Food | What Steven Cousley Does

What Are The Benefits of Green Tea?

Food, Health, Home Remedies, Medical No Responses »

Feb 222009

Green tea is well known to be one of the best health drinks around. The Chinese have known about the health benefit of green tea for more than 4,000 years. Recent research has confirmed the benefit of drinking green tea which is why we should drink it as well and experience it for ourselves.

The benefits of drinking green tea include regulating your blood sugar, preventing certain cancers, fighting plaque, lowering your cholesterol and slowing down the aging process.

But what makes green tea so special is the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols (flavonoids), particularly epigallocatechin gallate also known as EGCG.

This is a powerful anti-oxidant that does two things. First it inhibits the growth of cancer cells and second, it kills cancer cells without harming any healthy tissue. It also lowers your cholesterol which reduces the abnormal formation of blood clots, reducing the risk of either a heart attack or stroke.

Another green tea benefit is it’s ability to fight tooth decay because it inhibits the major bacteria called Streptococcus mutans from forming in between the teeth. At the same time, drinking this regularly also helps prevent gum disease and bad breath.

Some people might ask, don’t other types of tea have the same benefits as green tea? They do but what sets green tea apart is how it is processed. During processing, green tea leaves are steamed. This steaming prevents the oxidation of EGCG during later stages of processing. Other teas, such as black tea or oolong tea, are not steamed. As a result of this steaming process, green tea contains higher levels of EGCG than other teas.

So what are you waiting for? Go down to the supermarket and buy a box of green tea and start drinking it so you are able to experience its many healthy benefits. If you find the taste bland after you pour it into your cup, add some flavoring by adding sugar, honey or even a lemon wedge.

You might be wondering, when is the best time to drink green tea? Since it contains caffeine, the best time for all of the green tea effects would be first thing in the morning. You can have more at different times during the day. However it is best to avoid any drink that contains caffeine when you are hungry because this will just increase your appetite or at night because it will make it hard for you to get a good night’s sleep.

Since it will take some time to finish a box of green tea, proper storage is important. To do that, make sure this is kept in an airtight container once you open it and away from light. You can also put it in the refrigerator at a temperature between 38 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

People who are allergic to caffeine should not drink green tea. If you are pregnant, drink this in moderation. If you happen to have some left over green tea from the day before, throw it away and just make a new one because it is best to drink when it is fresh from the kettle.

Green tea just like coffee contains caffeine. This might lead you to the conclusion that this makes this drink just as bad as coffee but in reality, it isn’t because the caffeine content in green tea is fifty percent less than coffee.

There is no doubting the green tea health benefit. If you have never tried it before, it is never too late to start. Boil a pot of water and put in a tea bag or some green tea leaves.

Salt Intake and Your Fitness – Too Much Or Not Enough Sodium Can Be Bad For the Body

Health, Home Remedies, Medical No Responses »

Jan 242009

When it comes to health and fitness – the public is mostly
focused on carbs, protein and fat. But there are other
important elements of your daily diet that need to be
managed for optimal health and fitness.

One of these elements, sodium (salt), should get more
special attention. We do that here in this simple Q & A
discussion:

QUESTION: “I always hear that eating foods with too much
salt is not good for my health and fitness levels, but is
it also possible to suffer from not getting enough salt in
my daily diet?”

ANSWER: “Absolutely. For your body to function optimally,
you need at least 500 milligrams of sodium/salt per day.
It’s required by the body for transmitting nerve impulses,
helping muscles (including the heart) contract properly and
sustaining the body’s pH and fluid balance (both inside the
cells and outside) at ideal levels.

However, considering you can get that much sodium from just
1/4 teaspoon of salt, it’s not surprising that a low salt
intake is definitely not a problem in the U.S. Considering,
the estimated average sodium intake for Americans is about
4,000 to 6,000 milligrams a day – there is a higher
prevalence of too much sodium intake.

Authorities currently recommend a limit zone of under two
thousand four hundred (2400) milligrams a day to reduce the
risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Some experts think it should be even lower.

So, what might we do?

It appears that some people are more likely to be affected
by sodium intake than others, and since we don’t know
exactly who they are, keeping sodium in check, in general,
is a good thing to do for your health and long term fitness.

An interesting note; There is new found interest in
sodium’s negative effect on bone health, adding another
reason to keep salt intake levels at reasonable
amounts(especially in women).

