Looking for a healthy Valentine's Day gift for your sweetheart? Consider something that warms the heart and is good for it, too -- like green tea hearts or herbal blends.
The five varietals of tea (white, green, black, pu-erh, and oolong) all come from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Because tea contains an abundance of special flavonoids called catechins, which are naturally occurring compounds loaded with antioxidant properties, tea drinkers reap many health benefits. Loose-leaf tea, due to its higher quality, is believed to contain more antioxidants than bagged tea. Freshly prepared loose-leaf tea gives the biggest health boost, since the catechins in loose-leaf tea break down quickly.
Studies from the Harvard Medical School suggest that loose-leaf tea can reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes, cancer and diabetes; it strengthens your immune system, boosts your metabolism, and is good for your skin. And because of the many varietals and blendings, loose-leaf tea offers a wide range of flavors.
For a romantic and healthy Valentine's Day gift, green tea "hearts" are unique. Green tea leaves are hand-sewn around dried flowers to form the shape of a heart. As you steep the tea hearts in hot water, the tea hearts dramatically open up to reveal the flower blossoming inside. When steeped in a glass teapot, the display is spectacular. Green tea hearts can be purchased from a number of online sources.
Herbal blends, called tisanes, provide health benefits similar to loose-leaf tea and offer another healthy Valentine's Day gift option. Many popular ingredients in herbal blends have long been used in traditional and Eastern medicines and are now being recognized by Western medicine. For a healthy Valentine's Day gift, herbal blends with these ingredients are a good place to start:
- Lemon balm and lemon verbena, which have soothing effects and are traditional cold remedies.
- Hibiscus, which has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing hypertension.
- Dandelion leaf, one of the most potent ingredients in herbal blends and which has been shown to have blood, gastrointestinal, and liver cleansing properties. The USDA ranks dandelion leaf in the top four green vegetables in overall nutritional value.
Whether herbal blends or loose-leaf teas, these delightful infusions are a smart addition to a fit and balanced life. And what a distinctive way to give that "special someone" a healthy Valentine's Day gift!
View a wide selection of green tea hearts, herbal blends, and high quality loose-leaf teas, accessories and gift packages at www.teaquilibrium.com/.
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