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Health
Scan the ingredients below and if you make the right diet changes, you could de- velop a champion’s memory.
Salmon - A diet containing generous amounts of omega-3 fatty acids leads to de- creased rates of dementia and improved memory recall.
Curry - Curcumin, a primary ingredient in turmeric and curry powders, slows the for- mation of plaque deposits and even destroys accumulations in the brain. These plaque de- posits—known as amyloid plaques—have been linked to the development of Alzheimers. Curry has also been proven to help prevent cancer and heart disease.
Fruit and Veggies - Fruits and vegeta- bles contain compounds that are important for optimal function and resisting decline with aging..
Beets - They’re loaded with nitrates. Ni- trates are a form of nitric oxide, which is a natural compound that is associated with lowering blood pressure. The nitrates in- crease blood flow and oxygen to the brain, thus improving mental performance.
Leafy Greens - Leafy greens contain an- tioxidants and they’re also loaded with a sig- nificant amount of folate. Folate-rich foods improve memory by decreasing inflamma- tion and improving blood flow to the brain. Folic acid has also been proven to lower lev- els of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to a higher risk of heart disease.
Coffee - The caffeine equivalent of 2 cups of coffee increases brain activity in 2 lo- cations, one of which is involved with mem- ory.
Chocolate - A study found that older adults who drInk two cups of cocoa every day for a month have improved blood flow to the brain and performed better on memory tests.
Here Are The Best Teas For Your Specific Health Needs
From preventing chronic diseases to promoting weight loss, find out the multiple health benefits of these eight popular teas.
Green Tea - Erin Palinski- Wade, registered dietitian and au- thor of "Belly Fat Diet for Dummies," rates this tea as tops because of its nu- merous health benefits, ranging from protection against liver toxicity to cancer prevention. In fact, just last month, researchers from Penn State discovered a compound found in green tea that may trigger a cycle that kills oral cancer cells. Green tea’s ef- fects are largely due to a powerhouse ingredient: the antioxidant epigallo- catechin-3-gallate, also known as EGCG.
Green tea may also help you drop a few pounds along the way.
Black Tea - With a sharper and stronger taste than other kinds, black tea has been shown in research to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Black tea produces statistically signif- icant reductions in blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, a.k.a. “bad”) cholesterol.
White Tea - People with diabetes may want to consider sipping this beverage. Extract from white tea can kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the body that cause infections and pneu- monia. White tea is made from young leaves and is minimally oxidized, so it retains a high concentration of cate- chins — a disease-fighting antioxi- dant. In addition, this tea offers cardiovascular benefits as it may also lower LDL cholesterol, and its antiox-
idant properties may also help in the fight against certain cancers.
Peppermint Tea - This refresh- ing and naturally caffeine-free tea is probably best known for its soothing qualities. And turns out, it could also have the ability to soothe inflamma- tory pain in the gastrointestinal tract. Peppermint activates an “anti-pain” channel in the colon, bringing relief to symptoms related to irritable bowel syndrome, including abdominal dis- comfort, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation. And because menthol, an effective decongestant, is this leaf’s main active agent, drinking this bev- erage can thin mucus, loosen phlegm and help with coughs when you’re suffering from a nasty cold.
Lavender Tea - With its purple hue and floral flavor, this tea does more than just put some color into your cup. It also helps calm your mood and relieve stress. Plus, laven- der oil taken orally has also been shown to reduce symptoms related to anxiety disorders, including restless- ness, disturbed sleep and agitation.
Chamomile Tea - Chamomile tea increased urinary levels of hippu-
rate (which is associated with in- creased antibacterial activity, explain- ing why the tea can fight infections), it also increased urinary levels of glycine, a nerve-relaxing amino acid shown to relieve muscle spasms and menstrual cramps. And while chamomile has been touted for its anti-insomnia effects, it seems to help insomniacs’ functioning in the day- time, too.
Hibiscus Tea - Made from the dried petals of hibiscus flowers, Palinksi-Wade says that this drink could help those with hypertension. Consuming three cups of this tea every day helps to lower blood pres- sure in people with high blood pres- sure. It’s also shown promise in research against diabetes.
Kombucha Tea - Kombucha is made by fermenting sweetened black tea using yeast and bacteria. “Claims have been made stating this tea can help in everything from improving healthy intestinal flora to a detoxifier in helping to remove pollutants,” Palinksi-Wade explains. “It’s also been taken in hopes to strengthen the immune system, improve arthritis and skin conditions, and even possi- ble prevent cancer.” However, there are relatively limited side effects to this tea (since it contains yeast, bac- teria, caffeine and a small amount of alcohol, people with a weakened im- mune system, irritable bowel syn- drome, alcoholism, as well as women who are pregnant and breast-feeding should refrain) yet many potential health benefits,” she says.
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