The Green Tea Explosion

See Better with This Tea

2010-10-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for healthy alternatives to everyday issues that we face. How much should we eat, what is the right amount of food, what kind of food, how much exercise, etc., etc. I get some interesting articles from WebMD & Dr. Oz's RealAge website, and it is all so fascinating to me. Well here is a new claim for Green Tea. I had to share this one. Those of us that are at that AGE, (cough, cough) where eyesight has become a concern. Read on, enjoy & share the knowledge:

By RealAge

Gulp down this zero-calorie refresher and it could pay some unexpected dividends for your vision. We're talking about green tea.

A new lab study suggests that the flavonoids in this steamy drink may offer protection against a host of vision problems, including cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and possibly even some forms of glaucoma.

Peeper Protector
One particular flavonoid found in green tea -- called gallocatechin -- may be particularly good for eyes. Studies show it tends to accumulate in the retina. And that's a good thing because flavonoids in your retina function like bionic sunscreen, protecting fragile cells against the sun's damaging rays. It's the same way that other vision-friendly flavonoids found in spinach, kale, and orange peppers operate. They also tend to concentrate in your eyes and protect your retinas. (Wondering whether your vision changes are normal or not? Get the facts on vision and aging here.)

Edible Sunscreen
More research is needed to confirm whether green tea truly does have an eye-friendly function, but the good news is that it probably doesn't take much to experience positive effects. Still, at least a daily helping would be best. In the study, a single "dose" offered protection for about 20 hours. (Time for a peeper check? These three quick self-checks reveal whether you should see your eye specialist sooner.)

Need another reason to drink green tea? Find out what it can do to belly fat.

The Start of Sweet Tea Season

2010-04-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

It has literally been ages since my last blog. During the inbetwix (that’s a good word…lol), we have all survived (hopefully) one horrendous winter, stayed afloat during this economic downturn and hoping and praying that the spring will bring good things along with good weather.
Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea is still alive and kicking. I continue to fill orders for gallons of the tea. A dear friend of mine, who had not tasted my tea, purchased a bottle and shared it with her husband. He was a not really interested in tasting it, since, he claimed not to like sweet tea……but he is now a believer and turning into one of my number one customers/supports. It does my heart good to hear stories like this. It gives me fuel to push on and motivates me to get my Mom’s tea out on the market.

Another interesting story that my cousin told me, was that she was attending a function for the 2010 Census, around Dec. 2009 and they were serving Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea. Talk about being surprised, shocked and bewildered! I’d sure like to know who is helping to spread the word about Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea. I am assuming it was someone that I work with, but I can’t recall. I have sold to quite a few folks…..so, if you are the someone or you know of the person that brought the tea to this function, please let me know. I’d love to thank them.

We are headed into a very good month (May). It is full of good weather, clean air, and people connecting. So get out there and enjoy the transition of the seasons, before it gets too hot. Until next time my friends!

Happy Spring Time!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

We are smack dab in the middle of the holidays. I hope everyone is feeling good and in the holiday spirit. Some of you should be feeling the holiday spirit, with snow you are getting now, or about to get. What a great way to launch into the holiday spirit, isn't it? Let it snow, let it snow!

I want to wish you all the best of the best for this holiday season, and the coming New Year. Some of us have been struggling through this recession and I know that times are a changing, and so will the hard times. I believe there is much to look forward to in 2010....(wow, 2010?) nothing but good things. It's always refreshing to think that with a New Year comes new & exciting things. The New Year will be better if we try to make the best of it, by doing new things, changing things up, breaking out from our usual routines. Make better choices in our everyday lives, and benefit from those choices we make. Things won't get better if we keep making the same old mistakes, am I right? You know I am, so let's get cracking and moving here. Shake it up and take the plung into the unknown, take that chance, don't let fear, doubt, nerves or other's opinions stop you this year.

So to all of my family of Nana Jones Sweet Tea supporters, which are spread all over this great country, I wish you all the best holiday to you. May 2010 be the best ever for you and your families.

Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea lives on!

Love & Happy Holidays,

Steph

Halloween - Starting Point for the Holidays

2009-10-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

Here we are, well into the fall and Halloween is just around the corner. It sure isn’t what it used to be for kids. We wandered the streets, trying our best to fill up our bags with candy. These days you are better off picking & choosing which houses to take your kids too. Or just attend a neighborhood/local Halloween party and call it a day. Tricks are one thing that hasn’t changed much, from “Ding Dong Ditch” to “Papering your trees”. The only trick I remember (hearing about, because I never indulged in such trickery) was “Egging.” Eggs cost too much now…..thank God!

Back in the day, Nana would have been slowing purchasing candy since the middle of September, every time she went food shopping. Kids would come in droves through our neighborhood. Nana always had the “GOOD” candy, and rarely had much candy leftover by the end of the night. She always hid her favorite candy in her secret hiding place, which wasn't a secret to me....lol

Whatever you decide to do with your kids, just make sure they are safe….properly dressed and supervised. Let’s make this a priority. And if you end up having a lot of goodies leftover……take them to work and get them out of your house. Remember the holidays are upon us.

I will be posting some recipes in the upcoming blogs for the holidays. Stay tuned.

Competition?

2009-08-05T17:20:00.000-07:00

I would love to hear from you guys out there in cyber land……if you have a sweet tea (black, green, white, whatever) that you enjoy drinking, please comment and let me know what it is. I’d love to taste it and share my opinion with everyone.

While cruising Interstate 85 this summer, I couldn’t help but notice all the billboards along the side of the road. One that caught my eye was “MILO’S Famous Sweet Tea”. Well, I had never heard of Milo’s, but they did claim to be famous. I wondered how good they were and then dismissed them. A week or so later I was in a local supermarket (Kroger) and noticed Milo’s in the refrigerated section, it claimed to be “All Natural”. I immediately read the ingredients – Water, Sugar, and custom blended teas. Hmmmm, the ingredients were similar to Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea, so I purchased a 20oz. bottle for research. Well here I am ready to crack it open and give my honest opinion of Milo’s……not bad. The first thing I taste is the sweetness, and then a slight bitter leafy taste, nothing special. I don’t see how this tea could really make them famous, maybe they are famous in Alabama, since that is where it's made. It tastes pretty much like most sweet teas I have tasted. For my taste buds, it just tastes like something is missing......maybe it's the love of Nana Jones {:>). This one gets a "angular thumb".

Another brand I just tried, is a better known brand name - Tazo, iced black with lemon……also "All Natural". I’m sensing a familiar theme here. Hmmmm, the ingredients are – an infusion of (water, blended black teas), cane sugar, natural flavors (not sure what natural flavors they are), citric acid, and concentrated lemon juice. After the first swig, not bad either, but I sense something different in the taste…could it be those unknown "natural flavors?" I suppose it is drinkable, but still it doesn’t stand up to what my taste buds are used to….Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea. Maybe I’m a little biased here, but I’m trying hard to be as open minded as I can. This too has very similar ingredients, but quite a different taste, and leaves a taste in my mouth like it comes from a can, though it is in a glass bottle.....interesting, but I give it a "sideways thumb"

I can’t wait for the public to taste Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea and judge for themselves.

**NOTE: There is a prize waiting for the first person that leaves a comment on this blog. Just include your email address and I will contact you for your mailing address. Good Luck!

