Snack Foods Association

Month: May 2018

Dress your Greens the Candida Albicans Diet Way

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Going for salads is one of the most common food clichs for those who are following a diet. How often have you experienced hearing someone ranting I will go for a salad since I need to watch my weight? This food choice is popular because it is packed with different fresh vegetables that provide a multitude of nutrients good for the body. Salads are also very flexible because you can easily add other protein sources to it like beans, tofu, meat, fish, and eggs. There are many ways to garnish a salad according to the dieters liking. The only dilemma comes with the use of salad dressing. There are a lot of people who are unaware that there are unhealthy which can turn diets into a total blunder. In fact, even the low-calorie or low-fat dressings are even considered as problematic. This case is especially applicable to those who are trying to follow a candida albicans diet.

A candida diet plan is considered as the most effective treatment for a health condition termed as candidiasis. This is an ailment wherein a strain of yeast called candida albicans overgrows in the digestive tract particularly in the intestines. Normally, candida albicans is considered as a good microorganism which helps provide healthy microflora in the intestinal tract. If kept in normal amounts, they effectively work together with other friendly bacteria in getting rid of the toxins and wastes in the body.

However, there are external elements that can cause candida to develop into an opportunistic microorganism. Several examples of situations are antibiotics overuse, use of birth control drugs, too much stress, and following a diet which is mostly composed of processed and sugar-rich foods. The moment candida evolves into an infection; it can cause several symptoms like irritability, infections of the respiratory system, fatigue, and gastrointestinal dilemmas. The yeast candida basically thrives on carbohydrates and sugar so avoiding foods rich on these components can help in restoring the normal balance of candida in the body.

This is the exact reason why the rash use of salad dressings can prove to be problematic for people following a candida albicans diet. Since these dressings are normally rich in sugar, consumption of it can lead to a development of yeast infection. Hence, there are a lot of people who decide to stop eating salads once they start having their candida diet plan because of the salad dressing dilemma. This is very unfortunate because salads are good food choices for a diet such as this. One of the main objectives of a candida diet is to encourage a person to eat raw vegetables that are low in carbohydrates and there is no better way to have access to these vegetables than through salads.

The question now is can we still enjoy salads if we are following a candida albicans diet? Will we have to sacrifice the dressings and start to eat salads without them? Fortunately, no is the answer to this question. In considering salad dressings, the commercially available ones should not be included on the possible choices because they mostly contain sugar, vinegar, yeast extracts, citric acid, salt, and monosodium glutamate or MSG. The good news is that I was able to discover a dressing brand offered by Whole Foods which can be integrated in a candida diet.

This is Annias Naturals Lemon and Chive Dressing. This dressing contains ingredients that are all safe for a candida diet. Moreover, if you prefer making your own salad dressing, you can whip up a vinegar free dressing by using lemon juice as an alternative. You can also use canola oil, safflower, olive, and other herbs together with lemon juice to make different dressings right in your own home. Thus, before deciding to stop eating salads just because of your candida albicans diet, make sure that you try these two options first.

Cytokine Storm Management

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A good defense against most illness is a healthy immune system. There are some illnesses that cause the immune system to attack the body. This is known as a Cytokine Storm.

DEFINE A CYTOKINE STORM
Tiny regulators in your body known as cytokines direct the immune response. If too many cytokines respond to a pathogen by over-stimulating the immune system, the resulting exaggerated response is called a Cytokine Storm.

Cytokine Storms are very serious. Symptoms of a Cytokine Storm include redness, inflammation, high fever, nausea and weakness. If the storm is concentrated in the lungs and airways, the mucus and inflammation has the potential to block airways and result in death. Many believe that the Cytokine Storm response was what caused the deaths of so many young adults in the 1918 Influenza Pandemic.

