Hibiscus Tea May Play A Role In Lowering Blood Pressure
Not only does hibiscus tea made from dry hibiscus leaves taste delicious and tangy, but it may help your ticker, too. Research has found that drinking hibiscus tea regularly for six weeks helped lower the blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults compared with a placebo drink, and could be used in tandem with dietary changes to help improve health markers.
On top of that, another review found that hibiscus tea had a significant effect in lowering both systolic and diastolic blood pressure .
Hibiscus may have protective effects against obesity, too. In one study, subjects who consumed hibiscus extract for 12 weeks had a lower weight, lower body mass index, and improved waist-to-hip ratio at the end of the study, compared with a control group. Researchers suggested that hibiscus extract could act as a potential therapy for preventing obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Yet this was a small trial, and its unlikely that hibiscus extract alone was responsible for the reported health benefits.
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Vahdam: Overall Best Tea Brand
For premium tea blends hailing from India, you cant beat Vahdam. The tea brand is shaking up the industry with a refreshing approach. They source their teas directly from farmers in India and cut the middlemen to sell exclusively online. This ensures that you get the best prices and the freshest premium teas. Even cooler: The brand also cares for its producers, with 1% of its revenue going towards the education of its farmers children.
A celebrity favourite think Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres Vahdam is one of the buzziest tea brands of the moment with a growing number of new customers signing up to their subscription service to get exotic Indian teas delivered to their doorstep.
By applying organic principles to the companys ethos, Vahdam prides itself on supplying some of the worlds finest organic and speciality teas.
We warmly recommend Vahdam for yourself, of course, but also as a beautiful gift for the tea-lovers in your life. The brand makes exquisite gift boxes with an array of delicious gourmet blends that are sure to be, well, their cup of tea. Adding to our checkout cart as we speak.
Our favourite tea blend: Earl Grey Citrus Black Tea
You simply cant go wrong with any of Vahdams tea blends. But if we had to pick one for you to discover the brand, we would recommend the fruity and fragrant Earl Grey Citrus Black Tea blend.
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What About The Healthiest Herbal Tea
Hibscus tea is the best herbal tea. It is made from the flowers of the hibiscus plant, caffeine-free, with a tart taste similar to cranberries. This floral tea makes our list because it packs a host of heath benefits.
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Green Tea Immune Health
Green tea has seen a boost in popularity in recent years, with many studies hailing its potential health benefits.
Green tea is made using leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant, a shrub that is native to Asian countries like China, Japan and India. Although black tea is also made from this plant, how the leaves are treated create different end products, with different properties and benefits.
The leaves involved with the preparation of black tea, for example, are rolled and then left out to dry in order to trigger fermentation. To produce green tea, however, the leaves are harvested and then heated. These leaves are not left out to oxidize at any point which keeps them light in colour.
Green tea is thought to be beneficial for our immune health as it contains high levels of catechins which are a type of flavonoid which boast a number of anti-viral, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties.3 Antioxidants are thought to be an important defence mechanism against illnesses including colds and flu.
Top tip: Green tea has a light and refreshing flavour that should be properly enjoyed, so take some time out of your day, with a good book or simply in a quiet spot, and do just that!
Mental Health Benefits Of Decaffeinated Teas
We cant talk about tea without at least dipping into the world of decaffeinated herbal teas. Here, taste, smell and look are at an even higher premium. And while you wont enjoy the health benefits of caffeine with a decaffeinated tea, these can be good for people with high anxiety levels, as studies have shown that large amounts of caffeine can trigger anxiety and depression in people with mental health disorders.
To beat my afternoon slump, I usually reach for a turmeric chai, which I sweeten up with a few drops of oat milk. Its just spiced enough to wake me up, but wont disrupt my sleep schedule at night.
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Green Tea Contains Various Bioactive Compounds That Can Improve Health
Green tea is more than just green liquid.
Many of the bioactive compounds in the tea leaves do make it into the final drink, which contains large amounts of important nutrients. It is loaded with polyphenols like flavonoids and catechins, which function as powerful antioxidants .
These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals are known to play a role in aging and all sorts of diseases.
One of the more powerful compounds in green tea is the antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate , which has been studied to treat various diseases and may be one of the main reasons green tea has such powerful medicinal properties.
Green tea also has small amounts of minerals that are important for health.
Try to choose a higher quality brand of green tea, because some of the lower quality brands can contain excessive levels of fluoride . That being said, even if you choose a lower quality brand, the benefits still far outweigh any risk.
