It has been well established that green tea has many health benefits. It increases your energy, speeds up weight loss, bolsters up your immune system, and calms the nerves. It aids in preventing various cancers, helps to regulate your cholesterol by combating plaque in the arteries, and fights viruses like the flu.

When comparing the antioxidants and the flavanols in decaf versus regular green teas, these healthy components suffer a serious loss in the decaffeinated teas. There are still some left, and you would have to drink two or three times as much of the decaffeinated tea to pick up the antioxidants and flavanols again.

Before you make the decision to switch, consider some other pertinent factors. There are around eighty-five mgs of caffeine in your mug of fresh coffee, where green tea contains less than forty. Catechins (polyphenol antioxidants) are lost by decaffeination. Unless you have health problems that require eliminating caffeine from your diet, a reasonable amount caffeine is good for you. It makes you feel both more energetic and more alert. And caffeinated green tea contains more flavor, as well.

The two main processes used for decaffeination are ethyl acetate and carbon dioxide. Of the two, the carbon dioxide method is more desirable, as it retains more of the flavonols and antioxidants. The ethyl acetate method is used more frequently, though, and leaves a residue of solvent in the tea when decaffeination is completed. However, the level of solvent is considered safe for you to drink, and in fact, it does occur naturally in tea in very small amounts.

If you have made the decision to stay with regular green tea, there are a few things you can do to combat the effects of caffeine. For one thing, drinking it with food slows the absorption of the caffeine. The different varieties of green teas have different amounts of caffeine, and vastly different flavors. Some of the Japanese teas are lower in caffeine than the Chinese teas. Explore them!

It is also beneficial to brew your tea properly. The best tea to use is a loose leaf, fresh tea of good quality. Read the container for directions. It will surprise you to see that most teas do not suggest boiling water, but rather a very hot water, at about 170 degrees. Brewed correctly, several cups a day would not exceed the caffeine limits recommended by experts.

Technorati Tags: antioxidants, benefits of green tea, catechins, dangers of decaffeinating green tea, decaffeinated green teas, green tea

All electric heaters convert electrical energy into heat, but their methods of doing so vary greatly. The convection method will warm the air in a room and then circulate it with a fan to warm the people and objects in there. They depend on the warm air rising to heat the higher elements in the room. The infrared radiant heater makes use of electromagnetic waves to warm the objects in a room, which then emit heat that warms the air. So now we will explore infrared radiant heaters vs. space heaters. Which is better?

Electric space heaters do a fine job of warming the entire area of a small closed room. The greatest warmth will be near the ceiling. These convection units come in all prices, shapes and sizes. They might have only a heating element, or they may also include a fan with several settings. They turn off automatically when the room reaches the temperature set by the unit or by you. They will go on again as the room cools.

The infrared radiant heaters do not heat the air in a room. They are composed of thin, flat plates, designed to cover a large area.. Wide, tall infrared heaters will generally do the best job. The long wave infrared radiation is not absorbed by the air. Rather, it hits something solid in the room (object or person) and changes the radiation into heat. So it stands to reason that radiant heaters are more efficient at quickly warming a person. The heater hasn’t got any moving parts, is silent, and cannot be affected by air movement. That makes it excellent for warming you in an outdoor situation. The infrared heater uses less energy and requires less repair.

Both types of heaters are safe to use, as long as you follow the directions of the manufacturer. Almost all of them have automatic shut-off in case of overheating or if the unit gets knocked over. No portable heater should ever be left on when nobody is home and using it. It is wise to check for the Underwriters Laboratories seal of approval when shopping for your heater. In fact, you should always do some research before you purchase, and read some of the comments made by people who own them, to find out the operating cost and dependability of each model you are considering.

Technorati Tags: convection heaters, economical portable heaters, infrared heaters, infrared radiant heaters, space heaters

If you have invested in a summer home, there are several different cottage styles you might choose to decorate with. If you are on a body of water, Beach Cottage style would be appropriate. If the house is located in the country, you might try Country Cottage, Rustic Cottage, English Cottage, Garden Cottage, or French Country. If it is in a mountain setting, or a colder climate, Swedish Cottage would be perfect.

