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.
The Best Teas For Energy Digestion Sleep And More
Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world , according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. While coffee drinking overshadows tea consumption in the United States, the Tea Association of the U.S.A. reports that 80 percent of American households have some form of tea in the cupboard, and more than 159 million Americans drink it on a daily basis.
With these impressive stats, its no wonder that new brands of tea and tea blends are constantly popping up on store shelves. A quick for types of teas returns an overwhelming 20+ selections, and that doesnt even include the many different flavors.
Almost 80 percent of US households have some form of tea in the cupboard.
While the sheer magnitude of tea options may be overwhelming, the good news is that many studies suggest that tea is a generally healthy beverage especially if you’re using it to replace sugary beverages or fight the midnight munchies. But some of the touted benefits should be taken with a grain of salt: Many believe that drinking green tea can help you shed pounds or lower stress levels, but both claims are a bit exaggerated. No tea alone will shrink your waistline , and the calming effects have only been observed when drinking caffeine-free green tea.
Instead of wandering down the tea aisle dazed and confused, try these sips for their science-backed benefits.
Don’t Drink Comfrey Tea
For those of us who are prone to injury, a cup of tea made from comfrey might sound like a good idea. After all, comfrey is said to promote the healing of wounds, bruises, and even broken bones. It’s also claimed to help with digestive issues, though it isn’t a friend to every part of your body. Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which, when metabolized and consumed in sufficient quantities, can cause severe damage to the liver. The risk varies depending upon when the plant was harvested and which part of the comfrey plant is used, but because of the risk, its sale is banned in the US and many other countries for anything other than topical applications .
Bags of dried leaves are still available online, however, and although they should only be used to create creams and ointments, it is totally possible to throw them in some hot water and make a lovely cup of steaming liver failure.
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What Is The Difference Between Green Tea And Other Types Of Tea
Many herbal and fruit teas that are popular in Germany and Europe are only considered tea-like products. Natural tea is obtained from the tea plant and has been enjoyed for thousands of years, especially in Far Asia. After the tea plant has been harvested, the tea leaves can be fermented or used directly to prepare tea. In the fermented version, you enjoy the infusion drink as black tea. In the pure form, you pour green tea.
Herbal Teas A Healthier Choice
The other contenders are herbal teas. Strictly speaking, these are tisanes as only products from;Camellia sinensis;leaves can be called teas. There are a number of beneficial choices here, from ginger tea, chamomile tea, to ginseng tea. The benefits of the tea will depend on the constituent or components. For instance, ginseng tea can help in fighting obesity and stabilizing blood pressure, while ginger tea has strong anti-inflammatory properties.
ReferencesAbout the Author
Paromita Datta covers the latest health and wellness trends for Organic Facts. An ex-journalist who specialized in health and entertainment news, Paromita was responsible for managing a health supplement for The New Indian Express, a leading national daily in India. She has completed her post-graduation in Business Administration from the University of Rajasthan and her diploma in journalism from YMCA, Delhi. She has completed an e-course, Introduction to Food and Health, from Stanford University, US.
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What Is The Healthiest Hot Tea For Your Mind
Tea can also be a great supplement to your mental health. Even the simple act of making yourself a cup of tea can be a way of collecting your thoughts, and taking a moment to care for yourself.
If you experience a lot of anxiety, it is important to take note of how much caffeine you are drinking. Sometimes, caffeine can aggravate your already anxious mind. Check out this post to get a feel for how much caffeine is in the teas you are drinking.
Next time you notice your mental health taking a turn for the worse, consider taking a tea break. Try one of these relaxing herbal brews or pick out the tea that makes you the happiest. Grab your favorite mug and infuser, and wait for the water to boil. Dont go back to what you are working on until you have fully steeped your tea and waited for it to cool. The simple act of waiting for something you enjoy can help your spiraling thoughts settle down a little bit.
Sometimes, the healthiest hot tea is whatever tea keeps you grounded and brings you happiness.
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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Q: Are There Any Teas That Should Be Avoided
Stay away from detox teas that contain Senna leaves as they are known to irritate the lining of the bowels. Consuming it regularly will have adverse effects. It is advised not to drink Comfrey tea as when consumed regularly, it can cause severe damage to the liver. Don’t drink kava as it has sedative qualities. I would also suggest you stay away from tea that has steeped too long.
Types Of Teas And Their Health Benefits
From green tea to hibiscus, from white tea to chamomile, teas are chock full of flavonoids and other healthy goodies.
Regarded for thousands of years in the East as a key to good health, happiness, and wisdom, tea has caught the attention of researchers in the West, who are discovering the many health benefits of different types of teas.
Studies have found that some teas may help with cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; encourage weight loss; lower cholesterol; and bring about mental alertness. Tea also appears to have antimicrobial qualities.
There doesnt seem to be a downside to tea, says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, LD. I think its a great alternative to coffee drinking. First, tea has less caffeine. Its pretty well established that the compounds in tea their flavonoids are good for the heart and may reduce cancer.
Although a lot of questions remain about how long tea needs to be steeped for the most benefit, and how much you need to drink, nutritionists agree any tea is good tea. Still, they prefer brewed teas over bottled to avoid the extra calories and sweeteners.
Here’s a primer to get you started.
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What Makes The Healthiest Tea On Earth
The healthiest teas are the ones you can drink every day multiple times per day. Studies frequently show that the more often you drink tea, the more youll reap its amazing health benefits.
However, this means youll need to be extra careful about where you get your tea bags, loose leaf tea, and tea crystals.
