Herbal Home remedies

Most people think only of positive benefits of green tea. However, while this type of tea does offer some excellent benefits, many directly related to health, it is also important to understand there are some negative effects of green tea leaves. Just as with many foods and drinks we consume, green tea may not be good for everyone. Therefore, we wanted to address some of the negative effects of green tea leaves so you can determine if this is right for you.

Green tea comes from a bush in the Camellia family, which is why the official name for green tea is Camellia sinensis, which is Latin. This evergreen bush has shiny, pointed leaves that have a wonderful aroma. This particular bush also produces beautiful white flowers. Today, green tea is grown in more than 50 countries to include Argentina, Brazil, and Russia, among others.

The exciting thing about this tea is that study after study shows positive effects on the body, meaning the negative effects of green tea leaves is minimal. For instance, green tea contains powerful antioxidants that have been proven to help fight various forms of cancer, as well as tooth decay, obesity, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Because of the amazing benefits, the level of consumption for green tea has skyrocketed throughout the globe.

Now, when it comes to the negative effects of green tea leaves, we want to start with pregnant women. Although most doctors agree that a small consumption of green tea is fine but when large amounts are consumed, caffeine can increase the risk of spontaneous abortion, low birth rate, and even growth retardation. Keep in mind that these risks are associated with the beverage of green tea, as well as supplements.

EGCG molecules, which are similar to a methotrexate compound, work by fighting off cancer cells by bonding with the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme, which is good in non-pregnant women. However, in pregnant women, the negative effects of green tea leaves involves involve the epigallocatechins, otherwise known as EGCG. In this situation, EGCG can affect the way in which the body uses folate, which is vital in the prevention of neural tube birth defects.

Nursing women should also consider the negative effects of green lea leaves. Remember, green tea is high in caffeine. Therefore, a woman who is breastfeeding and consuming green tea would be passing the caffeine on to the baby. Even small amounts or green tea powder used for baking, smoothies, and other foods should be avoided while nursing a baby.

In addition, negative effects of green tea leaves would link to individuals who have allergies. In this case, someone who is caffeine sensitive could develop problems such as hives and rash from consuming green tea. With caffeine being a stimulant that affects the central nervous system, other problems could result such as insomnia, excessive urination, reduction of potassium levels, and even incontinence. Just keep in mind that if you have any concerns about negative effects of green tea leaves for you, we recommend that you talk to your doctor or a health food specialist.

Julie Health writes about the benefits of drinking green tea and the harmful problems of green tea. Visit her website to discover more about how a miracle in a cup can improve your health.

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Tejate What the Long, Strange Trip of Tejate, a Maize-based Mexican Drink, reveals about a Worldwide Agricultural System at a Crossroads.

Michael Pollan's recent bestseller The Omnivore's Dilemma revealed to millions of readers the centrality, and dangers, of commodity corn in the modern industrialized agriculture system as developed in the United States. The "modern varieties" of corn, which are low in diversity, are now taking over the very birthplace of the crop, Southern Mexico, where it is known as maize. In their paper for the new issue of Current Anthropology, "Food Globalization and Local Diversity: The Case of Tejate, a Traditional Maize and Cacao Beverage from Oaxaca, Mexico" authors Daniela Soleri, David Cleveland, and Flavio Aragon-Cuevas trace the unique history of the ancient drink, and show how it could be the harbinger for the future of agriculture and food variety. In this indigenous drink is contained a central irony of globalization, for the very set of forces that threaten to destroy tejate may in the end save both the drink and the diverse varieties of maize.

Southern Mexico, tejate's birthplace, holds an august position in the history of agriculture. In addition to maize, three species of squash, chile, common bean, and avocado were domesticated here. Traditional "farmers' varieties" of crops have met an enormous challenge in the worldwide "Green Revolution" (launched in Mexico, incidentally) of the twentieth century, which brought down food prices, but at the cost of crop diversity-including among maize varieties. The modern varieties of maize have already won out in the commercial production of tortillas, among other staples. Traditional foods that continue to require the more diverse tastes and qualities of farmers' varieties are the only bulwark against the extinction of those varieties and their globally important genetic diversity. Tejate, the drink of work, parties, festivities, and family meals in Oaxaca, remains linked to the maize harvest, and has remained the domain of traditional farmers' varieties of maize. Through field work in two communities in Oaxaca, Soleri and her co-authors observed that tejate is in its steepest decline in the modern community, where maize diversity and traditional foods are also waning. The more traditional community, conversely, makes tejate more often and maintains a wider diversity of maize types for this and other traditional foods.