Perhaps you are going to live in your cottage all year round. You can still use any of the above themes, though you would probably spend a bit more and pay better attention to the fine details if this is going to be your permanent home. So now let’s consider the differences between these styles.

Beach cottage décor can mean different things, depending on which coast you live on. On the Atlantic side, you will find a more traditional look, with more rustic looking wood furniture. The wood can be left natural, or painted in the natural beach colors of blue, green, and sand. Wicker and bamboo, with highly colored and comfortable cushions would be appropriate. Nautical themes would include, navy, white, and seascape accessories.

On the Pacific side, you will find a much more casual and outdoors look. Dark wood and glass top tables, nothing formal, and chairs and sofas will be overstuffed and comfy in pale pastels or white. Modern accessories, outdoor dining, large patios, and huge windows are what you’ll need.

Country cottage begs for worn, recycled, and overstuffed furnishings. Colors can be anything you’d find in nature, with the addition of those soft, dusty blues. Fabrics are casual…plaids, stripes and checks. Vintage area rugs on hardwood floors, window shades and lacey curtains for the windows, and lots of snuggly throws will work here. Complete this homey picture with whimsical and sentimental memorabilia, dried flower arrangements and family photos.

Rustic cottage floors will be of stone or wood and covered with handcrafted rugs for color. Your color scheme should reflect the natural greens, browns and grays of the forest, with accents of gold, orange, and autumn reds. Concentrate those accents on fabrics and accessories. Pine furniture with rough finishes and cushions covered with country scenery will be comfortable and simple. A kitchen table with bench seating, rockers, and ladderback chairs are appropriate. Accessorize with pine cones, acorns, and dried flowers in big baskets. Don’t forget some needlework and a hurricane lamp or two.

The English country cottage look will stick with a fall color scheme. Greens, browns, rusts, yellows and oranges, a large fireplace, and a few antiques will add that cozy old-fashioned look. You want lots of baskets, dried flowers, wall shelves covered with knick knacks, and short café curtains on your windows.

French country cottage uses red, blue, green and yellow, with black accents. The walls should be finished in a rough stucco. Furniture can be natural dark wood or painted in a light color, often with hand painted details. Fabrics can be of chintz, toile, or a nice calico, with overall patterns. Mix them with some stripes or checks. Roosters are a popular accessory, as well as formal flower arrangements.

Swedish Cottage is wonderful for that cabin in a cold climate. Think light and airy in all you do here. The idea is to brighten up those dark, long, Scandinavian winters, so your colors will be whites and pale blues, with pastel accents in greens, yellows, and lavenders. Fabrics will be tiny prints on natural fabrics with white backgrounds. Floors can be whitewashed, pickled or stenciled, and adorned with loosely woven floral or striped throw rugs. Furniture is painted white or off white and made from white pine, birch or alder. This will be the least cluttered of the cottage looks.

Hopefully, this will help you decide which cottage look is best suited to your home, your needs and your tastes. Happy decorating!

Technorati Tags: beach cottage, country cottage, Country French cottage, English cottage, rustic cottage, summer home, Swedish cottage

Most of us today are aware that fluorescent lighting is far more energy efficient than traditional incandescent lighting.  The CFLs, or compact fluorescent lights cost a bit more than the others, but are coming down in price at  a fast rate.  And they are 75% more energy efficient, which saves you plenty on your electric bill every month.  Obviously, they will pay for themselves very quickly!

 So if you are doing some remodeling, or just buying some new lamps and light fixtures, choose them with that in mind.  In fact, why not go around the house and replace all your bulbs when there is a good sale?  They even have them now in three-way bulbs, and for strip lighting! By using a compact fluorescent light instead, you will cut  half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere per bulb. Now if we all did that……

 If you just aren’t ready to do that, be aware of a couple of interesting facts.  An incandescent bulb with 100 watts emits more light than using two 60 watt bulbs simultaneously…and uses less power by 17%!  And while the same amount of energy is put out by the 100 watt bulb and four 25 watt bulbs, it will give you two times as much brightness.  And a couple of tips:

• Use energy saving bulbs
• Dimmer switches help a lot, both on incandescent and CFL bulbs(make sure the CFLs you buy can use them).
• Skylights are really amazing when it comes to saving on electricity.  Unless it is stormy, you rarely need more than task lighting during the day in a room with skylights…and that is when you are paying the most for your electricity!

