Why I Adore Green Tea So Much {FabHealthFriday}

 

 

For those of you new to this blog, you might be curious about the obvious obsession with green tea.

 

Well, I started drinking this fabulous beverage several years ago, and ever since then it's been just about my favorite thing to drink, besides water, of course! (Speaking of which, I can never understand why some folks don't like water...I mean, it's practically the basis of all life, people, how can you not like it?)

 

Why do I like it so much? And why does green tea even get all this emphasis here on Apassionata?

 

I'll let this little graphic below do the health benefits explaining for me, in simplified form, anyway.

 

 

(Besides all these reasons being true, isn't the little illustration just darling?!)

 

So, yeah.

This covers the basics of why green tea is so good for you, physically. There are plenty of other reasons why green tea is beneficial to your health - such as, the fact that green tea contains antibacterial agents that help to prevent tooth decay.

 

 And, green tea is good for you in that the antibacterial agents it contains also helps to prevent certain forms of food poisoning, which would otherwise have been caused by a build up of harmful bacteria on food. 

 

Green tea is a stress reliever and can cause your body to feel more relaxed and calm. It helps control blood cholesterol levels; and if you have rheumatoid arthritis, it has an amazing ability to help relieve inflammation and therefore bring relief.

 

 

One last thing I'll note about its benefits: Green tea is a terrific cancer fighter. It contains powerful antioxidants, which are known to fight against free radicals connected with cancer.

You can slice your chances of getting cancer in any various form, just by drinking a cup of this fabulous tea daily!

 

So, by now, if you just read all this stuff, you should have no reason not to want to drink green tea. Well, okay, maybe you don't care for the taste. (But, have you even tried it yet, before you say you don't care for its taste? Oh come now. Just try it before you start nay-saying, please!)

BUT. Stop right there. How long have you been drinking it? Because let me tell ya, when I first started on green tea I care for the taste either. In fact, I didn't like it at all.

 

However, one of the beauties in repetition is the ability of our bodies (and taste buds, for this matter!) to develop habits, tastes for things we mayn't have even liked beforehand. With repetition, many things happen. We memorize things, like music, factual information. We begin to enjoy tastes that were disgusting to us at one point.

 

This, my friends, is exactly what happened with me and green tea.

Over time, I began to love the drink and even crave it. Now, it's a staple in my everyday routine and I have to keep from drinking too much!

I think it's a great energy booster, and honestly, I feel as healthy as ever, and the strongest/fittest I've ever been. Maybe the green tea has assisted in this, and I'm sure it has, to a degree.

 

So there's why I adore green tea so much. An why you should, too.

 

Have a blessed day, y'all!

Dump The Sugar And Obsess Over The Hobbit

 

 

I know, I know. I should be writing a FabHealthFriday post today.

But.... Having just finished a new colored pencil drawing last night, I was too excited not to share it with y'all.

 

And anyways, part of the title does have to do with health stuff, so I guess you *could* call this something of a FabHealthFriday post....

 

Bah, never mind. Forget FHF for the moment.

 

Am I the only one who has been obsessing over The Hobbit ever since I got a hold of it?!

 

 

 

Okay, maybe I'm not the *only* one.

 

But. I'll admit, it's been nothing short of an obsession lately. Already, Will and I have watched it twice in two weeks, and both of us are reading the book. And yakking about the whole topic non-stop, 24-7.

 

I've been into using my colored pencils lately, after a long period of nothing besides black and white HBs, Bs and charcoal pencil. As I said before, God created a world of color so why not make use of some of those brilliant hues?

 

Dragons have always been one of my many fascinations. I'd keep telling myself,
"one of these days I'll draw one." But I never did, really. Not until two days ago when I started doing Smaug. (And no, it didn't take 48 hours to finish this piece. I just only work on my drawings usually in the evenings after dinner.)

 

I don't know about y'all, but lately I've been feeling really sick of sugar. Weighed down, lethargic, and generally feeling like a 5'8" bag of BLEHHH.

 

Yeah. Both how I've felt, and my description of how I've felt...Not so great, either of them. :P

 Now, I DO have my days of feeling great and fit, physically, but it seems that lately those days have been fewer. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the sugar we've been consuming.

 

Sugar is one thing nearly impossible to escape in this country. You get it in almost every processed item on the store-shelf, whether you want it or not. It's tucked away in everything from ketchup, to canned vegetables and fruits.

It gets snuck in to the most unpredictable items, and in amounts greater than we'd every think.

Our country is obsessed with sugar. And, sadly, sugar is one of the things that is killing us.

 

So. To cut to the chase, I've pondered going on a sugar fast/dumping sugar fro my diet and I as of now have been attempting to do so.

 

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" -1 Corinthians 6:19

 

It matters what we put into our temples. And, although you've probably heard this a million times before, you truly are what you eat.

 

So. Thus begins my quest to annihilate all excess sugars from my diet. I'll try to keep you guys on the in. In other news, last night I believe I concocted red eye in my left eye....which is lovely. -_- Of course, I guess I could try to use that as writing inspiration in some way...

 

 Has anyone else attempted a sugar-fast?

