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This article was co-authored by Courtney Fose, RD, MS and by How.com.vn staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Courtney Fose is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has worked as a Dietitian since 2009, and received her MS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Arkansas in 2016.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 6,528 times.
Numerous studies conducted all over the world have discovered significant health benefits to drinking tea – be it black, green, white, red, or herbal. While you can acquire some of these benefits with simply a single 6- to 8-ounce cup of tea, others require a more prolonged habit of consistently drinking several cups of tea a day. To boost your health with tea, you also should avoid adding milk or sugar, which can negate the benefits.[1]
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Relieving Acute Ailments
Give your immune system a boost with rooibos or rosehip tea. Rooibos and rosehip teas are high in Vitamin C, which can strengthen your immune system and may help you better resist the cold and flu, especially in the winter months.[2]- Rooibos comes primarily from South Africa, and is also known as red tea. Its high antioxidant content means it has other health benefits as well, such as relieving skin conditions and fighting the signs of aging.
- Rosehips are one of the best plant sources available for Vitamin C. This tea also benefits the health of your skin and other bodily tissues.
- Another tea that could help strengthen your immune system and prevent the common cold is echinacea tea.
Lose weight with green tea. Some clinical trials have shown that green tea might have the ability to boost your metabolic rate and ultimately burn more fat. It may be particularly helpful at burning belly fat, which is dangerous for your overall health and difficult to lose.- Green tea often is included in weight loss supplements, so you might consider getting your green tea that way if you don't like the taste of tea or enjoy drinking it.
- Regularly drinking green tea could lower your body fat percentage over time, even if you don't change any other part of your diet or lifestyle. However, there are competing studies on this, some of which show no change at all.
- Ultimately the weight loss benefits of green tea may boil down to when you drink it and how much you drink. For example, a cup of green tea a half hour before you workout may have a greater impact on your weight loss than a cup at night before bed.
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Try peppermint tea for gas and bloating. Some people believe peppermint tea can heat up your body, easing gas and bloating. Peppermint teas hasn't been scientifically proven to have any medical benefits, but drinking it can be a flavorful option.[3]- If you're not sure why you're bloated or gassy, use caution with peppermint tea until you can talk to your doctor about your symptoms.
- You can grow peppermint easily at home. Even if you don't have a yard, you can create a small herb garden in a window box. Growing your own peppermint may save you money compared to retail prices, and you can control the quality of your herbs.
Use ginger tea to relieve nausea. Like peppermint, some people also believe that ginger aids in digestion. If you're looking for natural remedy for upset stomach or motion sickness, ginger can be a good option.[4]- For colds, adding lemon juice or honey to your ginger tea might help fight off the virus.
- Ginger should be use with caution, as it can interact with certain medications. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting a ginger tea regimen.
Dull a headache with lavender tea. You may be familiar with the calming effects of the scent of lavender. Drinking an herbal tea may ease the pain from a headache or backache. The herb also can treat chronic pain, but should be used in that context only under a doctor's supervision.[5]- Lavender tea calms your respiratory system as well, and may provide temporary relief for a cough.
- Hot tea generally will be better at treating respiratory issues than drinking it over ice.
- While lavender tea isn't one of the most common teas, you still typically can find it at specialty stores – or you can make it yourself with fresh lavender.
- To make a cup of lavender tea, simply put two teaspoons of lavender flowers in boiling water. Cover the mixture and steep for 10-15 minutes to unleash the herb's benefits.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Decreasing Your Risk of Disease Development
Drink green tea to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease and stroke may be two of the largest causes of death in the world, but green tea can lower cholesterol to dramatically decrease your risk of these diseases.- Green tea may be particularly beneficial for your cardiovascular health. It contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants. These antioxidants can help protect cells from the oxidative damage of heart disease.
- An observational study in Japan found that people who drank green tea was beneficial to overall cardiac health.
- To enjoy this reduced risk, however, you may have to drink a lot of green tea. Fewer than five cups a day might not result in any significant change.
Prevent cancer with green tea. The antioxidants in green tea give you the power to fight oxidative damage, which can lead to the development of cancer. These antioxidants protect your cells, reducing the risk of some types of cancer significantly.- For example, a Chinese study revealed women who drank green tea on a regular basis reduced their risk of developing colorectal cancer by 57 percent.[6]
- As with other preventative benefits, you must consume significant amounts of green tea to demonstrably reduce your risk of developing cancer.
Try hibiscus flower tea to lower your cholesterol or blood pressure. Like lavender tea, hibiscus flower tea is made by steeping the dried flowers in boiling water. Some believe this tea might reduce or prevent hypertension and lower your risk of developing other cardiovascular diseases.[7]- Hibiscus isn't a product that has been heavily researched. Moreover, hibiscus might provide laxative and diuretic effects. Proceed with caution and talk to your doctor before beginning a hibiscus regimen.[8]
- Like green tea, hibiscus flower tea also contains significant amounts of antioxidants that can protect your cells from oxidative damage.
