The tradition of drinking tea to maintain good health goes a long way back. Chinese manuals on healing herbs, Camellia sinensis (the tea plant) is consistently described as being a potent medicine for promoting good health and longevity, as well as keeping the mind alert and sharp and treating many ailments, from indigestion to the common cold. In our modern society, we are learning that there is quite a bit of scientific evidence to support many of these ancient claims. Medical and health care professionals agree that drinking tea has many benefits, some of which are stated below:
Passionflower Tea
For Anxiety
Passionflower has the flavone chrysin, which has anti-anxiety benefits. It works best for people with anxiety that also experience a lot of circular thinking or obsessive thoughts. Try a cup of passionflower tea before bed to calm your mind.
Oolong Tea
For Weight Loss
Oolong tea boosts metabolism, helping you burn fat faster. Its unique catechin (an antioxidant) and caffeine combination ignites your body’s fat-burning furnace and raises your metabolism for up to 2 hours after drinking it. Oolong tea also contains polyphenols that help block fat-building enzymes. Studies have shown that drinking oolong tea has led to sustained weight loss and a smaller waist size. Be careful not to overload your tea with sugar, which will negate the benefits.
Black Tea
For Fresh Breath
Black tea helps keep your breath smelling sweet because it is full of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that stop plaque from clinging to your teeth. Plaque build-up leads to bad breath, among other dental problems. Studies have also found polyphenols inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth, thus minimizing the foul-smelling compounds that those bacteria produce. Black tea also helps stop belly fat before it starts. Studies show that polysaccharides in black tea have glucose-inhibiting properties – meaning that it may also help to prevent diabetes.
Ginger Tea
For Headaches
Ginger works as an anti-inflammatory agent blocking prostagladins – the chemical messengers that cause a slight swelling in the brain. Ginger tea reduces inflammation in about the same amount of time as it would take an aspirin to work. Drink a cup at the onset of your headache to stop pain in its tracks.
Ginseng Tea
For a Libido Boost
This tea boosts sexual arousal and helps combat erectile dysfunction. Ginseng contains compounds called ginsenosides that affect gonadal tissue, increasing sperm count as well heightening sexual satisfaction for both women and men.
Green Tea
For Overall Health
Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet. It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. This includes improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other incredible benefits. Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it makes perfect sense that it could reduce your risk of cancer.
Not only can green tea improve brain function in the short term, it may also protect your brain in old age. The catechins in green tea may inhibit the growth of bacteria and some viruses. This can lower the risk of infections and lead to improvements in dental health, a lower risk of caries and reduced bad breath. Some controlled trials show that green tea can cause mild reductions in blood sugar levels. It may also lower the risk of developing type II diabetes in the long term.
Green tea has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol. Observational studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Green tea is particularly effective at reducing the dangerous abdominal fat.
Licorice Root Tea
For a Sweet Tooth
Licorice (the root, not the candy) is an herb that grows in the Mediterranean and throughout Asia, and is actually sweeter than sugar, with zero calories. In addition to being good for your sweet tooth, it’s also an anti-inflammatory that has bacterial-killing properties and a range of other health benefits, including therapeutic compounds that soothe sore throats.
Peppermint Tea
For Constipation
Sip on this delicious yet potent tea to relieve constipation. Whenever you experience an uncomfortable bout of constipation, peppermint tea is sure to improve motility in the GI tract and get you going.
Valerian Root Tea
For Sleep
If you’re having trouble sleeping, consider valerian tea. The natural compounds in valerian root have been used as a sedative and may help reduce the amount of time it takes for you to fall asleep. Try drinking valerian root tea a couple of hours before bedtime as a safer alternative to habit-forming sleep aids.
Cranberry Tea
For Urinary system Health
The first and foremost benefit to be found in cranberry tea is its high content of vitamins and antioxidants that are unique to this specific herbal tea. If you suffer from illnesses or problems that are related to the urinary tract, cranberry tea can help in this area as well. Regularly drinking this tea may be excellent for preventing further infections in the future, as well as preventing other serious illnesses of the urinary tract such as kidney stones.
Moringa Tea
General Wellness.
People who drink Moringa tea report a pleasant boost in energy and mental clarity after consuming a single cup. Women find that Moringa tea helps with cramps and bloating during their menstrual cycles, and men report increased levels of stamina during their working days. Drinking Moringa tea regularly helps in nutrition, clarity, and general wellness
