Menopause 101
Here is an article from Enzymatic
From myths to misunderstandings to late night comedy routines, everyone thinks they know all about menopause. Unfortunately, all the “build up” about it can just add to the anxiety of menopause as you approach it.
Of course, the age you begin menopause is different for the majority of women. It’s an inevitable part of life that arrives on its own timetable. The good news is that we now know a lot about this important time.
The average age at which women reach menopause is 51. As you’d expect, this timing varies greatly and can be influenced by genetics and life habits. During her 40's, a woman can expect to experience hormonal changes. It is much less common for women to experience symptoms in the late 30's or the 60's.
Perimenopause
Literally meaning “around menopause”, perimenopause is the physical stage that many people mistakenly call menopause. Women can begin perimenopause as early as 35, however, the average age is 47.5 years and on average it lasts 4 years. These are averages. The fact is the perimenopausal stage varies from woman to woman. Women are likely to start this phase of life at approximately the same age as their mothers and sisters. Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, occasional sleeplessness, lack of libido, irregular periods, and poor concentration are some symptoms of perimenopause. However, if you are having normal, regular periods, you are not likely to be going through perimenopause.
Menopause
This is the end stage of a natural transition in a woman's reproductive life. Menopause is the point at which estrogen and progesterone production decrease dramatically. The ovaries stop producing eggs, a woman stops menstruation and she is no longer able to have children naturally. A woman is generally considered to be in menopause when she does not have a period for 12 months.
Post Menopause
Post menopause is considered the time when most of the symptoms of the menopausal changes have faded. Hot flashes may seem milder or less frequent, emotional swings and energy levels have become more stable. With this renewed vitality many woman find more time for themselves and focus on issues and causes they feel are important.
Being healthy begins each morning
Practice healthy habits every day. Eating a nutritious diet containing calcium-rich foods, participating in weight-bearing exercise, getting regular medical checkups and seeking the best in natural answers for menopausal symptoms is a smart strategy
The average age at which women reach menopause is 51. As you’d expect, this timing varies greatly and can be influenced by genetics and life habits. During her 40's, a woman can expect to experience hormonal changes. It is much less common for women to experience symptoms in the late 30's or the 60's.
Perimenopause
Literally meaning “around menopause”, perimenopause is the physical stage that many people mistakenly call menopause. Women can begin perimenopause as early as 35, however, the average age is 47.5 years and on average it lasts 4 years. These are averages. The fact is the perimenopausal stage varies from woman to woman. Women are likely to start this phase of life at approximately the same age as their mothers and sisters. Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, occasional sleeplessness, lack of libido, irregular periods, and poor concentration are some symptoms of perimenopause. However, if you are having normal, regular periods, you are not likely to be going through perimenopause.
Menopause
This is the end stage of a natural transition in a woman's reproductive life. Menopause is the point at which estrogen and progesterone production decrease dramatically. The ovaries stop producing eggs, a woman stops menstruation and she is no longer able to have children naturally. A woman is generally considered to be in menopause when she does not have a period for 12 months.
Post Menopause
Post menopause is considered the time when most of the symptoms of the menopausal changes have faded. Hot flashes may seem milder or less frequent, emotional swings and energy levels have become more stable. With this renewed vitality many woman find more time for themselves and focus on issues and causes they feel are important.
Practice healthy habits every day. Eating a nutritious diet containing calcium-rich foods, participating in weight-bearing exercise, getting regular medical checkups and seeking the best in natural answers for menopausal symptoms is a smart strategy
Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5
After returning from Hilton Head this past Sunday, niece's wedding, I found my self feeling a bite of a sore or raw throat at bedtime Monday night. I took a homeopathic remedy " cold and flu". When I got up I had my morning usual ,MBG. However, I had developed some hoarseness and my throat felt as if it were on fire. Remembering in the late 90's when my sister returned from a business trip where she had been quit ill. One of her symptoms was a raw throat as if on fire. We researched our hardcopy and made a tea of raw lemons steeped in hot water. Great Idea, however I did not have any lemons. I was going to have to come up with an alternative. Meanwhile I fixed my old stand by Storms a Brewin which relieved by mild body discomfort I was developing and mild head congestion, soothed my throat ; but the roar was still there. So I turned to one of the great anti virals and an ingredient of Storm , Rooibos , particularly Sunshine Lemon Rooibos. I added the new honey from my honey pot and dipper that my newly married niece and her husband gave me as gift the day before. AHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!! Soothing relief. I continued this regime through out the day and found that by Wednesday the roar had subsided but my nose wanted to run like a faucet and sneezing set in, so I added some Cayenne pepper to my Sunshine Lemon Rooibos. While Wednesday was the worst day for me the only symptom I suffer today is a very rare dry cough which my Cough Calm and some honey seem to quiet.
