Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company.

If you are like most of the world, sometimes it can be hard to stomach drinking the recommended 68 fluid ounces of water a day.  Some people just can't seem to choke down a cold glass of H2O unless you're really thirsty.  And that is just fine; there's a solution.  Tea!

There are three basic types of tea: green, black, and oolong.  The only difference between these leaves is the way that they are processed.  Green tea is in the most natural tea-leaf state, containing the most antioxidants.  Black tea leaves are dried out further than green leaves, and because of the increased fermentation and oxidation, the color of the leaves darkens.  Similar to black tea leaves, oolong tea leaves are wilted in direct sunlight immediately after they are picked, immediately bruised with a good shake to get the juices flowing, dried out to begin the oxidation process, and then fired to prevent further fermentation.

So in short:

• Green tea - not fermented
• Oolong tea - partially fermented
• Black tea - fully fermented

So what does this mean and which one is the best one for me?

The more that the tea leaves are fermented, the lower the antioxidant properties that the tea leaves contain.  However, with an increased fermentation, comes an increased caffeine content. So if you're looking for that morning pick-me-up, fill your mug with a nice black tea, but if you're looking to reap more benefits from your kettle, then green tea will be your best bet.  But what exactly are the benefits of green tea?

Green tea

Green tea actually contains a very high dose of a very highly concentrated antioxidant, known as polyphenols.  These polyphenols are believed to pack a more antioxidant-ful punch than vitamin C; while these polyphenols might give it a bit of a bitter taste (which can actually be cut with a small amount of honey), the benefits of adding a bit of green tea to the water you're already trying to drink definitely outweigh the taste.  And hey! At least it has taste, right?

A small research group at the University of Maryland Medical School compiled an overview, summarizing all of the ways green tea and its antioxidants can improve health, overall wellness, and even help rehabilitate certain illnesses (for the full article, please click here), including:

• High cholesterol - Green tea can help lower total cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.  One study suggested that the polyphenols in green tea may assist in blocking cholesterol from being absorbed in the intestine and help the body excrete cholesterol.
• Cancer - While researchers can't say for certain, it does appear that regularly drinking green tea can help reduce your risk of getting cancer, and once you have it, because of the polyphenol content, green tea may also help to reduce the rate at which your cancer cells multiply.
• Diabetes -  Green tea has traditionally been used to control blood sugar levels.  Several studies even suggest that green tea and its antioxidants may help prevent the development of type 1 diabetes as well as slowing the progression of the disease once it has developed.  In some cases, green tea may even help regulate glucose in the body, a vital element for diabetics, who are often incapable of producing insulin, which helps convert glucose/sugar into energy.

Green tea is not recommended for children, however, it is recommended that adults consume 2-3 cups of green tea per day.  As always, there are a few minor risks associated with any change in diet, so feel free to consult with your primary physician if you have any concerns.

Looking for a great place to buy loose-leaf and bagged tea?  Look no further than right here.

Choosing an Exercise Program that's Right for YOU

Sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated.  You tell yourself to "Stay Positive!"  But that's when your bed screams and the cupcakes crawl out, and in your mind it's always raining a slow and endless drizzle.

But that's not the way it is supposed to be, right?  We are supposed to be happy!  Well one way to induce happiness is to....you guessed it!  Exercise!  When you exercise, your body releases its natural pain killers, called endorphins, that relieve stress and lighten your mood.  And that's perfectly fine and everything, but what if you can't even find the motivation to get moving?  Maybe it's because you need to fine-tune your work out regiment to serve your own needs.

Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory states that the nature of thoughts, whether positive or negative, that people have when thinking about future behavior has an immense influence on motivated behavior.  Basically, if you think positively about exercise, like how you will feel after you exercise, this little optimism will specifically, positively affect your thoughts during your exercise.  In turn, you will have so many endorphins running through your brain that you will start to think more positively more often.  This little move towards an optimistic mindset is all you need to get started.  But where do you begin?

A study performed at the University of Saskatchewan by Karen E. Glazebrook and Lawrence R. Brawley found that long-term exercise programs are necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and the best way to maintain your long-term program is to evaluate your mindset and determine what sort of program is right for you.  Study participants were evaluated based on a thought analysis to determine whether the participants were positive or negative thinkers, and then encouraged to engage in regular physical activity known as "program activity."  According to the study, "positive thinkers were higher in self-regulatory efficacy (the ability to independently choose the action that yields the most desirable outcome) and lower in decisional struggle about engaging in upcoming exercise."  The positive thinkers involved in this study participated in the greatest frequency of in-program and out-of-program activities.  In short, the study suggested that negative thinkers are less likely to participate in physical activity outside of a structured program setting.

Evaluate yourself--are you a positive thinker?  Then maybe an independent program with just a few personal training sessions are all you need to get you started living a healthier lifestyle.  Is it always raining a slow and endless drizzle inside your head?  Maybe you should look into classes or group training and a more strict and structured work-out regiment.