DONT TRY TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM DURING A CYTOKINE STORM
At the first sign of serious viral infection, herbs and foods which boost the immune response should be avoided. Oregano, Aloe Vera, Pau darco, Elderberry and Echinacea are some of the herbs which are immune boosters and would offer an initial relief followed by more severe symptoms in this instance. Sambucol (which is Elderberry juice), Chlorella algae, Spirulina, Chocolate, Kimchi and Honey are additional foods that can increase cytokine production and should be avoided during a Cytokine Storm. These foods are good for treatment of less severe colds and flu, but should be avoided when symptoms become severe.

FIGHT PATHOGENS WITH ANTI-VIRALS
Use Antipathogenic herbs also known as anti-virals to fight a virus. Apple Cider vinegar, Eucalyptus (inhaled), Garlic, Ginger, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Mullein and Pine needles are helpful in this application.

IMMUNE RESPONSE BROUGHT INTO BALANCE WITH IMMUNOMODULATORS
Select herbs and foods that are known as immunomodulators. These can help bring the immune response back into balance or normal range. Chamomile, Ginseng and Olive Leaf Extract are included in this category.

WAYS TO TREAT SYMPTOMS
Anti-inflammatories help lessen the symptoms of excess mucus and inflammation that occur in some Cytokine Storms. Apple Cider Vinegar, Curcumin (extracted from Turmeric), Ginger, Marshmallow, Mullein, Mustard, Onions, Plantain, Pine Needles, Pleurisy Root, Red Clover, Yarrow or Eucalyptus (inhaled) are helpful in dealing with these symptoms.

TREATMENTS
Most herbs can be made into a pleasant tea to drink. Inhaling the steam of herbs and/or Apple Cider Vinegar simmering in water is another way to receive the beneficial properties of herbs. A plaster of mustard (and even onions) can be applied to the chest for relief. A well-made soup can deliver the benefits of onions. By smouldering the herbs as incense, their essential oils can be carried by the smoke into the air and inhaled into the lungs.

Rest and plenty of fluids are also very helpful in recovery. Keep a close watch on the symptoms and their progressions and seek the help of medical personnel should you determine the situation is life-threatening.

This article is for information purposes; it is no substitute for medical care. The reader will exercise common sense, seek to be informed and assume all liability in the use of these methods.

Fish Main Course Recipes

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These fish recipes are based on traditional fish dishes that have been favorites for many years. The meals can range from fish cakes to spicy curries. These dishes have been developed using leftovers and basic items fro the cupboard, along with fresh fish. Don’t let yourself be limited by old tales of which herbs go with what. Experiment and try things for yourself.

Fish is very healthy, and is known to help protect the heart and can improve memory.

Chili and Coconut Scallop Curry
200g fresh whole scallops
50ml coconut milk
4 tbs white wine
1 sweet red pepper
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 chili pepper, seeds removed and diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp turmeric
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, curry powder, garlic, turmeric, chili, red pepper and white wine. Add scallops and leave to marinate.

In a frying pan, saute onion with the bay leaf, in olive oil until the onion begins to get soft. Add the scallops and marinade mixture to the pan. Turn the heat up to high for 30 seconds, the lower down to a simmer. Add 100ml of water and reduce down the sauce. Add the coconut milk to the pan and stir through for 2 minutes.

Makes 2 servings. Preparation time is 8 minutes.

Bread Pizza with Prawns and Cheese
250g cheese, grated
1/2 Bloomer or loaf of bread
2 tomatoes, de-seeded and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 small onions, sliced
10 black olives
3 tsp sweet corn kernels, boiled
1 tsp fresh oregano, chopped
10 fresh basil leaves
10 large prawns
Olive oil The first step is to make the sauce by blending the tomato, oregano, garlic and about 1 tsp of olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Slice the bloomer loaf in half to make 2 large flat pieces of bread. Layer on the tomato sauce, then sprinkle with grated cheese. Place onion slices, olives and corn on top of the cheese.

Set the basil leaves on top, and one prawn on each leaf. This way the prawns will be flavored by the basil during grilling. Drizzle the whole thing with olive oil and cook under the grill for about 5 minutes. Serve right away while hot.

