I knew there was more to it than just a hot beverage
June 29, 2009
The researchers recommend people consume three to four cups a day
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Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits, say researchers.
The work in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition dispels the common belief that tea dehydrates. Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, but it can also protect against heart disease and some cancers, UK nutritionists found.
Experts believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promote health.
Healthy cuppa
These polyphenol antioxidants are found in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been shown to help prevent cell damage.
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 Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so its got two things going for it Lead author Dr Ruxton
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Public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton, and colleagues at Kings College London, looked at published studies on the health effects of tea consumption.
They found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack.
Some studies suggested tea consumption protected against cancer, although this effect was less clear-cut.
Other health benefits seen included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus bone strengthening.
Dr Ruxton said: “Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it’s got two things going for it.”
Rehydrating
She said it was an urban myth that tea is dehydrating.
“Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid.
“Also, a cup of tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth,” she added.
There was no evidence that tea consumption was harmful to health. However, research suggests that tea can impair the body’s ability to absorb iron from food, meaning people at risk of anaemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtimes.
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Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation
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Dr Ruxton’s team found average tea consumption was just under three cups per day.
She said the increasing popularity of soft drinks meant many people were not drinking as much tea as before.
“Tea drinking is most common in older people, the 40 plus age range. In older people, tea sometimes made up about 70% of fluid intake so it is a really important contributor,” she said.
Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation said: “Studies in the laboratory have shown potential health benefits.
“The evidence in humans is not as strong and more studies need to be done. But there are definite potential health benefits from the polyphenols in terms of reducing the risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancers.
“In terms of fluid intake, we recommend 1.5-2 litres per day and that can include tea. Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink.”
The Tea Council provided funding for the work. Dr Ruxton stressed that the work was independent.
Coming back to the fold
May 19, 2009
It’s been a year of hell as far as poker is concerned. Not so much as in I’ve been losing shed-loads of money, but more in the ‘losing total interest’ scenario.
Having had a poor run on the tables last year, problems started in my personal life in the shape of losing my job. Money was tight and I ended up dwindling away what was left of my bankroll at the various sites I had money in. Thinking I was getting back on my feet after finding a new job, that uber-shitty thing called fate intervened yet again when the company I was working at folded after 3 months. Almost 6 months later, and after a helluva lot of CVs sent out, I managed to get another job. Fingers crossed, this will last a bit longer than 3 months!
From the time I lost the first job up until now, I’m lucky to have played poker more than 20 times. But I’m hoping to start making a comeback. It’s going to be a hard slog, but I’m up for the challenge.
This year, I’ve played a couple of the OFC freerolls. I’ve not won any money from any of them, but have played quite well and managed to finish in the top 10% of most of them, normally going out to either a bad beat or more commonly going card dead and being blinded away, then going all-in with the first good hand I can get.
I’m using these freerolls as a re-learning tool. When I sort of stopped playing last year, I had been playing quite poorly. I was complaining about anything and everything that was making me loose. In hindsight – and something that should have been obvious – I was the only person to blame.
As I was saying, I’m using these freerolls to re-learn. To re-learn the dangers, pitfalls, and plays of the game of poker. Freerolls are not normally the place I would recommend practicing, but I’m getting the benifits I’ve been looking for. I’m gaining my patience back. I’m making my mistakes and steadily learning from them. I’m experimenting with different plays. I’m experimenting with aggression. Basically, I’m trying out everthing, learning from the results in the hope that I get it right for the time I start playing seriously for cash again. It’s costing me nothing to experiment, so it doesn’t matter if I go out first hand or later in the tournament. As long as I’m not put out through a dumb move (by me) I’ll be happy. The more I learn now, the better.
So, soon you’ll see me back on the tables, hopefully better prepared than ever. And hopefully winning more than ever!
What the Frog?
