Diet

5 Health Benefits of Green Tea

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Green tea is a very common beverage in our society, and one that has been purported as a very beneficial addition to one’s diet. However, many individuals do not know the full extent to which green tea can help, and how many cups are necessary to achieve these benefits. Please note that this article is based off of a research article that can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Craig_Schneider2/publication/24309791_Green_tea_potential_health_benefits/links/0a85e52f2986fdb4bf000000.pdf

5 Health Benefits of Green TeaTransparent cup of green tea with lime on wooden background

  1. Reduces risk of Cancer

Tea overall can be beneficial for cancer prevention, but in particular, green tea can be beneficial for treating and preventing breast and colorectal cancer risk. In particular, for breast cancer, three or more cups of tea per day was enough to see the benefits. It was noted that the green tea consumption resulted in a 20% reduction in risk of breast cancer. However, with colorectal cancer, five to ten cups of tea were sufficient enough to reduce the risk of this cancer. In particular, green tea consumption resulted in an 18% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer. Other cancers that green tea consumption may reduce the risk of include stomach, esophageal, and prostate.

  1. Aids with treatment of genital warts

In regards to genital warts, green tea was shown to be effective for the treatment through a topical application of the tea.

  1. Aids with weight loss

When trying to lose weight, green tea may help to decrease body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio, body fat mass, and waist and hip circumference. In addition, if an individual discontinues their diet and lifestyle changes in regards to weight loss, those who drink green tea will gain back less weight than those not consuming green tea. These results were found with just one cup of green tea per day!

  1. Reduces cholesterol levels

Green tea can have an impressive effect on LDL cholesterol (i.e. bad cholesterol). When compared to placebo, green tea was able to reduce LDL cholesterol by 16%. This effect was noticed with two cups of green tea per day.

  1. Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease

Aside from the effect on cholesterol, green tea has been shown in research to decrease the risk of not only cardiovascular disease but also stroke. Individuals who consumed five or more cups of tea per day experienced a reduction in risk of stroke.

Can anyone just drink green tea?

As with anything, it is important to know the risks of anything you are consuming. With that being said, green tea may not be for everyone. For example, green tea may decrease absorption of iron or folic acid when consumed with a meal. Therefore, it may not be well suited for anemic individuals or those who are pregnant. In addition, green tea may have a blood thinning effect, and so should not be consumed with blood thinning medication or two weeks prior to surgery. In some individuals, green tea can also cause an upset stomach and nervous system stimulation due to the caffeine content in it.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

“Peanut Butter Cup” Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

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For this recipe, one can use a different form of nut butter other than peanut butter and still get a delicious recipe. The proportions in this recipe would be enough for 1-2 servings, and this recipe is great for dessert or breakfast. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup of chia seeds
  • 1 cup of coconut milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 1tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1tbsp peanut butter or other nut butter
  • 1 tsp honey

Directions:

  1. Set aside chia seeds in a container that will fit remainder of ingredients.
  2. Combine coconut milk, cocoa powder, vanilla, peanut butter (or nut butter), and honey in a food processor.
  3. Pour mixed mixture over chia seeds, stir with spoon, and set in fridge over night or wait 4 hours before serving.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

5 Foods to Avoid when trying to Lose Weight

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Girl - Weight LossWeight loss involves more than just taking a silver bullet pill. It involves diet and lifestyle changes that can be difficult for some to achieve. If you are one of these individuals that struggles with weight and needs assistance in this area, please seek medical advice, including a naturopathic doctor, in regards to your weight loss goals. However, avoiding these 5 food types could provide aid as well:

  1. High caloric and high sugar drinks – This includes most fruit juices, lattes, and alcohol. These can act as empty calories and cause blood sugar spikes that leave you fatigued and without the energy to make it through the day and even get in some extra activity time. These drinks may also dehydrate you which can further complicate weight loss.
  2. Processed foods – this includes such items as sandwich meats, boxed foods, etc. These foods are often high in salt, carbohydrates, and fillers that can prevent you from losing those extra couple of pounds.
  3. Foods that you may have a food sensitivity to – these foods are not the same for everyone and can be determined with the help of a naturopathic doctor. Some naturopathic doctors provide a blood test to determine the results. When losing weight, I find it more reliable and efficient to use a dietary method to determine the food sensitivities for you. If you are interested in exploring this more, please consider consulting a Naturopathic Doctor such as myself.
  4. Refined carbohydrates – this includes cereal, bread, pastries, cookies, etc. Especially when these foods are eaten alone and without a protein, they can cause blood sugar spikes and lead to excess sugar in the body which is retained as fat.
  5. Candy and high sugar snack foods – These items are fairly self – explanatory. Candy and high sugar snack foods do not provide nutritional aid. Avoiding these and only having them in moderation can help individuals work closer towards their weight loss goals.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

How to Make a Cold Brew Tea or Iced Tea

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Transparent cup of green tea with lime on wooden backgroundCold Brew or Iced tea is made through steeping tea in cold water over several hours. Brewing tea in this way draws the flavours out more slowly and can alter the taste of the tea. In addition to this method, I will also brew a cup of tea as per normal, i.e. boil water and steep a tea bag, and let the concoction chill. I find that this way of brewing the tea extracts the essential oils which can be beneficial for health. Regardless of what method is used, ingredients and instructions are listed below, as well as a recipe for an iced tea. Teas that tend to work well with either way of making a cold tea include peppermint, hibiscus, lavender, lemon balm, and green tea.

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 tea bags of the herb of your choice
  • 8-16 ounces of water
  • Optional: Honey, lemon slice, or mint leaves

Instructions:

Cold Brewed Tea

  • Place the tea bag(s) in a pitcher of water, cover, and let steep in the fridge for 6-8 hours.
  • When tea is done steeping, strain any sediment from tea using a cheese cloth.
  • Serve tea over ice and add either honey, lemon slice, or mint leaves to taste.

Iced Tea

  • Boil water and let sit for 5 minutes.
  • Pour into pitcher with tea bags and let steep on counter until at room temperature – approximately 30 minutes.
  • Place in fridge and let steep for another 6 hours.
  • When tea is done steeping, strain any sediment from tea using a cheese cloth.
  • Serve tea over ice and add honey to taste, or other possible ingredients (i.e. mint, lemon).

Lemon-Balm/Lavender Iced Tea Recipe

  • Take one lemon balm tea bag and one lavender tea bag and place them in a pitcher of water.
  • Let steep for 6-8 hours covered in fridge.
  • Remove any sediment through straining through a cheese cloth once steeping is complete.
  • Serve over ice and add 2 tbsp of honey to taste.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

Source: Celebration Herbals