Slow Aging with Tea

White tea is good at slowing down the aging process of the body. It has ingredients that are effective at boosting the immune function of skin cells and protecting them against the damaging effects of the sun. It also has an extract that protects the skin from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress of the skin causes a breakdown in cellular strength and function. The extract has antioxidant properties that make it very effective. Antioxidants rid the body of free radicals that speed up the aging process. White tea has a high amount of the antioxidant called catechin, which is believed to help prevent stroke, diabetes, cancer, and heart failure.

In a study done on 21 different plant extracts, scientists have found that white tea was better than all of the other botanicals at stalling the activity of the enzymes that wear down elastin and collagen, which are two proteins that help to prevent wrinkles. Elastin helps maintain the elasticity of the skin, lungs, and arteries. Collagen is commonly found in the connective tissue and it is important for the strength and elasticity of the skin.

White tea also has anti-viral and antibacterial properties. It has a considerable amount of both caffeine and the amino acid theorine, both have mood enhancing qualities.

Natural Ways to Treat Allergies

There are many natural ways to reduce and prevent allergy symptoms without the use of medications. There are vitamins, herbs, foods, drinks, and easy common things that you can do at home so that you don't have to suffer from allergies.

There are several vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies that are good at relieving allergy symptoms and strengthening the immune system. Vitamin B5, vitamin A, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help to relieve allergy symptoms, such as congestion, coughs, and runny nose. Quercetin is a plant compound that can be found in foods, such as onions, apples, and citrus fruits, that can prevent the secretion of histamine. Histamine is a chemical that the body produces during an allergic reaction that causes sneezing and other symptoms. Butterbur is a herb that is good at relieving hay fever symptoms. Licorice root, astragalus, and capsicum are also good at curing allergy symptoms.

There are foods and drinks that can be used to easy allergy symptoms. Spicy foods, such as hot ginger, cayenne pepper, onion, and garlic, can help to reduce mucous secretion, which can help to clear nasal passages. Honey can be used to help allergies. Taking 1 or 2 teaspoons of locally grown natural honey before the allergy season starts helps the body to get used to pollen before the allergy season is full blown and helps the immune system. Teas such as green tea and Mint Medley herbal tea work well to ease congestion.

There are easy things that can done at home that can help allergies. Cleaning carpets, bedsheets, floors, and curtains at least once a week reduces pollen and allergy in your home. Dust mites are another cause of allergies that are commonly found in bedding, carpets, and pet dander. It is good to wash bedding in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer to kill dust mites. It is also a good idea to enclose mattresses, box springs, and pillows in airtight zipped plastic or special allergy proof plastic. Using an air conditioner can help to clean, recirculate, and dehumidify the air.

Giving pets a regular bath can help to reduce allergies. Washing your hair regularly can help to reduce allergies because hair can hold a lot of pollen when you go outside. Wearing sunglasses when you go outside can reduce the amount of pollen entering the eyes. Nasal Rinses are very effective at removing the pollen stuck in the nasal passages. Doing a nasal rise will drain out some bacteria and mucous and help to reduce allergies.

The Health Benefits of Chamomile

Chamomile is a daisy-like plant that is originally found in Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean region. It has a long history of being used as a medicinal herb and as a tea. Its dried flowers are commonly used in herbal tea.

Chamomile has many health benefits associated with it. It can be used to reduce blood sugar and lower the levels of compounds that can cause diabetic complications. It has been found to be able to boost the immune system and fight illnesses. It can help intestinal discomfort with its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to reduce gas. Its foliage and flower heads have been used as antispasmodics to reduce muscle spams and diaphoretics to help produce perspiration. It can also be used to relax the nerves, ease menstrual cramps, and help stomach ulcers. Chamomile creams can be used to help pain and reduce irritability on the skin, such as burns, wounds, eczema, chickenpox, and diaper rash. The longer and more regularly chamomile is used, the better it works.

Natural Ways to Cure Coughs

There are ways to cure coughs without taking medications. The use of dark chocolate, honey, and vitamin C are a few natural ways to cure coughs.

