Take it hot or cold, with or without sweetener, tea is good in so many ways! And Im not just talking about flavour here, teas and infusions have been used for its healing abilities for ages!
Here’s a rundown of the ones I keep in rotation and why.
Peppermint Tea
Best for: Upset stomach and digestion.
Health Benefits: Peppermint appears to help the gastrointestinal tissue relax. Its great for an upset stomach, gas and bloating. I often enjoy a cup before dinner to aid in digestion. Mint is anti-inflammatory as well as antimicrobial properties, both of which can be helpful for treating acne. Skin health and gut health goes hand in hand.
Chamomile Tea
Best for: Relaxation.
Health Benefits: Chamomile has been used for ages to help promote sleep. Scientists believe a flavonoid called apigenin helps calm you down. Now researchers are looking into chamomile supplements as a possible treatment for generalized anxiety disorder.
Ginger Tea
Best for: Upset stomach.
Health Benefits: There’s a modest but significant body of evidence that ginger tea helps with nausea and mild GI distress. Research shows that ginger helps reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnant women and chemotherapy patients.
Hibiscus Tea
Best for: Immunity.
Health Benefits: Some studies suggest drinking this tart, fruity tea can lower blood pressure. Hibiscus is also rich in vitamin C, which is a valuable immune booster. Plus its delicious as ice tea on a hot day!
Turmeric Tea
Best for: Reducing inflammation.
Health Benefits: Golden milk anyone? Turmeric has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Its warming and comforting flavour has many health benefits due to its active antioxidant curcumin. The most notable one is that it significantly lowers inflammation throughout the body.
Cinnamon Tea
Best For: When you are craving sugar.
Health Benefits: Cinnamon tea is a powerful beverage. It’s filled with antioxidants and offers several health benefits, including reduced inflammation and blood sugar levels, improved heart health, and perhaps even weight loss due to its sugar metabolising abilities. Cinnamon tea may also fight off infections and reduce PMS and menstrual cramps.
Holy Tulsi Tea
Best For: All around tonic and hormone health.
Health Benefits: Holy tulsi is an adaptogen, meaning its a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and put it back in balance. Tulsi strengthens the immune system, promotes longevity and enhances well-being. Great for hot-flashes and other menopause symptoms. Its also known to promote heart health by lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Green Tea
Best For: Fighting cancer.
Health Benefits: Green tea consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of prostate, breast, lung, and other cancers, according to a 2014 report. This may be due to the tea’s catechins and polyphenols, two types of antioxidants. Be aware though, this tea, as well as black, white and matcha tea contains caffein. I never have a cup after 3pm in the afternoon as it makes it impossible for me to go to sleep!
Milk Thistle Tea
Best For: Boosting the liver.
Health Benefits: Milk thistle has been shown to produce beneficial effects in liver cells, supporting repair and new liver-cell growth. With all the different chemicals floating around everywhere these days, I know for a fact that our livers will be more than happy to receive some additional support!
Dandelion Tea
Best For: Supporting your detoxing organs and improving blood flow.
Health Benefits: Dandelion tea is an excellent source of potassium, a mineral and electrolyte that stimulates the heartbeat. Potassium also helps the kidney filter toxins more effectively and improve blood flow. The polysaccharides in dandelion are known to reduce stress on the liver and support its ability to produce bile.
Nettle Tea
Best For: Cleaning the blood, easing allergy symptoms and fertility.
Health Benefits: Nettle tea is high in many nutrients, particularly vitamin A, various B vitamins (including B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-5), vitamin C, amino acids, calcium, fatty acids, folic acid, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium. Quite the list, don’t you think?
Nettle helps managing and easing allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, congestion, itching, and inflammation. In traditional use and alternative medicine, nettle tea is used as a: Blood purifier and way to increase circulation. Fertility aid for men and women alike and as a wound healing aid.
White Tea
Best For: Bone health and energy.
Health Benefits: White tea is rich in the amino acid l-theanine (almost as much as green tea), a compound that is associated with calm and improved focus. White tea also contains manganese, which helps the body release energy from carbohydrates and proteins. Manganese also supports bone health, which is important for lowering the risk of osteoporosis with age.
Rooibos Tea
Best For: Skin and lung health.
Health Benefits: Rooibos tea has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and muscle relaxant properties which are vital to calm down allergies and keep the body healthy. It has been proved useful in the treatment of eczema, bronchitis and also asthma. Rooibos is rich in antioxidants that protect the skin from harmful allergies and skin issues.
Matcha Tea
Best For: Boosting your metabolism.
Health Benefits: Matcha is packed with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg. It boosts metabolism and burns calories plus its a natural detoxifier. As well as providing your body with vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium, making it great at preventing disease overall.