This is an excellent recipe for when you have extra bread to use up. For a vegetarian pizza recipe, it’s both easy and fast.

Makes 2 servings. Preparation time is 10 minutes.

Paleo Diet Recipes Now Available on Nutrition You Can Trust Blog

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By John S. Hayes Del Mar, CA – April, 2014. Nutrition You Can Trust, one of the leading health and fitness blogs on the Internet, has published a series of articles on their site about Paleo diet recipes, an indication of how much impact it is having among health conscious people around the world today. According to the latest studies, unprocessed and organic food recipes are the best option for those who want to live and eat healthy, and according to medical researchers, food prepared according to the Paleo diet are the most effective. As the blog points out, a good diet requires not just vegetables and fruits but also healthy fats and carbohydrates. Besides Paleo, the Nutrition You Can Trust blog posted several organic food recipes people can try, as they are just as effective for weight loss and preventing the feeling of bloating that comes from unhealthy food. However, the entries in the blog are not limited to these two types of diet, as they have announced the Organics Series Part 3 as well as a comparison of organic whole foods and non-organic. Nutrition You Can Trust also announced the availability of the Body Transformation Series fitness program. According to the blog, when this is done along with an organic whole foods diet, it will lead to increased flexibility and endurance. Besides these, the blog offers a host of other health services including nutrition consultation, exercise programs, health related news updates and more. About Nutrition You Can Trust Nutrition You Can Trust is a health and fitness blog maintained by Jon Antelline. The blog, which is updated on a regular basis, focuses on healthy food and recipes, health, nutrition and fitness. Unlike other blogs however, Nutrition You Can Trust covers several issues and topics including ways for cooking healthy and maintaining an organic garden. Contact Details: John S. Hayes 122 15th St. #2325 Del Mar, CA. 92014

Diabetes Control Through a Healthy Diet

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A diagnosis by your doctor of pre-diabetes or an existing diabetic condition conjures up a number of not too pleasant visions. Among the many are thoughts of having to give up many of your favorite foods. In fact this need not be so, you can find an assortment of diabetic recipes that you can wrap your taste buds around. You do not have to start eating special foods nor do you need to follow any complicated diet. For most people, eating at regular intervals and sticking to a varied diet in moderate quantities will go a long way towards avoiding many of the serious complications associated with diabetes. Eating approximately the same amount and at the same time each day is a major step towards keeping blood sugar levels stable.

Your first critical step towards formulating a diabetic diet plan must be with the assistance of a dietitian. The dietitian will consider your lifestyle, your medication, your weight and any other existing medical conditions in order to tailor a plan which is just right for you. It is not inconceivable that this plan could also include your favorite foods, thus you will still be able to derive pleasure from your meals. The focus of your plan will be on consuming foods which are high in nutrients, low in fat, and moderate in calories. There are numerous diabetes cookbooks available with nutritious yet tasty meals to assist you in this endeavor.

GETTING STARTED

Not always do we pay close attention to what we eat, our focus is more on pleasing our palate rather than nutrition. For the diabetic this will be a major but critical adjustment. Heres the ABC of making those adjustments as suggested by the American Dietetic Association:

(A) “Moderate sugar, fat and carbohydrates” Typically carbohydrates take from five minutes to three hours to be digested, fats can take eight or more hours as opposed to proteins which take three to six hours. Therefore the reason why foods high in fat (ice cream) raises blood sugar level more slowly than vegetables (carrots). It is recommended that fat intake should be less than 30% of your daily calories. Desserts and sweets do not have to be completely eliminated from your diet but can be eaten once or twice per week, in moderate amounts.

(B) “Eat five fruits and vegetables every day” Replace your sugar producing foods with fruits or vegetables, these are good sources of vitamins, minerals and fibers. Soluble fibers found mostly in fruits, vegetables and some seeds, trap carbohydrates and slow the absorption of glucose. Vegetables which are highly recommended are: cooked kidney beans (rated among the highest soluble fiber foods) and carrots which are also highly rated for having a positive effect on blood glucose levels.

