When You Drink Chamomile Tea Every Day This Is What Happens To Your Body
Chamomile tea is a popular beverage that plenty of folks enjoy on a daily basis. In addition to black tea and green tea, like oolong, Darjeeling, and matcha, people have been drinking chamomile tea for hundreds of years, according to Healthline, touting it as a natural way to rectify a variety of ailments. A member of the Asteraceae plant family, chamomile is an herb with a pleasant and light perfume-like taste with an earthy overtone. Chamomile tea can often be identified by its smell as well as its golden or amber color.
While chamomile tea is certainly not a new addition to our diets, scientists are finally starting to study in earnest the health benefits that it can provide to regular drinkers. And what they’ve found is promising, further confirming the belief that chamomile tea really is good for you.
So, do you enjoy a cup or more on a daily basis? Are you curious as to how it’s impacting your health? According to experts, this is what happens to your body when you drink chamomile tea every day.
Relax With A Golden Brew
The light, warm, sun-kissed color of chamomile tea paired with a delicate fruity flavor profile and sweet scent makes drinking chamomile tea the perfect solution to a tiring day.
Far beyond its benefits for relaxation, chamomile tea helps boost your immune system, keeps skin looking flawless and promotes a healthy heart and digestion. Brew a warm cup of tea before bed to enjoy unwinding after a day at the office or start your morning with a moment of zen and a cup of chamomile tea.
What Is Chamomile Green Tea
Chamomile is a flowering, daisy-like herb derived from the Asteraceae plant family. Named after the Greek work chamaimlon, which translates to ground apple, chamomile is defined by its delicate sweetness and subtle apple flavor. Its scent alone evokes a sense of relaxation, but its the inherent medicinal qualities of this herb that have made it a staple in aromatherapy and herbal teas dating as far back as Ancient Egypt. While this flower can be found globally, even growing wild in some areas, it is most often cultivated in Egypt and Eastern Europe.
Chamomile tea is a calming, caffeine-free herbal tea created from dried chamomile flowers and hot water. Fragrant and light-bodied, this tea is consumed widely for both its soothing effects and health-related benefits. It is so popular, in fact, it is estimated that chamomile tea is consumed on average one million times per day.
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Nicola Shubrook is a nutritional therapist and works with both private clients and the corporate sector. She is an accredited member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine and the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council . Find out more at urbanwellness.co.uk.
All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other healthcare professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider. See our terms and conditions for more information.
What Are The Risks Of Taking Chamomile
- Side effects. Most experts say chamomile is safe. It can cause drowsiness and, in large doses, vomiting. It also has the potential to trigger allergic reactions in people who are allergic to related plants in the daisy family, although such reactions are very rare. Avoid it if you are allergic to these plants: chamomile, ragweed, daisies, marigolds, or chrysanthemums. Skin creams with chamomile can cause allergic eczema and irritate the eyes. The effects of long-term chamomile use aren’t known.
- Risks. Check with your doctor before using chamomile if you have any health problems. Chamomile contains a small amount of coumarin, which may have very mild blood thinning effects, but usually just in high doses for long periods of time. Stop using chamomile two weeks before surgery due to concerns about its possible interactions with anesthetic drugs.
- Interactions. If you take any drugs regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using chamomile supplements. They could interact with sedatives, blood thinners, antiplatelet drugs, aspirin, NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen, and other drugs. Chamomile could also interact with supplements like ginkgo biloba, garlic, saw palmetto, St. John’s wort, and valerian.
Given the lack of evidence about its long-term safety, chamomile is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk to a pediatrician before giving chamomile to infants and children.
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Chamomile Helps Boost Immune System
Mild viral infectious diseases such as the common cold may lead to the worst case of pneumonia if taken for granted. Inhaling steam from chamomile extract may help alleviate the cold symptoms as it has antibacterial properties that fight infections. Drinking chamomile may increase the urinary levels of hippurate, the antibacterial-fighting agents from flavonoid breakdown.
Chamomile Tea May Improve Sleep Quality
Chamomile tea has long been used in treating insomnia. That’s because chamomile contains apigenin, which is a flavonoid. Flavonoids are chemical compounds that give plants their colors and are rife with antioxidants, assisting your body in its fight against toxins.
Apigenin attaches to the GABA receptors in the brain. GABA receptors are the same receptors that prescription anti-anxiety drugs, called benzodiazepines, are formulated to target. This is because the chemical profile of apigenin is similar to benzodiazepines. So, as with anti-anxiety drugs, chamomile tea can make you feel calm and even mildly sedated.
A small 2015 study examining postpartum women with poor sleep patterns suggests that chamomile tea does work as a sleep aid. Compared to a control group, those in the experimental group who drank the tea scored lower, after two weeks, on scales that measured physical symptoms related to loss of sleep.
However, after four weeks, both groups scored about the same. This led researchers to conclude that chamomile tea might be used as a sleep aid or supplement, but not as a replacement if a more serious treatment is required.