Yesterday I felt much better. I needed to run a few errand and just wanted a lift so I made some Peachy Keen iced.
So have I covered a couple of tea of the days
Day 2- Fox Trot
My choice was FOXTROT- which is not listed on the website but it soon will be. It is a house blend . The elements are combined to create a simple, palatable beverage that will aid in sleep. I choose it because the previous night I found myself unable to sleep for most of the night( anxiety) . I have a lot of Changes going on right now.
Several years back I embarked on a study of herbal teas. I have always had the desire to possess the knowledge to be able to put together blends of herbs that would heal. One of my favorite herbalist is Brigitte Mars,A.H.G.. Her book Healing Herbal Teas, a complete guide to making delicious, healthful Beverages, was great. Another get book Herbal Teas-101 Nourishing Blends for Daily Health & Vitality by Kathleen Brown and Jean Palatable was inspiring. However, what I often found when you start to blend healthy herbals teas is the Taste. Most often there isn't anything more than straw taste.
However, with the introduction of Rooibos to my knowledge and it's many flavors provided by my main purveyor ,additional health and taste make many of my blends palatable.
Foxtrot is a simple blend of Chamomile, peppermint and Rooibos. So here is the Scoop
Chamomile has a honey like flavor that is famous as a calmative, Peppermint is minty and rooibos, while often has the smell of creamulsion, the blend is delicate with only a slight hint of mint. It is smooth and light. I can drink it without a sweetener, however honey would make this and excellent beverage. I had a cup before dinner, which Chamomile and peppermint are both digestive aids so there was an added benefit. When I returned home I had another cup . I went to bed and sleep all night , which does not happen because I have to empty my bladder in the middle of the night, this is an age thing.
I will be posting additional info on each element later.
Drinks Oceans of Tea for the Health of it and remember we encourage heavy drinking
Day I
I suppose I should I also tell why I think so highly of this beverage called"Tea". Iced tea was served for dinner at our house, sweeten of course, however only to those of us old enough to consume it. Although at the time I really did not know what made it not consumable to the under aged. Later I concluded it was the Caffeine. You see My mother's generation respected the affects of caffeine on the children in the family. I think they knew it would give us the ability to fly, around the house and drive her crazy. So it was that mystery than sparked my curiosity along with those special little, individual tea pots that my Grandmother and Mother placed at her dinner setting.
However, it was my sister who insisted that I join her on Valentine's Day 2004 at a new tea shop in Concord, NC that has launched my fascination into the realm of Tea Snob. This Tea shop, Two Leaves and a Bud, Inc was the brainchild of Molly Reese and with the financial help of her sister and brother in law Lina and Rick Gibson. More Later.
So on to what Tea will start us off. Well what better tea than what starts me off every day, Monkey Picked Golden. It is a China Black Tea. The name is associated with a time when monkeys were used to harvest tea leaves, particularly those taller plants. Obviously this practice is not used today.
This tea does not taste like what I call traditional teas. You have to know I thought there was only one "tea", Lipton. Those loose leaves were responsible for every glass, cup and pot of tea every consumed in our house and the homes of my Grandparents.
When you read the info page on this tea the opening says it all to me,"Before brewing this tea we would like to offer a warning: Prepare yourself for what may be the best cup of tea you've ever had in your life! Without word of a lie, this is truly a truly fabulous brew."
Amen. It does not have the bit on your tongue, which I believe to be what the tea world calls"astringent" . It is smooth from start to finish, thats front and back in some circles, I have also work in the wine industry. It may even have a slight , very slight hint of sweet. There might be a very light and delicate flavor of oak. It is just really, really gooood. For my family: husband, sons and daughter, this is their tea of choice as well
So after stumbling to the kitchen in the AM,I fill my tea kettle with purified water, turn it on, then fill a T-sac with 2 scoops of Monkey Picked Golden. When the water has reached a roaring boil I pour it into my 12 Oz cup, set my timer for three minutes. When the timer goes off I pull the bag up, let the beautiful brown liquid drain completely out then discard the bag, add 2 teaspoons of raw sugar, stir and enjoy.
Here are a couple of official terms I will use:
Bright- Denotes a lively fresh tea with good keeping quality
Brisk- The most "live"characteristic.Results from good manufacturing.( I don't know if this is brisk-Lipton is 'Brisk")
All I know is I like it . When I don't have it I am not a happy camper. If anyone would like a sample let me know I will send it to you: a sample= two bags, for a 6-8 oz cup. I must let you know this stuff isn't cheap. That is probably why I love it. Here is a link Contact US
One more note. You will conclude from this that I am not a professional writer or typist. If anyone feels the need and necessity to make correction ,please by all means do I will send you some tea as a token of my gratitude.