 

 

What's that? Oh, I rambled, did I? And why are you so surprised? :P

 



5 Foods to Boost Your Immune System! {FabHealthFriday}

Greetings and salutations! Did everyone had a delightful Christmas? We sure did!

My apologies for not writing a FabHealthFriday post last week, or a WriterlyWednesday post this week. You probably know how it is during this time of year. The word "busy" is replaced with "hectic". And even though we tried to minimize the Christmas craziness this year, it has still been B.U.S.Y.

OK, let's forget the busy-ness for a moment and take a look at one of the many ways to naturally boost your immune system.

As you probably know, "the most wonderful time of the year" is also the biggest time of the year for colds and flu. It's likely you even caught something this season, and maybe it's still lingering. Stuffy noses, runny noses, irritating coughing fits, and sore throats. Don't ya just love it? Not to mention, loss of energy and that yucky, congested feeling in your sinuses.

Nobody likes getting a cold. It's even worse when you happen to catch it right before or during the holidays! How do you avoid this almost-inevitable fate? Let me tell you, it can be terribly challenging if you live in a large family or are constantly exposed to other people.

The best form of medicine, for colds and flu, is prevention. You may hate to hear this because it doesn't help you get over your cold at the moment, but it's a reality none of us can escape. In order to avoid catching "the bug", you have to beef up your immune system long before "the bug" starts flying around.

How can you achieve this? One of the most successful and widely known ways is to keep a steady intake going of fruits and veggies.

1. Kale is a powerhouse full of vitamins and nutrients, and is almost as powerful as broccoli, which as you probably know is at the "top of the food chain" when it comes to loaded greens.

We have been making a salad from fresh, raw, kale leaves, and trying to consume at least a bowl of it daily when we have it available. Toss with some homemade salad dressing, almonds and perhaps some Parmesan cheese, and voila! A super-healthy super-lunch(or snack!)!

2. Oranges, grapefruit and other citrus are also essential this time of year or any time when you want to give your immune system a lift. Oranges are chock-full of vitamin C, and one of the roles of vitamin C is to protect cells by neutralizing free radicals. When free radicals build up in your body, they cling to healthy cells, causing permanent damage. Free radicals cause chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease. By eating an orange or two daily, you can help your body ward off disease and sickness. Oranges are also full of vitamin A, which helps with vision improvement and strengthening/protection of the eyes.

3. Raw, unprocessed, virgin coconut oil can be used a variety of different ways, either by oil pulling, direct ingesting or incorporating it into your meals. It can be a replacement for butter, whether in cooking or just a bit spread on a slice of toast. Coconut oil is an incredible resource which promotes longevity and overall radiant health. It can also aid in weight loss. Studies have show that intake of coconut oil can help our bodies mount resistance to both viruses and bacteria that can cause illness, making this the perfect food to add to your diet to boost your immune system. Even more, it also can help to fight off yeast, fungus, and candida.

4. Garlic. Raw garlic. I'll warn you now, there is fire in this fiesty little plant. A tablespoon alone (crushed) can be painful going down. But, there is reason for this, and don't overlook garlic simply for its smell and taste. Garlic is one of THE best medicinal plants in the natural world. It has been used centuries over for both flavoring and overall health. It is also one of the biggest immune system boosters you will find.

Garlic is a widely recognized health enhancing supplement. It promotes the well-being of the heart and immune systems with antioxidant properties and helps maintain healthy blood circulation. One of garlic's most potent health benefits includes the ability to enhance the body's immune cell activity. How to utilize this stinky but super plant? Chop up several cloves, throw it in your chili, soup, spaghetti, just about anything! Just make sure you add it into the recipe right before you are going to eat it, so that it doesn't cook and the nutrients remain intact. Or, you can just mince it and eat it raw, or with some honey. We do this frequently...it is not a pleasant experience, but it is worth it. Garlic will wipe out just about any fungal growth in your body, and as stated above, will greatly build your immune system. Just be prepared, and have a glass of water nearby if you do decide to consume it raw. ;)

Last but not least, a quote from bulkherbstore.com:

"One easy way to keep the immune system in high gear is raw garlic, but it stinks so bad that we use our Double “E” Immune Booster. Our recipe, which includes the whole Echinacea plant and Elderberry herb (as well as several other immune boosting herbs), has proven to be a fast and effective way to provide the body with the defense it needs in times of repair."

5. My family has been making and drinking Double E Immune Booster tea quite frequently this winter, and not only is it extremely beneficial health wise, but it is also makes a delicious hot drink which will warm you up on a chilly day. We buy several packages of the herb-mix, put half a cup or so in our percolator, and drink it throughout the day mixed with a spoon of honey. Mmm! This is a product worth spending for, and my entire family enjoys drinking it. What better way during the cold, wintry months, than to get your immune system boosted through a hot, cozy cup of tea?

There are many other ways to give a lift to your immune system, and now days you can learn just about anything by googling on the web. I highly encourage you to do some research of your own about health topics. Learn all you can, and then apply that knowledge in your life! God has provided us so many resources for keeping our temples healthy. Let's take advantage of those resources!

Blessings,