November 3, 2008
Stumbled out of bed, headed for the bathroom, looked down just beofre I let it go and this was floating there! What? Eh? Jaysus.. I don’t remember eating that?
testing flickr
October 7, 2008
Catherine Prom2, originally uploaded by Blagz.
Just testing the blog button on my flickr site to see if it will auto post to the blog 
Ok and wanna test this liknk thingy doo hickey
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2920630967_f3c5db6a38_o.jpg
Inflatable faeces raises a stink
August 14, 2008
McCarthy is renowned for his
giant inflatable artworks |
A giant inflatable dog turd brought down a power line after being blown away from a Swiss museum.
The artwork, entitled Complex Shit, was carried 200 metres on the night of 31 July, reportedly breaking a greenhouse window before it landed again.
The sculpture, by American artist Paul McCarthy, was equipped with a safety system that should have deflated it.
The fake faeces has been returned and will remain on display at the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern until October.
McCarthy is well known for his inflatable artworks, two of which - Blockhead and Daddies Bighead - were displayed outside the Tate Modern in London in 2003.
The Zentrum Paul Klee, which opened in 2005, houses a collection of about 4,000 works by the noted Swiss painter.
Still here?
May 26, 2008
Hi guys, I guess the onus is on me to try and stir some life back into this thing.
It seems as though everyone has drifted apart a little over the last few weeks. Well I guess that isn’t entirely true as myself and Anne Marie still manage to chat once a day usually and going by all the mushy luvy stuff being typed into Skype announcement messages, I think it’d be a safe bet to say that Ash and Netty are still chatting to each other.
Dave has been around and I have chatted with him on several ocassions, usually at the weekends, he is off to China tomorrow for a couple of weeks so he’ll not be around too much for a while. have a good one Dave, I for one am very jealous.
Larry seems to have been dodging tornadoes since New Year and has also been swallowed up by online galaxy conquering in its various guises, Ogame and EveOnline is where my money is. Gopher is on and off rarely these days it seems.. That man is much too sober for my liking these days.
It happens, we have all seen it before, you find a new web site you chat away find a new group and after a while you move on. Hopefully we will all still keep the Jokers bookmarked and maybe for once we can buck the trend and stay in touch through the website and blogs. What I was considering was writing a monthly newsletter so at the least we’d all recieve a bit of news, a touchstone so to speak that would ensure that we never quite lost touch completely, yanno what I mean?
Besides I can’t lose touch completely with you guys.. I mean who are Anne Marie and myself gonna bum off if we ever get over the pond to do some serious Las Vegas-ing? And Ash and Netty gotta stay in touch with us so they know where to send the wedding invites, right? Gopher has to stay in touch, one because Fridays ain’t Fridays without our personal tipsy Scotsman and two because I still hold out a sliver of hope that he’ll actually pay me for a PC he had 2 years ago.. lol (fat chance)
Poker has really not been an issue for me last couple of months. I’m having far more fun playing backgammon and dominoes lol sad innit.. I don’t consider poker most nights and certainly do not fret about thinking I ‘have’ to play.
I did build myself a new website and had it 90% finished and then in a fit of pique one day (caused by yet another upgrade) I just took it down again. I had filled the site with news and videos and articles and all that kind of stuff. Then I sat back and thought about it and realised I was filling the site up, padding it with things just for the sake of it. I should just build the site around the things I enjoy doing and forget trying to please everyone all the time. So that is what I am going to be doing.
It’ll be a site basically split into a few areas, mostly graphics and art and maybe an opinion area for politics and current affairs. Weird mix maybe but that is what I enjoy online.
Actually I think I will play poker again real soon, I can feel the itch starting up. Maybe that is what was required, for me to stop fretting about it, forget about it for a while and sooner or later the itch would return of its own accord. I’ll keep you all updated on that one for sure. 
Anyhow before I go on too much, I hope you are all having fun whatever you are doing and hopefully we’ll hook up a game together one night in the not so distant future.
Till then .. toodle pip!
