It is true that drinking herbal teas is a healthy alternative to coffees and other unhealthy drinks, yielding several health benefits to those who consume them regularly. And whether you drink it either hot or cold, the health properties it provides to one’s body are still present, but vary depending on the type of tea you drink. Actually, teas in general tend to be a popular selection for individuals wanting to give natural improvements to their health. And unlike coffee and those standard teas, most herbal teas are caffeine-free, which is why they are known for their calming properties. Moreover, they provide nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, depending on the herbal blend. While some teas offer more health benefits than others, there is plenty of evidence that drinking tea on a regular basis can have a lasting impact on your overall health.
Herbal teas are usually made with a variety of dried flowers, spices, herbs and fruits, in addition to the actual tea leaves, which then leads to several flavors and options available in terms of choosing teas for taste and health benefits. Tisanes are blends or infusions of dried fruits, flowers, spices, or herbs in water that are used to make herbal teas. It has been proven that tisanes have therapeutic properties, which makes it the reason why herbal teas have been a popular solution for relieving stress and anxiety.
Several Health Benefits of Herbal Tea
Plain water is usually the recommended beverage for adults looking to keep hydrated and healthy. However, adding some varieties of herbal teas into your diet can make drinking more enjoyable. This is because of how they offer many different health benefits. And when you are ready to enjoy a cup of tea, choosing unsweetened varieties or those with only slight amounts of added sweeteners like honey can still help you get all the beneficial effects. However, you must remember to not add a lot of extra ingredients or additives — sugar, for instance, when it comes time to enjoy a delicious cup of tea. Doing so might undercut some of the wonderful health benefits that are available in most herbal teas.
The usual health benefits that can be evidently seen from drinking herbal teas include relaxation, pain relief, as well as the improvement of the body systems, particularly for the digestive and immune systems. It can even help in treating anticancer effects, and provide benefits for people with type 2 diabetes. Herbal teas can also aid in preventing aging symptoms, and improve cognitive health, which extends to relieving stress and anxiety as well.
Boosts Immune System
One of the well-known health benefits that regular consumption of herbal teas provides would be to boost one’s immune system. Even people who do not regularly drink teas in general are aware of the positive effects of herbal teas in terms of immunity. This is primarily because of the vitamins and certain antioxidant properties that are present in these beverages. They are of great help in fighting diseases and infections, protecting against oxidative stress, and lowering the risk of certain chronic diseases. Moreover, the teas include anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting characteristics, helping you to stay healthy. Thus, more and more people are starting to incorporate the consumption of herbal teas into their lifestyle for its therapeutic effects. Whether they worry about the flu season, or just want to boost their overall health.
Anti-Aging Properties
As mentioned above, herbal teas contain antioxidant properties that are beneficial for an immune-system boost. And apart from that, these properties can also contribute to slowing down the aging process. Thus, preventing the aging symptoms that one experiences as they grow old. They also prevent free radical damage and restore the age of your cells in the body. This, then, makes your skin look flawless and younger.
Improves Digestion
Generally, teas tend to be beneficial for your digestive system. It has the power to absorb gas and improve the blood flow to the entire digestive tract. All while eliminating free radicals that cause an upset stomach and indigestion. Moreover, they also help with the breakdown of fats, and speed up the emptying of the stomach. Which is why a cup of herbal tea after meals can be able to help in digesting the food easily. It can reduce the symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and vomiting.
Herbal teas contain phytochemicals. They can protect you against some of the symptoms associated with heartburn and acid reflux. It includes thinning mucus membranes and weakening stomach muscles. They are found in some types of tea – including peppermint, hibiscus and chamomile. These help ease these conditions by reducing spasms in your stomach and upper digestive tract. These leaves also increase the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. Moreover, herbal teas are rich in spearmint, which helps in smoothing the digestive system. They can also act as an appetite suppressant, which reduces the urge to overeat.
Helps in Weight Loss
Relative to how herbal teas help in improving one’s digestive system, it can also aid in weight loss. And as mentioned above, this type of tea can act as an appetite suppressant. It helps in reducing one’s urge to overeat, thus, can help you eat less. Also, herbal teas are calorie-free, making it a better-tasting alternative to water. However, although the tea itself is calorie-free, adding extras such as sugar or honey can increase the calories. It really depends on how you would like to consume your cup of herbal tea.
Relieves Stress and Anxiety
Most people opt to drink teas because of how they give a relieving feeling, as well as calming effects. It becomes a drink that is usually consumed after a long, tiring day. Herbal teas help to relieve stress and anxiety by calming and relaxing the mind. Drinking herbal tea before bedtime can benefit people who suffer from insomnia since it relaxes the mind as well. For some people, the soothing effect may also function as a moderate antidepressant. It stimulates the brain and reducing feelings of depression.
In a typical sense, pressure and stress are frequently dealt with in the modern world by taking medication. However, the side effects of these medications can be worse than the stress itself. But with the discovery of herbal teas as a means of helping one to relax and rejuvenate, it became a safer and more natural alternative to prescription medicines. It becomes a huge contribution for helping in relieving stress and anxiety.
Key Takeaway
Herbal teas are indeed a helpful alternative to certain medications, given that it provides a variety of health benefits to people who regularly consume them. From boosting the immune system, preventing aging symptoms, improving digestion and aiding in weight loss, to relieving stress and anxiety, herbal teas have been proven to be an effective way to provide the necessary nutrients that your body needs. Herbal teas also come in different flavors, all of which are responsible for aiding different health conditions.
