Ten-Chi Cha Tea for Headaches?

In March I went to the Natural Foods Expo in Anaheim and picked up a few extra products here and there without too much thought.  Jeff as usual was tossing sample items in his bag and loading up both his bag and mine.  After 5 hours I was tired and felt one of those headaches coming on from the noise and crowds.

Once we got home and organized our treasures systematically I noticed out of the corner of my eye a bottle of iced tea called Ten-Chi Cha Tea, which stated on the label:

Natural Detox Tea, caffeine free and sugar free.

I scanned the label to see if there was anything that might be odd or dangerous and found it was basically brewed tea with some plant herbs that were safe. No sweeteners or anything that would compromise my sense of safety with a product.  It fit my bill of sale.

Tylenol or Tea?

I opted for the tea and guess what?  My headache went away within the hour and did not come back.  I was a bit shocked and thought I’d better research this company.

I sent an email and the president of the company Eco Vita, Tad Kumagai, emailed me back and answered all my questions.  In addition, he sent me some samples of their iced tea and bagged tea as well.  I’ve been enjoying them at the office – they both work for helping headaches and a boost of afternoon energy.

You can order them on their website or purchase at Japanese grocery stores.  I tend to keep them on hand for headaches but if you like tea it’s great just for enjoyment as well.  It’s nice to find a healthy alternative for treating a headache. 

Natural Foods Expo West 2011

I was excited to go to the Natural Foods Expo this year as it always an adventure to see and taste what “natural” wares are being displayed for the current year.  It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen – more than 6000 exhibitors spread over about 5 halls that span larger than a football field each - with crowds so great it’s hard to navigate through the aisles.

And the winner for dark chocolate is..

One of my first priorities is to find the best tasting dark chocolate, as it is essential to have a little treat each day.  A few companies I usually recommend were not as friendly as I like so they are officially off my list.  Jeffrey found this one – Divine Chocolate.  They were more than friendly and their chocolate really fit the name.  I loved the 85% dark chocolate bar – not even a hint bitter with a rich cocoa feel.  You can order off their web site and they are sold at the Co-op in Santa Monica and believe it or not Nordstrom's.

For the beverage..

Next on my list was trying to find a good tasting beverage without added sweeteners or sugars.  For the second year in a row Tea’s tea fit the bill.  Their new iced Jasmine Green tea was amazing with the Country Peach running a close second.  Available at Whole foods and Gelsons markets.

A new taste and alternatives to yogurt...

Most of my clients know I am a big yogurt fan.  The usual Fage, Chobani, and Voskos were there but I wanted to find a good tasting goat yogurt for my clients with sensitivity to cow products.  Capretta Goat Yogurt does not have the usual sour taste of goat yogurt and they come in nice 6 ounce servings.  If I had an allergy to regular dairy I would not feel deprived with this choice.

Clover organic milk is one of the best tasting milks available.  They were giving samples of their new plain Kefir.  It tasted great and one of the reps said he drinks it regularly with a touch of extra vanilla and a little maple syrup.  Add some fruit and protein powder for a morning smoothie and you’re good to go.

And for portable snacking...

Trophy Farms is a new small company that is making small snack size packets of nuts – cashews, almonds, macadamias, and peanuts with fun packaging and great to throw in your purse or have at the office for your afternoon snack.

And last but not least I met Augustine Kim, the owner of Mrs. May’s Naturals which are the maker of Trio bars, one of the only portable protein bars I recommend.  The only place I’ve found these bars is in the organic section at Albertson’s.  He said some Costco’s carry them but suggested I start carrying them in my office and he would sell them to me at “Costco discount.”  Not sure I’m ready to become a store for bars right now but a very generous offer.

A few more items were of interest but I will save those for future blogs.  I’m off to enjoy my tea and a few squares of that Divine chocolate…..

Foods at the Natural Foods Expo

Attending the Natural Foods Expo in Los Angeles last week was like an adult Disneyland.  Finding new foods and products was like a treasure hunt in waiting.

Since many companies exhibit their wares, navigating what is really healthy can be tricky.  For this blog I decided to mention the finds that were both interesting and helpful to your health with links to the sites so you can see them for yourself.