(C) “Eat more starches” Starchy foods are an important part of a healthy meal plan. Whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like peas, corn, potatoes and yams can be included in your meals. Your portion though must be moderate, 3 to 4 daily servings of carbohydrate-containing foods are considered adequate.

Mma Fight Nutrition And Hydration

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Sports Nutrition for MMA

Fluid Needs for Fighting

Your mom may have told you: drink 8, 8oz. glasses of water per day. Although this advice is considered conventional wisdom, it surely isnt based on any science. If that advice does apply to anyone, it certainly isnt mixed martial artists who spend a good amount of their day jumping, punching, and wrestling in a hot, stuffy gym. Your fluid needs are unique, and as such, need a unique approach. As you likely know, dehydration results in a tremendous reduction in performance capacity. If youre dehydrated, your body and mind will suffer. In the ring, this is a formula for disaster. There are two major reasons why an MMA practitioner has different fluid needs than both your average Joe and other athletes: one is that your activity level is much higher than most other athletes. Because MMA training is unusually intense and usually has a long duration, there is significantly more fluid loss than a steady-state activity like jogging. Secondly, because of the level of conditioning required to be competitive, mixed martial artists tend to have significantly more muscle mass than most. Glycogen, the storage form of carbohydrate, needs a lot of water. The vast majority of glycogen is stored in muscle, so you need to drink more fluid just to keep the glycogen in your muscle hydrated.

How Much Fluid Do I Need?
Simple, everyone is different. Alright, so figuring out exactly how much fluid you need isnt quite so simple. But, with a little bit of work up-front and a commitment to monitoring your progress; you can ensure youre getting the right amount of fluid. Here are some general guidelines that you can use as a baseline:

Hydration Before Training
Drink at least15-20 fl oz. 2 hours before training/competition
Drink 8-10 fl oz. 15-30 minutes before training/competition

Hydration During Training
Drink 8-10 fl oz every 10 minutes
If youre training more than an hour and a half, drink 8-10 fl oz. of electrolyte replacement drink every 30 minutes.

Its possible that what youre already doing closely resembles these guidelines. However, because the variability of ones training varies so much, there is a more accurate way of going about staying hydrated.

Easy Ways for Mixed Martial Artists Assess Hydration
Although following the guidelines above gives you an excellent baseline, there are many variables like altitude, humidity, and clothing that can make generic guidelines inaccurate. One of the most accurate ways to assess hydration is to check out your urine color. If its cloudy and yellow, then you know that youre dehydrated. This is because the toxins that your kidneys filter out arent diluted in a large enough urine volume to be invisible. On the other hand, if its clear, youre likely getting enough fluid. Its normal to have a slight color in your urine, especially first thing in the morning or after taking a multivitamin.

Another fantastic way to monitor your hydration is to weigh yourself before and after your training session. Although you do burn a bit of fat during training, the vast majority of your weight loss is fluid. For example, if you weighted 155lbs. before your training session and weigh in at 153lbs. after your training, which means that, you lost 32oz. of fluid. (1 pound=16 ounces of fluid). A 2-3% loss of bodyweight during training can impair your performance and put added stress on vital organs. You should try to maintain adequate levels of hydration during training and replenish any losses within 1 hour of training. If you weigh more after training than you did before, thats a sign you overdid it and drank too much.

The Hydration Plan Recap:
1.Mom may know best in most cases, but not when it comes to your hydration!
2.Everyones fluid needs are different from yours-so learn what your body needs.
3.Use the hydration guidelines as a starting point. Adjust to your training and body needs.
4.Check the color of your urine. Dark Yellow/Brown=severe dehydration, Yellow=moderate dehydration, Slight Yellow/Clear=Hydrated!
5.Weight yourself. Before and after training to get an idea of how much fluid you have lost and drink according. Sipping works better than chugging.

