Abigails Herbs

After drinking your green tea, take the used green tea bags (wet) and chill them in the refrigerator. Apply the tea bags to your eyelids for 10 to 15 minutes, with your eyes closed, of course.

Green tea contains tannins, which act as an astringent when applied to the skin and can help to reduce eye puffiness. Be sure to sip at least three large mugs of green tea per day, eveyday, for an antioxidant boost. Research shows that green tea is super rich in inflammation-fighting antioxidants. So drink plenty of organic green tea and get an added extra health and beauty benefit of using the green tea bags on your eyes for the ultimate anti-puff treatment.

There is evidence that new research shows that adding green tea and capsaicin to your diet could cut down on appetite and cut caloric intake. Capsaicin is a pain killer; it is the chemical found in hot peppers that causes the hotness effect. It triggers metabolism into action and kick starts faster burning of calories.

Green tea has also been found to boost metabolism and burn calories faster. I drink one to two cups of green tea each morning and for lunch I eat fresh jalapeno peppers from my vegetable garden. I am receiving comments from my friends who notice that I am losing weight. Of course, I exercise consistently too.

Since it is so stimulating to your taste buds, capsaicin can help keep you from overeating. Toss some hot peppers into salads, salsas and stir-fries. Brew a couple cups of green tea and drink everyday to rev up  your metabolism. Remember that green tea contains caffeine, so be careful not to drink it too close to your bedtime.

The health benefits of green tea are nothing short of extraordinary. The Chinese have used green tea for centuries because they have been wise to the life generating properties of this marvelous herb.

Well, green tea extract, developed into a salad oil is a healthy add-on  to vegetables, casseroles, salads and other recipes. It also has a pleasant and yummy taste. Research has discovered that the catechins in green tea are 100% more effective than vitamin C at preventing heart disease as well as other major illnesses. It has been found that green tea is 25% better than vitamin E   in preventing and combating certain health disorders.

Green tea has a compound known as ECGC, which is powerful at preventing cancers and other potentially fatal human conditions. Out diet plays a major role in the game of health and wellness. The green tea salad oil is just another way that we can consume this valuable herb and stay healthy well until old age. Drinking it as a tea is another option.

Studies show that breakfast eaters are less likely to be fat or obese than people who skip breakfast. Breakfast eaters are also more productive and are better able to concentrate than those who do not eat breakfast. There are great benefits to eating breakfast to start your day; a morning meal shifts your body from an energy-conserving state into a calorie-burning machine. Green tea is a good breakfast drink because it gives your metabolism an extra boost.

Here is a wonderful recipe for a blueberry and green tea smoothie as a breakfast drink which is refreshing as well as nutritious:

1. Brew some wholesome green tea at night and chill it in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Place the tea along with 2 cups of  frozen or fresh blueberries, 3 to 6 ice cubes, 12 ounces of fat-free yogurt, 2 tbsp. of whole, dry-roasted unsalted almonds and 2 tbsp. of ground flaxseed in a blender and mix together until smooth.
3. Add more water to the blender if you use unfrozen blueberries.

This eight ounce drink has only 334 calories; it has 13 grams of protein and only one gram of fat. It is packed with 7 grams of  healthy fiber. The rich antioxidants in the green tea and blueberries protect your body’s cells from free radicals which damage DNA in the mitochondria; the key ingredient in your body’s calorie-burning process. Almonds provide natural protein and healthy monosaturated fat. Flaxseed has omega-3  fats, with lots of  inflammation-fighting properties.

Brewing the green tea at night saves time in the morning. Drink one of the smoothies and refrigerate the other smoothie to drink on the following day.

The catechins in oolong and green tea can speed up the body’s metabolism and thus, burn calories faster, making weight loss easier. In  a recent study done in Japan, it was revealed that just consuming one large cup of  oolong tea increased calories burnt  by up to 10%. Green tea raised metabolism by 4% for one and a half hours .

Various other studies show that drinking two to four cups of either green tea or oolong tea everyday, (about 375 to 675 milligrams of catechins), may add up to an extra 50 calories being burned up each day. That is about five pounds of  calories which would  be burned up in one year.

Green tea as well as oolong tea does contain caffeine, so do not drink these teas prior to bedtime. Instead, drink oolong or green tea for breakfast.  The caffeine in the tea  will help to wake up your metabolism. Instead of milk or cream, use some lemon in your tea. The addition of the lemon will help your body absorb more catechins and help your body to burn calories and fat even faster.

The anti-cancer mechanisms of green tea are unsurpassed. Green tea has been shown to be effective in suppressing cancer development at  multiple stages in laboratory and experimental animal studies. It may also enhance the anti-cancer effects of some chemotherapeutic drugs. This benefit of green tea consumption was observed only in high volume tea drinkers who had ready access to high quality  green teas in the East.

Green tea or Camellia sinensis, is an acknowledged cancer-preventive beverage in Japan. Using foods as medicine is the most effective way to prevent disease. Chinese physicians were using  foods as medicine to prevent diseases about 5000 years ago. The Greek physician, Hippocrates (from about 400 B.C.), also relied on proper diet to prevent and treat disease.

