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Want to Age Better? Swap Your Morning Cup of Coffee For Green Tea

Leta Shy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:05:42 PST

We all know that green tea has many benefits - eye health, sunburn protection, and disease prevention, to name a few. Now, a new study can add another possible benefit to that list: green tea may help you remain functional as you age.

The Japanese study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tracked 14,000 adults 65 years old or older for three years and found that those people who drank at least five cups a day of green tea were about a third less likely to have functional disabilities than those who drank little or no green tea. Even those who only drank two to four cups of green tea a day also experienced a benefit as they aged. "Functional disabilities" were defined as the inability to do basic daily activities or necessities, like bathing or dressing, so the more green tea you drink the more likely you are to be able to stay independent when you're older. The study did find that those who drank green tea tended to have healthier lifestyles overall, but the researchers said a positive effect still existed when diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits were accounted for.

Five cups may sound like a lot, but it's actually a lot less than you think. So, how much tea should you actually be drinking to reap this benefit and possibly remain independent as you age? Read on after the break.

Leonardo DiCaprio Breaks Into the Coffee Biz

Susannah Chen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:04:17 PST

Have a hard time getting up in the morning? Well, you've got more than just coffee to look forward to. Thanks to a new line of coffees, the best part of waking up could be Leonardo DiCaprio in your cup.

Today, The Great Gatsby actor announced he's partnering with La Colombe Torrefaction to produce a new coffee line, Lyon. Its entire net profile will benefit the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to promote sustainability for the planet. "Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever," DiCaprio said in a statement. "I am thrilled to be a part of this new project with La Colombe that will help aid the shift to a truly sustainable future for the planet and its inhabitants."

Starting today, the coffee will appear online and on shelves in Williams-Sonoma stores across the country, as well as select Whole Foods Markets. Will you try one of Leo's new coffees?

Why Does Coffee Make You Have to "Go"?

FitSugar — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:49:32 PST

Sipping on a hot cup of coffee in the morning is one of my simple pleasures. Not only does it offer some "me time," but I love the rich flavor, and the fact that it gives me an extra pep in my step. Millions of people drink coffee for the exact same reasons, but what they may not know is that drinking joe helps relieve muscle pain as well as improves memory and that it may help prevent skin cancer while also decreasing the risk of liver cancer.

These are all great reasons to enjoy a daily cup of java, but many people also love coffee because it makes them "go," and by that I mean more than an energy rush. Keep reading to see why a java jolt helps the final stages of the digestion process.

7 Ideas to Save on Your Morning Coffee

Emily Co — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:14 PST

The Latte Factor is very real - the average American worker spends $1,092 on coffee, The Consumerist reports. Citing data from Accounting Principals' latest Workonomix survey, the site goes on to say that the average worker is apparently spending more than $20 a week on coffee. The amount is comparable to other expenses like commute, which were mentioned in the study. So how do we start saving on this big budget drain? Here are some ideas:

Try low-end. New York Magazine did a coffee taste test and food critic Adam Platt found that coffee from Dunkin' Donuts actually tasted better than Starbucks. If you're craving coffee, opt to get a cup of joe from a lesser-known chain.
Cash in on freebies. Keep your eye out for freebies and remember Starbucks gives customers a free birthday beverage as long as you register your Starbucks gift card and use it once. And if you're a loyal Starbucks customer, you can attain gold member status and receive free coffee for every 15 drinks. Remember that Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day, so there should be plenty of coffee freebies then. Earth Day generally offers a lot of coffee freebies as well.
Find Starbucks recipes. Find out how to make drinks just like Starbucks by doing some research online. Personal finance blogger Squawkfox was able to mimic a tall Starbucks frappuccino ($4) for only 32 cents. The secret is actually xanthan gum ($16), a food thickener that keeps the texture smooth and the drink together. There are also plenty of other sites that have copycat recipes of all the Starbucks drinks.
Go instant. Instant coffee isn't too bad if you dress it up with these recipes. Add cocoa or spices like nutmeg, blend it with ice, douse it with milk, or add honey.

Read on for more ideas.

The Healthiest Drinks For Your Diet

Leta Shy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:29:33 PST

When eating healthfully, a large focus may be on what not to drink: no sugary juices, sodas, or high-calorie cocktails. But many drinks can actually help you live a healthier lifestyle. We all know that drinking enough water is essential, but find out what other drinks should also be on your OK list below, and remember to enter our healthy living giveaway for a chance to win a $500 Under Armour gift card!