- Hibiscus flowers often are used in herbal tea blends, such as zinger teas. You typically can find these in regular grocery stores without having to head to a tea specialty shop.
Reduce your risk of developing arthritis with white tea. White tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant in China. Harvesting the buds and leaves earlier than other types of tea not only gives white tea a distinct flavor and color compared to other teas, but also significant antioxidant properties.[9]- White tea has a number of other health benefits, such as flavonoids, an antioxidant that may be helpful in preventing some types of cancer.
- When you prepare white tea, don't boil the water as you would for other teas. This will deplete the tea's nutrients. Rather, you should heat the water to no more than 185 degrees, then pour it over two teaspoons of tea leaves for every 8 ounces of water.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Improving Your Mental Health
Calm yourself with chamomile tea. Chamomile tea is one of the most common herbal teas, and has relaxing properties that reduce stress and encourage restful sleep. Regularly drinking the tea can even combat chronic sleep problems such as insomnia.[10]- While you can enjoy a cup of chamomile tea at any time, it typically is best to drink right before bed.
- In high-stress situations or if you have problems with anxiety, however, chamomile tea can help you relax at any time without necessarily putting you to sleep.
- You can find chamomile tea in most grocery stores, either in bagged or loose-leaf form.
Boost your mood with lemon balm tea. Lemon balm tea can be a great option if you're feeling down or having trouble staying motivated during the winter months. If children drink it before bed, it may even keep them from having nightmares.[11]- This tea calms your nerves and also can help manage thyroid problems.
- Lemon balm tea can be consumed hot or cold.
- Lemon balm is easy to grow, so if you're thinking about starting an herb garden you may want to add lemon balm to your list.
- If you are on medication for depression or other mental conditions, talk to your doctor or therapist before you add lemon balm tea to your diet. You want to make sure there won't be any negative interactions.
Drink white tea to reduce stress. While green tea also helps you lower your stress levels, white tea has a more significant effect. Less caffeine in white tea might explain why it's better at decreasing stress than green tea.[12]- The entire ritual of drinking white tea to calm your nerves and reduce stress has been a part of Chinese and other Asian cultures for centuries.
- To drink white tea for relaxation, steep the leaves in hot – not boiling – water for just a few minutes in a closed container.
- Drinking your tea hot rather than cold may provide a more relaxing and calming effect.
Try black tea for better memory and focus. Caffeine also improves brain performance, but it's a substance called theanine, found in black tea, that has significant power to enhance your cognitive processes.[13]- While caffeine can help you stay alert, theanine also has a calming effect. The two compounds working together may explain why you are better able to think and focus after drinking a cup of tea.
- Improved cognitive performance is especially noticeable in people over 70 who drink tea on a regular basis.
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Tips
- Steep teas, especially herbal teas, in a covered vessel for at least 10 to 15 minutes. This makes sure the essential oils, which are the source of any health benefits, stay in the tea.[14]Thanks
- You have to drink a lot of tea, on a regular basis, to enjoy many of these benefits. While you may relieve acute symptoms with a single cup of tea, you may need to drink at least five cups a day to significantly decrease your risk of developing diseases.[15]Thanks
- Always talk with your doctor before consuming any kind of weight loss supplement or making any major dietary changes.Thanks
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References
- ↑ http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/tea-drink-to-your-health-201312186947
- ↑ http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/nutrition/7-herbal-teas-that-will-make-you-healthy/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16767798
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12576305
- ↑ http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/14230/1/Medicinal-Properties-of-Lavender-Tea.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17548688
- ↑ http://www.thefitindian.com/health-benefits-of-herbal-teas/
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-211-HIBISCUS.aspx?activeIngredientId=211&activeIngredientName=HIBISCUS
- ↑ https://draxe.com/health-benefits-of-white-tea/
- ↑ http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/nutrition/7-herbal-teas-that-will-make-you-healthy/
- ↑ http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/nutrition/7-herbal-teas-that-will-make-you-healthy/
- ↑ http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/292160.php
- ↑ http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/11/tea-6-brilliant-effects-on-the-brain.php
- ↑ http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/nutrition/7-herbal-teas-that-will-make-you-healthy/
- ↑ http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/292160.php
About this article
Courtney Fose, RD, MS
Master's Degree, Clinical Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
This article was co-authored by Courtney Fose, RD, MS and by How.com.vn staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Courtney Fose is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has worked as a Dietitian since 2009, and received her MS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Arkansas in 2016. This article has been viewed 6,528 times.
Co-authors: 8
Updated: September 16, 2021
Views: 6,528
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 6,528 times.
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