matcha's all the rage with msn this month - have a little read of this.
Recently in healthy stuff and healthy tea Category
Apparently, yesterday was the UK's national Energy Slump Day - the day that we as a nation collectively feel an energy slump as it's the first day back at work after the clocks go back. Research shows that 81% of us struggle to stay active as the nights become longer and the days get shorter resulting in a collective energy slump. We of course didn't notice as we were fired up on a combo of super power matcha and yerba mate. Don't like the early dark evenings though.
in need of matcha boost
The Real Tea mission continued on Saturday at the Contemporary Women Writers Conference held at the Oxford Union. Following talks given by authors Joanna Trollope and Francesca Kay, many of you looked in need of a good cuppa and teapigs were more than happy to play mother.
The settings of the Oxford debating chamber stimulated much discussion about tea and yerba mate soon became a topic of hot debate. By all accounts this brew really seems to be the marmite of the tea world. Whilst many lauded the smoky and bitter flavour of the South American tea, others had trouble getting past the first sip. One Classicist couldn't help but point out the appropriateness of promoting Amazonian tea at an event celebrating the achievements of female authors (at first I didn't have a clue what she was talking about - God bless Wikipedia).
Are you yet to sample the yerba mate experience? Why not order a sample pack and let us know what you think. Like "my mate marmite," love it or hate it yerba mate is jolly good for you.
[posted by Alex]
It's official - peppermint leaves are great for all things tummy-related. Our lovely nutitionist Vicky has written out a very practical "Top Ten Foods to flatten your Mummy Tummy" and all the foods are surprisingly scrummy - hooray! Bonus tip - drink teapigs peppermint tea of course...
Read more here
Due to it's energy boosting properties I'm quite partial to yerba mate but I'm not sure whether I'm up to plastering it all over my face. However any men out there (and I'm sure women too) who fancy a yerba facial click on this link and get scrubbing.(posted by Nick)
gentleman's ultimate scrub
Thanks very much to Paul, a matcha tea drinker who emailed us saying "So far this summer I haven't taken any of my usual assortment of hayfever
pills/sprays/drops and didn't realise why, then I read somewhere that green
tea is a natural anti-histamine. I think the key to this is that you drink
the whole leaf in Matcha, not just brew it. Every morning now I wake up with
my usual summer hayfever feelings but within 20mins of drinking a good slug
of this they've gone for the day ! Result."
So, if you suffer, then maybe a daily matcha shot will help you too.Super power indeed. (posted by Nick)
a more dramatic hay fever solution
We've recently come across LoveLula.com - a very stylish, online organic apothecary/beauty company. We like them very much because all of their products are produced by small independent companies using the finest organic and natural ingredients available - no nasties in sight. And they really believe in taking the time to give lots of info and advice on their products... fabulous!
So if you fancy a bit of pampering, take a look at their site for lots of gorgeous organic beauty products (which I think work really well if you make yourself a cup of teapigs, put your feet up and grab a good book).
Oh and you can choose free samples with your order which arrives very quickly too. And if you're especially lucky, you'll get a free teapigs envelope with your order over the next few weeks.
It's men's health week and if we didn't need any more encouragement to drink tea click here for some more reasons to be cheerful. If you're not male and reading this please pass on to someone who is. (posted by a healthy feeling Nick)
good effort but not sure if the cigarette is part of the advice?
We were at the International Food Exhibition in Exel last week where we had a good chin-wag with our teapigs stockists and found ourselves some new ones.
Anyway, one of our favorite finds at the show were these colourful bags of fruit from Urban Fresh Fruits. Have you come accross them before? They're mad about fruit (fruitpigs?) and have produced a great range of dried (but very juicy) fruits in little bags. No sugar, no preservatives - that's what we like to hear.
We think it's a great way to get your 5-a-day and if you're anything like us (well, me and louise especially, nick and nicole have more self control!) and want to cut down on biscuits and naughty food in the office, these are ideal. I feel an Urban Fresh order coming on.... visit them here.
(posted by Sofia)
Vicky the resident teapigs nutritionist has put together ten top fitness tips to get us all moving in the new year. For those of you who have christmas on your hips ( like me!) these should help.
Off you go....
Top 10 Fitness Tips for 2009. For easy, effective quick success
Without the Gym
Without diets
Without time-consuming routines
TIP 1: SO YOU WANT TO GET FITTER? Make sure you know and write down WHY.
