Coffee Vs. Tea

An ex-coffee drinker and a current tea drinker myself, I was always curious about the health and benefits of these two beverages. The truth is that coffee and tea remain two very different beverages; one made from the leaves of a plant called Camellia sinensis, and the other made from a bean.

However, when it comes to health benefits, tea will always beat coffee, especially white and green tea. Tea has more antioxidants per cup than coffee does. There is no need to put up a boring chart explaining the differences, so instead I'll put it this way:

A cup of black tea has half the amount of caffeine than a cup of coffee, and a hell of a lot more antioxidants such as flavonoids, catechins, and tannins, which powerful antioxidants that can protect your body from free radical stress. Coffee, however, does not have as much as these properties present, but does have its share of minerals.

Oolong, green, and white tea have even less caffeine and even more antioxidants. In fact, white tea has shown to contain the highest levels, and is one of the best sources when measured by volume for antioxidants in the world! So if drinking for your health, tea will always beat coffee.

I used to be a big coffee drinker until I found out about the world of tea and its many health benefits.

So, for all you coffee drinkers out there, not to break your heart, but coffee has no medicinal purposes whatsoever and the strongest of its suits is the caffeine content.

Consider this: Three or more cups of green tea per day are what's consumed by the average citizen in Japan, where the overall cancer rate is much lower than here in the U.S. While that statistic may not be due to tea drinking alone, the majority of researchers believe it definitely plays a part.

However, lately there have also been studies to show that coffee can serve as the new “Health Food”.
Be your own judge and do your own research before you commit to one or the other. Here are a few resources to help you:

                                                                  Benefits of Coffee

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Don't Skip Breakfast!

Eating a good breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day!

Skipping breakfast is a common strategy for losing weight, but not a smart one. Many people believe that they will lose weight if they skip meals, but that just isn't true; the body expects to be refueled a few times each day -- starting with breakfast.

Actually, eating breakfast is good for weight loss. In fact, people who eat breakfast are more likely to maintain a healthy weight, because you will be able to control your appetite until midday and overeating throughout the day is also less likely.

  • Eating breakfast increases your metabolism (or calorie-burning – rate)
  • Increased your learning ability and attention span (especially for kids).
  • It has been shown that breakfast eaters tend to have a lower BMI (Body Mass Index) than breakfast skippers.
  • Studies also show that obese persons are prone to skip breakfast, leading to a high caloric intake at nighttime, while normal weight persons’ caloric intake is more evenly distributed throughout the day.

Breakfast skippers tend to eat more food than usual at the next meal or nibble on high-calorie snacks to stave off hunger. Several studies suggest that people tend to accumulate more body fat when they eat fewer, larger meals than when they eat the same number of calories in smaller, more frequent meals.

What you choose to eat for breakfast makes a big difference for your health. A healthy breakfast should contain some protein and some fiber. Protein can come from low fat meats, eggs, beans or dairy. Fiber can be found in whole grains, vegetables and fruits. A variety of fruits can bring you near the minimum number of five (5) daily fruit and vegetable servings recommended.

Stay away from the sugary cereals, syrups, pastries, and white breads because they are digested quickly and will leave you hungry and tired in a couple of hours. Protein and fiber satisfy your hunger and will keep you feeling full until lunch time.

Breakfast on the Go
To resist the temptation to grab a doughnut, shop smart. Stock your pantry with healthful ingredients, like oatmeal, whole wheat bread, wheat germ, nuts and canned or dried fruit.

Flaxseed from health food stores is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which you can grind and add to low-fat cereal, yogurt, cottage cheese and smoothies. Some other quick and healthful ideas are:

  • A nonfat or low-fat yogurt parfait layered with fresh fruit and cereal, nuts or raisins
  • Low-fat yogurt mixed with fresh fruit in a blender for a vitamin-rich smoothie
  • Whole wheat toast with a little peanut butter and banana slices
  • Instant or quick-cooking oatmeal or whole grain cold cereal with raisins or fresh fruit and low-fat dairy or soy milk
  • Fish, such as leftover salmon, on a whole grain bagel with reduced or nonfat cream cheese
  • My favorite: Veggie Omelet with leftover salad: red peppers, scallions, grilled onions, tomatoes  etc (You can get really creative here)

Bon appétit! Kalí óreksi! Bonum appetitionem! Сайхан хооллоорой! Poftă bună! Приятного аппетита! ¡Buen provecho! Yoqimli ishtaha!

Breakfast

Young and Un-insured

Too old for the annual pediatrician visit or too young for the annual mammogram or prostate exam?

A recent RedEye article caught my eye, because this personally applies to me and to 13.2 million other young adults that are medically uninsured.

