Pacific Midwifery

Green Tea And The Flu

Kathleen — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:06:10 +0000

About two hundred health care workers in three different healthcare facilities in Japan were randomized to receive either a placebo or a combination of green tea catechins and theanine that contained 378 mg/day of catechins and 210 mg/day of theanine, both constituents found in green tea.

Of these eligible health care workers, 98 received the green tea and 99 received the placebo. The incidence of clinical signs and symptoms of influenza infection was significantly lower in the green tea (4.1%) group compared with the placebo group (13.1%).

Green Tea helps boost the immune system and tastes good, too.

Diet Mistake: Avoiding Exercise

Kathleen — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:39:19 +0000

Avoiding Exercise

When you don’t exercise, you place the entire burden of weight loss on your diet. If you become more active, you can eat more of the things you like — and still lose weight. The key is finding an exercise you enjoy. If the treadmill seems tedious, try swimming, ballet, biking, or table tennis, all of which burn more calories than walking. Spend time at different activities until you find one you want to do on most days.

Herbal Teas To Help Fall Asleep Faster And Stay Asleep Longer

Kathleen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:27:52 +0000

      “There’s now a new generation of herbal teas with nighttime formulations that have more firepower than you’ll get with a basic Chamomile blend. ”   If you need help falling asleep faster, or staying asleep longer, consider trying some of these herbal teas at bedtime.
      If you’re new to tea drinking, I recommend starting with a basic chamomile blend. It just might be all you need to get some quality sleep. I’ve been sipping Celestial Seasonings “Sleepytime Tea” for years, and at times, I’ve used as many as three tea bags at once to get a big dose of Chamomile, its predominant ingredient, as a natural sedative. Twinings brand “Bedtime Blend” is another pleasant-tasting tea containing the same blend of Chamomile, Spearmint and Lemongrass.
        If you’re ready to take it to the next level, I suggest trying The Republic of Tea’s “Get Some ZZZ’s Tea. It contains Rooibos (pronounced roy-boss), from the South African Redbush shrub, and Passionflower. Both plants are common ingredients in supplements used to alleviate anxiety and occasional insomnia. But what really sets this tea apart from others is the 20 mg of Valerian Root that’s contained in just one cup. ”Valerian root calms and restores your nervous system. It is especially helpful if you can’t get to sleep because your mind is racing.” According to the government’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), researchers have concluded that Valerian appears to be safe at recommended doses for short-term use (4-6 months).
     When I was examining the ingredient list of Traditional Medicinals’ “Organic Nighty Night” Tea in Whole Foods, a woman walking by encouraged me to buy it. “It really works,” she said, and I have to agree with her. Its base is a lemony-flavored blend of Spearmint, Lemon Verbena, Lemon Peel and Lemongrass. But it’s the Passionflower, Chamomile, Linden Flower, Catnip and Hops that, when combined, seems to promotes relaxation. Hops, which is the main ingredient in beer, is known as a relaxing natural sedative.

If you’re interested in learning more about botanical supplements, I recommend visiting these two government websites; The National Institute of Health’s Center for CAM and Office of Dietary Supplements. They are excellent resources for unbiased information. There’s an informative document on Sleep Disorders and CAM that you’ll find helpful as well.
With these nighttime teas, consider one cup a normal “dose.” Don’t overdo it even if you love the flavor. Besides, if you drink too much, you’ll have to use the bathroom during the night and, well, that defeats the purpose of them, doesn’t it?

13 Weight Loss Reminders: # 11 Weighing Yourself Every Day

Kathleen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:04:11 +0000

13 Weight Loss Reminders: # 11 Weighing Yourself Every Day

Weighing yourself daily is a recipe for frustration and doesn’t yield useful information. It’s more important to look for a long-term trend with weekly weigh-ins. If your goal is to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week, you’ll be satisfied to see those full-pound drops when you step on the scale. The result is more motivating than the confusing swings that may accompany daily weigh-ins.

13 Weight Loss Reminders: # 10 Get Fat With Drive Through

Kathleen — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:31:45 +0000

13 Weight Loss Reminders: #10 Get Fat with Drive Through

The drive-through is convenient after a hectic day, and you can always order the salad or other healthier option. But once you’re there, can you resist that milkshake or other treat? And if you allow yourself the ease of fast food once, it could become a habit. According to one long-term study, people who ate fast food more than twice a week gained 10 more pounds than those who had it less than once a week.

13 Weight Loss Reminders: #9 Dairy In Or Out Of Daily Diet

Kathleen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:21:03 +0000

13 Weight Loss Reminders: #9 Dairy In or out of daily diet

Milk, cheese, and ice cream are taboo for many dieters, but ditching dairy foods may be counterproductive. Some research suggests the body burns more fat when it gets enough calcium and produces more fat when it’s calcium-deprived. Calcium supplements do not appear to yield the same benefits, so dairy may have other compounds at work as well. Stick to nonfat or low-fat dairy options.

13 Weight Loss Reminders: Day #8 Drink Enough Water

Kathleen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:50:59 +0000

13 Weight Loss Reminders: Day #8 Drinking Too Little Water

This is one of the simplest diet blunders to fix. Water is essential for burning calories. If you let yourself get dehydrated, your metabolism drags — and that means slower weight loss. Research suggests adults who drink eight or more glasses of water per day burn more calories than those who drink less. So try adding a glass of water to every meal and snack.

13 Weight Loss Reminders: Day #7 What You Drink Can Ruin Your Diet

Kathleen — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:13:50 +0000

Day # 7 : Sipping Too Many Calories

When counting calories, many of us tend to overlook what’s in our drinks. This is a big mistake when you consider that some fancy coffees and alcoholic beverages have more than 500 calories. Even the calories in fruit juice and soda can add up quickly. What’s worse is that liquid calories don’t curb hunger. You’re not going to eat any less after a high-calorie drink.

13 Weight Loss Reminders: Day #5

Kathleen — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:38:19 +0000

13 Weight Loss Reminders: Day #5 Loading Up on Low-Fat

Low-fat products can play an important role in your diet. Just remember that low-fat isn’t the same as low-calorie and it’s not a license to take second and third helpings. If you pile your plate with low-fat cake, you may end up eating more calories than if you had a smaller slice of regular cake. The best way to know how much fat, sugar, and calories you’re getting is to check the nutritional label.

13 Weight Loss Reminders: Day #5 Not Snacking At All

Kathleen — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:41:08 +0000

13 Weight Loss Reminders: Day #5 Not Snacking at All

While mindless snacking can pad your waistline, thoughtful snacking may do just the opposite. People who eat several small meals and snacks a day are more likely to control hunger and lose weight. Snacking helps keep your metabolism in high gear, especially if the snacks are protein-rich. Nuts are a good, high-protein choice, and research suggests people who snack on nuts tend to be slimmer than those who don’t.