Tuesday, July 19, 2011

A healthier way to replace your soda fix!

Forget the empty calories, chemical sweeteners and artifical flavors... fill up your cup with fruity teas in hundreds of different flavors. Drinking peach white and green teas with a bit of honey helped me break the soda addiction more than 10 years ago.
The added bonus is you'll also get a good dose of cancer fighting antioxidants and much more! Check out the 10 reasons to switch to tea below. I stopped by the cutest tea boutique in South Tampa on Davis Islands.
TeBella sells hundreds of loose-leaf teas including many organics. The owner is pretty funny too... he says why support the corporate tea stores when you can help his 10-month-old pay for college!

Get a fresh perspective on health: Check out Heather's Natural Health

 






1. Tea contains antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your body from pollution and diseases.
2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. Coffee usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea. An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg caffeine. Tea contains roughly 30 to 40 mg.

3. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Researchers say drinking tea may help keep your arteries smooth and clog-free. A study from the Netherlands found people who drank at least two to three cups of black tea a day had 70 percent lower risk of fatal heart attack compared to non-tea drinkers.

4. Tea protects your bones. One study suggests the phytochemicals in tea contributes to strong bones.

5. Tea gives you a sweet smile. Tea contains natural fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay.

6. Tea bolsters your immune defenses. Drinking tea may boost your body’s immune system and fight off infection.

7. Tea helps protect against cancer. Researchers credit polyphenols, antixidants for the potential protective benefits.

8. Tea helps keep you hydrated. Drinking tea throughout the day will keep fluids flowing through your body.

9. Tea is calorie-free. Drinking flavored teas can be a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Adding a dollup of honey sweetens it a bit without too many extra calories.

10. Tea increases your metabolism. Researchers say drinking five cups of green tea a day increases your metabolic rate. Of course drinking your tea during a walk will burn even more calories!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Beat the heat one bite at a time!

When the temperature reaches 90+, you can't help but look for ways to cool off.  Creamy frozen yogurt hits the spot! I love this new yogurt place at the mall...yum!




Have you checked out the new Pinkberry Yogurt at Westshore mall, right next to P.F.Changs?   

They have mouth-watering flavors including pomegranate, mango, chocolate, green tea and so many more!
The caramel with sea salt is worth a taste too!