People in the 20s and 30s are more likely than any other group to be uninsured often wandering in medical no-man's land. "Everyone assumes [young adults] are all healthy, and that's just not true," said study author Amy Bernstein. As much as we’d like to think we are made of steel, the facts are:

  • Young adults account for the most injury-related emergency room visits.
  • Certain sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, peak during young adulthood.
  • As do rates of smoking, alcohol and drug use.

17% of 18- to 29-year-olds reported needing but not receiving medical attention in the past year because they couldn't afford it, and that age group is the least likely to have seen a dentist, according to a special report published this year as part of the National Center for Health Statistics' annual "Health, United States" survey.

"As long as men are feeling good, their weight is stable, they have no undue pain, they're functioning well at their job, in their relationships and at home, then for the most part, they don't need to be seen," said Dr. Ted Epperly, board chairman of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Same goes for young women, though they should have regular gynecological appointments for Pap smears and breast exams.

That doesn't mean young people are home-free. If you're having symptoms of anything--worst headache ever, bleeding from somewhere, pain in your chest, pain that lasts for longer than normal or impairs your ability to function--you should be seen by a doctor, Epperly said.

Here are a few health issues to keep an eye on:

Alcohol
Men should have no more than two drinks per day, and women should have no more than one per day, Epperly said.  Alcohol causes damage to your liver, stomach and pancreas.

Depression
Young adulthood is a critical period for identifying mental health problems, which usually manifest by age 24. Depression is the most common problem, affecting 11 percent of young women and 6 percent of young men.

Hypertension & cholesterol
Three percent of young adults have hypertension (high blood pressure). The earlier you start treating it, the better chance of avoiding long-term problems such as heart attack, stroke and blindness, Epperly said. All adults over 20 should get a cholesterol test every five years, says the National Cholesterol Education Program.

Obesity
If you are 30 pounds over your ideal weight, you are approaching obesity, Epperly said. To calculate your ideal weight: For men, give yourself 106 pounds for five feet of height, then add six pounds for every inch of over five feet. For women, give yourself 100 pounds for five feet of height, then add five pounds for every inch over five feet. (This is a rough approximation; different body frames have different ideal weights).

Physical activity
Two-thirds of young adults don't get leisure physical activity. You should exercise at least 30 minutes per day, five days a week, Epperly said.

Sexually transmitted infections
Chlamydia, gonorrhea and HPV (human papillomavirus) peak during young adulthood, with 45 percent of women age 20 to 24 testing positive for HPV. Both men and women should get tested for STIs if they're having unprotected sex. The CDC recommends girls and women under 26 get the HPV vaccine. The CDC this month stated that males age 9 to 26 "may" also get the HPV vaccine to guard against genital warts.

Vaccines
In addition to an annual flu vaccine, adults are supposed to get a tetanus and diptheria vaccine every 10 years, and a whooping cough vaccine once between the ages of 18 and 65.

Cancer
Healthy lifestyle choices during young adulthood--including good nutrition, quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol--are key to reducing the risk of cancer later in life, said Holly Trandel, cancer risk reduction program coordinator for the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University.

Insurance

The Road to Your Healthy Self

Wellness


Being healthy has many dimensions. It’s a process and doesn’t happen overnight. First and foremost, you have to be in the right mind-set in order to achieve and maintain a healthy body and mind. It’s not just about losing weight and looking fit, but it’s about feeling healthy as well. There are many “get-slim fast” diets, like the lemonade diet, which has absolutely no nutritional value nor does it keep your weight off for longer than a week. So, if you want to loose the weight and keep it off, read on for a few tips to get you started

The three main components consist of:

Be Fit

This may seem so obvious, yet a lot of people avoid hitting the gym, because

a) they are too tired b) they are too busy c) they have better things to do.

But what these people don’t realize is that exercising is like taking the medicine your doctor prescribed – it’s essential to your overall health. Your body needs to be in constant motion throughout the day in order to fuel the body. So if you feel like you don’t have the energy to hit the gym, do a few quick exercises at home, but do something. Chances are you’ll be refreshed and energized afterwards.  Your body will be refueled, your muscles will roar and you’ll feel great about yourself. Try doing a few quick exercises at work to regain your energy. Exercise gets your heart pumping and can help give you more energy to make it through your day.

Eat Right

When it comes to food, moderation is key. It’s better to eat throughout the day than overindulge with large meal three times a day. If you keep snacking between breakfast and lunch, you are more likely to eat less for lunch and dinner. And of course by snacking I don’t mean chips, cookies or donuts, but what I mean is raisins, nuts and carrots. Also, can’t stress this one enough: drink plenty of H20. By drinking an ample amount of water you will avoid dehydration which can cause feelings of fatigue

Another important component of eating right is personalization. “There’s no one-size-fits-all diet plan,” says Tara Gidus, RD, an Orlando-based nutritionist. “It’s important to try different approaches and see what works for you,” says Rena Wing, PhD, cofounder of the National Weight Control Registry.

