7 Health Benefits of Iced Tea

National Iced Tea Day on June 10th each year celebrates one of summer’s favorite drinks. Whether you prefer sweetened or unsweetened, with or without lemon, many love and enjoy ice tea by the glass full all summer long.

Creating your custom iced tea is as easy as adding a hint of flavor. Whether you add a squeeze of lemon or the juice of raspberries, lime, passion fruit, strawberry, or cherry, make your iced tea your way.

An alternative to carbonated soft drinks and quite popular in the United States, iced tea makes up about 85% of all tea consumes. Restaurants, convenience stores, vending machines, grocery stores, and self-serve soda fountains make finding iced tea easy and convenient.

From soothing stress to providing weird minerals you didn’t know you need, iced tea provides more than just a refreshing boost. While heavily sweetened iced tea can’t really be considered a health food, iced tea, in general, is fairly healthy. There has been much research done, and compelling conclusions that tea can reduce the risk of heart disease, and possibly help prevent a number of other health issues.

Whether black, green, white, or oolong, all teas do a body good. Here are a few of the ways in which they do so.

1.Keeps You Hydrated

Dehydration sucks, so to speak. Hydration is good. The Harvard School of Public Health lists teas as a great source of hydration. Despite the common myth that caffeine dehydrates the body, there is ample evidence that such is not the case

2. Boosts Your Antioxidants

Everything is all about the antioxidants these days, we can’t seem to escape the heaping of accolades on these plant compounds that fight cell-damaging free radicals in the body. But if they really prove to be as beneficial as science seems to think they are, then we should be focusing on getting them as frequently as possible. Tea is a great source of antioxidants with about eight to 10 times the polyphenol antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables.

3. Better Alternative to Sugary Soda

A 12-ounce can of regular cola contains 39 grams of total sugar, which is about 9 1/2 teaspoons of sugar and 140 calories. Twelve ounces of unsweetened iced tea as 0 teaspoons of sugar and 2 calories.

4. May Help Your Teeth

Some research has shown that drinking tea may help prevent tooth loss; tea changes the pH in your mouth, which may prevent cavities. At the very least, it appears not to harm tooth enamel like some beverages do.

5. Could Fight Cancer

The Tea Association of the USA explains that more than 3,000 published research studies exist that evaluate the role tea and tea compounds, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), may play in cancers or various sites. The effects apply to a number of different cancers and are linked to varying degrees of significant success.

6. Chills the Nerves

A British study found that people who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who didn’t. As well, during the study the tea drinkers had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their body after a stressful event as compared with a control group who drank a placebo.

7. It Helps Your Heart

A comprehensive review study found nearly 20 percent reduction in the risk of heart attack and a 35 percent reduced risk of stroke among those who drank one to three cups of green tea daily.

Brew and enjoy a glass of iced tea with friends. With so many ways to brew iced tea, it’s become more convenient than ever, too. Create your favorite flavors by adding mint, lemon or fruit. Enjoy a drink during lunch at your favorite restaurant. While enjoying your iced tea, be sure to share on social media using #NationalIcedTeaDay.

Men’s Health Week – Advice from a Doctor

Men’s Health Week was instated to encourage men to take better care of their health. Unfortunately, on average men die five years younger than women, and die at higher rates from nine of the top 10 causes of death. This includes preventable conditions such as heart attack, heart disease, and stroke, which occur at higher rates in men. Men are also less likely than women to be insured. All of this impacts their health and their ability to be involved fathers, supportive partners, and engaged community members.

“One of the reasons why men don’t pay attention to prevention for health issues is because they [are stubborn – just kidding] – because success in prevention is when nothing happens – you don’t see the heart attack or cancer that you prevented.”

**Prevention does not only prevent the risk of chronic diseases long term, but can improve quality of life immediately**

But, when something happens they tend to pay attention and realize that they need to bolster their efforts for better health. The good news is that there are many simple and easy habits to improve your health!

Mayo Clinic Dr. Donald Hensrud explains that one reason why men may not appreciate preventative health care is because women tend to see their healthcare provider more often, and at a younger age for routine examinations.

Men – follow women’s lead and embrace preventative health!

How to Recover from a Food Binge

We are now living in unprecedented times, and may be more likely to go on a food binge. Maybe you ate almost a whole loaf of chocolate chip and banana bread and feel like a bloated slug.

HOWEVER, not all is lost! Here is what you should do after a food binge.

-Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate with water! It helps flush out your system and makes you feel better and less sluggish.

-Go for a walk! Going for a walk right after you’ve overeaten can help you clear your mind and will make your body feel better, too. Walking has been shown to help accelerate stomach emptying, which may relieve uncomfortable feelings of fullness or bloating caused by overeating. It can also help burn some of the extra calories that you might have consumed during a binge

-Don’t beat yourself up! Going on a food binge happens to everyone at some point, and it is understandable when we are living in different times and people may be stressed.

