5 Facts About Tea

Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. What is the first? Well water of course! But after water it is tea. There are so many variations to this beverage that it is easy to see how it is the second most consumed beverage.
You can drink it hot or cold, it can be made from traditional tea leaves, exotic blends of herbs and fruits, and out of other types of plant materials and roots!
There are just so many types of tea that this alone explains how it is the second most consumed beverage in the world.
Just as there are many different kinds and types of tea, there are many bizarre tea facts. We are going to share five Tea Facts with you in this article.
Tea Fact #1
The True Age of TeaTea is often said to be traced back to a Chinese Emperor, Shen Nung who live over 4700 years ago. Although this is likely not true, the earliest record that confirms the cultivation of tea is dated to the 4th century China. Drinking tea leaves steeped in a tea pot did not become popular until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and modern tea drinking is about the same age.
Tea Fact #2
Tea Contains Less Caffeine than CoffeeTea contains about 50% less caffeine than coffee, making it a great alternative to those that are sensitive to caffeine intake. Tea can also be made to be decaffeinated as most of the caffeine is released in the first few minutes of the steep.
Tea Fact #3
Tea is Money!!Until the nineteenth century, solid blocks of tea were used as money in Siberia. Who would believe that tea blocks were used as currency!
Tea Fact #4
North Americans Love Tea!While England is the one of the countries that is acclaimed for its tea consumption, 5 out of 6 North Americans drink tea! (Whoa! What a tea fact! I would have never guessed!) It is the most popular and cheapest beverage, next to water, in the world.
Tea Fact #5
White Tea Vs Green TeaWhite Tea has a higher anti-oxidant level than green tea, making it superior in it's ability to boost the immune system and heal the body.
I hope you enjoyed these interesting facts about Tea!

Massage Helps Promote Better Overall Health

Although massage is only within the past few decades becoming recognized in the western world as a useful component in the health care system, other cultures have incorporated massage as part of medical treatment and healthy living for many hundreds of years.
For example, in Thailand, massage techniques are taught within the family, passed down from parents to children. Traditional Thai massage involves not only the hands, but also the arms, elbows, knees and feet, applying therapeutic pressure and massaging the various parts of the body. Interestingly, there is a second modality of Thai massage, Royal Thai massage, in which only the hands are used. This is because it is believed that other parts of the massage practitioner's body besides the hands should never be used to touch a member of the royal family.
Other examples of ancient cultures that utilize massage are China and India. Traditional Chinese Medicine, which also makes use of traditional medicinal herbs and acupuncture, includes a modality of Chinese massage called Tianu, while Ayuervedic massage is an integral component of the kind of total health care practiced in India.
There are many ways massage helps to promote better overall health. First, it relaxes the body and helps reduce the effects of stress. Next, it increases circulation in the muscles and throughout the system, helping to clear toxins out of the body. Some modalities of massage also treat the lymph system, assisting in draining other bodily waste into the kidneys from where it can be eliminated.
Of course, a skilled Registered Massage Therapist can work wonders on such aches and pains as muscle or tendon pulls, strains and cramps. In addition, a well trained professional massage practitioner will likely teach his or her clients stretching exercises they can do at home to help make their bodies stronger, more supple, and less likely to have their problems come back again.
Another less understood benefit of massage is that it is said to help improve the flow of energy through the body. Although this energy has yet to be acknowledged by mainstream western medicine, it is a principle that has been used for hundreds of years in other, more ancient cultures, to help improve peoples' health and well-being.
One finding that even the medical establishment in the USA and Canada have recognized is that some forms of massage can help reduce the risk of cancer. It has been shown that when women wear tight, constricting underwear, it can reduce circulation in the breasts, which, in turn, can prevent accumulated toxins from being cleansed out of breast tissues and into the circulatory system. When the breasts are massaged, however (and this can be done by the woman herself, or by a partner) then the build-up of carcinogenic substances is lowered, and along with it is reduced the risk of contracting breast cancer.