So drink Tea for the Health of it and always remember heavy drinking is encouraged
Black and green tea - Health Benefits
http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/dont-forsake-black-tea-in-rush/page-2/
Pu-erh will be available in a couple of weeks. Pu-erh is also called Red Tea and it tends to have and earthy flavor
Happy drinking and as was said at TLAB- "we encourage heavy drinking"
White Tea -What about a little fuss
White Tea
What is all the fuss about GREEN tea, you would think it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Personally I don’t care for the robust flavor of chlorophyll when I drink a beverage. Oh but it is GOOD for you. However did you know that White tea is actually higher in good stuff than Green tea?
FYI: Black, green, white and oolong tea come from the same plant, the camellia sinensis. The leaves are infused with Hot water, and produce a beverage referred to as ‘tea”. The Primary difference is in the fermenting. As applied to camellia sinesis, "fermented” does not mean it has been turned to an alcoholic beverage. Rather the fermentation process instead refers to the enzymatic changes occurring during the process. White and Green Teas are not fermented
What about a little white tea fuss?
What Is White Tea?
White tea is tea made from leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. The leaves are harvested while very young, and the buds are still covered in very fine, white hairs. These hairs are what give white tea its name.
While black tea is harvested and dried leaves that are fermented before being cut up, white tea is only very gently dried. Because of this careful handling, white tea buds still have the same high concentration of antioxidants as fresh tea leaves.
White tea is cultivated primarily in China, mainly in the mountainous and fertile Fujian province, where white tea has a long history. The bushes on which the white tea leaves are to be grown are the ones that are best placed with respect to sunshine and rain.
Harvesting
The best quality white tea is harvested first. The finest qualities of white tea, often called «Silver Needle», consists exclusively of the buds of tea leaves. These buds are handpicked during certain days in the spring, usually between March 15th and April 10th. By that time, the buds have reached the perfect balance between youth and maturity that gives the best-tasting tea. Only undamaged and unopened buds are used for Silver Needle. Other qualities of white tea may incorporate leaves that are no longer buds, but are still young, with the white fuzz still on them.
Processing
The leaves and buds are withered over a few hours, and then air dried. The temperature and even the air moisture are taken into consideration during the production, and the art is to get a perfect balance between solar withering and indoor withering. Like green tea, the leaves are not fermented at all. The extremely gentle and quick processing means that the buds and leaves are very close to their natural state. This allows the antioxidants in the leaves to survive intact, making white tea the best alternative for health-conscious aficionados. White tea is very rare, and can be much more expensive than other teas.
The tea
Properly brewed white tea has a pale, slightly golden color, not unlike white wine. The scent is light and fresh, and the taste is mild and silky with a subtle, sweet aftertaste. The «grassy» aftertaste of green tea is quite absent in white tea, which can be drunk until it is cold without any noticeable deterioration in taste or quality.1
[1] www.whiteteacentral.com/
Tea what is it good for
Oolong Tea:
- Digestion
- Antibacterial
- Heart
- Lower cholesteraol
- Slimming
- Combats Fatigue
- Prevent Cancer
- Longevity/antiaging
- Anti Oxidant
Green Tea:
- Digestion Slimming
- Anti Bacterial
- Cancer Prevention
- Heart
- Anti Aging
- Prevention of Osteoprosis
White Tea:
- Digestion
- Anti Bacterial
- Antioxidant
- Longevity/anti aging
Green Tea for Weight Loss
Natural Health Magazine,July/August 2008 issue 6 Herbs For Weight Loss by Darlyn Eller,
Indigo Tea Market recommends:
Often Green tea taste likes grass clippings. This naturally makes potential green consummer to say No Way. This is how I am. It was because of my time spent in a tea room, stocking over 150 Teas and a wide variety of Green teas, that I came to find Green Teas that don't make me scream Yuk!
Indigo Tea Market suggest the following:
Jasmine with Flowers - shop.indigoteamarket.com/product.sc?categoryId=5&productId=30
Crime of Passion - -http://shop.indigoteamarket.com/product.sc?categoryId=5&productId=15
Long Island Strawberry - http://shop.indigoteamarket.com/product.sc?categoryId=5&productId=16
Green Tea and Alzheimers
Green Tea Antioxidant May Help Prevent
Alzheimer's
The science looks hopeful, but it's
still too early to make a dietary recommendation, experts say
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- An antioxidant found in green tea appears to prevent the development of amyloid fibrils, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, a new study finds. Amyloid plaque is commonly seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and appears to disrupt the function of cells. Strategies to prevent the development of amyloid plaque are one avenue being explored in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's. For the complete article |
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=615980