Long Term Vegetarian In China

I met a local vegetarian woman in China a few days ago who told me she has never eaten meat in her life. She looked healthy, fit and happy. I didn't ask her what her age was, but my guess is mid forties. Since Chinese people generally don't eat dairy or drink milk, I asked her how she gets her B12. She said she eats two eggs every morning for breakfast and that's it. It was definitely inspiring to meet a healthy, long term vegetarian in China!

The Amazing Benefits of Green Tea

Creative Commons Photo from Wilerson S Andrade

After living in China for over two years, I've discovered the importance of green tea within Chinese culture. While coffee is the caffeinated drink of choice for Americans, green tea is far more popular than coffee in China. After researching the benefits of green tea, I'm becoming more and more convinced that it's a better choice than coffee. Here are a few reasons why:

1) Green Tea Is Clean. Unlike black tea, green tea is almost always free of lead and other heavy metal contaminates (link). Coffee, on the other hand? "A cup of coffee now and then is not going to add a lot of toxic metals to the body.  However, habitual use can add significant lead, according to our experience with hair mineral testing.  All the toxic metals are quite harmful, so it makes little sense to add more to the body" (Link).

2) Green Tea Relaxes. "Theanine, an amino acid present in green tea but not in coffee, relaxes and soothes even as the caffeine lifts you up" (Link).

3) Less Caffeine. Green tea has less caffeine than coffee and so it doesn't make you as nervous or "jittery" as coffee. Also, this means you can sip it all day without as many problems.

Caffeine content:

Cup of Brewed Coffee 8 oz. (237 mL)    95-200 mg caffeine

Cup of  Green tea         8 oz. (237 mL)    24-45 mg caffeine

4) Better Antioxidants. Green tea contains a specific type of antioxidant known as catechins, which are known to help with cancer prevention (Link). While coffee does contain some great antioxidants, it does not contain catechins.

5) Better Skin. Green has a great reputation for fighting acne (Link) while coffee has been reported to trigger acne in some people (Link). Also, polyphenols in green tea may protect against damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) B radiation (Link).

6) Better Hair. Green tea can help prevent hair loss and even lead to regrowth of hair (Link).

7) Fights Arthritis - "A team of US researchers have discovered that a compound in green tea could have the potential to treat joint pain, inflammation and tissue damage in sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis" (Link).

8) Protect Against Alzheimer's - Green Tea May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease, Say Four New Studies (Link).

9) Protects against heart disease - A study of 40,530 Japanese adults found that participants who drank more than five cups of green tea a day had a 26% lower risk of death from heart attack or stroke and a 16% lower risk of death from all causes than people who drank less than one cup of green tea a day (link).

10) Protects against Cancer - In laboratory studies, green tea has been shown to slow or completely prevent cancer developent in colon, liver, breast and prostate cells. Other studies involving green tea have shown similar protective effects in tissues of the lung, skin and digestive tract (Link),

11) Anti-bacterial. "Other studies have revealed that green tea has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well. This is beneficial in a number of ways. Green tea can protect you from all sorts of fungal infections" (Link).

"Study data clearly demonstrates profound effects of green tea against [a bacteria infection known as] Helicobacter" (Link).

Drinking green tea "increases the production of interferon gamma, which is an infection-fighting substance produced by the body...This was confirmed in several scientific studies" (Link).

12) Anti AIDS Virus "The wonderful polyphenols found in green tea -- specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) -- could become a powerful weapon in the fight against the AIDS virus." (Link)

Organic Supplements and Health Food Stores in Hong Kong

360 (Threesixty)

Tel: 852-2196-8066

Hours: 8am - 11pm (Monday to Sunday)

Located within Elements Mall
This is a convenient location because Elements Mall has a bus station on the ground level. Can even take buses from Shenzhen (to Kowloon Station). Once in Kowloon Station, just go upstairs to the Mall and you'll easily find 360.

