Posts Tagged ‘Green Tea’

Protect Your Colon Part Two

December 11, 2014 Written by JP

There is often disagreement about the safety and validity of medical tests in the holistic, health community. Perhaps the best examples are the use of mammography to detect breast cancer and the PSA blood test to ferret out prostate cancer. However, colonoscopies tend to be less controversial for a number of reasons. Firstly, there really isn’t any alternative, stand alone test currently available. Secondly, the documented benefits of colonoscopies far outweigh the low risk of significant side effects. Lastly, as I stated in part one of this column, colonoscopies not only detect potential malignancies, they also remove questionable growths while still benign. For these reasons, integrative health experts such as Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Stephen Sinatra endorse this particular test.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Food and Drink, Nutritional Supplements | 13 Comments & Updates

Hope for Halitosis

October 29, 2014 Written by JP

It’s estimated that approximately 30%-50% of the population is affected by chronic halitosis or oral malodor, the technical terms for ongoing bad breath. In most instances, the cause originates in the oral cavity. Improving dental hygiene is sometimes enough to remedy the situation. In practice, this means brushing at least twice-daily and flossing prior to retiring at night. However, if proper oral care is already in place, then odiferous foods and substances (alcoholic beverages, cruciferous vegetables, garlic and onions, tobacco, etc.) and/or other factors, including diabetes, gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD), medication side-effects and metabolic disorders may be involved. When in doubt, it’s best to identify the cause with the assistance of a health care professional as any underlying medical condition should be addressed and not masked.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Food and Drink | 12 Comments & Updates

Green Tea News 2013

October 14, 2013 Written by JP

There are very few trends you can count on in the field of modern medicine and nutrition. The “stock” of virtually every food and/or supplement tends to go up and down more erratically than the Dow Jones or Nasdaq. One day coffee is bad for you, the next it’s being touted as a preventative for Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and liver cancer. For years, doctors have been recommending supplemental calcium for just about everyone. Now, there’s a grand debate about potential cardiovascular side effects involving this essential mineral. And, the examples go on and on. However, if there is such a thing as a bankable food/supplement which has sustained its sterling reputation over the years, it is most certainly green tea.

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Posted in Food and Drink, Heart Health, Women's Health | 6 Comments & Updates

EGCG and Breast Cancer

July 16, 2012 Written by JP

EGCG, a naturally occurring chemical in green tea, is the star of two new publications focusing on breast cancer. The first trial examined the role of epigallocatechin-3-gallate as an adjunct to radiation treatment in breast cancers patients. The second study investigated the potential of a purified ECGC “drug” to modulate hormones which fuel breast cancer growth.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Food and Drink, Women's Health | 6 Comments & Updates

Healthier Overweight

July 9, 2012 Written by JP

Some time ago, I was approached by an overweight gentleman who was familiar with my line of work. He explained that he planned to lose weight eventually, but wasn’t quite ready to adopt many of the principles espoused on my site and elsewhere. He went on to ask a rather provocative question: Apart from making major changes to my diet and exercising, are there any small steps I can take to protect myself? At first, my thought was: What’s the point? You can’t put out a fire with a squirt gun! If you want to get healthy, a commitment needs to made! However, as I listened further to his circumstances and history, I relented and decided to offer what I hoped would be the first steps in his path to a genuine lifestyle change.

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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 3 Comments & Updates

Matcha Tea

May 14, 2012 Written by JP

It’s frothy. It’s green. It’s a type of tea, but decidedly different looking and tasting than most brews. It’s matcha! Whether you’ve tried it or not, you’ve probably seen matcha-based drinks being sold in coffee shops and health food stores from Los Angeles to Tokyo. The claim is that matcha is essentially an elevated form of green tea. But, is this assertion backed up by anything more than historical accounts and slick advertisements?