Immigration patterns, however, complicate what might seem yet another sad tale of globalization overwhelming traditional culture. The scientists observed that residents of more traditional communities were more likely to immigrate to larger Mexican cities or the United States. As a result, there is now a demand for tejate in Los Angeles, and in Mexican cities, where commercial tejateras take over the time-consuming task. While some ingredients, such as seeds from the mamey tree, are acquired from Oaxaca, the maize and the ash needed to process it are acquired domestically, often through unique channels. The authors interview a Los Angeles-based tejatera and find that she prepares her batches from.

fifty pounds of maize bought from the neighborhood pet store as whole grain bird feed! Ashes for making cuanestle are bought from a fast food chain that produces wood-barbequed chicken. Pizle, cacao, and rosita de cacao are sent to her by her family from Oaxaca via a courier service, and she uses a metate and mano carried to her from Oaxaca by a family member.

As a result of immigration, a nascent and informal international trade has helped preserve tejate's more exotic ingredients, but the fate of traditional varieties of maize remains inconclusive. Will tejate follow tortillas and become a less flavorful, industrialized version of its former self......or will its arrival in wealthier cities create a wider demand for a gourmet, traditional version? Soleri, Cleveland, and Aragon-Cuevas conclude that tejate will serve as a harbinger for the direction of food variety, and that "whether globalization will ultimately support, enhance, or diminish the biological and cultural diversity on which tejate is based, and which it reinforces, will depend on the confluence of a number of different forces, and simple generalizations are inappropriate." Either way, anyone interested in the future of food would be wise to follow the case of the foamy drink from one of the cradles of agriculture.

About the Authors......Daniela Soleri is a Research Scientist in the Geography Department at the University of California-Santa Barbara. David A. Cleveland is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of California-Santa Barbara. Flavio Aragon-Cuevas is a Senior Plant Genetic Resources Specialist with the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias, in Oaxaca, Mexico.


Posted by: Evelyn    Source

It’s vacation season once again, and if you’re like many Americans you’ll be hitting the road for a little fun and adventure.  To get the most out of your trip, and to keep yourself as safe and sane as possible, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind:

• Make a plan.  Plan your trip in advance.  While being a free spirit on the road can be fun, that doesn’t mean you have to leave the details to fate.  Gather maps and brochures about the places you’re going to visit.  Estimate your travel times and rest stops. And schedule the majority of your travel during daylight hours if possible.
• Set a budget.  Figure out how much you want to spend and does some research before you go, so you don’t end up paying more for hotels and fuel than you want to.  If possible, book your hotels before you leave.  To estimate fuel costs, go to http://fuelcostcalculator.com, which combines AAA’s daily online Fuel Gauge Report and the Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel economy ratings.
• Get your car checked.  Thinking of skipping that tuneup?  Think again.  It’s a minor task now that could become a major hassle once you’re on the road.  Use a service outlet you trust.  Buy or put together your own road safety kit.  Include items that help you deal with both car and personal emergencies (e.g., a jack, water and antifreeze, a flare, first-aid products, a blanket).
• Don’t overdo it.  Make sure you are properly rested before you set out for the day.  Take breaks where you can get out of the car and stretch.
• Check the weather.  Before you leave home, look at the forecast for the time and regions you’ll be traveling through.  Before you set out each day, check again to see if anything has changed.

Once you’re on the road…

• Avoid looking like a tourist.  Don’t leave maps in plain sight in your car, and don’t stand on a street corner gazing at a brochure in confusion.  Both advertise your vulnerability to anyone looking for an opportunity to take advantage of your situation.
• Drive the speed limit.  You don’t really gain much time by rushing, but you can get into situations that are undesirable when you’re hurrying and distracted.  Also, your fuel usage is more cost-efficient when driving the speed limit.
• And don’t forget to buckle up!