So why are figs so mighty?  Dried figs have a higher concentration of calcium, potassium, and iron compared to dried fruits such as raisins, cranberriers, and dates.  Dried figs also have 2 grams of fiber more per serving than cooked oats and at least as much calcium as 1% Low Fat Milk.  A one-quarter-cup serving of dried figs is fat-and cholesterol-free.

So why not grab some figs as a snack, your body will love you for it!

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White tea:

• White tea leaves come from the bud of the tea plant and are flash-steamed and dried.  This tea is the least processed and therefore has the most antioxidants and the least caffeine.  It has a light mild flavour.
• White tea is great for viruses and bacteria, in microbiology studies conducted tea destroys over 80 percent of viruses within 10 minutes.  As white tea has higher levels of antioxidants present it may be the most powerful when it comes to cancer prevention.

Black tea:

• Black tea leaves are left exposed to the air and turn black due to oxidation.  Black tea tastes stronger with a more traditional flavour.
• Black tea is not without its benefits, I know the above definition of it doesn’t sound that appealing.  Most research shows that black tea significantly reduces heart attack, stroke, and death from cardiovascular disease in women.  It may also help prevent clogged arteries, improve blood vessel functioning, and lower blood pressure, sounds good eh?  That’s not all, a few cups a day may also provide resistance to microbial infections.  Having a couple cups a day has shown to prevent urinary tract cancer.  An added bonus is that black tea also contains enough fluoride to successfully fight cavities.  I still recommend brushing and flossing though…

Green tea:

• Green tea leaves are streamed or cooked prior to oxidation.  It has a refreshing and less robust taste than black tea.  This one is my favourite!
• Asian countries have a high consumption rate of green tea, it’s also no coincidence that they also have lower rates of many cancers.  Green tea has chemicals that have been shown to bond with and destroy cancer cells, the more you drink the better.  Green tea may also slow the spread of breast cancer and protect smokers from lung cancer.  Here’s a very interesting fact about people who drink green tea; they have a higher metabolic rate and burn up to 80 more calories a day than non tea drinkers.

It may be hard to imagine that such a small thing like enjoying a cup of tea or two could provide one with so many health benefits.  It brings a whole new perspective to enjoying a cup of tea.  Like I said, green tea is my favourite and I can drink a whole pot of it at a time.  Black tea I drink once in a while and very rarely white tea.  With all the benefits available I may have to even out the score between the three.

Here’s another little tidbit: It is only black, green and white tea that actually come from the leaves and bud of Camellia sinensis which is the original tea plant.  All of those other herbal teas aren’t actually tea, they’re a collection of dried roots and leaves from other plants.

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