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Posted in Detoxification, Diabetes, Food and Drink | 7 Comments & Updates

Oral Lichen Planus Alternatives

March 23, 2012 Written by JP

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that, as it’s name implies, affects tissue in and around the oral cavity – the esophagus, gums, palate and tongue. In most cases, it is a chronic condition that manifests itself in patches, rashes or sores that may or may not be accompanied by burning, pain and/or sensitivity. While uncomfortable, it is not contagious. In terms of long term complications, OLP may increase the risk of a specific form of cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) and, if present in the esophagus, could cause difficulty swallowing. As with many other autoimmune diseases, OLP is often managed with the judicious use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications. However, a growing body of research also points to several natural and safer alternatives.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Nutritional Supplements | 19 Comments & Updates

Brewing Better Health

December 16, 2011 Written by JP

Peek inside the Healthy Fellow kitchen pantry and you’ll find an assortment of dried leaves and powders that are intended for brewing or mixing with hot water. And, now that Winter has finally taken hold, I’m putting them to use on a daily basis. But, my pantry selections aren’t just predicated upon preference and taste. I’m also factoring in the latest science about their relative health benefits.

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Posted in Diabetes, Food and Drink, Heart Health | 2 Comments & Updates

Tea Gargling for Health

December 5, 2011 Written by JP

The old adage goes, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is”. The field of alternative medicine is replete with examples of this truism. Countless ancient and innovative remedies, often carrying hefty price tags and inadequate and/or unreliable evidence, are promoted as virtual panaceas both online and in health food stores worldwide. However, as another saying goes, “There are exceptions to every rule”. It’s all the better when these exceptions happen to be economical and safe.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Food and Drink, General Health | 9 Comments & Updates

Flu Shot Controversy

November 2, 2011 Written by JP

The current issue of The Lancet, a prestigious medical journal, features a meta-analysis assessing the efficacy of influenza vaccines. The review evaluated 14 observational studies and 17 randomized controlled trials. The conclusions of the summary brought forth several key findings. Among them, the researchers noted that the effectiveness of the vaccines was not consistent across all age groups and varied from season to season. For instance, live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) were found most protective among young children aged 6 months to 7 years. On the other hand, the authors commented that, “Evidence for protection in adults aged 65 or older is lacking”. Ultimately, a call for new and improved vaccines is trumpeted as a necessity in order to reduce “influenza-related morbidity and mortality”.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Children's Health, Nutritional Supplements | 5 Comments & Updates

Tea News October 2011

October 7, 2011 Written by JP

When I search for new topics in medical databases and journals, I frequently stumble upon a promising item or more about black, green or white tea. This is the latest batch of gems I’ve discovered about Camellia sinensis.
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Posted in Children's Health, Food and Drink, Men's Health | 8 Comments & Updates

Ginger, Green Tea and Cancer

August 29, 2011 Written by JP

A few of my favorite “herbs”, Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Camellia sinesis (green tea), have recently received positive attention in the medical literature with regard to cancer. For starters, two studies published in 2011 have confirmed the efficacy of ginger root in minimizing chemotherapy-induced nausea. A third, and much more surprising trial, reports that “whole ginger extract” possesses potent prostate cancer (PC) fighting activity. This intriguing discovery is based on an in vitro and in vivo experiment conducted in an animal model of PC. Arguably, green tea has an even more impressive track record as a proposed natural chemopreventive agent. Some of the research has examined green tea as a stand alone remedy. Other inquires have tested it in combination with various natural substances such as curcumin and the trace mineral selenium.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Food and Drink, Nutritional Supplements | 10 Comments & Updates

Berry Lime Freeze Recipe

July 18, 2011 Written by JP

Many of the memories formed in childhood remain with us for decades to come. Some are profound like remembrances of formative times spent with family and friends. Others are simple, sensory experiences that take us back to a specific time and place. When I was a boy living in Hacienda Heights, California, one of the most popular treats on hot summer days was a fruit flavored, crushed iced drink available at local convenience stores. “ICEEs” or “Splurpees”, as they were called, sent your taste buds into the stratosphere with an abundance of artificial flavors and sugar. They also colored your tongue unnatural, but very cool, shades of blue, orange or red. As a child this was something rather special. It was a junk food treat that Moms across the nation would rarely endorse, but couldn’t quite keep their kids away from either. Read more »


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Posted in Diabetes, Food and Drink, Recipes | 5 Comments & Updates