Gorgeous Remodel with Chef’s Dream Kitchen in South County

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1061 Clark Way, Gilroy, CA  |  4 beds, 2 baths, 1,474 Sq. Ft.  |  Offered at $479,000 Beautifully remodeled from top-to-bottom with a chef’s dream kitchen and a backyard oasis featuring a black-bottom pool and cabana, this home will surely be your summertime escape! Built in 1980, this home offers a spacious 1,474 SF of immaculate living ...       [Read More]

1061 Clark Way, Gilroy, CA  |  4 beds, 2 baths, 1,474 Sq. Ft.  |  Offered at $479,000 Beautifully remodeled from top-to-bottom with a chef’s dream kitchen and a backyard oasis featuring a black-bottom pool and cabana, this home will surely be your summertime escape! Built in 1980, this home offers a spacious 1,474 SF of immaculate living [...]

Immaculate Milpitas Condo Now Available

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600 S Abel St., #227, Milpitas, CA 95035 — Offered at $499,000 Located in the highly desirable Luna at Terra Serena in the heart of Milpitas, this rare courtyard level condominium offers an open floor plan with high ceilings, an abundance of natural light, and a great room with kitchen, family and dining areas, and ...       [Read More]

600 S Abel St., #227, Milpitas, CA 95035 — Offered at $499,000 Located in the highly desirable Luna at Terra Serena in the heart of Milpitas, this rare courtyard level condominium offers an open floor plan with high ceilings, an abundance of natural light, and a great room with kitchen, family and dining areas, and [...]

Cup of Tea

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The Incredible Health Benefits of Tea By Geri Wohl — Better Eating Coach  Tea is the second most common beverage consumed worldwide after water. Have you ever thought which tea you may want to drink-black, herbal, oolong, green or white? Is tea good for you? Should you have one with caffeine or is it best ...       [Read More]

The Incredible Health Benefits of Tea
By Geri Wohl — Better Eating Coach
 Tea is the second most common beverage consumed worldwide after water. Have you ever thought which tea you may want to drink-black, herbal, oolong, green or white? Is tea good for you? Should you have one with caffeine or is it best to have an herbal tea without caffeine? How is one to choose the best tea to imbibe?
Tea leaves come from the camellia sinensis shrub. This shrub is native to east and south Asia. Usually leaves are picked only from the top 1-2″ of mature plants. Teas are classified by how they are processed. There are six different types of tea-white, yellow, green, oolong, black and post-fermented tea. This article will focus primarily on white, green and black teas. Herbal teas, on the other hand, are made from the fruit or leaves of non-tea plants. Examples include chamomile, rooibos (some people call this red tea) and Echinacea. Herbal teas are non-caffeinated.
After tea leaves are picked, they are processed. Each type of tea has a different processing procedure resulting in a unique level of important compounds. Black tea leaves are dried and then oxidized. Green tea leaves are dried but not allowed to oxidize. Oolong are dried and partially oxidized and white tea leaves are neither dried nor oxidized.
All teas contain a type of phytochemical called catechins. The catechins are antioxidants that have been studied for their ability to quench free radicals, which are believed to be responsible for many disease states. White and green teas have the highest concentrations of catechins. One particular catechin is called EGCG. EGCG is the subject of many cancer studies for its potential ability to inhibit the growth of some types of cancers. It has also been suggested that EGCG may play a role in preventing atherosclerosis, helping with weight loss, reducing the risk of neurological diseases and strokes, and improving cholesterol levels.
Green tea seems to have profound effects throughout the body. It has been found to play an important role in the immune system by increasing our disease-fighting white blood cell counts. A study looking at green tea and heart health suggested that drinking three or more cups per day is linked with lowered risk of coronary heart disease. Green tea may also improve our cognitive abilities as we age. And finally, the catechins in green tea may protect our eyes from glaucoma and other eye diseases since they have been found to penetrate the cells of the eye and may reduce free radical formation.
White tea is the least processed of all the teas. The leaves are picked when they are mere buds. They contain the highest concentration of polyphenols, a group containing catechins. Studies have also shown that white tea has the ability to fight viral and bacterial infections. It may also prevent plaque buildup due to the fluoride in white tea. White and green tea leaves are particularly sensitive to excessive heat. Thus, these teas are best steeped between 176-185 degrees.
Black tea, while it has fewer catechins, does have other health benefits. Black tea may protect the lungs from exposure to cigarette smoke. It may also help reduce the risk of stroke. Black tea may prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and improve heart function. It has also been linked to better digestive health. The tannins in black tea have been shown to fight viruses like hepatitis and the flu as well as reduce intestinal inflammation. It should be steeped at 212 degrees since many of its active substances don’t develop at lower temperatures.
All these teas do contain caffeine but at different levels. Typically black tea contains the most caffeine, between 40-60 mg for an 8 oz. cup. This is approximately half the caffeine content of regular brewed coffee. Both green and white teas contain caffeine as well, but at much lower levels; 15-30 mg for green tea and 6-25 mg for white tea.
Since all teas (and regular coffee) contain caffeine, let’s explore some pros and cons of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that makes one feel alert and energetic. Many people require their morning jolt to get their day going. One of the ways caffeine affects the body is by activating the pleasure areas of the brain, which eventually is related to the “coffee or caffeine addiction” that some people experience. Some athletes consume caffeine prior to aerobic activity to increase their endurance. Caffeine also stimulates the adrenal glands resulting in the release of adrenaline. Too much of this stimulation can cause adrenal exhaustion because the body constantly feels as if it is in a heightened state of stress. The excess adrenal hormones released can eventually exhaust the body. Cutting caffeine out of the diet too quickly may result in headaches and irritability. Caffeine can be dehydrating since it acts as a diuretic and can cause fluid loss. As its half-life is 6 hours, it remains in the body for a long time and can dramatically affect one’s sleep cycle. In addition, caffeine may also increase the release of calcium from the bones and teeth, possibly contributing to osteoporosis, gout and/or kidney stones. Watch your caffeine consumption as there are many other issues related to caffeine consumption.
Remember that staying hydrated is extremely important. Both water and tea have zero calories and are wonderful sources for hydration. While each tea has benefits, I particularly like all that white and green teas do to support our health.
 