Train hard, eat smart and stay hydrated!
Daniel M. Solomon, Registered Dietitian (RD)

Reference: (1)Benardot, Dan. Advanced Sports Nutrition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2006. Print.
(2)Clark, Nancy. Nancy Clarks Sports Nutrition Guidebook . 4th. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2008. Print.
(3)Judelson, Daniel. Hydration and Muscular Performance: Does Fluid Balance Affect Strength, Power and High-Intensity Endurance?. Sports Medicine 37(2007): 907-921. Print

Wheatgrass Juicers Get One And Start Enjoying Fresh Juice

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Why should anyone drink wheatgrass juice? Why shouldnt they? Wheatgrass juice is gaining in popularity as more people become more aware of its health benefits. Due to this, wheatgrass juicers are also getting more popular.

A lot of people are starting to realize how important it is to eat healthy. To get sick is not easy. It can get very expensive. Therefore, a lot of organizations including the CDC are trying to promote good health practices. Eating right is part of it.

Meeting the recommended daily allowance for vegetables is much easier with wheatgrass juice. Charles F. Schnabel, the person responsible for making wheatgrass popular in the 1930s, did say that 1 pound of wheatgrass is equal to 23 pounds of vegetables. As ABC News said, Wheatgrass, healthy for the body and the bank account.

Detoxification

Wheatgrass juice is good for detoxification. For people who are drinking this to detoxify normally drink it 3 to 4 times a day. People who are used to eating unhealthy fast food and junk food might feel dizzy after drinking too much wheatgrass. After detoxification, they will no longer have to go through that.

Using wheatgrass juicers, it is much cheaper and better to make ones own juice. It is better because compared to powdered versions in the market, it is fresh. Fresh wheatgrass juice means that it contains live enzymes as well.

Get a good juicer

This is a way to get the health benefits of wheatgrass at a much lower price. Making ones own juice is easy using wheatgrass juicers. These are specially designed to extract juice from wheatgrass. Other juicers will not be as good. Multi-purpose juicers just might be able to get good quality wheatgrass juice.

The speed is an important consideration. It must fall between 80 and 120 RPM. More than that is actually bad for the enzymes, producing lower quality juice. For this exact reason, other juicers should not be used.

Choosing a good juicer is an important decision. It is a good investment for ones health. Especially for people who do not have the time to eat full meals with fruits and vegetables.

The yield amount is also important. Wasting a lot of wheatgrass just to get so little juice is irritating. The juicer must have a high yield amount.
These are some things to consider in getting a good wheatgrass juicer. Detoxification is just one of the many benefits wheatgrass can bring. It is good for preventing and controlling other diseases much like vegetables, but better.

Coffee – Is It Good for You

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Coffee has been enjoyed by millions of people around the world for at least a thousand years. Apart from it’s wonderful aroma, the attraction of coffee lies in its properties as a stimulant.

In many people, coffee enhances alertness, concentration and mental and physical performance. This is due to its caffeine content. The average cup of instant coffee contains about 60mg caffeine while filter coffee contains about 85mg. For those who are sensitive to caffeine and prefer decaf blends, the decaffeinated beverage contains only 3mg.

Some have worried that coffee is not good to consume during pregnancy, but there is no sound evidence to suggest that modest consumption of coffee has any effects on the wellbeing of an unborn infant. There is also no evidnece that coffee increases the risk of breast, ovary, pancreas or kidney cancer in women.

There is also evidence that coffee protects against colon cancer and some preliminary evidence that it protects against male breast cancer. Some even use coffee for colonic irrigation.

There is no evidence that coffee increases the risk of heart disease. Some have reported heart palpitations and a rise in blood pressure after coffee consumption, but there is no persistent hypertensive effect in the long term.

Others have claimed that drinking coffee promotes indigestion, but this is not the case in the majority of people, although it has been known to produce heartburn in people with gastro-oesophageal reflux problems. But there is no evidence that coffee increases the risk of peptic ulcers and there is some evidence that it protects against gallstones.