Green tea inhibits tumor promoters through the polyphenols in the tea. It also inhibits the synthesis of inflammatory enzymes which cause cancer. Green tea catechins are antioxidants against free radicals, which reduce  DNA damage by carcinogens.

Green tea inhibits telomerase activity. Telomerase is an enzyme that helps cancer cells to divide and multiply. The EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) in the green tea is the strong inhibitor of telomerase activity.

Green tea induces apoptosis. The process of apoptosis is defined as programmed cancer cell death. There are 37 reports found in the U.S. National Library of Medicine which show the  effectiveness of  the relationship between green tea consumption and cancer risk in humans.  Based on the these important scientific studies, green tea helps to fight cancer at numerous stages, ranging from suppression of the formation of carcinogens to hindering tumor metasteses after the cancer has been established. This is great news.

Ajwain or Bishop’s Weed is rich in calcium and iron. It grows in the rich soil on the riverbanks of  Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan. The seeds of the ajwain plant are crushed and then oil is extracted through a steam distillation process. Thymol is the active medicinal property found in ajwain. The oil has a sharp, hot and pungent taste.

Thyme, sage and parsely are essential oils which blend well with Ajwain oil. It is a natural cleanser, especially for eyes and ears. Ajwain is used to treat the following conditions:

• flatulence
• cough
• common colds
• hayfever,
• diarrhea
• toothache
• fever
• ringworm
• indigestion
• colic
• bronchitis

As a powerful antiseptic, it kills germs and contains the following important ingredients:

• moisture protein
• fat
• minerals
• protein
• carbohydrates
• calcium
• phosphorous
• carbohydrates
• iron
• carotene
• thiamine
• riboflavin
• niacin

Warning:  Pregnant women should not use ajwain.

Hot and cold flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and frequent  perspiration are the major symptoms of menopause. Most women will tell you that it is not fun.  At night, kicking the bed covers off during intense perspiration and hot flashes; then, waking up feeling cold and clammy only to pull the covers back up to keep from shivering is not the best way to experience growing older.

Over the long term, a women’s deteriorating estrogen supply increases her propensity toward heart disease, osteoporosis and vaginal atrophy (shrinkage and dryness). With a proper diet, exercise regimen and nutritional supplements, we are able to minimize and even eliminate most of the unpleasant side effects of menopause.

Eating foods high in the B vitamins, soybeans and raw fruits and vegetables will minimize these awful symptoms. Here are some herbal remedies which help address menopausal discomfort:

1. St. John’s wort helps with depression or anxiety.
2. Damiana enhances sexual desire and pleasure.
3. Siberian ginseng aids in relieving depression and in the production of estrogen.
4. A paste made from aloe vera gel and slippery elm powder when inserted into the vagina at night can relieve vaginal dryness.
5. Amaranth, chickweed, dandelion greens, nettle, seaweed and watercress are rich in calcium, which helps prevent osteoporosis.
6. Anise, block cohosh, rasberry, licorice, sage and wild yam root are natural estrogen promoters, just like soy.
7. Hops and valerian root helps to calm the body, promoting  a restful night’s sleep.
8. Gotu kola, red clover, black cohosh and dong quai relieve depression, hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Warnings:  Never use sage if you have any type of seizure disorder.  Avoid taking Siberian ginseng if you have high blood pressure, hypoglycemia or a heart disorder. Lastly, do not use licorice for more than seven days in a row, and completely avoid it if you have elevated blood pressure.

Green tea has been popular in Asia for thousands of years. Western countries have always been more familiar with black tea. The difference between black tea and green tea lies simply in their processing. Black tea is fermented, however, green tea is prepared from steamed, dried leaves, and is not permitted to ferment. This minimal processing helps the tea to retain more of its’ green color. It has a fresh flavor and the lack of processing also preserves the active ingredients that produce the tea’s health benefits.

Green tea may help to do the following:

• prevents  tooth decay
• lowers  and prevents  high blood pressure
• prevents  heart disease
• invigorates the body, giving increased energy
• improves concentration
• stimulates the body’s metabolism, aiding in weight loss

The fluoride in green tea is what hardens teeth enamel and prevents decay.  Fluoride is a trace element. The most active ingredient in green tea is caffeine. If you are trying to give up coffee, switching to green tea will help to keep the java headaches away. It increases mental alertness and lowers cholesterol. Green tea contains no calories and is is very nutritional. Because of the tannins, polyphenols, essential oils,vitamins, minerals and trace elements, its health benefits are just unbelievable!  It improves circulation, purifies the blood and protects the liver.

Here are directions on how to prepare green tea:

1. Place one rounded teaspoon of tea leaves in a teapot. Use a tea sac or a tea ball to enclose the tea leaves.
2. Heat the water  until it is simmering (160 degress Farenheit).
3. Do not allow the water to reach a boiling point because vigorously boiling water can destroy the tea’s gentle flavor.
4. Pour the water over the tea leaves; cover the pot.
5. For a mild flavor, let the pot stand 2-3 minutes.
6. For a stronger flavor, steep for 4-6 minutes.

Warning: Green tea contains a high caffeine content. Pregnant women should avoid herbal teas for the safety of the baby.