Herbal Tea – Hidden Health Benefits

It’s brewing, aromatic and refreshing with temptation!

“Chai” refreshes and soothes your mind, any time of the day. Are you curious to know about the herbal tea varieties and their health benefits with medicinal properties?

The perfect preparation of herbal tea with the right ingredients is a natural home remedy for many infections.

Let’s explore the hidden benefits behind each cup of your herbal tea!

Drinking herbal tea is associated with maintaining cardiovascular and metabolic health.

It also has anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties; boosts your immune system; helps to detoxify your body and aids in easier digestion with potent antioxidant benefits.

This article enlightens you with the hidden facts of the tea varieties.

So how do you decide which tea is healthiest and suitable for you?

Right here, you can choose the best tea according to the benefits and its flavours.

1. Black Tea: Lowers Cholesterol and Heart Protective

Black tea is packed full of antioxidants and theaflavins, which help protect heart health.

This tea can prevent cardiovascular disease by improving blood circulation and lowering blood pressure.

The familiar black tea varieties include Darjeeling, Assam and breakfast tea like Earl Grey.

It is also an excellent alternative for coffee and energy drinks because of its high caffeine content.

2. Oolong Tea: Weight Management

Oolong tea flavours can range from sweet and fruity to woody and nutty. This tea can help manage weight loss due to its polyphenol content.

Research shows that polyphenols streamline the digestive system, which speeds up metabolism and result in fat burning.

It’s also known for antioxidation, anti-microbial, cholesterol-lowering and cancer-preventing effects on regular consumption.

3. Chamomile Tea: Relieves Stress and Improves sleep

Chamomile tea is legendary for its sleep-inducing health benefits.

Chemical compounds present in it reduce the stress and induce relaxation; increases serotonin and melatonin hormones which are responsible for mood and sleep.

Antioxidants in chamomile tea also help effectively in relieving headaches and migraines.

Has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and the capacity to reduce liver disease, diarrhea and stomach ulcer risks.

Some studies show that it can also reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women.

4. Peppermint Tea: Improves Gut Health & Combats bad breath

It contains menthol, a compound that is responsible for its minty flavour and increases bile production in the stomach. This in turn, boosts the digestive system thus reducing bloating and gas.

Peppermint contains antibacterial properties that kill bacteria that cause bad breath.

The fresh, cooling effect of menthol adds a minty fragrance.

5. Green Tea: Improve brain functions and Fights cancer

Popular green tea varieties include gunpowder green tea, sencha green tea and Japanese matcha green tea.

It’s packed with antioxidants and polyphenols that stops cancer cell reproduction and even kills existing cancer cells thus, reducing the formation of free radicals in the body.

Also prevents oxidative stress in the brain, which can lead to dementia and cognitive disorders.

Therefore, green tea has bioactive compounds and powerful antioxidants which decreases the risk of breast cancer, prostate and colorectal cancer.

Studies indicate, that the catechins present in the green tea prevents the growth of bacteria causing bad breath.

Catechins also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and thereby, improves the heart health.

6. Hibiscus Tea: Lowers blood pressure

Hibiscus tea has varied medicinal uses and numerous health benefits ranging from lowering blood pressure (antihypertensive) to antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial ones.

Dried hibiscus flowers have numerous nutritional benefits and are also great for heart and digestive health.

Its additional benefits include the following;

• Cardio protective
• Cancer prevention
• Rich in antioxidants
• Promotes weight loss
• Has anti-bacterial properties
• Lowers cholesterol

Besides its enormous health benefits, the deliciously tart/sour flavoured hibiscus tea (1 small cup) contains the following nutrients:

• Calories: 79
• Carbohydrates: 20g
• Proteins: 0g
• Fat: 0g

7. Lemon Tea: Enhances skin glow

Lemon tea is packed with astringent properties which removes dead skin cells by refining skin texture and hydrating the body.

This particular herbal tea has infinite health benefits as listed below;

• Detoxifies the body
• Improves digestion
• Combats infections
• Natural remedy for gum inflammation
• Treats post- operative oedema
• Soothes migraines
• Alleviates depression and anxiety

Health tip: To maximize its benefits and to provide more nutrition add a pinch of cinnamon powder and few mint leaves to your lemon tea.

8. Ginger Tea: Home remedy to relieve nausea

A delicious piping hot cup of ginger tea provides the following benefits;

• Boosts your immunity
• Relieve nausea
• Reduces inflammation
• Fights respiratory problems
• Relieves menstrual discomfort
• Stress relief with healing properties
• Improves blood circulation

The vitamins, minerals and amino acids present in the ginger tea improves blood circulation and reduces the cardiovascular risk such as heart attack and stroke.

Aromatic Glimpse!

Thus, herbal teas prepared easily using the kitchen staples at home, have such amazing benefits.

Herbal tea is naturally free of sugar and calories too!

Have you ever tried any of these herbal teas? If so, post your comments and experience while sipping your favourite tea.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Indu Vaishnavi R, Dietician