Massage Helps Promote Better Overall Health

The Facts About Gotu Kola Herb Effects

Gotu kola herb effects on the body are related to the many compounds found in the plant. Two of these compounds, bacoside A and B, provide the benefits of gotu kola that are referred to by herbalists as adaptogenic.
Gotu kola is now included in some premier dietary supplements.
An adaptogen is an herb that increases the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue. As an adaptogenic herb, benefits of gotu kola include increased energy and decreased anxiety or nervousness.
Over the years adaptogens have been referred to by other names, such as rejuvenating herbs, herbal tonics or restoratives. The word adaptogen was chosen by Dr. Nikolai Lazarev in the 1940’s, because herbs and other botanicals in this category allow the human body to “adapt” to stressful situations.
Long before chemical evaluation of the plant was possible, traditional healers throughout much of Asia recognized that gotu kola herb effects on the human body included improved wound healing. Scientific evaluation has shown that the plant has antibacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity.
The definition of adaptogens was expanded in the late 1960’s by Israel I. Brekhman, PhD and Dr. I.V. Dardymov. To be classified as an adaptogen, an herb must be non-toxic at normal doses, safe for long term use, aid the natural defense systems of the body and have a normalizing effect on human physiology.
Numerous studies have shown that the benefits of gotu kola are not countered by risks and so the herb fits that part of the definition.
All prescription drugs have side effects. When evaluating prescription drugs, researchers must decide if the benefit of a drug outweighs the health risks associated with the drug.
Although some medicinal herbs can be unsafe if used incorrectly and some plants are poisonous, when it comes to herbs and plants that have been used historically for food, teas and flavorings, the safety for long term use cannot be questioned. Gotu kola herb effects are all positive at dosages as high as 3000 mg per day.
Research has shown that the health benefits of gotu kola include supporting healthy immune system function. In addition, the herb helps to “normalize” or balance physiological reactions to stress. So, it fits the last parts of the definition, as well.
In some cases people react to stress with nervousness or hyperactivity (nail-biting, finger tapping, etc.), while in other people exhaustion sets in quickly. In either case, adaptogenic herbs such as gotu kola are beneficial.
Most people see the benefits of gotu kola immediately. Even with the first dose, there is an improvement in energy without the nervousness that accompanies caffeine and other stimulants. In Thailand, gotu kola leaves are eaten in the afternoon as a “pick me up”.
Scientific evaluation has shown that bacoside A (one of the components contributing to gotu kola herb effects) contributes to the release of nitric oxide. Within the human body, nitric oxide allows the arteries and veins to relax so that blood flows more freely throughout the body.
This effect is probably the reason behind the traditional use of the juice from the leaves to relieve high blood pressure. With this knowledge, it is safe to say that the health benefits of gotu kola could be many, since many health problems, including heart disease, chronic fatigue and erectile dysfunction, are related to poor circulation.
Bacoside B is a protein that nourishes brain cells. Most people have heard that the benefits of gotu kola include improved memory, but with the combination of improved circulation and increased nourishment to the brain, many find that gotu kola improves overall mental clarity, attention to detail and even level of confidence.
Because of the knowledge of gotu kola herb effects in the human body, the better daily health supplements designed to promote a longer healthier life contain this herb, as well as other nutrients and botanicals that may prevent the development of chronic and life threatening diseases.
Gotu kola, alone, may not be the long sought after “fountain of youth”, but it does seem likely that it is an important ingredient in a well-balanced daily diet.

Do Chinese Herbs Have Side-Effects?

Chinese medicines are slowly becoming rage these days. Not much known to the general mass but Chinese medicinal herbs has not only treated ailing patients but also has become the epitome of information and studies these days. It is believed that the Chinese Medicinal herbs originated around three thousand years back in the Zhou Dynasty of China. But now, Chinese therapeutic herbs are becoming famous in the entire world.
Chinese herbs involve medicines derived from diverse plants and take use of their nutritional and remedial attributes. All together there are more than 3000 diverse Chinese healing herbs that can be utilized for remedial purposes. However, only 300 to 500 of these herbs are frequently used.
Chinese therapeutic herbs mainly cure instant diseases such as killing bacteria or a virus. Moreover, it reinforces the body, helping it to recuperate and sustain physical condition.
Though Chinese medicines are very useful, but there are few things that should be kept in mind. Chinese remedial herbs operate on the human body as pharmaceutical medicines and therefore should be dealt with the same carefulness. Moreover, few herbs can be poisonous when taken in high dosages and others can lead to allergic reactions. Lots of people undergo liver dysfunction, so make sure that your doctor is totally competent about all information. It is recommended that in you shouldn't discard these drugs or change the dosage without informing your doctor. Since there are various ranges of herbs which are used in Chinese herbal medications, there is possibility for side-effects with prescribed drugs. Few herbal preparations include other ingredients which may be unknown.
Hence, Chinese medicinal herbs have certainly attained its individual position into the hearts of million people due to its miraculous influences of curing.