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What Is Chamomile Plant
The flowers of chamomile serve as a herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticonvulsant effect. It is used internally and externally, among other things for indigestion, inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes and colds.
The active ingredients stimulate skin metabolism, are anti-inflammatory, promote wound healing, are antibacterial and are said to inhibit bacterial toxins.
Further areas of application are disinfecting rinses in the anal and genital areas. The typical use is in the form of tea and tincture . Finished medicines usually contain a liquid or dry extract from the chamomile flowers.
Diabetes And Blood Sugar Problems
Other studies have shown that chamomile tea can lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Of course, you should not trade your previous blood-glucose-lowering medicines for chamomile tea, but chamomile tea is an additional adjunct and may help reduce your dose of drugs, especially if you not only drink chamomile tea but also change your diet,
In 2008, for example, a study was published showing that chamomile tea when consumed regularly prevented blood sugar levels from rising excessively. Chamomile tea it was then concluded could thus be used to reduce the risk of common diabetes sequelae .
In January 2016, this effect of chamomile tea was confirmed in a clinical study involving 64 human subjects , all of whom had type 2 diabetes.
You should drink three cups of chamomile tea daily for 8 weeks, one cup each immediately after the main meals. On the other hand, a control group should only drink water.
In the chamomile tea group, it was then observed that the long-term sugar levels had fallen as significantly as the insulin levels compared to the water group. At the same time, the antioxidant levels in the bloodof chamomile tea drinkers had risen noticeably.
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Chamomile Tea Health Benefits
Medically reviewed by Senik Matinyan, MD on January 11, 2021 – Written by the Azul Tea Editorial Team
Chamomile Tea is a widely consumed beverage due to its health benefits. It has been in use over an extended period and proved its efficacy. As a matter of fact, the Greeks, Egyptians and the Romans used it to cure minor wounds. Nowadays, it is used as a natural and herbal treatment for various conditions and treatments in our body. Have you been procrastinating on taking this tea? Well, the Chamomile tea has numerous benefits that will convince you to include this herbal tea in your kitchen tea stash.
Here are 27 chamomile tea benefits:
Chamomile May Reduce Skin Inflammation
The anti-inflammatory properties found in chamomile help reduce inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, redness from allergies, blemishes, and premature aging. The redness caused by existing skin condition may be less irritated, soothes the skin, alleviates its redness, relieves inflammation with chamomiles anti-inflammatory effects.
Premature aging is an effect of inflamed and damage skin caused by various factors. Drinking chamomile tea and consuming it regularly may reverse the damage to the surface while promoting the health of the skin.
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If You Drink Chamomile Tea Every Day Your Diabetes Risk Will Drop
Believe it or not, 34.2 million Americans have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, which is a total of 10.5 percent of the entire United States population, as noted by the CDC. Additionally, 34.5 percent of American adults have prediabetes. Given that diabetes can lead to a slew of health problems, that’s not good news for people in the U.S.
If you have diabetes already or are concerned you might be at risk, consider adding a cup of chamomile tea to your daily diet. Why? Drinking a cup of the herbal tea every day could help you fight the disease and its negative impacts, says registered dietitian Sofia Norton. “Chamomile tea compounds protect beta cells in the pancreas, suppress blood glucose levels, and boost glycogen storage all of which can help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes in the long run,” she revealed to The List.
May Protect Against Certain Types Of Cancer
The antioxidants found in chamomile tea have been linked with a lower incidence of certain types of cancer.
Chamomile contains the antioxidant apigenin. In test-tube studies, apigenin has been shown to fight cancer cells, especially those of the breast, digestive tract, skin, prostate and uterus .
Additionally, one study of 537 people observed that those who drank chamomile tea 26 times per week were significantly less likely to develop thyroid cancer than those who did not drink chamomile tea .
These findings are promising, but more high-quality, human research is necessary to make a conclusion regarding chamomile teas role in cancer prevention.
Summary: Chamomile tea contains the antioxidant apigenin, which may help lower inflammation and reduce the risk of several types of cancer.
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Chamomile Tea Nutrition Facts
Chamomile flowers, mostly German chamomile, are dried well before using them as supplements. Chamomile tea is made with the infusion of these flowers and is known to be healthy and caffeine-free.
According to researchers, a cup of chamomile tea contains only two calories and half a gram carbohydrates. According to the SELF Nutrition Data web site, 237 grams of chamomile tea contains a very low amount of sodium, cholesterol, and cholesterol.
Here are some nutrition facts about this tea.
Chamomile tea does not have any sugars, dietary fiber, or protein. It contains small amounts of vitamin A, beta-carotene, folate, and choline. It contains nominal amounts of calcium, magnesium, potassium, fluoride, sodium, and manganese. Despite its low nutrient content, chamomile has gained importance over the years as it has many medicinal properties.
