If you have ever heard of sparkling green tea , you are probably aware that green tea is good for you. After all, it has been plastered all over health advertisements and cosmetic supplies for years now. And the evidence is overwhelming: one researcher even exposed a bunch of minnows to enough radiation to kill them, then let them swim in green tea. Not one fish died. That is just one example of the potential health benefits of green tea.

Green tea is good for you in all sorts of ways:

•    It strengthens the immune system
•    It is an anti-inflammatory that eases muscle aches and pains
•    It has anti-aging and refreshing properties when applied topically to the skin

Now that many companies are making green tea available in forms other than green tea leaves .  In addition to brewing green tea, you can buy in it in cans, bottles or by the gallon. You can purchase green tea in a variety of flavors. Of course, these options also come with additional complications, and none are more in question than that of sparkling green tea.

Sparkling green tea is a lightly carbonated green tea drink. It is marketed mainly based on flavor to people who would probably not drink green tea in its more “natural” forms. The people in the commercials generally get the sparkling green tea accidentally, then are delighted to discover that it is a “cool” and delicious drink. But how does sparkling green tea stack up against more traditional forms of green tea beverages?

•    Sparkling green tea has a lot of sugar (though diet versions are available)
•    It also contains artificial colors and flavors
•    Sparkling green tea has a high volume of preservatives
•    Sparkling green tea is not green tea in its natural form, so you certainly cannot use it in the same ways that you can use brewed green tea when it comes to drinking or topical applications

Of course, if the only way that you will ever choke green tea down is if it is the sparkling variety, then you should probably keep on drinking. You will need to drink a lot to get any significant amount of green tea, though, since it is pretty diluted in sparkling green tea form. If you can stand the brewed type of green tea at least part of the time then you should try to work that into your daily routine as well.

In addition, green tea is good for your skin. Green tea contains lots of anti-oxidants, which are great for helping your body fight the deterioration that is a natural part of aging. Also, if you apply green tea lotion or moisturizer to your face and body, the anti-oxidants can fight off free radicals, which are high energy molecules that cause skin damage like wrinkles and even skin cancer. While you may not want to apply sparkling green tea to your face since the sugar might be a little much for your complexion, you should definitely look into other ways to get some more natural green tea into your diet.

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Chamomile and chamomile flowers are a great beauty aid in addition to being part of a delicious and soothing chamomile tea. If you want to add the soothing, anti-aging properties of chamomile to any of your existing cosmetics, you can do so by using fresh or dried chamomile flowers and a few items that you probably already have in your kitchen to make a chamomile extract that can be added to any existing lotion, hair product or facial crème.

Here are the items that you will need:

• A glass measuring cup
• A tea ball
• Dried or fresh chamomile flowers
• A microwave
• Small airtight container

Start out by microwaving half a cup of water until it is boiling. Put it in the glass measuring cup and microwave it on high for 2 minutes. Generally, this will be long enough to bring the water to a rolling boil. If it is not, then microwave the water for an additional 2 minutes, watching closely to insure that you spot the water when it starts boiling hard.

While you are waiting for the water to boil, fill the tea ball with chamomile flowers. It does not matter whether they are fresh or dried. Fill the ball full. You can crush the flowers if necessary.

Steep the chamomile flowers in the boiling water for at least 20 minutes. The longer you leave them in the water, the stronger your chamomile extract will be. You may wish to leave them in the water for as long as 2 hours. The water will probably become a dark brown as you steep the chamomile in it. You are basically making a very concentrated chamomile tea.

Once the concentrated chamomile is done, you can add it in small amounts to various items. Add about a half teaspoon to a lotion or facial crème so that you do not make the substance too watery. It may change the color and scent of the lotion or crème slightly. Chamomile lotions and facial crèmes are good for sensitive skin. Just as chamomile soothes your nerves when you drink it as a tea, chamomile flower extract will sooth your skin. It also has anti-aging properties and will keep your skin smoother and more hydrated longer.
Chamomile is mostly an aromatherapeutic addition to hair products . However, the soothing scent of chamomile flower extract is a great way to start or end your day when you are bathing or showering. As with the lotion, add only a half teaspoon to a teaspoon to your shampoo and then test it out to see how you like it. Add more only if you want a stronger scent or you are enjoying the way your hair reacts with the flowers.

The chamomile extract should be refrigerated if you do not add it to another product. Every two to four weeks you should make a new batch. If you add it to an existing product, the preservatives should keep it fresh unless you add large volumes to the product. A teaspoon or so of chamomile flower extract will not impact or shorten the life of the pre-existing product.