Health Benefits of Lemon Grass

Lemon grass or the local tanglad (scientific name: Cymbopogon ciatrus) is one of those wondrous herbs that one can always associate with Asian cooking Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese homegrown meal enthusiasts always have this tropical grass at hand for its aromatic citrus flavor with a trace of ginger. Few people know that its other popular name is citronella - the common scent you usually find in candles, perfumes and soaps.
Citronella is known for its calming effect that relieves insomnia or stress. It is also considered as a mild insect repellant. But more than scent, tanglad or lemon grass provides a lot of health benefits. Studies have shown that the lemon grass has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Mixed with pepper, it's a home therapy for menstrual troubles and nausea. Drank as tea, it is an effective diuretic. When it comes to pets, citronella is used to neutralize excessive barking of dogs. Since dogs hate citronella, it is sprayed to dogs to prevent them from barking or just to lessen the behavior.
The Lemon grass is a good cleanser that helps to detoxify the Liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract. It cuts down uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats and other toxins in the body while stimulating digestion, blood circulation, and lactation; it also alleviates indigestion and gastroenteritis. It is said that lemongrass also helps improve the skin by reducing acne and pimples and acts as a muscle and tissue toner. Also, it can reduce blood pressure. Just make a concoction by boiling some lemon grass leaves, let it cool for a while and drink the liquid.
The leaves and base of this tender perennial are used as a food flavoring, particularly in fish and poultry dishes, and its essential oils are used medicinally. Its distinctive flavor balances hot chillies and contributes to the elaborate, multi-layered flavors of many dishes in South East Asian cuisine.
As the long, thin, grey-green leaves are tough and fibrous, the outside leaves and the tips are usually chopped very finely or discarded from the dish before it is served. The base is often ground. Citral, an essential oil also found in lemon peel, is the constituent responsible for its taste and aroma.
Lemon grass, also known as Sweet Rush and sometimes called Fever Grass in the Caribbean, can be used as a remedy for ague, fevers, and colds.
Filipino ingenuity has produced a commercial beverage made from lemon grass. A concentrate composed of lemon grass juice and muscovado sugar bottled in attractive design.
A recent study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the department of Science and technology ( DOST ) claims that every 100g of edible tanglad when boiled can contain up to 24.205 micrograms of beta-carotene the anti-oxidant that scientists believe can help prevent cancer. Another DOST study shows that lemon grass oil has the potential as a tropical eye medication against keratomycosis, an inflammation of cornea often associated with burning or blurring of vision.