Nana Jones Sweet Tea Update

2009-07-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back, not as soon as I had hoped. It has been a busy summer and time has just flown by. I have been working long and hard on my 9 to 5 and Nana Jones trying to make my dreams come to pass. I have developed my business plan and it just needs some tweeking, but boy oh boy, talk about hard work. In any case, I am posting some of the great milestones we (the NJFB Team) have accomplished thus far. Stay tuned for some interesting tea comparisons that I plan to post soon & do enjoy the rest of your summer.
 We are a food & beverage process mfg company.
 We are an early stage startup
 We have a functional founding team of 4 individuals
 We started in the summer of August 2008
 So far we have done unscientific taste testing
 We have setup a blog, twitter, online meetings, online intranet, online
project management
 We have a startup checklist
 We have a product rollout & launch checklist
 We have sample financial models and forecast models
 We have sample standard operation procedure manuals that need to be customized for NJFB Inc
 We have the ability to produce product for sampling and taste testing
 We have determined 4 different product items in product line:
o *Sweet Green Decaffeinated Tea w/lemon
o *Sweet Green Tea (caffeinated) w/lemon
o *Sweet Green Decaffeinated Tea w/splenda & lemon
o *Sweet Green Tea (caffeinated) w/splenda & lemon
 We have identified a marketing/brand specialist
 We have identified a beverage concentrate mfr
 We have researched the bottle design
 We have identified Industry Associations

Green Tea Slows Prostate Cancer

2009-06-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

Nana Jones Food & Beverage Inc is a believer in good healthy living. That is one reason why green tea was chosen to be our 1st product. Please read the interesting article I found on the benefits of Green Tea on prostate cancer. Chances are you know someone that has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Hopefully it was detected early and was treatable. Knowledge is power, so pass this article on to friends & family.

One of the Powers of Green Tea

A chemical found in green tea appears to slow the progression of prostate cancer, a study has suggested.
Green tea has been linked to a positive effect on a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
The research, in the US journal Cancer Prevention Research, found a significant fall in certain markers which indicate cancer development.
Although previous studies have shown benefits from drinking green tea - including some positive findings in relation to prostate cancer, there have been mixed results.
n this study, Philadelphia-based researchers tested a compound called Polyphenon E.
They were looking for a number of biomarkers - molecules - including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) which are indicators of developing cancer.
They also looked for prostate specific antigen (PSA) - a protein only found in the prostate. Levels can rise if cancer is present.
The study included 26 men, aged 41 to 72 years, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and who were scheduled for radical prostate surgery.
Patients took four capsules containing Polyphenon E for an average of 34 days, up until the day before surgery - the equivalent of around 12 cups of normally brewed concentrated green tea.
The study found a significant reduction in levels of HGF, VEGF and PSA, with some patients demonstrating reductions of more than 30%.
Dr James Cardelli, from the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, who led the study, said the compound, which was provided by the company Polyphenon Pharma, "may have the potential to lower the incidence and slow the progression of prostate cancer."
There were only a few reported side effects associated with this study, and liver function remained normal.
Dr Cardelli said: "We think that the use of tea polyphenols alone or in combination with other compounds currently used for cancer therapy should be explored as an approach to prevent cancer progression and recurrence."
"There is reasonably good evidence that many cancers are preventable, and our studies using plant-derived substances support the idea that plant compounds found in a healthy diet can play a role in preventing cancer development and progression."
John Neate, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "There have been several studies into green tea and its potential benefits, but there is, as yet, no conclusive evidence.
"The results of this study do suggest that there is merit in further research into the effects of extracts of green tea, both in relation to its impact on the prevention of prostate cancer and in controlling progression in men already diagnosed with the disease, as was investigated in this instance."
"These initial positive findings could indicate that green tea could have a place in 'active surveillance', where a slow-growing, low risk tumour is monitored for changes and men want to take something which could help keep progression at bay.

