits.com.
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Legendary Green Tea
Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
cancer
rheumatoid arthritis
high cholesterol levels
cariovascular disease
infection
impaired immune function
What makes green tea so special?
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.
Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.
Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.
Other Benefits
New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.
Harmful Effects?
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
Article Source: http://www.articlenorth.com
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Green Tea- a Healthy Alternative to Soda
| In the hot days of summer it is easy to reach for a soda to help you cool off. However sodas do not really quench your thirst and there are some other healthier more refreshing alternatives. One of the most refreshing ways to cool off on a hot summer day is drinking a tall glass of iced tea and what better than making it green tea? People from the Orient have long known the benefits of drinking green tea. In fact so important is this drink in these countries that there is special tea drinking rituals associated with this beverage. Japan is especially famous for this. Green tea: Is made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis tree. The best green tea is grown in Japan and is harvested in the spring months. Now Australia is trying to cultivate it so that green tea can be available in other months and supply the increasing need for this beverage. Recent research is revealing that this tea is particularly beneficial for your health. It is higher in antitoxins than the traditional black tea drunk in the West. Green tea has also been found to have vitamin C and fluoride. Green tea has more of these properties than the traditional black teas because of the way it is processed It goes through little or no processing (fermenting or oxidizing) this brings out the antioxidants and vitamins but will reduce the stimulant quality (caffeine) of this tea. The best way to make green tea hot or cold is to make it with loose leaves. These are easily available in many grocery stores and most health food stores. When making iced tea it is good to steep the tea for about 20-30 minutes. You can just pour the hot water on it and let it cool slowly. Fast cooling will not allow the full taste to come out; so slow cooling at room temperature is best. You can also make some good tea pops. Just fill an ice cube tray with green tea (cooled) and put toothpicks in each square and enjoy when fully frozen. You can also make regular cubes of green tea to add to beverages. If you want to spice up your tea you can add citrus peel as it steeps. Anise and chicory are also added for a change in taste. Citrus peels are especially refreshing with iced green tea. You can also add ginger as a real thirst quencher for those hot days. However you chose to drink your green tea it is a nice refreshing change from soda and good for your health. It will not only quench your thirst but rejuvenate you too. As our world grows smaller we are becoming more aware of different types of foods and beverages. As more research is being done on this increasingly popular drink we will see even more benefits to our health. It is recommended to drink at least 3 cups or more per day to enjoy the health giving properties of green tea. |
| Author Resource:- Zach Thompson is a Natural Zeolite Representative. His clients range from actresses to pro athletes. You can get a free consultation on Waiora by visiting his web site. |
| Article From New Ezine Articles |
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