Ever so often, I discover the tea rituals, steeped memories and infused advice of friends. That being said, I'm thrilled to share this guest post written by my friend and colleague, Jolene. Jolene Hart, CHC, AADP is a Philadelphia-based writer and founder of Beauty Is Wellness, a natural beauty and health coaching practice. She teaches women to use their nutrition and lifestyle choices to look and feel their best from the inside out. She is regular contributor to wellness and lifestyle publications including Whole Living, Organic Spa, Healing Lifestyles & Spas, Yoga Journal, Allure, Boho, Delicious Living, Dr. Oz’s YouBeauty.com and The Huffington Post‘s Healthy Living section. So steep a cup and peek at her tea memories and beautiful wisdom below. And if you're still hungry for more, skip over to her site for deliciously thoughtful recipes.
Guest Post from Jolene Hart of Beauty is Wellness:
As a girl, I didn’t go for soda (the bubbles tickled my nose), I couldn’t stand milk (a few times, out of protest, I even ate my Cheerios with water) and I never begged for Kool Aid or Capri Sun. Those drinks just weren’t me. Tea, on the other hand, has been a perfect fit since the beginning. Every night my family would share a pot of tea, usually a chamomile or herbal blend that would give us all warm bodies and sweet dreams.
Sometimes my siblings and I would even use tea as an excuse to delay bedtime (“We can’t go to sleep, we haven’t even had our tea yet!”). And it usually worked, because tea was our ritual.
Fast forward twenty or so years, and it’s no surprise that tea occupies such a prominent space in my kitchen. A more stringent cook might use the prime, eye-level shelf for ready access to spices or other pantry staples, but for me, teas come first. My work as a beauty editor and health coach broadened my interest in tea, and now I also love it for its beauty benefits, which I’m thrilled to share with readers of Teaspoons and Petals. Sipping always makes me feel more beautiful, and I hope it does the same for you.
Green tea is a science-backed beauty drink, thanks to its high concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols called catechins. Dermaologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone even connects green tea with wrinkle prevention. One catechin in green tea called EGCG actually blocks the function of an enzyme in the body that causes skin wrinkling. How’s that for beautiful? A bonus: a 2010 International Journal of Cancer study found that drinking green tea with a fresh squeeze of citrus boosts its health benefits! Of course there are plenty of other ways to get pretty with tea. Lots of herbal teas are great for detoxification, with botanicals that purify the body and strengthen its own natural cleansing abilities. A favorite of mine for liver cleansing (important for clear skin) and reducing belly fat is Traditional Medicinals Roasted Dandelion Root Tea, and Pukka Cleanse tea, a blend of organic nettle, dandelion, fennel and peppermint, also has detoxing benefits. A few more of my favorite teas for beauty are listed here.
Reading Teaspoons and Petals also reminds me to savor the moment as I drink. Every ounce of relaxation in our day helps to stave off high levels of the stress hormone cortisol that can disrupt our natural hormone balance and accelerate the signs of aging. With every slow sip and every deep breath, we’re doing great things for our inner and outer beauty.
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