Archives June 2013

I have fond memories of playing “pretend” tea parties with my childhood best friend Cathleen while giggling over our crushes. Inspired by the Mad Hatter’s tea party from “Alice In Wonderland,” I grew up loving morning, afternoon and evening tea moments shared with a friend or simply by myself.

Next to water, tea is the most common beverage choice worldwide. All types of tea,  whether green, black or oolong, come from one plant known as Camellia Sinensis. Color and flavor variations depend on processing methods used to produce tea.

Black Tea – exposing leaves to air causes them to turn deep red-brown in color. Black tea imparts a rich flavor. This is popular among Western countries and is used as a base ingredient for specialty teas. My favorites are the fragrant and citrus-flavored Earl Grey and Lady Grey. These are blended with Bergamot Orange, Seville orange and lemon.

Green Tea – leaves are simply heated or quickly steamed to preserve the green color. Green tea has a delicate flavor and is popular among Oriental countries like China and Japan.

Oolong Tea – a traditional Chinese tea that is “between’ black and green tea. Tea leaves are withered or allowed to wilt under the heat of the scorching sun.

Health-TEA Benefits

Tea houses and lounges are getting popular nowadays. Health claims about teas are emerging which led a lot people to ask me this question: Is tea beneficial or harmful to our health?

Tea has potential health benefits because it contains an antioxidant known as Flavonoids. Some studies have shown that tea’s flavonoids may reduce risk of developing gastric, esophageal and skin cancers. Brewing at least 3 minutes will bring out most of the flavonoids. Drinking 4 to 6 cups of tea a day may offer protective properties for the heart to prevent heart diseases and stroke. Tea also helps in cleansing the digestive system and is helpful when experiencing diarrhea.

Unhealth-TEA Precaution

Despite the apparent health benefits of drinking tea, there are some factors considered to be detrimental to health:

1. Be careful when taking tea formulas for weight loss. Excessive intake may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance due to its diuretic and laxative effect. Frequent urination and bowel movement can make one lose weight but will cause nutrient malabsorption and depletion.

2. People taking blood thinning medications such as  aspirin should avoid drinking tea at the same time. Both prevent platelets from clotting which increases the risk of bleeding.

3. When taking Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) for treatment of depression, tea should be avoided because it can cause a severe increase in blood pressure called “hypertensive crisis”

4. Bottled and canned tea drinks contain added sugars like sodas. Read the nutrition label to know how much calories there are per serving. Excessive intake could lead to weight gain.

Crea-TEA-ve Drinking

• Scared of consuming too much calories? Skip the sugar cubes and honey. Instead, flavor your tea with a slice of lemon, lime or calamansi. You can also add fresh ginger or mint leaves too! These natural alternatives will not only add flavor but will also soothe your senses  with their aromatic scents.

• Add 100 percent citrus juices for flavor. The Vitamin C-rich fruit juices will counteract the action of the flavonoids which inhibit the absorption of non-heme iron we get from grain products, legumes, green leafy vegetables and eggs.

• Add low-fat milk instead of creamer to your hot or cold black tea drink to increase calcium intake.

So while the world is waiting for more studies to prove the health benefits of tea, go ahead and enjoy a cup or two when you wake up, while at work, in an afternoon tea with friends, after dinner with your love ones,  or simply alone during your quiet moments. A cup of tea goes a long way for me and I wish to share this TEA-lightful experience with you.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”  – C.S. Lewis

(Hailing from Zamboanga City, 33 year-old Cheshire has worked with elite level of individual clients, celebrities and consultant for prestigious companies.  She is also the CEO of A-List Professional Health Consulting Co. Write her through [email protected].

When I was young, my mom used to give me a glass of milk and ‘Flintstones vitamins‘ everyday. She said it would make me healthy. At a very young age, my sister-in-law ate raw tomatoes daily because her mom said it would make her cheeks rosy and pretty.

Have you ever eaten a food because someone said it will make you more beautiful, healthier or even help you become an honor student?

Is there any truth behind all these claims about super foods? Let’s take a peek into the world of functional nutrition where foods have health benefits beyond basic nutrition. They are known as functional foods.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formerly known as American Dietetic Association, functional foods furnish energy; sustain growth; maintain and repair  vital processes in the body; reduce risk of developing diseases; and promote optimum health.

Functional food is different from dietary supplement which usually comes in the form of capsule, pill, tablet, liquid or powder. There are various types of functional foods but let us focus on conventional or whole foods. These are unmodified whole foods  like fruits and vegetables rich in bioactive compounds that influence body processes and functions.

What makes food functional? Phytonutrients or phytochemicals found in plant based foods are starting to play a big role in preventive health. How do they work? Phytonutrients act as antioxidants in the body which promotes healthy and beautiful skin among others. They also enhance immunity and communication among body cells; kill cancer cells; detoxify; and repair damaged cells thus preventing the development of cancer, heart disease and other chronic health conditions.

In retrospect, I should have listened to my mom’s endless nagging about eating fruits and vegetables when I was a kid. I could have been the “fairest of them all.” It’s never too late to start choosing foods that have the potential to make you healthier and more beautiful.

Phytonutrients are found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, teas, herbs and spices.

Grapes and Wine – contain a powerful antioxidant known as resveratrol that has been proven to promote a healthy heart.

Soybeans, Tofu and Soy milk – contain isoflavones which have estrogen-like properties that promote bone and heart health. Recent studies have shown that it could also help reduce menopausal symptoms among women.

Whole Grains, Nuts and Seeds – help control blood sugar level and neutralize free radicals that are harmful to the body.

Garlic, Onion and Chives – contain allyl sulfides that enhances immunity, detoxifies and promotes heart health.

Cranberries, Cocoa and Cinnamon – good for prevention of urinary tract infection and heart diseases.

Walnuts – contains the fatty acid omega-3 which has been proven to decrease triglyceride levels. It also promotes heart and brain health. Recent studies have shown its potential in decreasing inflammation.

Apples and Teas – also contain flavonols that help reduce bad cholesterol or LDL.

Yellow, Orange and Green Vegetables – promotes healthy vision.

Tomatoes – contain lycopene that can protect men against prostate cancer.

Psyllium and Oatmeal – contain soluble and insoluble fiber that have been proven to reduce cholesterol level as well as cleanse the digestive system.

Broccoli and Cruciferous Vegetables – enhances the immune system.

Kiwi – contains lutein that promotes healthy vision.

There are so many foods that can be considered functional. To ensure that we get our daily dose of phytonutrients, here are some tips to help you:

• Color your plates with fruits and vegetables

• Eat brown rice and whole grain cereals instead of refined grains

• Drink soy milk and replace high fat meat with tofu once in a while

• Drink a cup of green tea daily

• Top cereals with walnuts or add them to your sauce recipes when cooking

• Use garlic and onions to add flavor when cooking instead of using artificial flavoring.

A seasoned dietitian consultant for 10 years, Cheshire Que’s services include Medical Nutrition Therapy and Lifestyle & Weight Management programs for clients afflicted with lifestyle related diseases. One of her most recent achievements is pioneering of the first online diet tool in the country, www.myspadiet.com and My Spa Diet to Go! a complete wellness program with meal deliveries and antioxidant formulas. She is also the CEO of A-List Professional Health Consulting Co.