5 Herbal Teas for Better Health
If you love warm beverages, and want to improve your health, you can upgrade your morning cup of coffee to herbal tea. Or maybe you still want to hold on to that cuppa Joe so you prefer to enjoy your herbal teas during the day.
Great for a pick me up or to take the edge off a little snack attack, herbal teas can be a very useful “go to” beverage and can be healing as well. I also have many clients who just do not like the taste of water, so chilled herbal teas are a great way to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Herbal teas are actually not “true teas” as so-called true teas, including green tea, black tea and oolong tea, are all brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal teas (also called infusions) on the other hand are made from dried fruits, flowers, spices, herbs or the root of plants.
Herbal teas are not caffeinated, very important so as to not interfere with sleep patterns or cause the stress on the body that caffeine does. The wide variety of herbal tea ingredients means there are a variety of interesting flavours to choose from. The most awesome thing is that many herbal teas have health benefit as well.
You will want to go for organic where possible and use the actual tea leaves. Choosing this way will ensure that you are not also consuming any unwanted substances, such as chemicals used in the growing process or from the tea bags themselves. Organic herbal teas provide the most nutrients for your body.
Here are some of my favourites:
Ginseng Tea - Ginseng can help to lower Blood Pressure while giving you a little energy boost (without caffeine). The cooling effect it has on the body assists with aches and pains, making it a perfect choice for painful menstrual cramps or headaches. Ginseng also has anti-cancer properties, so sipping this regularly may reduce your risk for developing cancer.
Turmeric Tea - Turmeric is one of the hottest trends right now in natural and general health circles. Turmeric fights inflammation, therefore it’s a great choice for those managing arthritis, muscle pain or gout. It is also an amazing tea for your stomach and digestive tract. Aim for 2-3 cups of this tea a day if you suffer from stomach pain, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or diarrhea. It can also help with other gastrointestinal problems like ulcers or Crohn’s disease.
Peppermint Tea - Peppermint is a great energizer that can also assist with digestive issues such as nausea or indigestion. It’s qualities also help with reducing pain and inflammation
Hibiscus Tea - Hibiscus tea has antiviral properties so sip away to keep your virus fighting abilities high. It also may have a positive impact on high blood pressure and lipid levels and reduces oxidative stress (think anti aging). Avoid this tea if you’re taking the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, and do not take within 3 hours of aspirin.
Fennel Tea - This is my absolute favourite on the list because it helps to regulate appetite and curb cravings. It’s also a great tea to detoxify the body, improve digestion and relieve flatulence. This is also a great choice stomach muscle spasms caused by irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and other conditions affecting the gastrointestinal system.
There is nothing more soothing than a cup of tea, so why not diversify your drinks and see what healthy brews you can come up with.