Bottom Line: Green tea is loaded with bioactive compounds that can have various beneficial effects on health.
Japan: The Matcha Nation
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Theres the green tea you see everyday, and then theres matcha. This traditional Japanese beverage is the most potent form of green tea, made using the youngest leaves and ground into a fine powder that dissolves in hot water.
This super charged tea is rumored to have been the drink of choice for samurais going into battle. It detoxifies the body by removing metals and other toxins from the digestive system. Its also loaded with catechins, special antioxidants found in green tea that help fight cancer cells. Maybe thats why youll find it in nearly every tea house in Tokyo.
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Matcha tea comes in a powder. Add a small amount of water to your cup, then whisk with a special matcha whisk. If you drink matcha at a Japanese tea ceremony, youll get the full experience of sitting on tightly woven straw mats and drinking from hand painted cups.
Your server, most likely be a woman in traditional kimono, will move gracefully as she pours equal amounts of perfect temperature water into each of your cups, and then silently whisks the powder into a rich, foamy drink. This tea is usually served on its own, but if youre feeling hungry after, try following it with some matcha soba, a noodle dish made with the powdered tea.
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Choice Organics Jasmine Green Tea
The top spot goes to Choice Organics for a number of reasons. The caffeine level is perfect, and after experimenting with steep times, it never becomes bitter like the other green tea brands. Everyone loved the jasmine flavor and agreed that it struck the perfect balance and wasn’t too strong. Some of us preferred to drink it without any additions because the jasmine was the perfect touch, but others found that it tasted even better with lemon and either honey or agave. Plus, it gets bonus points for being fair trade. What more could you ask for?
Best Matcha: Encha Ceremonial Grade Organic Matcha Green Tea
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Reasonably priced for ceremonial matcha
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Vibrant color and aroma
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Packaged in bags not tins
A list of the best green teas wouldnt be complete without at least one matcha option. Matcha, which literally means powdered tea, is a type of green tea thats made by drying young tea leaves and then grinding them into a powder. The powder can be mixed with hot water for a traditional matcha or paired with your favorite milk or non-dairy milk substitute for a green tea latte.
There are lots of matcha options out there, but the Encha Ceremonial Grade Organic Matcha Green Tea earned the best matcha tea spot for several reasons. It has the light signature grassy flavor of matcha without being overpowering. Even if youre new to matcha, youll enjoy the mellow subtly sweet flavor of Encha.
Its organic and comes directly from Kyoto, Japanmatchas birthplace. At first, the price may make you raise an eyebrow, but keep in mind that a little goes a really long way. You only need about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per cup, so youll get 30 to 60 servings from one pouch.
Form: Matcha powder | Caffeine: 60 milligrams | Steep Time: N/A | Ingredients: Pure matcha green tea powder
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Easy to find in-store and online
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Multiple flavors available
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Prices vary widely by retailer
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May not be sweet enough for some
Form: Bottled iced tea | Caffeine: 44 milligrams | Steep Time: N/A | Ingredients: Brewed tea, ascorbic acid, and natural flavor
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Not too sweet, not too tart
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Slightly more sugar than other brands
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What We Drink Every Morning
To be clear, the potential health benefits of hibiscus tea remain unproven. There is not enough human research for any of them to be classified as proven. For that reason, you should NOT drink it with the intention to prevent, cure, or treat any disease. Its not a medicine. It should be consumed as a food or dietary supplement only.
As far as it possibly being bad for you, there isnt proof of that, or even research hinting that it might be unhealthy. Its zero calories and tastes delicious if you sweeten it with this zero calorie monk fruit.
With that added, it kind of tastes like Kool-Aid and we say that as a compliment, not a criticism! Because unlike that disastrous drink you had as a child, this is something guilt-free and good for you. Sip on it in the morning, afternoon, and into the evening, too. Its a 100% caffeine-free herbal tea.
Served as a cold tea, agua de flor de Jamaica is popular in Mexico, Central, and South America. In Australia they called it rosella.
In the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom, unfortunately its a very hard to find beverage. Practically no one sells if pre-brewed. You wont find this healthy tea at Starbucks. Even the tea bags are hard to get your hands on. You probably wont see them at Walmart, Target, or a traditional grocery store. At least we never have here in Los Angeles.
Even if we did see it for sale, we probably wouldnt buy it.