 If you readers have any new ideas, suggestions, or comments, we would be delighted to hear from you…and learn from you!

Technorati Tags: CFLs, fluorescent lighting, incandescent bulbs, skylights, think green

The following is a shortened version that I pulled out of an ebook I am writing. With the way things are going economically, I thought it might be useful as a tip of the day…

When you are choosing a credit card, you need to know the percentage rate you will pay on purchases, the grace period, the amount of your credit line, and if there is a yearly service fee on the account.

Read the small print on any contract they send you. Is it a variable rate or a set rate? I have personally never accepted any rate that wasn’t set (that holds true for mortgage rates as well). I would rather know the rate than be surprised by a higher rate at a future time. And note that you will pay a higher percentage on cash borrowed than you will on purchases. A good rule of thumb is to never write a check off of a credit card for cash.

Be certain that a grace period is written into your contract. It is usually for twenty-five days or more, and refers to purchases made after the billing period closes. If you pay your bill in its entirety every month, you will not pay any interest on purchases made after the billing date. But if you are carrying a balance, and paying interest on the account, every single purchase you make will accrue interest from the date of purchase.

Your credit line may be increased if your credit is good, you are making payments on time, or if you call and ask for an increase due to unusual expenditures coming up. They will also offer expanded credit to you if you are keeping the charges close to the limit every month, to allow you to increase your debt, and their profits, even more.

Yearly service fees usually come with cards that offer other benefits, such as travel miles or cash back. They also charge you if you have had previous bad credit and are a risk. But many companies try to get them from unsuspecting new customers. My rule is to simply refuse to pay them. I tell them up front that I do not want to pay a service fee. If they refuse, I refuse the card. If they agree, and then bill me for it the following year, I call them and refuse to pay it. If they take it off the bill I give them one more year. If they bill me again, I cancel the card. I have five credit cards, all having a different purpose. None of them have a yearly service charge. You don’t have to have one either.

Technorati Tags: credit, credit cards, credit line, economy, yearly fees

Sometimes when things look too good to be true, they are. This is often the case when you get involved with reverse mortgages. Yes, it is true that anyone over sixty- two that owns their own home, and owes less than thirty per cent on it can stop making mortgage payments when they get a reverse mortgage.

As long as you are living in it, the house is your collateral. No credit check is required. You do not have to repay the loan unless you move or die. If the property devalues, you can never owe more than it is worth. Any equity in the home can be used, tax free, in any way you wish or need. Any equity that you spend is simply added on to the loan, which is paid back by your heirs if they wish to keep the house, or otherwise it reverts to the mortgage company.

This debt will include high interest rates, usually from eight to ten per cent of the value of your home. They may also tack on closing fees and various other fees. You are decreasing the amount your heirs will receive, since the full payment will come out of the sale of the home before they see any money at all.

In addition, you must be certain that Social Security will not be halted because of too large a loan received from the reverse mortgage. But that really isn’t the worst of it. Because of the unstable economy, reverse mortgaging has become a high pressure sales business (kind of like time sharing ). What may appear to be a legitimate offer can be a scam that will only waste what little security you may have, and take your home from you on top of it.

These agents and brokers will get you to sign away the rights to your home and leave you with nothing.
You need to steer clear of anyone offering you a deal that transfers ownership of your home to would be unknown investors. Some scam artists are saying that loans are HUD sanctioned when they are not.

Do not do business with anyone who tells you that you need to invest the proceeds from your reverse mortgage. At best, you will end up paying even more fees for investments that are not necessarily safe. At worst, they won’t invest it at all…they will steal it.

Reverse mortgages are not all bad. But it is much safer to try to make it on your income by tightening your belt, down-sizing your home if you can, and following my tips on how to lower your bills, stay warm, and eat well, on a very tight budget.

Technorati Tags: loans, reverse mortgages, scams