How-To Tea Guide: 7 Health Benefits of Herbal Teas
November 2021
Cold fall mornings have us craving a warm beverage to get going in the morning. Coffee is a daily ritual for 62% of Americans, but did you know that there are numerous health benefits to coffee’s healthy and yummy alternative: caffeine-free herbal teas?
In cultures around the world people have been brewing leaves, fruits, flowers, roots, bark, and berries for centuries. Here’s why:
Research suggests the antioxidants in tea help protect against cancer
Tea is high in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), which means it helps destroy free radicals that can damage DNA
Tea is primarily water and therefore naturally hydrating
Herbal teas can be soothing when you’re suffering from minor symptoms, but they are primarily formulated for taste enjoyment and general health enhancement.
So what are the 7 different types of herbal teas, and how will they improve my health?
Immune-stimulating blend teas:
These contain tonic herbs known as adaptogens that help strengthen or enhance the immune system, nervous system, and/or glandular system, while helping the body cope with stress.
Look for: Siberian ginseng, Panax ginseng, Astragalus, Schisandra, Echinacea, Ashwagandha, Reishi mushrooms, and licorice.
Digestive-aid blend teas:
Many herbs have digestion-stimulating properties. They can help relieve gas and heartburn, stimulate the flow of gastric juices, relax spasms and cramps, and dispel nausea or queasiness.
Look for: Ginger, anise seeds, thyme, chamomile, hyssop, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, fennel, coriander, chicory, catnip, and cardamom.
Calming and sedative blend teas:
After a tough day filled with stress (and usually caffeine), Americans have a hard time settling down enough to fall asleep. Sedative teas are mild in action, due to dose.
Look for: Chamomile, hops, linden flowers, lavender, passionflower, skullcap, valerian, tilia buds and white sapote.
Stress-relief blend teas:
These teas differ from sedative teas because they are designed to help you cope with stress but not become sleepy. Two herbs stand out in this arena but have completely different actions:
Siberian ginseng helps the body cope with stress. Kava, a muscle relaxant with a long tradition of use in the South Pacific, can actually help relieve tensed-up muscles.
You may drink Siberian ginseng tea frequently, but kava should be saved for those times when you really need help relaxing and letting go.
Look for: Siberian Ginseng or Kava
Stimulating spice blend teas:
Spicy teas will warm you internally and stimulate your digestion and elimination. They need a longer brewing time and are best simmered for ten minutes to bring out their spicy flavor.
Look for: Cinnamon, cardamom, chai spice
Cold-fighting Vitamin C fruit blend teas:
These teas can contribute significant amounts of Vitamin C to your diet and are delicious iced. Because they have a strong citrus accent, they are refreshing and thirst-quenching and can keep you hydrated just as well as water.
Look for: Orange, lemon, berry
Antioxidant-rich Rooibos teas:
This caffeine-free tea is unique in the herbal tea world. Rooibos (which means “red bush” and is pronounced “roy-boss”) is grown only in the tip of South Africa in Cape Town.
It is the only herbal tea that is fermented like black tea, producing a deep red color and body similar to black tea but without black tea’s astringency.
Rooibos is rich in vitamin C, minerals, Quercetin, Luteolin, Rutin, and numerous other flavonoids that contribute to its antispasmodic, hypoallergenic, and antioxidant properties.
We hope we’ve TEAsed you enough with these mouthwatering teas to think about kicking your caffeinated coffee habit and trying the rich world of herbal teas.
If you need help making the switch, reach out to the Whole Health Co team at info@wholehealthcollc.com. We’re here to help you be your healthiest self!
