Tea is the world’s favourite plant-based drink and the most consumed beverage after water, but did you know that it has benefits beyond refreshment?
Throughout the thousands of years that people have been drinking it, tea has been found to have a variety of health benefits, from improving sleep quality to aiding digestion.
Of course, tea comes in many different varieties, and each has its own benefits. Here are the teas that you should know and what they can do for your health.
1. Chamomile – A mild-flavoured tea, this is one of the world’s most popular natural sleep aids. As well as purportedly helping you drift off faster, it has been shown to improve sleep quality.
Studies also suggest that chamomile tea infusions might help with blood sugar control and PMS symptoms.
2. Hibiscus – This bright red tea can help reduce bad cholesterol, bring down blood pressure, and decrease cell-damaging oxidative stress.
Hibiscus can, however, interact with some medications. If you are taking anything, it is important to talk to your doctor before drinking this tea.
3. Peppermint – More than a refreshing breath freshener, peppermint tea helps support your body’s defences with its antibacterial and antiviral properties.
It may also help digestion. Peppermint oil supplements, which contain higher concentrations of the compounds found in the tea, have been shown to ease indigestion and stomach pain.
4. Sage – Studies suggest that sage has benefits for your brain, such as improving cognitive function in Alzheimer’s sufferers and memory in healthy adults.
Early evidence suggests it might also lower bad cholesterol levels.
5. Passionflower – This is another tea which, like chamomile, is traditionally used as a sleep aid and to reduce anxiety.
Specifically, studies have suggested that it can reduce the anxiety in patients undergoing dental work.
6. Fennel – Fennel has long been considered a medicinal plant, primarily used for digestion and bowel regulation.
However, when consumed in capsule form it has also been shown to ease menopause symptoms. At this stage, it is not certain whether the tea offers the same benefits, but it is a possibility.
7. Ginger – Ginger is renowned as a treatment for nausea, and studies have confirmed this. It is especially effective for the nausea associated with the early stages of pregnancy, and it might also help with nausea caused by cancer therapies.
Ginger might also help with indigestion, period pain, and blood sugar control.
Many herbal teas have been used as traditional remedies for particular ailments. Scientists are still confirming whether they actually work, but in many cases, things look promising and there is little harm in trying them. Herbal teas are naturally sugar and calorie-free, and many are still delicious.