Evidence is growing that coffee might protect against developing Parkinson’s disease and possibly Alzheimer’s. Diabetes is still under investigation. Because coffee is a diuretic, it is important to drink enough fluid to replace what is lost.

Coffee is rich in anti-oxidants, far moreso than other common beverages. This is due to compounds formed during coffee bean roasting. Anti-oxidants prevent free radicals from multiplying and are a major deterrent of chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.

In recent years the gourmet coffee industry has come of age. Discerning consumers have come to expect distinctive coffee tastes and aromas with all the passion of fine wine connoisseurs.

Coffee lovers all over the world are discovering the experience of the finest gourmet coffees which can be ordered with a few mouse-clicks on the internet and delivered to your door or workplace shortly after. Boca Java gourmet coffee and teas are fast becoming one of the main players in the online coffee market.

Peter enjoys great coffee. For further information about Boca Java and online gourmet coffee suppliers he recommends visiting

Eexcel – Science Discovers Another Compound

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Every time science discovers a different compound in another plant that benefits the human bodylutein, isoflavones, resveratrol, oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC), to name just a few. Its getting fairly difficult for the usual consumer to remain up with all of them! Fortunately, nature provides all the plant combinations we require to be well, and E. Excel Nutritional Immunology strives to make it uncomplicated to receive the broad array of nutrients naturally found in whole plant foods. Still, all of this new and exhilarating scientific study takes substantial time to duplicate, provide absolute proof, and develop into received nutritional doctrineand ultimately reach the labels on food and supplement products.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada, have strict regulations regarding nutritional product labeling. They have established specific daily values on the commonly accepted essential vitamins and minerals. This RDI 1(Recommended Daily Intake) has only been established for 25 substances, and only the top 4 (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron) are required to appear on nutrition labels. The FDA has established very specific regulations about what can and cannot appear on a nutrition label on a packaged food or dietary supplement. Health Canada has similar regulations.

The US FDA regulations can be found in Title 21- Food and Drugs. Section 101.9, paragraph (c)(8)(B)(iii), specifies rounding actions that should be used when placing percentages of RDIs on nutrition labels: The percentages for vitamins and minerals shall be expressed to the nearest 2-percent increment up to and including the 10-percent level, the nearest 5-percent increment above 10 percent and up to and including the 50-percent level, and the nearest 10-percent increment above the 50-percent level. Amounts of vitamins and minerals present at less than 2 percent of the RDI are not required to be declared in nutrition labeling but may be declared by a zero.2 Therefore, based on these strict regulations, by law E. Excel cannot indicate levels that are less than 2 percent of the recommended daily intake of the 25 recognized nutrients even though they are present in the product. But whole plant foods contain more than just 25 essential vitamins and minerals. The principles of Nutritional Immunology emphasize the benefits of whole plant foods because of the many valuable polysaccharides, antioxidants and phytochemicals found in them. In fact, each individual plant food may contain hundreds of different compounds, and science is just beginning to realize the synergistic effects of these compounds.

Dr. Michael S. Donaldson in Nutrition Journal stated, There are many substances that are protective in fruits and vegetables, so that the entire effect is not exact likely to be due to any single nutrient or phytochemical.3 Researching and formulating its products specifically from a whole foods approach, E. Excel creates balanced daily nutrition in forms that make it easily accessible for todays busy, on-the-go lifestyle. This balanced, whole foods approach means you may see a smaller percentage of the RDI of a particular nutrient on a nutrition label, but that nutrient is far more bio-availablemeaning your body is more likely to use all of what it gets to better advantage. It also means your chances of hypervitaminosis or adverse effects from chemically-extracted or laboratorymanufactured compounds are nil because we dont add extra vitamins and minerals to our products.