But, too little sodium?

Let’s face it… that’s likely not an issue for any
American.

Here’s what most fitness experts do. First and foremost -
if we add salt to any of our dishes – it’s Sea Salt – not
regular table salt.

Second – We generally buy foods that have no added salt or
- they have lower levels added – and we are even finding
healthy packaged foods that use Sea Salt instead of regular
salt.

Third – and very important – because we are active people,
our sodium intake has much less ill effect on us than it
would a sedentary, couch potato type person. We sweat more
and we use up salt as part of our electrolytes – so we
don’t give them a chance to build up in our bodies.

So, if you are an active person, who eats well, hydrates
sensibly and exercises regularly – you should not have
anything to worry about in terms of your sodium intake.

Special cases, such as family history (genetics) will have
some influence on your sensitivity to salt intake. And, for
women, your sensitivity to salt intake may vary throughout
your cycle.

—————————————————-
‘The Womens’ Trainer’ – Joey Atlas, Exercise Physiologist,
is the pro behind the Top Butt, Hip and Thigh Toning Home
Exercise Program for Women at:
http://www.ButtHipandThighMakeover.com

Where I’ve been hiding

Food, Online Business No Responses »

Oct 292008

I haven’t really been hiding but I’ve been so busy learning the ropes over on Squidoo that my blog has been a bit neglected the past few weeks.

Until I joined Squidoo I hadn’t realised how much potential there was for earning some great “passive” income. Simply by creating Squidoo lenses that get interest from the general public you get to share in Squidoo’s revenue earning.

So far I’ve built 16 lenses, which is really easy by the way. Just choose the modules you want on the page and add content. 6 of those look like being money makers and that is with very little effort to promote them. With a little bit of time spreading the links around I could do even better. Admittedly it would take hundreds of active lenses to produce what I would call an “income”, but it is possible. Even without that level of effort there is some nice spare change to be made.

The other really nice feature about Squidoo is that part of the sites overall revenue is given to charity. So anything you do to build and promote your own lenses is helping out someone else in need. If you choose you can donate all or just part of your personal earnings as well.

For a sample of what I’ve been doing over there, here’s my latest lens on a topic I know a little bit about, What is bread improver

And these are some of my most poular lenses so far, seems to be a fair bit of interest in recipes.
Yeast Free Bread Recipe
Easy French Toast Recipe
How to Make Ciabatta Bread
Simple Gluten Free Bread Recipe

If you can’t tell already, I really really like Squidoo.

How is Chocolate Good For You?

Food, Home Remedies, Medical, Self-Improvement No Responses »

Sep 112008

Eat Healthy Chocolate, A Natural Weight Loss Product…
If you’re looking to quickly and safely melt off those
excess pounds I want you to read this brief article,
because at first it’s impossible to think that the words
chocolate and weight loss could be combined in just one
sentence.

However, more and more studies are released about the
benefits of this all natural product and what amazing
effects it can have on our physical and mental body. Of
course I am not writing about the majority of the chocolate
which is sold in stores today.

Unfortunately these chocolates are ‘processed’ (heated
during manufacturing which is called ‘the dutching
process’) and because of that there is an incredible
percentage lost in antioxidant levels. Also the adding of
sugars, fats and preservatives will not contribute to a
very healthy product.

What if there is an alternative that could maintain its
nutritional value? Rather than heat the cacao, it is cold
pressed, so it allows to maintain all the benefits and
healthful properties, such as flavonoids, antioxidants,
high ORAC scoring, high fiber and low sugars. Because of
the bitter taste of this natural healthy chocolate it’s
combined with very healthy and tasteful berries like the
Acai and Blueberry.

Now we know there is actually a healthy and tasteful
chocolate, can it also be used as a weight loss product?
There are several studies and testimonials that prove that
unprocessed chocolate can be a natural weight loss product.
First of all, cocoa contains potential mood elevating
chemicals. It may help you feel more energetic. The chance
of exercising will be increased.

Do not underestimate peoples snacking habits. If you grab a
piece of the healthy chocolate versus a bar containing
lots of sugars and fats, the benefits of eating healthy
chocolate will be huge because of the feeling of snacking
will disappear. The biggest problem of people gaining
weight is a lack of exercise and irregular eating. Without
dieting, calorie counting, watching your carb intake or hit
the gym every day for 3 houres, you can easliy lose some
weight by doing this simple steps of eating healthy
chocolate.

