Green Tea Fights cold and Flu

The reasons for consuming green tea continue to pile up. In addition to preventing cancer and cardiovascular disease, lowering bad cholesterol, and aiding with weight loss, a new study has found that it can help prevent the common cold and flu.

The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, specifically studied a decaffeinated green tea extract, containing standardized amounts of two immune-activating plant components--L-theanine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

The study found that when compared to a placebo group, 32 percent fewer participants taking the green tea extract experienced any cold and flu symptoms. The green tea users also reported almost 23 percent fewer illnesses lasting two or more days.

The green tea extract given to the study participants is equivalent to 10 cups of green tea per day. Those hoping to benefit from drinking lots of this tonic should note that green tea contains about 30 - 60 mg. of caffeine per cup. To avoid insomnia, drink decaffeinated green tea or take it in supplement form.

Yoga Decreases Menopausal Symptoms In Breast Cancer Survivors - Yoga

Breast cancer survivors often have more severe hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms than other women, yet they have limited treatment choices. Hormone replacement therapy, for example, is not an option for cancer survivors because it may increase their risk for disease recurrence. Therapies widely used to prevent cancer recurrence, such as tamoxifen, also tend to induce or exacerbate menopausal symptoms.

However, new research from Duke University Medical Center and Oregon Health and Science University offers an untraditional source of relief: a tailored yoga program.

"These women have suffered through the difficulties of breast cancer and are left to cope with these daily, extremely disruptive symptoms with few options for relief," said Duke assistant professor Laura Porter, Ph.D., co-author of the study presented at the International Association of Yoga Therapists Symposium for Yoga Therapy and Research. "We knew that some data found yoga helped reduce hot flashes among healthy women but no>Yoga of Awareness" program on breast cancer patients. They also plan to teach the concepts to yoga instructors nationwide.