Just Green

Central
1/F
Wong Chung Ming Commercial House,
16 Wyndham Street,
Central, HK
T : 2755 3555

The below article is from hk-magazine

Health Aims

Established in 1998, Health Aims believes in “nutritional therapy” as a way of strengthening your body’s natural healing through the use of health foods and supplements. Find organic foodstuffs such as wheat, black beans, salt, brown rice tea, vinegar and oat drink powder. You can also find health supplements such as yogurt powder, functional enzymes, fish oils and probiotics. Nutrition consultations are also available.
27 Electric Rd., Tin Hau, 2402-2883, healthaims.net

Good Life Nutrition House

A food supplement specialty store in the heart of Central, this small shop carries a decent variety of sports supplements ranging from protein powder and muscle enhancers to energy bars and drinks at good prices. It also stocks health-promoting supplements such as medicinal herbs, fish oil, vitamins, enzymes and diet shakes. Other outlets can be found in Causeway Bay and Jordan.
Shop 134, Melbourne Plaza, 33 Queen’s Rd. Central, Central, 2537-5278, goodlifenutritionhouse.com

Wonderful Grace

Wonderful Grace specializes in nutritional therapy and offers a large selection of nutritional supplements and personal care products imported from New Zealand, USA and Japan for patients with chronic diseases, as well as people of all ages. Health supplements such as antioxidants, plant extracts, omega oil, bee pollen, probiotics, multi-vitamins and herbal tea are available.
Room 3208, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 2566-0855, www.wonderfulgrace.com

Nature’s Village

Nature’s Village offers a great variety of eco-friendly products with more than 1,200 branded nutritional and sports supplements, including purified vitamins, organic herbs, protein and meal supplements, and even imported sports drink and nutrition bars. Nature’s Village has seven branches in Hong Kong.
G/F, 38 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, 2121-1637, naturesvillage.com.hk

Catalo

Founded in the US in 1982, Catalo is one of Hong Kong’s best-established natural health foods retail chain stores, with more than 20 outlets. It stocks more than 150 products made from natural ingredients. Natural food supplements available include bilberry eye extract, fish oil and green tea extract, and organic foods such as oats and juice. Head down to their retail counters in Causeway Bay Sogo, CRCare and Mannings to stock up on all your healthy needs.
Shop 5A, LG/F, iSQUARE, 63 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2723-3032, www.catalohk.com

Health Gate

A allergy-friendly mini-supermarket with myriad health foods and supplements, Health Gate carries more than 2,000 health items catering to food sensitivities or restrictive diets. Products include gluten-free foods, organic wines, natural beauty products and hypoallergenic cleaning supplies. Free delivery for orders more than $600. Visit Health Gate’s website to shop online.
8/F, Hung Tak Building, 106-108 Des Voeux Rd. Central, Central, 2545-2286, www.health-gate.com

Healthy Delight

Originally a distributor of homemade yogurt, this organic store stocks more than 2,000 health products, including a vast range of health supplements, organic foods, baby items and natural remedies such as probiotics and omega oil. The store also has a nutritionist offering diet advice for customers. Online shopping available.
Unit 203, Conwell House, 34-38 Stanley St., Central. 2525-9128, www.healthydelight.net

Best2u

Drop by this one-stop health supplement store. The women’s products are especially extensive, with evening primrose oil, menopause formula, spirulina, royal jelly and ginkgo biloba extract, all at good prices. Enjoy a 10 percent discount through September 30 if you pay $300 or more with PayPal.
Shop 217A, 2/F, Metro City Plaza I, Po Lam, Tseung Kwan O, 2177-0726, www.best2u.com.hk

Tips on Frugal Living - Learned in China

One thing I respect about Chinese people is that they mostly live within their means. Where most Americans have debt (credit cards, mortgage, car loans, school loans), most Chinese people have savings. Of course, this might mean not owning a house, relying on public transportation more and even living with your parents. But it also means avoiding the stress that comes with debt, and gaining the opportunities that come with having a savings (travel, etc.).