When you set goals, understand something much more important than the goal setting itself, it's the: WHY do I want it? You want motivation in our life. It comes from feelings. The easiest way to succeed in life is have a deep reason WHY you want to improve your fitness.
TIP 2: SHARE IT OR DO IT WITH A FRIEND, BROTHER, SISTER, PARTNER..
This is accountability. You are far more likely to achieve your fitness goals and be consistent with fitness if you tell someone else about it or find someone close to you will want to do the same. A support 'buddy' will make you more accountable to genuinely take action to achieving those goals plus they will want what's best for you. They will be the people who will dramatically impact your ability to achieve and maintain those goals.
Tell them what you are doing and each step you are taking towards those goals.
TIP 3: TRACKING FITNESS
One of the most powerful tools you can use - jot down how much and what you eat and what actions you take each day to 'move the body' or get fitter. Log what you do, duration, enjoyment level, and who you did it with.
TIP 4: EAT A HIGH FIBRE, QUALITY BREAKFAST
FACT: skipping breakfast or eating a poor quality breakfast means you will store more fat. Your metabolism (how quickly you burn calories) slows down, your energy levels dip up and down and you feel more stressed. Then it leads to cravings later on throughout the day. Set yourself up with a good cup of Teapigs, Lemongrass which is so refreshing coupled with an egg and toast and piece of fruit.
TIP 5. SHORT, INTENSE BURSTS OF FITNESS IS BETTER THAN LONG, SLOW BOUTS
Short bursts of strength training are the key to lean, toned bodies.
It is time efficient, keeps fat off and decreases the susceptibility to gain fat (along with good nutrition).
Intensity is key and you are far more likely to burn lots more calories with a good set of squats than a 45-minute aerobic class. Push-ups, Squats and lunges in a circuit style have a very high energy consuming demand from both muscles and the neurological pathways (nerves signals to muscles). More so than performing a slow jog or a low intensity aerobics class which barely increases the heart-beat.
TIP 6: CHOOSE THE BEST TIME FOR YOU..
Your body doesn't mind when you exercise, it's more important that you do rather than procrastinate about when. Many find the early morning best as it's easier to stick with your programme by working out before the day begins. Others find it helps them to relax and 'switch' off from their day by working out straight after work. We all have 'optimal' times of day, find out when you would be most likely to complete your workout.
TIP 7: USE MUSIC TO MOTIVATE.
Research has shown that music really motivates us - download your favourite tracks onto an Ipod or MP3 or make your own 'fitness mix' to inspire you when you go for a run, swim or workout. Music helps us to push through tough workouts or make a run more interesting.
Use the beat of the music to get into a rythmn and help you focus on your fitness programme.
TIP 8: CONSISTENCY
Be consistent.. but don't stress if you miss a workout or two. You can always find time to squeeze in a quick workout and something is better than nothing!
TIP 9: FIND OUT YOUR FITNESS PERSONALITY.
Do you prefer to get fit with a group or club - are you social or would you prefer to workout on your own. Are you a self motivator or do you need the guidance of a coach to support you? Tune into the type of person you are and then choose the best most enjoyable way to get fit and inspired. That way you are more likely to keep it up!
TIP 10: EXPERIMENT AND EXCITE.
If you found last year you fell off the fitness bandwagon - opt for a different approach to getting fit. Find an activity - a new sport or experiment with different exercises or follow a new programme. Look at entering an event and then work out a plan of how you can get fit for your event. This is a powerful, exciting motivator and means you will have something to train for.
YOUR COACH
Vicky Warr is a Prenatal and Post Natal Fitness Professionals and YMCA-accredited personal fitness trainer. She is also a Nutritionist with over nine years' experience specializing in women from brides, mums to be and new mums. She is founder of the 'Beez Kneez' Fitness & Nutrition programmes, consultant and writer for Fit Future, a nationwide youth fitness initiative and a regular contributor to BBC radio, LBC radio and the Daily Mail. She is fitness consultant for Mothercare.
For exercise programmes for Mums to be and articles, visit:
Vicky's website: www.beez-kneez.co.uk. Or ask a question on her blog; www.shapeupmama.blogspot.com.
She also offers online prenatal fitness training. These are all quality, affordable fitness programmes you can do in the comfort of your own home with the online support of a prenatal personal fitness trainer. Recently she has launched the Fit Mum to be and Fit Mum and Baby group fitness sessions.
