The benefits of Chai Tea

As an imperfect environmentalist, my goal is not only to live more sustainably and with as little impact on the environment as I can but also to live more healthily with as much of a positive impact on my own body. So part of my new year's resolution is to care for my body better inside and out....how am I accomplishing this...pushing off the coffee and brining on the Chai Tea. This little miracle drink feels me with utter peace and joy, it mellows me, smooths out all the rough edges and just brings me a little peace in a crazy day. Not only that but I found a write up that explains many additional benefits as well. Look for yourself:

Chai tea not only tastes delicious but has numerous health benefits. Black tea (the tea used to make chai) contains plenty of disease-fighting antioxidants, which in tea are called flavanoids. Flavanoids are not affected by whether or not you have milk in your chai – they still work effectively. It is thought that tea contains ten times the amount of antioxidants as you would find in fruit and vegetables and that is great news for tea lovers because antioxidants slow the aging process and are beneficial for your body. Chai tea helps to prevent and fight cancer, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and Alzheimer's. Chai tea is also thought to boost the immune system and prevent heart attacks and strokes. The extra ingredients added to chai tea also have their own health benefits. Ginger is thought to strengthen and heal the respiratory and digestive systems, fight off colds and sore throats and decrease congestion. People also take ginger to prevent motion sickness. Cloves are restorative and invigorating. They help to generate heat in the body so are good to take if there are colds or flu going around. Cinnamon is a stimulant and makes the other herbs work faster in the body. Black pepper gives warmth. Cardamom stimulates the mind and refreshes you. Nutmeg adds a rich, delicious flavor to your brew. If you crush the spices using a mortar and pestle, the flavors really emerge. Flavanoids and fluorides in tea are believed to be beneficial for the teeth, reducing cavities and preventing the development of plaque. Tea does not stain the teeth as long as you brush them regularly. Chai tea does not have a diuretic effect like coffee, unless you drink it excessively.

A New Dawn

So I cut off all of my hair, well not all of it...I did leave enough to be a little stylish. But I did cut enough to get down to my naturale color and to see how long I can hold off from an organic coloring highlight. I am trying to like myself (roots and all)
The other thing that comes with the shedding of my locks is the exposure of my over -exposed face. All the years of sun bathing and just being out of doors without necessary protection (as an olive skinned gal I honestly didn't think it would apply to me) the years they are a showing. Like any normal woman my age the thought has crossed my mind 5, 10 a few hundred that possibly I should look into Botox or those other miracle cures other women seem to be enjoying to look younger... Then I smack myself and say that I want to love every stage of my age and I don't want to poison myself. So what's a girl to do....RESEARCH!
That's right! I'm not growing old gracefully, I'm going to fight like hell to make my outside look like my inside feels..so here's a little something I came across. I'm going to try and I'll let you know if it works.
Happy New Year!

Considering Botox? Try This Skin Plumping Natural Recipe Instead


By Lynda Fassa
Tarrytown, NY, USA | Mon Oct 13, 2008 05:24 AM ET


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Do It Yourself | Green Personal Grooming | Organic | Planet Green | Skin Care | Vegetables
Yeah, you can have it all. Your high powered career (or at least a job), your adorable gremlins, a smooth gleaming brow, and some extra cash in your bank account. Here's how to accomplish the last two: Ban the Botox!

I know that might seem like a funny thing to write about on a green site--and no I have not imbibed. But I know a lotta women who have, and even more who are on the brink... about to fall over the precipice into that promised land of manageable toxins, stinging shots, but a smooth, younger looking mug. To all of you I say, wait, give me one week, and try the following--bet you'll see huge results. Plus, you can avoid the obvious toxins of Botox and the less-than-so-obvious potential dangers of even expensive conventional creams and treatments.

Of all the really great natural treatments you can do for yourself at home, this one has some of the most pronounced and immediate results I've seen. This all-natural, make it yourself from grocery store supplies, recipe comes from my gorgeous friend Nancy Klein, a domestic diva and a Hollywood wife with a heart as big as the Amazon, a waist as small as Scarlet O Hara's and skin that would make a baby's toosh jealous.

Organic Spinach And Kale Face And Body Mask
Harvard University researchers say the potent antioxidant lutein, found in dark green leafy vegetables, may protect the skin from sun damage. It also may be beneficial to apply lutein directly to the surface of your skin. The cream contains lactic acid, an exfoliant.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound washed organic spinach
1/2 pound washed organic green kale
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup heavy cream
In lead-free ceramic or tempered glass container combine spinach, kale, and 1 T. water. Microwave, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Replace cover and let sit for 3 minutes. Puree in blender with oil and cream until smooth. Apply and let sit for about 8 minutes for full effect. Splash or shower off with warm water finished by a cool rinse to close your pores. The mixture can be kept for about a week in the fridge. Use twice weekly in the dryer climates.

Voila! You're gorgeous... your friends will be wondering, "What have you done?"