What's the scoop, baby?

So, baby, what’s the scoop? We keep hearing that drinking tea is healthy, but what precisely does that mean?

Well, tea contains polyphenols, which are particularly strong antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging cells in the body. This sort of cell damage is linked to diseases like heart disease and cancer.

High quality tea also contains theanine, an amino acid which promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. In addition, tea contains B vitamins, folic acid, niacin, iron, zinc, and other vitamins & minerals.

Research is uncovering a wide range of potential benefits in connection with cancer and heart disease, as well as allergies, arthritis. Research is showing that tea may boost the immune system, bone density, digestion, and even weight loss.

What does this mean for us? Clearly, the research indicates that tea has a wide array of potential health benefits and drinking tea regularly can promote good health. At any rate, taking a bit of your day to sit and sip is going to rehydrate and recharge your body and mind. So, sip away, baby! Make tea a part of your healthy and balanced lifestyle!

Note that the above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information and our products are not intended to be used for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease.

The Tao of Tea

Here’s an odd request. Picture a tea bag in your mind. What does it look like? Possibly, your mind has conjured up a traditional rectangular tea bag, the invariably flat paper pillow that crushes even good tea leaves into dust. Though that traditional tea bag offers convenience, it unfortunately compromises flavor and the overall tea drinking experience.

Enter the pyramid tea bag! This Japanese invention is a small pod of food grade nylon that allows additional space for tea leaves and other ingredients to remain whole while they steep in hot water.

Because the tea leaves remain full, better flavor extraction occurs. And (I love this part!) the tea leaves have room to absorb water and unfurl beautifully. This is the tea drinking experience! Time to sit and just breathe is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity for mental health and balance.

So, sit back and contemplate your leaves and your life. This is the Tao of Tea!

Drink up, baby!

It’s shocking sometimes what power celebrities have. Apparently sales of white tea skyrocketed after Britney Spears announced (incorrectly) that it contains higher levels of anti-oxidants than other types of tea. Though Britney’s statement is not necessarily accurate (shocking, eh?), her endorsement nevertheless had a stunning effect on the tea industry.

Does this mean that tea’s growing popularity is just a passing trend, a product of advertising hype and inaccurate information?

No way, baby!

Tea is a genuinely healthful drink, and you can take that to the bank. As we learn more about damage to the body caused by sugar and artificial sweeteners, not to mention excessive amounts of caffeine, tea is emerging as a drink of choice. It contains no sugar, fat, or sodium, and it has almost no calories.

Very importantly, tea contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals in the body. And research continues to uncover an array of potentially healthful effects of drinking tea, including improved cardiac and bone health and cancer-fighting properties.

With the endless varieties of types and flavors available, you are guaranteed to find a delicious tea drink for you. So, drink up, baby! Make it a part of your lifestyle.

Note that the above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information and our products are not intended to be used for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Work to life to work

Some days I deeply miss my separate office building space, a space devoted to my professional activities. Now, I battle valiantly to separate all of my paper in my home office. And invariably, field trip permission slips and birthday party invitations, along with the utility bills and insurance renewal forms, worm their way into my work files.

I also miss the ability to compartmentalize my day into work and family time. Now, home is work is home is work. I will talk to the furnace repairman and my tea tin suppliers and the parent rounding up school volunteers within the space of the same half-hour. My California calls often come in at 8 p.m., when the interminable bedtime routine is slowly unfolding. Call it constant gear-shifting or wearing many hats at once, but certainly call it challenging.

Any tips, ladies, to ease the transition between work and life and work again? We’d love to hear from you, baby!

Get out there, baby!

I joined a women’s networking organization recently and with quite a bit of trepidation. My career path has been largely dominated by men, and I didn’t know what to expect from an exclusively women’s network.

Wow. It was a surprise on many levels. At every turn there was enthusiasm for my foray into a new business. Business cards and potential connections and new ideas were pressed upon me. These women really wanted to see me succeed.

Of course, everyone was also there to promote businesses and find new clients. The overarching theme, though, was strengthening connections between businesswomen for everyone’s betterment.

I certainly can’t promise that all networks operate similarly, given that I’m only a part of only one (and only recently so). I do know that some of my best connections and ideas have come from those meetings. I highly recommend searching for the right network for you, especially you new entrepreneurs. Get out there, baby!