The Benefits of Regularly Drinking Tea

Responsible for managing the sales process of an award-winning sales methodology, Matthew Vlasic served as a solutions business development associate. When he’s not busy at work, Matthew Vlasic enjoys relaxing and drinking tea. 

Tea is an ancient drink that offers a huge range of health benefits to regular tea consumers. One of the beverage’s most notable benefits is its high level of antioxidants. Antioxidants promote overall health. Antioxidants are believed to play a role in protecting against several cancers. Additionally, many teas are high in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). This characteristic helps tea destroy free radicals, which can damage DNA and increase the risk of various diseases and cancers. Although the body can destroy free radicals on its own, it cannot destroy all of them by itself.

Beyond these benefits, drinking tea has been linked to lower stroke and heart attack risks. This particular benefit is most notable among individuals who drink one to three cups of green tea every day. Green tea drinkers had a 35 percent lower risk of stroke and close to a 20 percent lower risk of heart attack. Drinking tea also lowers cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can be damaging when it is persistently high. The hormone makes the skin age faster and increases fat in the stomach, so drinking tea also promotes weight loss in the stomach and better skin due to its ability to lower cortisol levels.

Golf 101 - Playing the Wind

 

Solutions business development associate Matthew Vlasic regularly volunteers his time with the food security nonprofit organization Martha’s Table. In his free time, Matthew Vlasic enjoys playing golf.

Golf is an outdoor game; as such, golfers often find themselves battling the elements, especially the wind. Many golfers think that hitting the ball harder will help them power through a headwind. However, striking the ball with more force actually generates backspin, which makes matters even worse in the wind. As a rule of thumb, you should aim for a smooth stroke at about 80 percent of your maximum power.

While golfers are often tempted to use the lowest club possible, the extra clubhead speed can create more backspin on the ball. By choosing a higher club with a stiffer shaft, you can take some of the wind out of the equation. In terms of stance, moving the ball toward your back foot and keeping your weight forward keeps the shot low, away from the influence of the wind.

Top Sushi Spots in Washington, DC

Matthew Vlasic, a solutions business development associate at a Virginia-based company, enjoys spending his free time trying new foods and restaurants around Washington, DC, and various other cities. Although Matthew Vlasic enjoys all types of cuisines, from Italian to Mexican, he is especially fond of burgers and sushi.

Washington, DC, is home to a huge range of sushi options, including more traditional sashimi and the characteristic American sushi rolls. Following are just some of the area’s top sushi spots:

- Sushi Capitol – A small sushi restaurant, eating at Sushi Capitol normally requires a reservation. Offering fresh fish and well-made rolls, the restaurant is affordable and guests at the bar can watch as their dish is being prepared. Further, the waiters are great resources for figuring out what dishes are the freshest and most worth trying on any particular day.

- Makoto – More formally called Sakedokoro Makoto, this restaurant is a favorite of many staff members of the Japanese Embassy. The restaurant maintains a minimalist Japanese style and keeps slippers by the front door for guests. While guests can get high-quality fish with dinners and steaks, Makoto offers plenty of affordable options, including its lunch bento box.

- Kintaro – Popular among younger individuals, particularly those studying at Georgetown University, Kintaro is known for its ramen, chirashi bowl, and incredibly fresh fish. Daily specials at the restaurant are a great guide for ordering because they often include cuts of fish that just arrived earlier that morning.

Organizations Supported by Fight for Children

 


Matthew Vlasic donates to multiple charitable organizations. One of the organizations that Matthew Vlasic supports is Fight for Children, which raises funds that it then uses to support high-performing nonprofits in Washington, DC. Last year, Fight for Children raised more than $800,000, which was divided among many deserving organizations, including:

- Literacy Lab, a nonprofit that offers targeted reading interventions for young children. With its grant, the organization placed full-time tutors in two additional elementary schools. The mentors will work directly with the students who have the greatest needs for literacy support.

- Project Zero, which through the support of Fight for Children, launched Children Are Citizens. The project partnered with 20 teachers in Title I elementary schools to provide a five-step curriculum for encouraging civic engagement among students.

- Turning the Page, a 20-year-old nonprofit that focuses on increasing school-based family engagement to improve reading outcomes. With the funding that it received, the organization expanded its program to reach many dozens of new families.

The Three Perennial Martha’s Table Community Events

Dedicated to giving back to the community, Matthew Vlasic supports multiple philanthropic organizations. One of the organizations that Matthew Vlasic supports is Martha’s Table, which combats hunger throughout the District of Columbia. Each year, Martha’s Table holds three regular events to raise funds and awareness.

The oldest event is Sips & Suppers, which was started by Alice Waters in 2009. This weekend focuses on developing sustainable and local solutions to the challenges of homelessness and hunger. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $2 million to support programs at Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen.

Since 2013, Martha’s Table has run a series of Casseroles & Conversations events, which create a space for talking about the challenges faced by low-income families, as well as the link between diet-related illness and income.

This October will mark the third annual One Pot Suppers event, which invites community members to throw their own one-pot suppers on a given day to increase conversations about hunger and raise money for key Martha’s Table initiatives.

The Joe’s Champs Program at Fight for Children

 



Matthew Vlasic provides support to multiple charities that work on key issues related to children’s health. One of the organizations that Matthew Vlasic supports is Fight for Children, which focuses on improving education in the District of Columbia. One of Fight for Children’s key programs is Joe’s Champs, which provides training for elementary school leaders to provide more effective education. This program affirms the importance of early childhood education for long-term academic success.

Individuals chosen for the program participate in 110 hours of professional development over the course of two years. These hours are spent working closely with childhood education experts to learn about child development and how to align curricula appropriately. Trained leaders then return to their schools and create monthly forums for sharing what they learned, deepening collective understanding of key issues. Participants also have the chance to learn and share during the bi-annual Fight for Children conferences.

People can apply for the program if they have worked at least one year at a school that primarily serves families with low-income backgrounds.