Think Well

Consider the “mind/body connection”, which means your body responds to the way you think, feel and act. Your stress level, anxiety or sadness affects your mood, hence affects your overall health of your body. If you feel good and happy, then you usually also look great. So, besides the two very important components of staying fit and eating right, you have to:

·         Think positively

·         Smile more often

·         Don’t let the little things get to you, because the only person you’ll be hurting in the process of these emotions is yourself.

Poor emotional health can also weaken your body's immune system, making you more likely to get colds and other infections.

Part of being healthy is to start improving your mental health. The following are some helpful tips from the Family Doctor

Express your feelings in appropriate ways. If feelings of stress, sadness or anxiety are causing physical problems, keeping these feelings inside can make you feel worse. It’s OK to let your loved ones know when something is bothering you. However, keep in mind that your family and friends may not be able to help you deal with your feelings appropriately. At these times, ask someone outside the situation--such as your family doctor, a counselor or a religious advisor--for advice and support to help you improve your emotional health.

Live a balanced life. Try not to obsess about the problems at work, school or home that lead to negative feelings. This doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be happy when you feel stressed, anxious or upset. It’s important to deal with these negative feelings, but try to focus on the positive things in your life too. You may want to use a journal to keep track of things that make you feel happy or peaceful. Some research has shown that having a positive outlook can improve your quality of life and give your health a boost. You may also need to find ways to let go of some things in your life that make you feel stressed and overwhelmed. Make time for things you enjoy.

Develop resilience. People with resilience are able to cope with stress in a healthy way. Resilience can be learned and strengthened with different strategies. These include having social support, keeping a positive view of yourself, accepting change, and keeping things in perspective.

Calm your mind and body. Relaxation methods, such as meditation, are useful ways to bring your emotions into balance. Meditation is a form of guided thought. It can take many forms. For example, you may do it by exercising, stretching or breathing deeply. Ask your family doctor for advice about relaxation methods.

Take care of yourself. To have good emotional health, it’s important to take care of your body by having a regular routine for eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep and exercising to relieve pent-up tension. Avoid overeating and don’t abuse drugs or alcohol. Using drugs or alcohol just causes other problems, such as family and health problems.

Are you a morning person?

Not me! Yet, we all feel the most alert in the morning, especially after a good night sleep. Here are a few tips to start off your day feeling refreshed:

  • Set your alarm for the latest possible moment so you're not tempted to fall back asleep.
  • Lose the snooze button. You might go back to sleep for a few minutes each time you hit the knob, "but you're getting crappy sleep," Breus
says. "You just feel worse."
  • Sit up and swing your legs over the side of the bed.
  • Breathe deeply three or four times to orient yourself to the real world.
  • Exercise first thing in the morning to energize your mind and body and boost your fitness. But don't choose exercise over getting the sleep you need.
    • Since sleep cycles range from 90 minutes, which means you need at least 7.5 hours of sleep each night. So, if you count backwards from when you have to wake up, you can figure out what time you need to go to sleep in order to wake more easily.

    Sleep cycles is another reason we feel so disoriented from a nap. To obtain a “successful nap” try to time them in 90 minute increments, otherwise you’ll just wake up cranky. "Most people hit their deepest sleep between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.," says WebMD sleep expert Michael Breus, PhD, D, ABSM, "so it's very hard to wake up during that time."

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    Vegetable juice is nutritious and delicious

    For decades, studies have stressed the importance of fruits and vegetables, yet nearly 8 out of 10 people worldwide fall short of the daily recommendation. Recent research conducted at the International Symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruits and Vegetables suggests to get at least 4 servings of fruits and veggies/day. The biggest issue with this is inconvenience. In today’s demanding workforce, people just don’t have the time to get enough of the recommended servings. But there is a solution!

    V8 100% vegetable juice can provide a more successful approach to reaching your daily intake of fruits and veggies.

    conducted a 12-week study among adults ages 40-65 years. All of the people in the study who drank at least two cups of vegetable juice met daily vegetable recommendations, yet only seven percent of the non-juice drinkers met the goal. The participants in the study with borderline high blood pressure who drank one to two servings of V8 juice lowered their blood pressure significantly. 

    The best part is the vegetable juice drinkers said they enjoyed the juice and felt like they were doing something good for themselves by drinking it.

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    The Fun Theory

     

    Taking the stairs is an excellent way to prevent the health problems that come with inactivity including obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Taking the stairs is a great way to get in shape, improve cardiovascular function and strengthen and tone the legs muscles.

    Given all our modern conveniences including cars, elevators, escalators, and computers, it is easy to go through a whole day without getting much physical activity. Activities that you can fit into your daily routine – like choosing the stairs instead of the elevator – is increasingly being urged by public health experts who point to mounting evidence that small amounts of exercise accumulated throughout the day can provide significant health benefits.

    It's important to make an acitivy FUN for people if you want them to pick up on the trend. This video perfectly illustrates my point: