Pu-erh tea: About this new Celebrity Slimming tea

Pu-erh tea has been known for more than a thousand years in China, with a relatively lower profile to other more elegant Chinese tea varieties. Recently however it has acquired celebrity status in China, attracting much attention and investment due alleged weigh reducing and nourishment properties.

This notoriety has now spread outside of China due to the obesity pandemic in western societies.

Context and background to Pu-erh Tea:

There are six main categories of Chinese teas (green tea, oolong tea etc), each categorized by the degree of fermentation achieved during processing: Green teas are unfermented, Oolong teas are semi fermented, black teas are fully fermented. Pu-erh tea belongs to the 'compressed tea category'.

The name 'Pu-erh' relates to this teas place of origin - Pu-erh village, Yun Nan province of south-west China. Traditional Pu-erh teas were pressed into cakes, bricks or balls. This compression facilitates the post-fermenting process - which is as noted the distinguishing feature of this tea. (Teas in other categories are usually presented in a loose leaf form.)

Fermentation in the context of tea production is similar to the process that occurs naturally when fruits discolour (ie a pear turns brown). This process is known as enzymatic oxidation. In tea production the process is controlled via suitable application of temperature and light at the correct processing stage.

Post-fermentation means that Pu-erh tea continues to ferment after production. In this respect it is similar to wine, it's value similarly increases with the increasing smoother texture, more delicate fragrance and aroma. This principle however only applies to good quality Pu-erh teas - once again similar to wine (no matter how long you store a low quality wine, you will not magically generate a high quality wine one day).

Special Pu-erh tea plants

The Pu-erh tea plants differ from the other tea plants, although they all belong to the Camellia Sinesis family.

Most other teas are harvested from tea plants that are best described as tea shrubs. These plants generally have leaves that are much smaller then Pu-erh tea leaves and have been carefully cultivated through selection to accentuate some aspect of a valued tea property.

The traditional Pu-erh plants, on the other hand are wild trees growing in forests. The tea leaves are larger: A fully grown pu-erh tea leaf could be as long as an adult's hand span, compared to less than 5cm (a child's palm) for other tea varieties. These treas are generally older then tea shrubs. (There are certain trees in the Yun Nan province that locals believe are many hundred years old!)

Pu-erh tea and fat reduction properties

Pu-erh tea is traditionally consumed in areas of China such as Yun Nan and Tibet with a tradition of having high fat diets (ie lamb, horse meat, dairy products in the Mongol tradition). These people didn't manifest the ill effects normally associated with such a diet, giving rise to a belief that the diet was balanced by some factor associated with the Pu-erh tea targeted at reducing body fat.

Some studies were initiated to study this aspect of Pu-erh tea. One laboratory study compared fat reducing effects by tea extract and concluded : "fully fermented pu-erh and black tea leaves and partially fermented oolong tea leaves were more effective on their growth suppressive and hypolipidemic effects as compared to the non-fermented green tea leave." [Kuo KL, Weng MS, Chiang CT, Tsai YJ, Lin-Shiau SY, Lin JK. Comparative studies on the hypolipidemic and growth suppressive effects of oolong, black, pu-erh, and green tea leaves in rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Jan 26;53(2):480-9]

In other words this study suggested Pu-erh tea slows fatty acid synthesis to assist in achieving a lower blood fat (lipid) level then might otherwise been achieved. More research however is required, especially with human subjects, before conclusive results can be drawn.

Meanwhile Pu-erh tea's fat reducing properties remain a tantalizing theory. Pu-erh tea is a premium Chinese tea that should be enjoyed firstly, with contributory benefits also available in many areas like most of Chinese teas, including weight control potentials.

Use of Pu-erh or other Chinese teas to assist weight control?

Teas have long been considered as functional food for weight management. For use of tea in weight control program, it is recommended to choice a few quality teas that you enjoy (ie green tea, white tea, oolong tea or Pu-erh tea) and then adapt these into your life style. For example develop the habit of drinking teas at work or gradually replace drinks of high sugar content with teas etc. Together with a good balanced diet and regular exercise, the extra weight will go naturally.

Chinese people enjoyed drinking teas for thousands of years. They did this in association with the naturally balanced Chinese diet and often associated with a lifestyle involving some degree of physical labour. They were doing this well before the western world discovered their health benefits, including weight control. The Chinese physique at the time was not generally prone to the afflictions of obesity affecting many people in increasing numbers currently in affluent western cultures. There is a lesson here in regards to the positive effects of balanced lifestyle and diet.

In Chinese medicine, herbal tea recipes were also utilised for weight control when required. These might involve say a mix of Oolong tea with lotus leaf and other herbs each contributing complimentary factors to assist with weight control.

About the Author

EnJie is the owner of Valley Green Tea : a site promoting premium grade Chinese tea. EnJie sells quality Pu-erh tea on-line and comments on related preparation and health aspects.

What is Acai Berry?

Recent studies have shown that the acai berry, acai berry pills and acai fruit can be extremely beneficial to health. But what is the acaiberry? The acai berry comes from acai trees which grow in the rainforests of Brazil, Panama, Trinidad, Ecuador and even French Guyana. Acai berry pills are made from dried acai fruit or from extracts made from the acaiberry- these supplements are taken to help stop the effects of certain health conditions, or even in the prevention of them.

The acai berry has large amounts of antioxidants in it, along with certain fatty acids. Not to mention, acai fruit also has large amounts of fiber, protein, B, C and E vitamins, iron and calcium in it. There are also large amounts of amino acids in the acaiberry. This combination of vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids packs a powerful punch, so that the acai berry and acai berry pills have taken the alternative medicine industry by storm.

Acai berry extracts and acai berry pills, along with acai fruit, are most commonly taken for weight loss. This is because the fiber in acai fruit and acaiberry helps your body to digest food more efficiently, and it also makes you feel full quicker, so you're less likely to overeat.

Acaiberry and acai berry pills are also good for you being able to sleep better. This is because acai berry and acai fruit contains nutrients and vitamin B that will control hormones and chemicals in the brain that are responsible for relaxation and muscle regeneration. This helps you sleep better.

Acai berry and acai fruit can be put on top of cereal or eaten as part of a trail mix or snack, if you're able to find fresh or dried acaiberry, and this will just help you general overall health. Acai berry pills are the next best thing however, as long as they have a good amount of acaiberry extract in them, and they will also do the same job as the dried or fresh acai fruit.

Because acai berry, acai berry pills and acai fruit all contain a large amount of nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins- this makes the acaiberry a good supplement for general overall health- along with being a good supplement for specific conditions. The acai berry can be used to increase energy, help you sleep better, improve your body's alertness levels, relax muscles (which promotes healing!), and even help prevent heart disease.

If you are uncertain as to whether or not acai berry or acai fruit is the right supplement for you, discuss the possible benefits of acaiberry and acai berry pills with your physician.

About the Author

You can learn more about Acai Berry at http://acaifacts.net. Get a free acaiberry trial.

Goji Berries and Improved Vision

Improved vision is just one of the beneficial effects of eating a daily serving of Goji berries. The substances in this fruit make the eyes more resistant to disease, more adaptable to the environment, and less prone to fatigue.

Adaptation to the environment is aided by Goji.

When you eat Goji berries, your eyes will adjust to different levels of darkness much more rapidly than they would otherwise. You do not have to wait as long for your eyes to focus in the dark if you have been eating your Goji berries. It makes you less vulnerable in dark parking lots and less overwhelmed by bright sun.

Goji berries help to fight eye fatigue.

If you are working for hours over books or at a computer, your eyes are bound to get tired and sore. By eating some Goji berries, you can revitalize your eyes quickly and get back to work in no time. If you are a regular consumer of this fruit, you will find that your eyes seldom get tired at all. This can also help you in driving, especially at night.

Goji berries help with eye diseases.

Macular degeneration is a condition in which you lose the center of your visual field. If you have advanced stages of this disease, you have peripheral vision only. People who are older are at a higher risk of getting this disorder. It has been shown through research that zeaxanthin is vital in protecting the maculae. This antioxidant is found in rich supply and easily absorbed by the body from Goji berries, so eating them is a preventative for those who might otherwise develop macular degeneration.

Zeaxanthin and lutein are two components of a beneficial eye health program. The polysaccharides in Goji berries contain both ingredients. They not only make vision sharper; they also help to protect the retina. Therefore, people with diabetes have just one more reason to eat Goji berries. Along with blood sugar regulation and weight loss benefits, Goji berries also help prevent diabetic retinopathy.

The carotenoids in Goji berries are extremely beneficial to eye health, but they do not just prevent eye diseases. They also help people who have already been diagnosed with the problems. People who have macular degeneration or cataracts have reported improvement after eating Goji berries regularly. The conditions may not go away altogether, but the Goji berries make them more bearable.

Goji berries are excellent for anyone who wants improved vision. It only takes a small amount of berries every day to really make a difference. The rewards of eating Goji berries to help with vision problems or prevent eye conditions are great considering how easy it is to add them to your diet.

The author manages a business offering Goji Berries, Goji Berry Juice and Goji Seeds for sale.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roger_Glass

5 Healthy Fruits That You Will Love to Eat

Forget the magic pills promoted by salesmen; nature has it's own anti-aging food - blueberries. Blueberries are rich sources of antioxidants that neutralize the unstable and harmful free radicals in our bodies. Blueberries are known to improve the short term memory and improve night vision. Plus, they contain resveratrol, potentially an anti-cancer agent,, in addition vitamin to C and E.

There are many great ways to eat blueberries. Of course, if you eat them fresh you will get more nutrients than if you eat them cooked. You can use them to make a fresh fruit salad, or eat them fresh with other foods. A handful of blueberries can taste awful good, too.

Black Currants

Great for cardiovascular health, weight loss, and the health of your vision, black currants are also easy to make a part of your regular diet. The antioxidant polyphenol in black currants protects the body from disease; for this reason, black currants have been used as a natural remedy for centuries. Pound for pound black currants have more vitamin C than oranges, making them one of the best sources of vitamin C.

Goji Berries

Considered one of the world's most powerful anti aging foods, goji berries boast antioxidants and polysaccharides that reduce the speed of aging and help the body recover. Goji can also boost the immune system, boost energy levels, and improve overall body function and health.

Goji juice is probably the easiest and tastiest way to eat goji berries. Goji is very hard to find fresh - pretty much impossible for most people. Dried berries aren't as tasty as the juice.

Cranberries

Cranberries are an amazing source of nutrients: Rich in vitamin C, they are also great antioxidants, and great sources of phytochemicals. They also contain Hippuric acid (a antibacterial), potassium , Vitamin A, and many trace nutrients. Cranberries have been used for years to combat urinary tract infections.

You'll want to eat your cranberries fresh to get the most nutrients. They can be rather sour plain, but you can easily make a healthy salad with plain yogurt, nuts and honey.

Kiwi

Kiwi fruits have a variety of great nutrients - The fruit contains Serotonin which has a calming affect on the nerves, reducing stress. Plus, the large number of electrolytes in the fruit make it a great option for those who regularly find themselves short on energy. In fact, it is regularly used by athletes because of its minerals and electrolytes. The presence of Inositol in the kiwi makes it great for diabetes patients, as it helps regulate the body hormones and neurotransmitters.

Learn how goji juice can help your health. Visit our Australian goji site and jugo goji site

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabriel_J._Adams

Antioxidants and Anti-aging - Fact Or Fiction?

For a while now there has been a debate as to whether or not antioxidants play a role in the anti-aging process. Many natural health experts, as well as myself, believe that antioxidants are one of the best anti-aging nutrients out there.

The idea that antioxidant anti-aging is effective has been debated by some because there is not any concrete proof that antioxidants slow the aging process. The lack of proof is due to the fact that the physical results are not immediate so providing a direct link between an antioxidants and anti-aging is hard to do.

I suggest that you do your own research to find out how your diet can affect the aging process and the appearance of your skin. Try different things as well as antioxidants and see what kind of results you get. But give it some time as stated above, your results will not be immediate.

What Causes The Physical Signs Of Aging?

You have oxidants that are in the form of free radicals within your body. These free radicals have the ability to carry oxygen and combine with most of the cells within your body.

As these free radicals mix inside your body, they damage the cells they encounter. If you are young your body has the ability to regenerate cells quickly so this is not something to be worried about.

However, if you are 30-35 or older these free radicals can create a lot of damage because the cells in your body cannot reproduce as quickly as they used to. This is what causes your skin to sag and wrinkle. For an example of what I am talking about, cut an apple in half and leave it exposed for about five minutes and see what happens.

What Does an Antioxidant Do?

An antioxidant does the exact opposite of what the oxidants do. As a matter of fact antioxidants are usually able to reverse what the oxidants do. This is why I, as well as many other natural health experts, believe that antioxidants are in fact linked to anti-aging.

Where Do I Find Antioxidants?

My first suggestion is to drink pure acai berry or goji berry juice. It can be found online or at your local health food store. These superfruits are loaded with antioxidants.

Other dark colored fruits or berries, such as blueberries and grapes contain a lot of antioxidants. This is also why a glass or two of red wine every day is great for aging defense.

You can also get antioxidants from eating fresh, wild caught sea food as well as vegetables. Just like the fruits, the dark colored vegetables are the ones that contain the antioxidants. These vegetables include:
* Carrots
* Tomatoes
* Cabbage
* Water melon
* Broccoli
* Cucumber etc.

Although it is debatable, to me there is no question that antioxidants and anti-aging go hand in hand. Obviously all of the above suggestions need to be done in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise as they too play a very important part in reversing the aging process.

Do some research, try some things for yourself, and do whatever works for you. Good luck on your journey towards health and wellness!

Brue M. Baker, is an expert on natural health and fitness who has helped people from across the world sky-rocket their health and well-being. Rather than hitting your head against a wall trying to find unbiased health information let Brue take you by the hand and give you the best natural health information and resources on the web. Visit DietHealthAndFitness.com to learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brue_Baker