-Take vitamins! Your body may need extra nutrients to process the extra food, and it is likely that the food you ate was not fully nutritionally sound. Taking a supplement like JuicePlus after a binge can really help!

-Eat a healthy breakfast! While it may be tempting to skimp on breakfast or lunch the day after overeating, starting your day with a healthy meal can actually help you get back on track. Not only does it allow you to start fresh after getting a good night’s sleep, but it can also help you get right back into your routine, stabilize blood sugar, and make healthier choices throughout the day.

-Fill up on veggies! Loading up on veggies post-binge is another effective strategy to help prevent overeating.
Vegetables are high in fiber, which moves slowly through the gastrointestinal tract undigested, helping promote feelings of fullness

Lastly, the best way to deal with a food binge is to prevent it before it starts. Make sure to eat regular, healthy meals and stay hydrated. People are much more likely to overeat when they are overly hungry or confuse thirst with hunger.

Veggie Burgers

“When we came up with the veggie burger idea, we didn’t want to pigeonhole it just to vegetarians or vegans, but to make it a darn good burger” – Zagat video (yes, THAT zagat for restaurant ratings)

As we maintain in Private Home Care – the best diet is one that is balanced and works with YOU, and your tastes and preferences. If you are trying to get healthier, the best way to make lasting change is to take small steps. Are you or is there someone in your family who cannot imagine a barbecue with veggie burgers? That’s ok – you can have the best of both worlds! Put steak tips AND veggie burgers on the grill. Have a steak tip or two AND a veggie burger on your plate!

There are so, so many types of veggie burgers (store bought and homemade) that you are bound to find one that you love. Another great thing about veggie burgers is that they are typically quicker and easier to prepare than meat burgers. Keep store bought or homemade veggie burgers in the freezer to heat up quickly on a stovetop, microwave or grill. You don’t have to bother to let it defrost, so its perfect meal after a long day!

Donuts and a Balanced Diet

Let’s be real: donuts are not always the healthiest food to eat. However, that does not mean that you can never eat them! Private Home Care really embraces people enjoying what they eat, including the occasional treat, as part of a balanced diet! There are plenty of ways that you can enjoy donuts and STILL maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Here is a healthy version of Kripy Kreme donuts! https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/homemade-krispy-kreme-doughnuts-the-healthy-version/?fbclid=IwAR3e7DsXZzwhMxhlamC1aP_W6mTMtjzWhWK7t4SzGBbTAVZ8f-Nd9slKfdI

There are many recipes for healthier donuts that substitute traditional ingredients like white flour, refined sugar, and oil/lard. Healthier alternatives include using whole wheat flour, maple syrup, and baking the donuts instead of frying them in oil. You can also make them according to your diet – they can be dairy free, gluten free, or even vegan.

There is room in a healthy lifestyle to enjoy traditional donuts as well! Here are some tips:

-Eat donuts as a dessert, not as a breakfast!

-Eat donuts after a healthy, filling meal. That way you can make sure to get proper nutrition and nutrients.

-If you are going to eat donuts, eat GOOD donuts (not just a half stale one from a convenience store!) When you eat an indulgence food, make sure it is of good quality so that you can truly enjoy it!

-When enjoying a delicious donut, it is be best to enjoy it with others. You can cut it up into pieces and share with friends. Sometimes that is the best – when you share a yummy dessert with friends, you enjoy the food AND the company.

Doughnut Worry, Be Happy!

Today is National Doughnut Day! Each year on the first Friday in June, people participate in National Doughnut Day.

The Salvation Army created National Doughnut Day in 1938 to honor the women who served doughnuts to soldiers in World War I. In 1917, the original “Salvation Army Doughnut” was first served by the ladies of the Salvation Army. It was during WWI that the Salvation Army Lassies went to the front lines of Europe. Home-cooked foods, provided by these brave volunteers, were a morale boost to the troops. The doughnuts were often cooked in oil inside the metal helmets of American soldiers. American infantrymen were then commonly called “doughboys.” 

Celebrate the day by enjoying your favorite doughnut. There are many varieties of doughnuts to choose from, too! Whether you prefer glazed or creme-filled, holes, or any number of deliciously made doughnuts, get out there and support your local bakeries.

Some spots are offering free doughnuts or doughnut deals to celebrate (social distancing and safety precautions included). Here’s a list of some shops offering deals for the holiday in the Boston area. Please contact your doughnut shop first to make sure they are participating!

• Krispy Kreme: Free doughnut
• Dunkin’: Free doughnut with purchase of a beverage