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Weight loss may be as simple as drinking three cups of tea a day, according to a new study. Sounds unbelievable right? Well, let’s get a couple of facts straight.

First of all, the research is a little more promising than a lot of so called “slimming teas” which have quite a bad reputation. This new weight loss weapon is actually a variation on Green Tea, which has already shown to have positive effects on weight loss. It’s called Spearole Tea, and is made from a blend of green tea, spearmint, grape seed and olive leaf.

The downside is that the study was funded by the manufacturer of Spearole. Here are the results:

Researcher Dr Brown, a pharmacologist at the Queensland University, studied the effect of the tea on a selection of rats.

They started off healthy, but were then fed a high fat and sugar diet for the next 8 weeks. Naturally, this caused the amount of fat around their bellies to increase (it actually doubled) and the rat’s blood pressure also increased.

However when the Spearole Tea was added to their diet, their waist levels and blood pressure went back to normal, despite the fact they were still on their unhealthy diet.

It is thought the tea works by preventing the fat cells from releasing inflammatory chemicals that attract more fat. The olive and grape components of the tea are likely to have a similar effect, while the spearmint is just adding to the flavour.

Dr Brown said the results were: “Simply amazing.”

It does sound too good to be true. But with those ingredients, the tea should have some positive benefits to your health. The weight loss in humans though, remains to be seen.

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I was recently served a fruit salad with the most beautiful pink fruit in it. It tasted delicious too, but I wasn’t able to work out what it was. The colour was so vivid, similar to the colour of watermelon, but with a texture similar to papaya. There were tiny, edible seeds in it too.

So after scanning the internet, I have finally worked out what it was. My new discovery was Pink Guava.

I have previously been given pink guava juice (it’s lovely with champagne!) and even eaten the jam, but I had never seen the actual fruit.

Guava, like all fruits, is bursting with health benefits. It even has up to 10 times more Vitamin C than other fruits (particularly in its skin), and is very high in calcium. Just don't be put off by the aroma! It's quite strong, however the taste is much milder.

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You may remember the famous Forrest Gump quote: "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

This point has just been illustrated perfectly for me this afternoon. A box of chocolates was opened, and there weren’t any diagrams showing which one was which. Now, sometimes I like surprises, but not when it comes to chocolate. I like to know exactly what I am getting, so I can make the choice about whether to indulge or not. If something isn’t worth it, I am more than happy to miss out.

But these were good quality chocolates, and I have a pretty good radar for these things, so I went for the shape that I thought was most likely to contain a caramel or fudge filling. Bingo, I was right, and it was satisfying and delicious.

The problem was, since I picked right, the temptation was there to pick again. It’s kind of like gambling. When you are on a winning streak, it’s hard for people to stop. Well, I had the taste for it, and I wanted to continue my success. So I went in for the second pick. It was a little obscure shaped, which normally isn’t a good sign, but nevertheless, feeling confident, I took a bite.

The first taste was pure chocolate, divine, but then the orange flavour hit my mouth with intensity. I had just gone double or nothing, and in my haste, blew it all. I think you either like orange flavoured chocolate or you don’t – there is no in-between – and I am of the latter category, I can’t stand it.

So in my greediness, I fell into the classic trap. The luscious, sweet flavour of my first chocolate had disappeared, and I was left with the unpleasant taste of disappointment.

I then watched the people around me, and it seems that everyone fell victim to this problem. But instead of cutting their losses, then tended to pick again, hoping to make up for the latest dissatisfaction.

At the end, everyone complained that they ate too many chocolates. It was so sad to see this beautiful box of expensive sweets ending up as a source of disappointment. But it was also a great reminder about the best ways to go about eating.

1. You must take pleasure from the things you eat. If you have decided to have an occasional indulgence, ensure it is one that you really enjoy.

2. There has to be a cut-off point, otherwise, you won’t fully enjoy it. The best way to achieve this is by serving the food on a small plate, and making sure you appreciate every single bite.
 

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Listening to your favourite music may be one of the keys to a healthy heart. A new study has shown that when people played their happy music, the lining of their blood vessels expanded, hence expanding the blood flow to their heart.

But just as happy music gives you an increased blood flow, stressful music like heavy metal can contract the vessels, putting strain on the cardiovascular system.

Scientists believe it results from the release of endorphins, providing us with not just good feelings, but also a healthier body. And interestingly, the effect was even greater than after laughing and listening to relaxation tapes.

It also doesn’t matter what type of music it is – it just has to make you happy. So pull out your favourite CDs or your IPOD, pump up the volume and get that blood flowing! 

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As you shop for Christmas presents for your children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, you will no doubt be struggling to find something exciting at a reasonable price. Toys seem to have all gone high tech, and along with that comes high prices.

But there is something that is not only cost effective but is also wonderful for a child’s imagination – you could give them a Dress-Up Box.

I don’t know about you, but I always adored my dress-up box. It was filled with my parent’s old pieces of clothing, as well as some impromptu items that we made workable. Beads, scarves, old sunglasses, towels, shirts or some foil, you can guarantee that whatever it is, children will find a way to make it work.

And whether you are starting from scratch, adding to your own collection or trawling op-shops to find some great items, you will most likely enjoy putting it together as much as they will enjoy playing with it.
 

If you love the idea of burning calories at your desk, but you thought the idea of a treadmill desk was a bit much, this Stamina cycle may be just what you were looking for! It is small, portable and can be tucked under your desk so discreetly that no-one would even know you were pedaling. Except maybe for the sweat starting to pour down your face.

Alternatively, you could pop it in front of the couch and exercise while you are sitting and watching the television.

Due to it's size, it makes a great alterative to the traditional exercise bikes which are tricky to store. Cycling inside has never been so convenient.