bike to work day

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Thursday May 9th is the day to try it out and HAVE FUN Not This Fast! To find your closest “energizer”station click on http://www.youcanbikethere.com/energizer       [Read More]

Thursday May 9th is the day to try it out and HAVE FUN
Not This Fast!
To find your closest “energizer”station click on
http://www.youcanbikethere.com/energizer

Behind the Scenes Preview of a New Custom Luxury Home in Alamden – 6798 Elwood Rd

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Put on your hardhats, we’re taking you “behind the scenes” on a guided tour of an unfinished custom built luxury home in Alamden. Rising boldly above the tree tops situated on an oak dotted hillside on Elwood Road, just a few block from the Alamden County Club, you’ll surely notice this smartly built home as it ...       [Read More]

Put on your hardhats, we’re taking you “behind the scenes” on a guided tour of an unfinished custom built luxury home in Alamden. Rising boldly above the tree tops situated on an oak dotted hillside on Elwood Road, just a few block from the Alamden County Club, you’ll surely notice this smartly built home as it [...]

Housing in Recovery? Or Housing Bubble? – Spring 2013 Market Outlook

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There’s a lot of growing speculation among first time homebuyers that we may be experiencing another “housing bubble,” but if we are, it surely won’t be of proportion to that seen in 2006. In the not too distant past there was a time when anyone with a pulse could qualify for a home mortgage, purchase ...       [Read More]

There’s a lot of growing speculation among first time homebuyers that we may be experiencing another “housing bubble,” but if we are, it surely won’t be of proportion to that seen in 2006. In the not too distant past there was a time when anyone with a pulse could qualify for a home mortgage, purchase [...]

How House Hunters View Your Home When Selling

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In a study conducted by Old Dominion University’s Institute for Behavioral and Experimental Real Estate, researcher Michael Seiler discovered that overall, when buyers view listings on-line they devoted 60 percent of their time to photos, 20 percent to property descriptions, and 20 percent to the agent’s comments; and he found that their interest diminished after ...       [Read More]

In a study conducted by Old Dominion University’s Institute for Behavioral and Experimental Real Estate, researcher Michael Seiler discovered that overall, when buyers view listings on-line they devoted 60 percent of their time to photos, 20 percent to property descriptions, and 20 percent to the agent’s comments; and he found that their interest diminished after [...]

Recycling Irritations

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I think filling our land with garbage is not a good idea so I do my best to recycle. But it is too complicated and I get tempted to give up. I bet this happens to lots of others. So I was pleased to find this interesting site. This is a page from their report. ...       [Read More]

I think filling our land with garbage is not a good idea so I do my best to recycle. But it is too complicated and I get tempted to give up. I bet this happens to lots of others. So I was pleased to find this interesting site. This is a page from their report.

During the first phase of the How2Recycle Label project, in 2008, GreenBlue conducted research on current labeling options in the market, uncovering the following problems:
• Unclear labels confuse consumers and greenwashing is common.
• No harmonized, consistent labeling system exists across all material types.
• Existing labels are not comprehensively applied to all material types and individual package components.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (the “Green Guides”) are ignored or inaccurately interpreted.
• Consumers desire transparency and proactive sustainability efforts from companies, but remain skeptical. In response, GreenBlue formed a project team and working groups of SPC member companies, GreenBlue staff, and additional stakeholders to develop the How2Recycle Label.
 
The goals of How2Recycle are:
• Reduce confusion by creating a clear, well understood, and nationally harmonized label that enables industry to convey to consumers how to recycle a package.
• Improve the reliability, completeness, and transparency of recyclability claims.
• Provide a labeling system that follows Federal Trade Commission Green Guides.
• Increase the availability and quality of recycled material.
 
Unlike typical recyclability labeling, the How2Recycle Label offers:
• Access to online recycling information via www.how2recycle.info website.
• Specific, targeted recycling instructions.
• Comprehensive component labeling.
• Uniformity across material and package types.
• Ongoing marketing and outreach.
 
This article was taken from GreenBlue’s Labeling for Package Recovery report, October 2011, part of the Closing the Loop series:
 For more current information click on the link below
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Top Reasons for Buyers to Hire a Real Estate Professional in a Seller’s Market

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Did you know that home sellers who used a real estate agent are 50% more successful at getting their homes sold than unrepresented sellers (Statistic from researchers at HomeGain.com)? Well the same is also true for homebuyers, especially given the painfully low inventories we’re currently experiencing in San Jose and the greater Santa Clara County. ...       [Read More]

Did you know that home sellers who used a real estate agent are 50% more successful at getting their homes sold than unrepresented sellers (Statistic from researchers at HomeGain.com)? Well the same is also true for homebuyers, especially given the painfully low inventories we’re currently experiencing in San Jose and the greater Santa Clara County. [...]

Eagle Properties Group now with Realty World

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We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Realty World Northern California & Nevada (as of August of 2011), and we now have amazing new products and services available at our finger tips. Added that are also apart of a vast network of Realty World offices, numbering more than 250, covering Northern California ...       [Read More]

We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Realty World Northern California & Nevada (as of August of 2011), and we now have amazing new products and services available at our finger tips. Added that are also apart of a vast network of Realty World offices, numbering more than 250, covering Northern California [...]