In conclusion, let’s go melt away those unwanted lbs and
regain that look you’ve been dreaming about… let’s regain
that self confidence, let’s put that sputter back in your
step and get that sparkle back in your eye. It can be done
by simply taking this natural weight loss product and as a
bonus, this healthy chocolate is 100% all natural,
certified Kosher, vegan friendly and diabetic safe.

—————————————————-
To learn more about this natural weight loss product, visit
Richard’s Healthy Chocolate website,
http://www.JoinHealthyChocolate.com
Author: Richard van Beek is one of the top marketers in
the home business industry. Richard is passionate about
sharing health and wellness with others. He also devotes
the time, energy, and effort into his team and works with
them to ensure their success.

Herbal Foods that Speed Up Your Metabolism and Help You Lose Weight

Food, Self-Improvement 2 Responses »

Sep 022008

Herbs to Help You Lose Weight and Rev Your Metabolism
Losing weight has many more benefits than a smaller body.
Weight loss can help give you more energy, fit easier into
clothes, lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes,
and can give you confidence and a powerful feeling that you
accomplished such a difficult task!

But losing weight is hard and we need all the help we can
get. Along with dieting, exercise, and plastic surgery,
what else can you do? Herbal products might be your answer.

Herbal weight loss products are in great demand for people
who want to lose weight the natural way. They are safe and
can even add to your health beyond weight loss. Some
nutritionists and herbal doctors call herbs “condensed
nutrition,” because they add loads of natural nutrients in
very small amounts.

However, be careful since there are a lot of herbal weight
loss products available in the market. Some herbs can
interact with medications, so if you take a regular
medication, check with your doctor before taking anything.

Herbs to watch out for are ephedra and senna. It is now
well known that ephedra dangerously increases heart rate
and has traditionally been used by Eastern Doctors for
treatments of lung problems – not weight loss. Senna is a
laxative and highly addictive – as with any laxative, it
does not help you lose weight.

Herbs that aid in weight loss will act on your digestion
and metabolism. They can actually increase thermogenesis,
which is your body’s ability to burn fat. Here’s a list of
herbs that can help in your weight loss program:

Green Tea has been shown in studies to increase weight
loss. People who took green tea were found to lose two to
three times more weight than those who did not drink it.
It is also becoming clear that drinking green tea on a
regular basis helps people lose belly fat quicker than
those who don’t drink it. This is highly beneficial since
the fat that accumulates around the mid-section or
abdominal area can signify a much higher risk for heart
disease and stroke.

Green tea also helps suppress the appetite and is full of
antioxidants to help your body fight cancer naturally.
Four cups a day is usually the recommended amount, but if
you just don’t have time to drink that much, you can find a
green tea supplement at your local health food store.

Nettle is an herb that helps your body cleanse and
detoxify. This is very beneficial for weight loss since
excess weight is waste that the body needs to eliminate -
or cleanse. Nettles contain serotonins which has a calming
influence and creates feelings of satiation after eating.
Because of this, herbal products that help control food
cravings usually contain nettle.

Cayenne pepper has long been used by body builders and
other athletes to reduce body fat. It is well known to
stimulate digestion, which in turn increases metabolism and
fat burning. It has also been used to strengthen the heart.

Kelp is a type of seaweed that is a natural stimulant for
the thyroid. This is beneficial for weight loss since a
sluggish thyroid can promote fat storage and weight gain.
Kelp can attract and remove harmful chemicals from the body
that may contribute to a sluggish thyroid and a sluggish
metabolism.

Apple Cider Vinegar has been shown in studies to lower
glucose levels, lower bad cholesterol and lower blood
pressure. It has been used for thousands of years to aid
in weight loss by helping the body detoxify and helping you
feel satisfied after eating.

These herbs and supplements are easy additions to any
weight loss or fat loss program. Herbs can make your
weight loss goals more attainable while adding other
numerous health benefits. They can also help you to stave
off cravings and keep your mood up. Check out your local
health food store and see what they have to offer.

—————————————————-
Cindy is a Certified Nutritional Counselor and has been
helping clients stay healthy, fit and young for 15 years.
Learn more about weight loss at
http://www.springclean-cleanse.com/healthy-weight-loss-clean
se.html and fat loss at
http://www.springclean-cleanse.com/fat-loss-cleanse.html

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