Dark chocolate can help coughs. It has a compound called theobromine that is better than codeine at suppressing coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation. Theobromine has an affect on the vagus nerve, which is responsible for coughing.

Honey can help coughs and works better than cough suppressants for relieving night time coughs and helping to fall asleep. It is assumed that honey works by soothing the throat and stimulating saliva, which calms the coughing reflex. It is found that darker honeys are preferred because they have more antioxidants in them than lighter color honeys. It is not recommended to give honey to children younger than one year old due to the risk of botulism spores.

Vitamin C can help coughs by boosting the immune system at the early stages of a cough. It also reduces inflammation and controls histamines to help stop coughs.

Same-Sex Heart Transplants Found to be Better

A new research has found that heart transplant patients have better chances of survival and lower risk of the body rejecting the organ if they get organs from donors of the same sex as them. This may be due to the fact that men's hearts are usually bigger than a woman's heart and have a greater pumping capacity. Differences in hormones and immune systems between men and women could also play a part.

FDA Lifts Warning on Tomatoes

The FDA has lifted its salmonella warning on tomatoes saying that even though the outbreak isn’t over, it is slowing down. They also say that the tomatoes currently in the stores are safe to eat. Hot peppers, jalapenos, and serranos are still under warning.

The people that are most affected include elderly people and people with weak immune systems. Investigators don’t know what caused the salmonella outbreak that caused 1,220 people in 42 states to get sick. The tomato industry lost more than $100 due to the outbreak.

Anger is Connected to Healing

It is found that anger problems and the inability to control anger can slow down the recovery period of an injury. This is caused because of increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can suppress the immune system, when a person is angry. It is best to try to have a good control over these feelings if a person is going through a healing period.

Pregnancy Can Help Fight Cancer

Pregnancy can reduce the risk of cancer. This happens because some of the fetus’s cells cross the placenta and settle into the bloodstream and other tissues. The cells from the fetus increase the amount of immunity against breast cancer. This finding could help in the development of a breast caner vaccine in the future.

HPV Test Better Than Pap Test in Detecting Cancer

It is found that the human papillomavirus (HPV) test can be up to 40 percent more accurate than a Pap Smear test in detecting the risk for HPV. HPV is the leading cause of cancer. A Pap Smear can find existing precancerous cells in the cervix, but the HPV test can detect the infection that could possibly progress to precancer in the future.

Most HPV infections don’t turn into cervical caner, especially the ones contracted before 30 years old because the immune system is more likely to fight the disease by itself. For women over 30 years old, it is recommended to ask a doctor about getting both a Pap Smear and an HPV test. Cervical cancer is usually curable if it is caught early.

The Good and Bad of Probiotics

Probiotic supplements can make you healthier if you are already healthy and if you are sick they can be threatening to your life. Probiotics have been found to strengthen the immune systems of healthy people and to double the risk of death in people with pancreatitis.

Probiotics work by providing good bacteria in the stomach to keep a healthy balance between good and bad bacteria in the stomach. When a person has an illness, they can put a dangerous strain on the immune system.

Stress Weakens Teeth

In Brazil, 14 tests were done that showed that stressed-out people have a higher risk of periodontal disease. Also, increased levels of the stress hormone, called cortisol, might have a negative effect on the immune system and allow bacteria to invade the gums. You can lower stress levels by exercising and sleeping more.

Pollution Can Shut Down the Immune System

A study has show that air pollution can cause heart problems and shut down the immune system. This is caused due to pollutants in the ozone that can affect the lungs and the rest of the body and make it easier for the entry of bacteria and viruses. The pollution also causes the immune system to overreact and kill its own cells that it needs to fight bacteria and illnesses.

Pollution Can Shut Down the Immune System

A study has show that air pollution can cause heart problems and shut down the immune system. This is caused due to pollutants in the ozone that can affect the lungs and the rest of the body and make it easier for the entry of bacteria and viruses. The pollution also causes the immune system to overreact and kill its own cells that it needs to fight bacteria and illnesses.