They continue as nutritionally complete as nature made them. The FDA and Health Canada label requirements are designed to protect consumers and make sure that they have the necessary information to make good decisions about their food and supplement choices. Nevertheless well intentioned, while, labels do not tell the whole nutritional story of a product, especially a whole foods product. They are only allowed to tell a very limited and severely restricted part of that storythe part that has already gone through decades of extensive study. Who knows? Fifty years from now lutein, isoflavones, resveratrol, oligomeric
proanthocyanidins (OPC) and others may make their way to the FDAs RDI list.

Tea the Real Story

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Everyone knows what tea is, right? Tea, technically, comes from the leaves of one plant, camellia sinensis. Anything other than the leaves from this plant is not actually tea, although tea is often used as a catchall word to include all the different herbal beverages used these days.

Legend has it that tea was discovered long ago in China quite by accident. Some leaves from a nearby plant blew into a cup of hot water; a nice brown colored beverage resulted, was found to have a refreshing taste, and tea was born. However it was discovered, tea is very refreshing, whether it is black, green, oolong or white. Tea has been proven in more recent times to have wonderful health benefits. We have all heard of antioxidants in tea, helping to fight free radicals that can cause harm to the body. Tea is far lower in caffeine than coffee. It is refreshing, whether used hot or cold.

There are various types of tea, all beginning with the same leaves. Black tea is created by bruising or crushing the green leaves to expose them to oxidation and allowing them to ferment, then rolling the leaves and drying. This produces a beautifully colored beverage and has the strongest flavor of all the varieties of tea. Oolong tea (pronounced OH-long) is oxidized and fermented the same as black tea, but only for about half the amount of time and the resulting product is a lighter, more reddish beverage with a flavor all its own, somewhere in strength between black tea and green tea. For green tea, the leaves are heated immediately, stopping the fermentation process entirely, then dried and rolled. It produces a lovely light colored beverage, and is said to have the most health benefits. The processing of white tea is similar to that of green tea, but only the unopened buds of the leaves are used. It has the same health properties as green tea, but the flavor is the lightest and most delicate.

Good quality tea is a wonderful beverage. Whole rolled or twisted leaves are the best quality; the smaller the leaf, the higher the quality of the tea. The top grades are called Flowery, Golden Flowery or Tippy. Seconds, termed Choppy, are the leaves that have broken into smaller pieces. They brew a great tea, and are usually less expensive. The smallest particles leftover from the tea process, called Fannings, are what is used in tea bags. It brews tea of course, but once tasting a tea brewed from a wonderful full leaf Darjeeling Black Tea, for example, it is hard to return to a tea bag for optimal flavor.

Orange Pekoe (rhymes with gecko) is a western terminology applied to a grade of black tea; the word orange in the name has nothing to do with flavor, but could be a reference to the Dutch House of Orange using the name Orange as an implied sea” of some sort. Pekoe may be a westernized interpretation for a Chinese word meaning white hairs, referring to the fine white down on the tea leaves.

So, what are herbal beverages called? Herbal beverages are called tisanes, and may be prepared by different methods, usually infusion or decoction. It is incorrect to apply the term tea to anything infused or decocted, although tea is actually infused. Infusion is the preparation method of choice for leaves, flowers or buds; plant matter that will release its properties easily into a drinkable beverage. Placed into heated or boiled water and allowed to steep, the herbs release their goodness into the water, and then are strained out. Decoction is the method used for harder or denser plant materials, such as roots or barks that take longer to release their flavors or health benefits. With a decoction, the plant materials are brought to a boil, simmered gently for 15 minutes or more allowing the liquid to reduce, and then straining.

No matter which you prefer, tea or tisane, for pure enjoyment or for health benefits, look for the best quality. Discover your favorites among the different types of loose teas. Taste the different herbal tisanes and discover new flavors. Above all, enjoy.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I hope it was informative and helped you along your own culinary journey. You will find many more recipes and helpful tips on my web site. I am on Facebook at A Harmony of Flavors and share a recipe or tip each day to the fans that have liked my site. I hope to see you there soon.

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