Either way, motivation has to start from within you.  So what are you waiting for?  Call HealthQuest today, toll free, at 1-855-477-8463 to get enrolled in our Medical Fitness program!

Ways to Celebrate Halloween - Locally!

With All Hollow’s Eve right around the corner, we’re all looking for some neat fall activities to do with our families and friends.  We all know how much fun Cedar Point’s Halloweekends is, but between gas costing an arm and a leg, hotel costs, food costs, and everything else, it might be hard for some of us to justify opening our pocket books quite so wide.

There are lots of local, community based events you can attend to celebrate the Holiday, including a few that our clinics are hosting or planning to attend.  Don’t hesitate to swing on by one of the following events and celebrate the most beautiful time of year to be a Michigan Resident!

Oakland County

Royal Oak/Clawson/Troy

• October 12-14, 19-21, and 26-28 – The Detroit Zoo’s annual Zoo Boo.  This event features a half-mile trick-or-treat trail, friendly entertainment, and games.  For the kids a bit older, check out the Haunted Reptile House or the Zombie Zone.  Tickers are $7 per person, ages 2 and up.
• October 13, 4:00 P.M. – The Fifth Annual Zombie Walk Detroit will be crawling the streets in downtown Royal Oak in an effort to raise food and money for Gleaners Food Bank.
• Zombie Walk Detroit, Oct. 13, 4 p.m. – For the fifth year, creepy zombies will be walking around downtown Royal Oak, raising food and funds for Gleaners Food Bank to help needy families in Metro Detroit.  Participants are simply asked to bring five non-perishable food items or $5.  Please visit zombiewalkdetroit.com for more details.
• October 28, 2:00-4:00 PM – Royal Oak invites parents to bring their children, in costume attire, for a fun and friendly trick-or-treating event throughout the city’s downtown area.  Local business will be offering candy and other treats to trick-or-treaters, along with lots of kids activities and special sales.  This event is free and a great opportunity to check out what a neat area Royal Oak really is.  For more information please visit www.downtownroyaloak.org.

Rochester

• October 13, 10:00A.M.-4:00P.M. & 7:00-9:00P.M. – The Stonewall Pumpkin Festival comes to Rochester Hills at the Van Hoosen Farm.  Attendees carve their own pumpkins during a festival during the day and then return at night to see the Jack-O-Lantern’s illuminated on the museums wall. This event is $7 a person.
• October 20, 4:00-5:30P.M. – Downtown Rochester is hosting their annual Trick-or-Treat and Costume Parade through the downtown Rochester business.  This event is free; Trick-or-Treating begins at 4:00P.M., and the parade begins at 5:15P.M.
• October 19 & 20, 6:20-8:30 & October 21, 6:00-7:20P.M.  The Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve is hosting their annual Halloween Hoot.  Trails full of performers wait in the woods, as hikers watch the skits and finish off their evening with cider and donuts. Attendees must make reservations – groups leave every 10 minutes and it costs $7 per person. 

Lake Orion

• October 6, 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. – Oakland County Parks and Rec and the Village of Lake Orion are hosting their annual Pumpkin Launch.  Those participating in the event launch pumpkins using home-made trebuchets. There are two divisions, Open and High School (for participants ages 18 and under), and prizes awarded to the teams with the furthest launch and the most accurate launch.  Free pumpkins are provided to participants and spectators, while supplies last.  Entry is $25 per team.  For more details, please call Mike Toth at 248-961-3362.

Macomb County

Shelby

• October 13, 12:00-4:00 P.M., 4:00-7:00 P.M., & 8:30P.M. – The Utica Zombie Crawl features a community blood drive in the afternoon, followed by the opening of Zombifying Booths, where a $5 donation will get you fully prepared to be undead with a zombie make-up application.  This donation also entitles participants to food and drink discounts and participating restaurants in the downtown Utica area.  Later that night, Zombie Wranglers will escort the Zombies to the Sinister Haunted House (located at the water treatment area).
• October 27, 10:00 A.M. – Stony Creek Metro Park will be hosting a Halloween Hustle 5K Run/Walk & 10K.  Our Shelby Clinic plans to participate in this event, so keep an eye out for them at Eastwood Beach for Registration.  Entry is $20 for the 5K or $25 for the 10K.

There are lots of local events to celebrate Halloween.  These are just a few.  Check your local papers for more ideas to get active in your community!

HealthLine September 2012

Our September 2012 issue of HealthLine focused on the Graston Technique.  It has helped improve performance in the most prominent of athletes, such as Olympian Michael Phelps, immensely when it comes to muscle recovery.  It can help loosen up scar tissue and help aid soft tissue mobility.  If you have any unnecessary tension in your body, please don't hesitate to contact us and request a free consultation!