My favorite food of all time is peanut butter but with all the nut allergies in children I set out to find a replacement.  I happened upon Once Again Nut Butter, a Sunflower Butter, made of organic sunflower seeds which has a smooth consistency with a nice buttery taste perfect on an apple or banana.  It makes a great alternative to tree nut butters for those with allergies.

Next on my list was searching for interesting beverage choices free of sugar, sweeteners or fake sweeteners.  I met the regional manager, Jason Webb, for HINT water – a favorite of mine – which are waters with exotic flavors of strawberry-kiwi, mango-grapefruit, and others which nothing but water and natural flavors – a surprise treat taste.

The other beverage I found appealing was a line of iced teas called Tea’s tea.  On my road trip to a conference in Denver I was amazed at the lack of iced teas available without sweeteners or sugars.  I tasted the Golden Oolong and felt like I was in a Japanese restaurant enjoying authentic tea.  They have 9 flavors, all without sweeteners or additives.  The company claims they are brewed from premium loose teas.  From what I tasted I can believe it, being the tea snob that I am.

Next I stumbled upon nicobella dark chocolate truffles.  Registered Dietitian Nichole Dandrea moved from New Jersey to California last year to start her own company and now has a line of 6 decadent all natural dark chocolates that create a burst of natural chocolate and infused flavors in your mouth all at once.  You can learn more about her story and passion for healthy treats on her site.

And with all my preaching about getting your omega 3’s I happened upon Carrington Farms organic ground flax seeds.  They have little portion sized vacuum sealed packets perfect for travel.  Since ground flax seed needs to be refrigerated to maintain the freshness of the oils, the vacuum sealed packets are necessary.  Best of all you don’t have to miss this important ALA supplement when you go out of town.

I found some other interesting products along my journey but I am saving them for future blogs so stay tuned!

Peel over Pill for Prevention

After attending the Natural Foods Expo in Los Angeles you might have been led to believe the way to eating “naturally” is to pop a pill or drink a beverage laced with green tea extract, quercetin, or Curcumin.  These hot breaking news nutrients can have tremendous benefits for your health.

But are taking supplements really “natural?”  Can we take what is in Mother Nature and replicate the benefits in a pill?  So far the research is leaning towards eating your nutrients.  However, the lure of a magic pill for benefiting your health remains.  Here’s what we know right now:

So far we’ve identified about 13,000 nutrients in foods known as phytochemicals or phytonutrients.  Phytochemicals are substances that plants naturally contains to protect themselves against sunlight, bacteria or viruses and oxidation – kind of like a natural sunscreen. Simply put, once we eat these plants, our immunity increases, and we become more resistant to diseases such as cancer, heart disease and other medical problems.

It is estimated there are over 100 phytochemicals in just one serving of a fruit or vegetable.  For example, a carrot can contain as many as 100 different carotenoids, whereas a beta carotene supplement has only one type of carotenoid.  Furthermore, you receive the benefit of the fiber and fullness of the actual food when you eat the carrot.

Apples contain the phytonutrient quercetin.  Extensive research by food scientist Rui Hai Liu at Cornell University found that both the apple skin and the fruit contain nutrients to help lower cholesterol and inhibit or kill cancer cells.

Curcumin is responsible for the yellow color in the popular Indian curry spice turmeric.  Known for being an anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant, some research shows turmeric can be helpful in preventing development of medical issues related to oxidative damage such as cancer and heart disease.

UCLA Neurologist John Ringman studied Curcumin supplements in Alzheimer’s patients.  The study results showed no differences in patients treated with Curcumin supplements versus a placebo.  However, this study and others do show Curcumin has poor or uncertain absorption when taken in supplement form versus used as a food spice.

Tea contains a type of phytonutrient called EGCG.  Green tea contains the most EGCG of all the varieties of tea.  However, all tea leaves are good sources.  EGCG has been linked with a lower risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels. It is also associated with reduced rates of prostate, stomach and colon cancer.  However, studies to date show drinking the tea has the most potent and effective benefits.

The discovery of nutrients in foods is ongoing.  The research shows eating your phytochemicals through food instead of popping a pill is currently the path to health and definitely more “natural.”  I guess Mom was right when she told us to eat a balanced diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables.  Make sure to consume a mixture of color to obtain your phytonutrient needs.  Remember, it’s prevention, not prescription!