Coffee2Know.net

Having a hard time giving up your 4 cups of coffee each day? Evidence shows by switching to tea you can add some significant health benefits. The health benefit of drinking tea is chalked up to one explanation, antioxidants. Research shows that green and black teas have up to 8-10 times the antioxidants as fruits and vegetables which can add significantly to your health.

The research has found that regular tea drinkers - people who drink two or more cups per day - have less heart disease and stroke, lower cholesterol levels, and they may recover from heart attacks faster. You can find these benefits in black, green, oolong and even iced teas! Beware of doctoring up your tea with too much milk because this has been found to decrease the antioxidants.

Don’t despair coffee lovers! There are some teas out there that you may find match up to your love of coffee. For instance, Chai tea uses ginger and cardamom which overpowers the taste of the black tea but offers a rich, full bodied taste which is perfect for coffee consumers! Vanilla nut teas also tend to override the black tea taste for a richer flavor. Try some tea today to better your health!

©, 2005 Meri Raffetto

About the Author

Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness.
Learn about her online weight loss programs and sign up for her free monthly newsletter to receive nutrition tips, healthy recipes, and more at http://www.reallivingnutrition.com

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Last week at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting, researchers presented the results of a Greek study which found that men who drank more than one cup of coffee a day had 30% higher levels of an inflammatory chemical called CRP in their blood. For women, the news was even worse: a 38% increase in CRP.

Now that’s a pretty serious finding. Elevated levels of CRP have been shown to increase your risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, depression, and many other conditions.

As someone who researches the effects of foods on inflammation, the study caught my attention. I should also disclose that I am also a coffee lover. In fact, I recently wrote an article on the health benefits of coffee. (If you interested, that article can be found here.)

But here’s the scoop on the Greek study: It turns out that coffee drinkers also 1)are more likely to smoke; 2)exercise less; and 3)eat fewer vegetables than their non-coffee drinking counterparts.

Let’s review. All three of these factors (smoking, sedentary lifestyle, low intake of vegetables) are known to increase inflammation. There is no solid evidence that drinking coffee increases inflammation. And yet the headlines all read: “Drinking Coffee Increases Inflammation.”

Whether or not you enjoy java, inflammation is something to be concerned about, as it has now been linked to virtually all of today’s most common illnesses. But I don’t think I’m going change my coffee consumption based on this study.

The best way to reduce inflammation? Don’t smoke, exercise, and eat your vegetables!

copyright, 2006, Monica Reinagel

Monica Reinagel is the creator of the IF Rating System, a scientific method of determine the inflammatory effects of foods. She is the author of The Inflammation Free Diet Plan: The Scientific Way to Lose Weight, Banish Pain, Prevent Disease and Slow Aging. (2006, McGraw-Hill).

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When developing your budget, it is important to monitor your daily purchases because you may discover that you have developed some expensive habits. Take for instance the daily ritual of stopping for a cup of coffee. Without realizing it, you may discover that you have been drinking away a small fortune.

All too often, individuals unconsciously make purchases that seem insignificant, but over time add up to be a significant amount of money. If you think hard enough, there are probably many casual purchases that you make on a daily basis.

The average cost to buy a cup of coffee and a muffin is $5.00. If you were to stop at the coffee shop everyday during a 7-day week you would spend $35.00. Over time this equates to $150.00 per month or $1,800.00 per year. However, if you were to forego this daily ritual and instead invest that money at a rate of 10% annual return you would have about $1million after 40 years ($948,611.00 to be exact).

As you can see, habits such as this will open your eyes and you may be inclined to think twice the next time that you have the urge to buy a coffee. ACCC encourages you to keep a notebook with all of your daily expenses. Track all of the little items; coffee, takeout for lunch, and afternoon snacks. With just a few adjustments, you can better control your finances and become a better spender.

To download a household budget worksheet go to http://www.consumercredit.com/budget-sheet.htm.

Brought to you by American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC). ACCC is a non-profit credit counseling and financial education agency committed to promoting financial literacy. It is our mission to financially empower consumers to regain control of their lives through education and financial management. More information can be found by logging on to www.consumercredit.com.

American Consumer Credit Counseling

Attn: Tom Palange

Education Programs Specialist

130 Rumford Ave.

Newton, MA 02466

http://www.consumercredit.com

1-800-769-3571 Ext. 708

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