Coffee: The hot drink is the perfect accompaniment to a cold morning or a drowsy afternoon, but offering you a warm pick-me-up isn't its only advantage. Coffee has been proven to help improve memory, increase endurance, and ease muscle pain. The list doesn't stop there; read more about the health benefits of coffee here.

Watch for: The benefits of coffee don't always outweigh the risks, especially if you drink too much. Drinking too much java can cause you to become anxious or jittery, disrupt your sleep patterns, develop high blood pressure, or endure regular headaches. Stay attuned to caffeine's affect on your body and, in general, don't drink more than 300 milligrams a day (the average cup of coffee contains 100 milligrams of caffeine).

Red wine: All those studies about the health benefits of red wine makes me feel that much better about relaxing with a glass of Cab after work. Red wine contains a compound called resveratrol, which has been proven in studies to be beneficial to your health - everything from fighting cancer to antiaging, along with other disease-preventing benefits.

Watch for: The benefits of wine stop at one glass a day, so don't go overboard. You may be doing yourself more harm than good, especially since one glass of red wine usually runs around 127 calories. And while scientists have researched resveratrol in many lab studies, there have been few studies in humans - and let's not forget the recent news that a leading red wine researcher actually falsified data in dozens of studies on heart health and resveratrol.

Two more good-for-you drinks after the break!

Try This Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe at Home

Susannah Chen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:27:19 PST

There's no better way to warm up to a new season than with the pumpkin spice latte, a comforting coffee drink that heralds the spices and ingredients of Fall. You'd be surprised to find out just how simple the hot beverage is to prepare at home. Watch the video to find out how to make it!

Taste Test: Starbucks Blonde Coffee

Susannah Chen — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:41:58 PST

Last Fall brought word that Starbucks would be introducing Blonde, and today, the new "super-premium light roast coffee" hits stores and retailers nationwide.

Starbucks Blonde comes in two different blends: the Veranda (described as "mellow and soft") and the New Age-sounding Willow (characterized as "bright and clean"). As a regular Starbucks drinker, I was curious to know what the coffee titan's cuppa joe lite would taste like, so I subbed it for my usual morning cup of choice, the Pike Place Roast. How'd it fare? Read on to find out.

Savory Sight: Latte Love

Yum Community — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:24:02 PST

It hasn't been so easy getting back into the swing of things post-holiday madness. These lattes from Cibo in Sausalito that Angelica shared with us look like the perfect remedy to get us back on our feet.

Blue Bottle lattes from Cibo in Sausalito.

We love food photos! Upload yours into our Savory Sights community group.

Starbucks Holiday Drinks: Not So Cheery After All

FitSugar — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 02:30:22 PST

If you're heading into the closest Starbucks for a caffeinated pick-me-up, you'll notice some tasty holiday specials. These fun beverages not only bring you extra holiday cheer, but they also bring you extra calories (and lots of them). Check out the stats on these 16 ounce Grandes.

Gingerbread Latte with whipped cream: 320 calories, 13 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 grams of carbs, and 37 grams of sugar.
Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream: 420 calories, 14 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 68 grams of carbs, and 64 grams of sugar.
Eggnog Latte: 460 calories, 21 grams of fat, 140 milligrams of cholesterol, 53 grams of carbs, and 48 grams of sugar.

Keep reading to find out which Starbucks drinks are better for your waistline.

Happy Hour: Pumpkin Irish Coffee

Susannah Chen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:21:39 PST

Earlier this season, I was sent a curious-looking bottle of pumpkin pie cream liqueur from Fulton's Harvest, a label I'd never heard of. With a bottle of something so distinctive (and with the potential to taste either phenomenal or terrible), I was at a loss for what to do - so I took to the Twitterverse for some answers.

I soon found out more about Fulton's Harvest, including the fact that it's made by well-reputed Kentucky Bourbon maker Heaven Hill Distilleries and tastes delicious on the rocks or served chilled. But by that point, I'd gotten back so many enticing-sounding cooking and cocktail suggestions - everything from pumpkin whipped cream to spiked pumpkin pie - that I had to try one out.

Ultimately, it was @Tora_NYC's Irish cream suggestion that left me with a brilliant Fall twist on a favorite, Irish coffee. As with any Irish coffee, don't let the whipped cream and coffee fool you - this cocktail packs a punch! I served it in a giant glass mug, topped with a very generous topping of whipped cream. For the recipe, keep reading.