Top 10 Must-Not-Miss Thai Food

Thai cuisine is one of the best gourmets in the world. It is well known for the diversity of ingredients, outstanding spiciness and ample medicinal properties. Most of Thai food is cooked and refined with more than two types of herbs or spices which are beneficial to health.
The (mostly unconscious) principle Thai food is the balance of five flavors which are spicy, salty, sweet, sour and bitter. The one indispensable ingredient which is generally used in seasoning a majority of Thai cuisine is fish sauce. Thai food is eaten either as a single dish or with rice. Steamed rice is the staple food although sticky rice is more popular in the north and northeast of Thailand.
Thai food is one of many things that you should not miss while you are traveling in this beautiful "Land of Smiles". Since there are numberless delectable Thai dishes, I am writing this guideline for you to select the most distinctive and authentic ones out of the plethora of Thai signature dishes.
The following list is a top 10 rank of Thai food that you must not miss. The consideration and ranking is based on the popularity, uniqueness and authenticity of the delicacies. Here are the winners.
10. Kai Pad Med Mamuang Himmapan (Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts)
Even though Kai Pad Med Mamuang Himmapan does not represent the overview of Thai food but it is a very nice treat to your bland taste buds. Since it is by no means spicy or hot, this slightly sweet and salty chicken fried with crunchy cashew nuts is aptly satiating for children or beginners who are not used to spices.
9. Por Pia Tord (Fried Spring Roll)
Fried spring roll is one of the most popular appetizers among foreigners because it is not spicy and comes with sweet and sour dip. Spring rolls are crispy pastries with fried vegetable fillings. Though spring rolls are commonplace in many Southeast Asian countries, Thai Por Pia is different in flavors with a special dip prepared from Japanese apricot.
8. Panaeng (Meat in Spicy Coconut Cream)
Panaeng can be cooked using either pork, chicken or beef. Panaeng tastes like Thai red curry but the coconut milk sauce is relatively thicker and richer. Compared to Thai red curry, Panaeng is mildly spicy and sweet. Paneang is best served with warm steamed rice. There is nothing to dislike about Panaeng expect the fact that it can be too greasy or fleshy for some people.
7. Som Tam (Spicy Papaya Salad)
Som Tam is one of the most popular foods among Thai people for its fiercely spicy and sour flavors. Som Tam, which literally means "Sour Pounded", is a spicy salad made from a mix of fresh vegetables including shredded unripened papaya, yardlong beans and tomato. Som Tam is unique that the spicy dressing and salad vegetables are pounded and mixed in the mortar using a pestle. Somtam is usually served with grilled chicken and sticky rice. Som Tam is good for your health that it contains no fat, low calorie and high vitamins. This is a truly authentic Thai dish that will make a great impression. The only reason why I'm ranking Som Tam at No.7 (though it deserves higher rank) is its strong spiciness that might leave your tongue burned and swollen. Just say "Mai phed" (not spicy) to your waiter if you really want to try.
6. Moo Sa-Te (Grilled Pork Sticks with Turmeric)
This tantalizing sweet-flavored grilled pork sticks are refined with rich, juicy sauce made of turmeric and curry powder. Moo Sa-Te makes a savory hors d'oeuvres that will appease any taste buds. These juicy grilled pork sticks are usually served with two saucy dips - one is a mildly spicy thick sauce with ground peanuts, coconut milk and curry powder and another one is a sweet and sour vinegar sauce with chopped shallot, pepper and cucumber to mitigate its oiliness.
5. Tom Yam Kai (Spicy Chicken Soup)
Chicken soup is very good to eat when you have a cold but Tom Yam Kai or spicy chicken soup is a yummy treat that you will fall in love with just in a first sip. Tom Yam Kai is a clear chicken soup seasoned with a blend of chili, lime and fish sauce. The broth is simmered with Thai herbs as lemon grass, shallot and galangal which give it a unique and satiating aroma. My foreign friends order this tasty soup anywhere they go so you should not miss it by any means!
4. Tom Kha Kai (Chicken in Coconut Milk Soup)
Although Tom Kha Kai is another variation of chicken soup, it deserves the No.4 because of its unparalleled taste and popularity. Similar to Tom Yam Kai, the broth is prepared with many types of Thai herbs with the special addition of coconut milk that makes this soup unique. Though the soup is seasoned with chili, lime and fish sauce just like Tom Kha Kai, thanks to the coconut milk, the broth is milder and less spicy. This is probably more liked by non-spicy eaters.
3. Kang Keaw Wan Kai (Green Chicken Curry)
Since we are having three dishes in a row made of "Kai", you would have guessed that it is chicken in English. Not that chicken is particularly popular in Thai cuisine; it is usually used in most curry and soup. Kang Kiew Wan, literally translated as "Sweet Green Curry", is nicely sweet and slightly spicy and tastes very delightful with a proper blend of the spiciness from green curry chili paste, blandness from coconut milk, sweetness of sugar and saltiness of fish sauce. It is usually eaten with steamed rice or served as a sauce to rice noodle known as "Kanom Jeen" likewise to how you eat Spaghetti.
2. Pad Thai (Fried Noodle)
This national dish prides itself for its long history traced back in previous centuries. Pad Thai flaunts the authenticity of Thai culinary arts in using only fresh and best ingredients and the well-balancing of the five fundamental flavors. The stir-fried noodle becomes popular because it tastes yummy and comes with a choice to add in a set of seasonings to suit your appetites. Through history, Pad Thai has evolved into two different styles: the classic and the variation. The classic Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle with eggs, fish sauce, tamarind juice, red chili pepper plus bean sprouts, shrimp and tofu and garnished with crushed peanuts and coriander while another style is relatively dry and lightly-flavored. The latter is easily found in street vendors and dominant in Thai restaurants in the West but the having classic Pad Thai freshly cooked in its original country is a way to go.
1. Tom Yam Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
No other dishes can defeat this renowned Tom Yam Goong as the optimal representative of Thai gourmet. Tom Yam Goong is truly one of a kind with its fierce spiciness and sourness and a blatant use of fragrant herbs including galangal, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, shallot, tamarind and chili pepper. There are two styles of Tom Yam; the clear spicy soup and thick spicy soup. The latter is cooked by adding coconut milk or milk to the broth in order to thicken the stock and give the dish a milder flavor. Tom Yam is very versatile and can be made with prawns, chicken, fish and mix of seafood, and mushroom. Tom Yam Goong is the most popular variety of Tom Yam since Spicy Shrimp Soup is the original. Though not very surprising, Tom Yam Goong is definitely a signature dish of Thailand.
Even though it is commonly known that Thai food utilizes many health herbs and spices, there have always been debates whether Thai food is really good for health since they tend to be somewhat greasy. It is important to note that it depends on each dish; some can be highly caloric but many dishes make a good use of herbs. Garlic, for example, is very good healthwise because it can prevent heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cancer.
No matter what the food is, the same old concept of moderate intake comes into play. From Mcdonald's burger to Japanese Sushi, a key to optimal fitness is to avoid overconsumption. Thus, a claim that Thai food is mainly coconut-based and fattening should never be an adequate reason for you to still order a Big Mac. Ravish your taste buds with Thai food - tasty and healthy!