As a rule of thumb, its best to look for pure, certified USDA organic teas free of pesticides, toxins, and artificial additives. Thats why all Pique Tea undergoes a triple toxin screen, ensuring nothing harmful slips through to your perfect cup.
Plus, our patented cold extraction process allows for higher levels of natural antioxidants, polyphenols, and phytonutrients to make their way from tea leaf to your warm or iced tea.;
Unlike other tea brands on the market, Piques unique, cutting-edge process takes up to eight hours and preserves these important compounds so you can take full advantage of their health potential.
Does Milk Change The Health Benefits Of Tea
Some studies have suggested milk alters the antioxidant activity and health benefits of tea.
But others have shown the same level of antioxidants reach the blood after consuming tea with and without milk. Thereâs no real science behind the age-old question of when the milk should be added. The Royal Society of Chemistry suggests adding it first prevents denaturation, or clumping, of milk proteins, which might give the milk a stale taste.
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Which Teas Are Healthiest
Tea has been cultivated since ancient times, and today its the second most consumed beverage, . Tea originated in Southeast Asia, and has been enjoyed for over 5,000 years. As a functional food, tea has historically been used for a wide range of health benefits. ;Today, teas effects are studied for ailments including cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and immune suppression. For the full scoop on tea and its possible benefits, weve gathered the latest research. ;
Matcha The Healthiest Green Tea
The kind of green tea that has a particularly extraordinarily beneficial effect on health is definitely matcha. Matcha is a green tea made from ground tea leaves that are mixed with water and then drunk or consumed in any different form of choice. When drinking matcha, one consumes whole tea leaves, instead of consuming their mere infusion. Matchas effect is up to 10 times stronger than that of green leaf tea infusion. In addition, the tea bushes intended for matcha production are grown with the use of a traditional method known as Oishitaen , meaning grown in shade. It consists in blocking almost all sunlight falling onto the tea bushes with the help of traditional bamboo mats. Such process forces the plants to intensify the production of chlorophyll, theine and amino acids, which makes matcha particularly nutritional. Along with goji berries and broccoli, it is one of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature.
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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.
Green Tea & Effects: The Research Continues
As with many natural products, the health benefits of green tea are constantly under discussion. Even if the ingredients of many types of green tea have been thoroughly analyzed and numerous studies have been carried out, there is no guarantee that green tea is 100% healthy for any of the areas mentioned. However, when you enjoy your tea with the correct preparation, you will see for yourself how good the tea will do you and perhaps help you start the day energetically or help you lose weight.
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Best Tea For When Youre Sick: Ginger Tea
If youre feeling the nausea, aches and chills that accompany most forms of sickness, reach for a cup of ginger tea. Most commercially available ginger teas are a blend of herbal caffeine-free tea with ginger extract or you can steep ginger in hot water for a homemade version. While it wont shorten the duration of your illness, ginger is believed to help counteract the nausea that occurs with many ailments. As a matter of fact, research suggests that ginger may reduce chemotherapy-induced and pregnancy-induced nausea.
Antioxidants May Lower The Risk Of Some Cancers
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. Its one of the worlds leading causes of death.
Research has shown that oxidative damage can lead to chronic inflammation, which can lead to chronic diseases, including cancers. Antioxidants can help protect against oxidative damage .
Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants.
Research has linked green tea compounds with a reduced risk of cancer, including the following studies:
- Breast cancer. A comprehensive review of observational studies found that women who drank the most green tea had an approximately 2030% lower risk of developing breast cancer, one of the most common cancers in women (
- 23 ).
Many observational studies indicate that green tea drinkers are less likely to develop several types of cancer, but more high quality research is needed to confirm these effects .
To get the most health benefits, avoid adding milk to your tea. Some studies suggest it can reduce the antioxidant value in some teas .
Summary
Green tea has powerful antioxidants that may protect against cancer. Multiple studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of various types of cancer.
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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.
Tea Is A Healthy Choice
Tea is one of the healthiest beverage choices available and is extremely popular all over the world. Drinking blackor green tea or infused herbs like chamomileor peppermintmay be one of the simplest ways to do something nice for yourself.
Althoughmany of us drink tea or herbal infusions simply for taste and enjoyment, weknow that tea is rich in beneficial polyphenols and other useful compounds. Theritual of tea drinking dates back at least 5,000 years. By the time of theancient Greeks, infusions of at least 600 types of plants were given medicinally.
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Benefits Of Drinking Tea
Drinking tea has numerous health benefits. Here is a list of health benefits that you can avail by drinking a cup or two of tea every day:
- The antioxidants present in tea helps keep our body young and healthy. Antioxidants protect us from the body’s rust, thus keeping us youthful and protect us from pollution and damage
- Studies have found that tea can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Drinking tea lowers the levels of bad cholesterol in the body
- Green tea is advertised as a weight loss product. Studies suggest that it may be true. Fri green tea may reduce bloating and aid in weight loss
- Tea may also boost the immune system. Holy basil tea, popularly known as Tulsi tea is known to boost the immune system and has been used in traditional Indian medicine to cure fever and cold
- Certain herbal teas are also good laxatives and may aid in digestion. Drinking herbal tea can improve bowel movements and also cure diarrhoea
- Improves sleep. Drinking camomile tea reduces stress and soothes the body. This results in better sleep and can cure insomnia. Sipping hot tea after a tiring day can relax the body and provide peace of mind
- Tea may help protect your bones. Certain studies indicate that consuming green tea may prevent bone loss. Moringa tea is rich in vitamins A and K and has more calcium content than milk. So drinking this tea is a good way to keep your bones healthy
Let’s now understand the two broad categories in which all the tea in the world is divided.