Why? Because we prefer a blend instead
Chamomile Tea May Aid Sleep And Support Immunity
If youre feeling wired at bedtime, consider sipping a cup of chamomile tea to wind down. Since chamomile tea is an herbal tea that contains no caffeine, it can be a calming beverage before bed, says Retelny.
Chamomile is in the daisy family and is widely used all over the world, explains Retelny. Its one of the oldest documented medicinal plants with a variety of healing properties.
Thats not all, though. Chamomile tea may support immune health, which we could all use right about now, says Retelny. A review suggests that chamomile tea may help stimulate the immune system, but the researchers do suggest that more clinical trials need to be done.
Drinking chamomile tea may also be beneficial for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome, according to a review published in December 2019 in the Journal of Pharmacopuncture. Researchers noted the teas anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties.
More research suggested that drinking chamomile tea was associated with a decreased mortality risk in Hispanic women over 65.
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What Is The Best Tea In The World
From healthy green tea to exotic Puerh, here are some of the finest teas that are ideal for a relaxing brew. Premium tea is often sold as loose leaf rather than in tea bags. This is because most tea bags constrain the tea and prevent it from releasing its aromas.
How you prepare your tea can make all the difference too. Use bottled or filtered water if your tap water has a strong taste.
Tea lovers will agree that a good cup of tea makes everything better!
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The Healthiest Teas To Drink
If we asked you to guess the healthiest tea, would you guess green tea? Well, youd be right. In fact, green tea is basically the healthiest beverage you can drink. But, if green tea isnt your, um, cup of tea, there are plenty of other options out there. Weve rounded up the healthiest teas you can drink to reduce the risks of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers and Parkinsons to lower cholesterol and to improve mental focus.
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Lemon And Ginger Tea Circulation
A recent A.Vogel survey found that participants favoured lemon and ginger tea over any other herbal variety. With its refreshing mix of spice and citrus, it’s easy to see why this is the case. What about the health benefits, though? Could these also be enticing people?
Ginger, for one, certainly has lots to offer. It has traditionally been used as a digestive aid and is known to help ease nausea and motion sickness.1 It also contains anti-inflammatory properties which could help with a range of issues, from menstrual cramps to headaches.
Lemon and ginger together could be stimulating for your circulation, plus this combination provides plenty of immune-boosting antioxidants.
Top tip: If you have a cold or flu, I’d recommend mixing some honey into a lemon and ginger tea as this can help calm symptoms like coughing, a sore throat and congestion.
Honest Tea Ginger Oasis Herbal Tea
The organic ginger root in this unsweetened tea offers up some zing, but that’s not allginger has also been shown to lower blood sugar levels, and speed up the emptying of the stomach . Honest Tea’s product is also made with organic rooibos tea, which has been linked to bone health protection and metabolic health. And even though there’s no sugar added to this blend, a dash of lemon juice from concentrate adds a nice touch of tartness to round out the herbal flavors.
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Drink Up The Worlds Healthiest Beverages
Hydration is critical to every function in your body. Water is essential. Tea, hibiscus, coffee, and vinegar add antioxidants, flavonoids, and other potent nutrients that can give your health a powerful boost.
So find healthy drinks you love and make it a habit to enjoy frequently with friends!
Tell us in the comments:
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What are your favorite healthy beverages?
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Do you have any wisdom or advice on how to make drinking the healthiest beverages a habit?
The Healthiest Types Of Tea According To A Functional Medicine Expert
If I had to drink one thing for the rest of my life, it would be tea. When I am consulting with patients I almost always sip on a variety of different tea elixirs.
The world of tea offers something for everyone, depending on your taste, mood, and health goals. All true tea comes from the tea plant Camellia sinensis. That’s right, black tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea all come from the same planteverything else is technically a tisane . What makes them so unique in look and taste is the way they are grown, harvested, and prepared.
All teas contain bioactive ingredients with antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties that can translate into health benefits. But, each type of tea contains its own individual characteristics that can help you better decide which will be your go-to choice.
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Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile With Lavender Herbal Tea
Chamomile isn’t just known for helping to improve your quality of sleepit also may help to regulate your blood sugar, improve cardiovascular conditions, stimulate the immune system and possibly offer protection against cancer. The addition of lavender in this blend not only amplifies the tea’s calming effects, but it also offers other health benefits as well. Researchers have found that even just the aroma of lavender can reduce stress and anxiety levels. It’s also worth noting that lavender can help to fight inflammation.