Musiccosmos

What’s all the hype around matcha tea and is it really that good for you? Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains its benefits, in our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘ Matcha is a powdered green tea,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘Its traditional use is in Japanese tea ceremonies. High in antioxidants ‘Matcha is packed with antioxidants including EGCGs, the cathechin which has been found to have powerful anti-cancer properties. Nutrients from the entire tea leaf is contained in matcha, which means a greater amount of caffeine and antioxidants are found in matcha than typical green tea. Promotes brain function Matcha tea contains the amino acid L-Theanine which improves creativity, memory and learning. In 100 grams of matcha, there is 2.41 milligrams of L-Theanine, which is five times more than typical black and green teas. Although matcha contains caffeine, it will boost your brain function without the side effects (such as nervous energy) of cof...

If you suffer from heartburn or digestion problems, liquorice could help. Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains its benefits, in our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘Liquorice comes from the root of a plant called glycyrrhiza glabra  and can be used to help with gastrointestinal problems,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘Liquorice contains an ingredient called glycyrrhizic acid, which has anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. This is why liquorice can be used to treat heart burn and indigestion.’ ‘As well as soothing an upset stomach, liquorice can help reduce stress. It can stimulate the adrenal gland, so that there is a healthy level of cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) in the body. ‘Glycyrrhizic acid in liquorice can also help improve energy production. However, liquorice shouldn’t be taken if you have high blood pressure. ‘Don’t take liquorice supplements too late at night, because it may keep you up and d...

If you’re looking to get rid of belly fat, inulin could help. Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains its benefits, in our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘ Inulin is a starchy substance that is used to help weight loss,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘It’s popular in the health industry because it reduces visceral fat. ‘Visceral fat is the belly fat found in the abdominal cavity and can sometimes be referred to love handles or a muffin top. This fat is particularly dangerous because it surrounds the body’s vital organs. ‘Inulin is insoluble, as it cannot be digested in the stomach. Instead, it goes to the bowels. Here, bacteria helps it produce short chain fatty acids, which are proven to increase fat metabolism and therefore promote the reduction of visceral fat’. A study conducted by the Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Calgary, found that when overweight and obese adults took 21g of inulin every day, there was a decrease in their h...

If you have anxiety or low mood, the amino acid glutamine could help. It’s also great for muscle aches and pains after exercise – no wonder it’s one of our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘ Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid (a building block for proteins) in the body,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘It’s popular in the sports world because it helps with muscle recovery. ‘During muscle recovery, one of glutamine’s main roles is moving nitrogen atoms in the body. In order to build muscle, you need to maintain a positive nitrogen balance. After an intense workout, moving nitrogen to your damaged muscles leads to tissue repair. Glutamine can also help with aches, pains and cramping. ‘In addition, glutamine can reduce anxiety as it helps lift mood through the neurotransmitters in the brain. Since it lowers anxiety, glutamine can help improve sleep. ‘There’s also a strong link between glutamine and better gut health, since there’s a lot of r...

Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains how ginger can ease aches and pains Healthy foods, snacks and drinks have exploded on to the market and it’s left us feeling spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what non-artificial energy bar or detox tea we are going to try next. But how much do we know about trendy ingredients really? This is why we asked Healthista’s Nutritional Director  Rick Hay  to fill in the blanks on the most confusing super-nutrients of the moment. Today, he’s covering ginger. Rick Hay says: ‘ Ginger is a common spice that is great to cook with but it is also an anti-inflammatory to treat nausea. It contains a substance called gingerol, which has powerful medicinal properties. In the history of medicine, ginger has been traditionally used to help digestion, ease nausea and help combat common colds and the flu. Ginger is related to turmeric and, like turmeric, has key anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. As well as the problems l...

Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains the benefits of cinnamon and how to get it Healthy foods, snacks and drinks have exploded on to the market and it’s left us feeling spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what non-artificial energy bar or detox tea we are going to try next. But how much do we know about trendy ingredients really? This is why we asked Healthista’s Nutritional Director  Rick Hay  to fill in the blanks on the most confusing super-nutrients of the moment. Today, he’s covering cinnamon. Rick Hay says: ‘ Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar and so in turn, reduces cravings. This is especially beneficial for weight management or weight loss. By regulating blood sugar, cinnamon can also improve mood and keep it steady, a benefit that has been shown in research with people who have Type 2 diabetes’. Cinnamon contains an important oil called eugenol, which has antiseptic properties – therefore helping the immune system too. In additio...