Chamomile Tea: Relaxation Benefits And Boosts Immune System
This tea gets its name from the chamomile flowers where it is derived from. This tea is rich in flavonoids, regulating cell activity and fighting off harmful free radicals. Taking this tea will make your body work more efficiently and boost your immune system. Many drink this before bed because it is very calming and promotes good sleep.
If you ask your grandma, she will most likely confirm that this tea has been an old school remedy for easing period pain, and now modern medical findings confirm that chamomile is truly effective in treating dysmenorrhea.
Besides, its components help mitigate complications from diabetes such as vision loss, kidney issues, and nerve failure. A few studies also state that it effectively prevents the onset of osteoporosis in women because it promotes bone density and has anti-estrogen properties.
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Does Chamomile Tea Have Caffeine
Herbal teas such as, chamomile, ginger and peppermint contain no caffeine at all. They are made instead from dried flowers, leaves, seeds, or roots that are generally caffeine-free.
Its important to note that the safety of drinking chamomile tea has not beet determined for children, pregnant and nursing women and people with kidney and liver disease.
Fights Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Chamomile can also fight the inflammation associated with Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis and ease symptoms.17
Irritable bowel syndrome can mean abdominal cramping, bloating, and a change in bowel habits for many. Some people with the disorder have constipation. Some have diarrhea. Others go back and forth between the two. If IBS is making your life miserable, chamomile tea may be able to help. One study found that having chamomile extract with warm water twice a day, 15 minutes after having a meal, significantly reduced symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, abnormal stool consistency, and defecation difficulty after 2 weeks.18
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What Does Chamomile Tea Taste Like
True to the origin of its name, Chamomile tea is a light and airy beverage with an infusion of sweet herbs with crisp apple. Chamomile tea is a delicately floral herbal tea, sunshiny yellow in colour and emits a mellow, honey-like sweet aroma in the cup. It’s naturally caffeine-free attributes have become an excellent choice for people with caffeine sensitivity. The first sip of this magical brew feels wonderfully relaxing and has an extremely clean, soothing aftertaste.
How to best enjoy Chamomile tea?
The last thing you would want before your head hits the pillow would be a perfect mellow cup to drink. Chamomile tea is one of the most renowned teas on the planet for its calming nature. It’s stomach-soothing effect makes it a precious bedtime. Ancient Greeks and Romans used chamomile herbs as a cure for digestive diseases and sleeping disorders. Chamomile is considered a staple ingredient in natural cold remedies in today’s time and is used to induce feelings of calm and relaxation.
Chamomile Tea Is Beneficial For Weight Loss And Prevent Obesity
Drinking Chamomile tea every night before bed has many medicinal uses such as weight loss, detoxification, and immunity boost. This popular drink contains loads of calcium, potassium, and flavonoids that stimulate weight loss and reduce bloating. Chamomile used for weight loss complements healthy eating and stimulates gastric juices to break down food for quicker digestion.
Chemical digestion of proteins happens because of acidic digestive fluids secreted by the gastric glands. The gastric juices break down the food you have consumed, which is essential for weight loss. Someone lacking gastric juices will likely suffer from a slow metabolism, blood sugar problems including diabetes, strong carbohydrate cravings, low energy, and sleep problems.
Chamomile tea will help in stimulating gastric juices to promote proper food digestion as well as weight loss. This tea is excellent for soothing the stomach and curbing your appetite. Chamomile is not only rich in calcium and potassium but also gets rid of excess water retention. This all works in conjunction with detoxifying the body while you sleep.
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How Much Honey Do I Add
Usually, adding honey to chamomile tea calls for 1 tsp. of honey per one cup of chamomile tea. You can add more depending on your taste or preference. But make sure not to add too much, because chamomile tea on its own can be sweet.
If youre taking chamomile tea with honey before bed, or for improved sleep, then limit it to 1 tsp. of honey. Adding too much honey can interfere with your insulin levels and snooze sleep patterns.
Oolong Tea May Contribute To Healthier Cholesterol Levels
Have you always opted for green tea? Consider giving its cousin oolong a try. Oolong tea is a partially oxidized tea, in between black and green tea, and its concentration of polyphenols offers many health benefits, says Rahaf Al Bochi, RDN, the Atlanta-based owner of Olive Tree Nutrition and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Take, for example, oolongs potential heart health perks. One study found that drinking more than 2.5 cups of oolong tea daily was associated with lower LDL cholesterol levels, as well as a reduced risk of dyslipidemia . Other research supports oolongs impact on the heart, suggesting that drinking oolong or green tea regularly was linked to a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Drinking oolong also shows promise in helping people maintain or achieve a healthy weight. Another small study suggested that oolong tea extract could help reduce body fat and may help prevent obesity. However, more studies on the connection between oolong tea and weight are needed.
The research in the journal Aging shows a link between oolong tea and brain health.
If green tea is a little too mild for you, consider giving oolong a try because of the extra oxidization, it has a more robust flavor.
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