Article from - http://news.bbc.co.uk

Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea - Consumer Feedback

2009-05-24T03:33:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to get regular folks, to taste Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea. So far the feedback has been very positive. It seems to be tickling the taste buds of many, just as I thought it would. I know my mom had no idea that her sweet tea would have such a broad appeal. Here's what folks are saying:

I loved it. It tasted soo good!!!! (Deborah/Hempstead, NY)

Good morning. I want you to know that I have tasted ice tea and it happens to be one of my favorite beverages. I've was introducted to Nana's Jones Sweet Tea in Atlanta and I fell in love with the taste. It has a sweet but distinct taste. I am looking forward to being able to purchase the tea in stores soon. Keep up the good work Steph. (Victors/DC)

We are enjoying the tea. It is very tasteful. I opened the bottle a few days ago when it got warm.(Daphne/Atlanta, GA)

Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea w/Splenda was a refreshing change from drinking water, skim milk, coffee and regular tea. After I had bariatric surgery, Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea w/Splenda was one of the pre-sweetened teas that I could incorporate into my diet with ease. It has what I call 'sippin easy' taste!(Rhonda/Atlanta, GA)

Honestly, deliciously refreshing!(David/DC)

If you are one of the lucky ones that have had the privilege of tasting Nana Jones Sweet Green Tea, please drop me an email or feel free to post your comments here. I'm looking forward to serving you all my tea soon.

Green Tea - How Healthy Can It Be?

2009-05-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

There are a number of claims to the health benefits of green tea. If you search the internet you would be amazed. One of the many claims that I found was on article put out by WebMD that states....."Drinking green tea rapidly improves the health of the delicate cells lining the blood vessels and helps lower one's risk of heart disease. Researchers writing in the latest issue of the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation have found that people who drink green tea have better blood vessel function just 30 minutes later. Specifically, green tea improves the function of endothelial cells. Endothelial cell dysfunction plays a key role in the development of clogged arteries, a process called atherosclerosis." That is a pretty good one, especially if you have a history of heart disease in your family.

Another claim is that it might improve ones endurance. It hasn't been tested on humans yet, but appears to be true in mice...hmmm, worth trying isn't it?

Well here is a list (modified) of potential health benefits of green tea:
1) it protects the heart,
2) drinking green tea results in 37% reduction in breast cancer risk for women under the age of 50
3) Green Tea and IP6: Effective Pancreatic Cancer Preventative and Treatment,
4) Green Tea Compounds Prevent Memory Loss From Lack of Oxygen,
5) Green Tea Shown to Reduce Risk of Ovarian and Colorectal Cancers,
6) Green Tea Nutrient EGCG Blocks Diabetes-Promoting Effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup,
7) Green tea prevents bladder inflammation,
8) Green tea found to ease inflammation, arthritis pain,
9) A Cup of Green Tea Per Day May Help Keep Skin Cancer Away,
10) Lower Cancer Risk,
11) green tea can possibly benefit those with type 1 diabetes and Sjogren's Syndrome (an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in certain glands of the body.),
12) Speed up weight loss,
13) protect brain function,
14) defend immune system, and
15) helps reduce prostate risk.

Those are just a few of many more. With this many health benefits, it would make sense for many people to switch up their beverage of choice. There will always be soda around, but at least now we have more choices. Hopefully our choices will be healthier ones and green tea is a good choice.

So World, let's make that healthier choice and sip a tall refreshing glass of sweet green tea, while you sit on your patio, deck, poolside or at the beach....ahhhhh!

Blog World

2009-04-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

As I venture in the world of blogging, it doesn't feel as scarry as I thought it would. Being a journaler for sometime now, it feels very familiar.

As I begin my journey into entrepreneurship and getting my startup company up and running, I am learning a wealth of information that is truly broading my horizon. My startup business is a or will be a food and beverage company. My first product is RTD (ready-to-drink) sweet green decaffeinated tea. It is an old family recipe that has stood the test of time. Once it is out on the store shelves and served at restaurants, I know it will be embrassed by the general public. There is no other RTD sweet green tea on the market that taste like Nana Jones.

I have a great team of knowledgeable, experienced, intelligent and enthusiastic individuals that are as excited about this tea as I am. We will set the ground work and continue to build our team as we move forward.

I hope to enlighten the world on the benefits of green tea and eventually expand our product line to include some delicious food items. So keep checking in from time to time and feel free to offer your suggestions and comments on green tea and the food & beverage industry.