Healthy Teas – Steeping Your Way To Good Health

Tea is something many of us wish we drank more of. Herbal teas especially have garnered a lot of attention as a great caffeine-free drink that is pleasurable to our palate while also being healthy for our organs. Below is a list of healthy teas that bring excellent benefits to the body.

History of Tea

The history of tea dates far back to ancient China. Almost 5,000 years ago, Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea when leaves from a wild tree blew into his pot of boiling water. He was immediately hooked on the pleasant scent of the resulting brew and tasted some of it. Only a few centuries later, tea had become a popular drink all over China. The art of preparing and drinking tea evolved to become an important ritual in Chinese culture. Teahouses began to prosper and would go on to play a key social role.

Europeans had already heard about tea from missionaries returning from the Far East. However, the Dutch were the first to bring some tea to Europe at the beginning of the 17^th century. A few decades later, it had seeped throughout the rest of Europe.

Health Benefits of Tea

Did you know that the consumption of tea can have a huge, positive impact on your endurance and reduce the risk of having a heart attack? The antioxidants in tea might even help protect against cancer, as studies indicate.

Swapping your morning or afternoon cup of coffee for one of the teas listed below can make a huge difference. Drinking loads of coffee is hard on your heart and other organs. Tea can provide a pick-me-up without the high levels of caffeine, making you less jittery and helping you get to sleep when you want.

There is another, more obvious reason to add tea to your diet: It helps to keep you hydrated. Studies show that tea is more healthy for you than just having water alone. Tea hydrates you and provides you with antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your body’s cells against the effects of free radicals — molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation.

Here are a few more reasons why you should add healthy teas to your daily routine!

Let’s Look at Some of the Best Healthy Teas:

5.) Pu-erh Tea

Dr. Weil

Known for centuries as a “qi-enhancer,” or life-force enhancer, pu-erh tea is known for its digestive health properties as well as well as its ability to enhance general health. In traditional Chinese herbalism, pu-erh tea is considered to be especially beneficial to “blood cleansing” and digestion. Therefore, many people drink this tea after meals.

Some studies have shown that pu-erh may lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and increase metabolism. Pu-erh is occasionally touted as a diet tea. However, like all teas, we don’t recommend consuming it as a magical weight loss tool. Instead, this tea should be an enjoyable part of a healthy diet. However, try to remain balanced on the caffeinated teas, so you are not overloading unknowingly on caffeine which could cause issues of its own (insomnia, reliance on caffeine, jitteriness, anxiety).

Pu-erh is generally higher in status than other teas. Because it is more prized, this tea is not drunk absent-mindedly. You may find pu-erh raw, green or fermented into a black-tea-like drink. The older the tea is, the more prized it generally is, much like wine. Drink pu-erh as you would a loose leaf tea, letting the leaves settle to the bottom before drinking it.

4.) Oolong Tea

Organicfacts

Oolong tea is a semi-fermented black tea that has been shown to increase metabolism by 10% while also decreasing the amount of fat in the cells. Therefore, many people drink this tea to help them lose weight. Very high in antioxidants, oolong tea protects the body from free radicals, and its astringency has proven helpful for digestive disorders.

Three times a day is a good amount to drink for weight loss and cholesterol-lowering benefits. Researchers in China studied the relationship between drinking oolong tea and cholesterol levels, as high cholesterol levels can be associated with an increased risk for heart disease.

Surprisingly, oolong tea also strengthens bones while providing all of these benefits, a fairly unique quality to have. People often drink oolong after meals to aid in the break-down of fats. People drink this tea hot or warm.

3.) Green Tea

Harvard Health

Green tea has a slew of amazing health benefits that have been touted for many years. Green tea is rich in polyphenols, which reduce inflammation and help to fight cancer.

This tea variety belongs on the list of healthy teas, as it is not only helpful for losing weight, lowering cholesterol and preventing diabetes and heart disease. Many of us don’t know, however, that green tea can also help to prevent dementia. Green tea is high in catechins, antioxidants that scope out free radicals that would otherwise damage many parts of our body. Many people love green tea, especially with some lemon and honey or stevia for a little extra flavor.

Green tea has become very popular in western nations. People drink green tea hot, warm, iced, with or without flavor, loose leaf or in sachets, and organic or highly processed with tons of added sugar. Choose the least-processed tea you can find. The best options are homemade and organic.

2.) Hibiscus Tea

Simply Recipes

Hibiscus is a gentle herbal tea that is made from the beautiful exotic-looking flower. People make the tea by boiling parts of the hibiscus plant, mostly the flower itself. Healthy teas such as hibiscus are high in antioxidants, flavonols and minerals. Hibiscus tea helps lower cholesterol in a gentle, non-aggressive fashion.

This tea also has proven to help decrease bloating, prevent aging and assist with weight loss due to its ability to prevent the body from absorbing carbohydrates. Hibiscus tea is ruby red in color and has a sour taste. Therefore, some people call this variety “sour tea,” and compare the flavor to cranberry.

In the past years, people have come to love hibiscus tea. Most coffee shops now offer this tea in both hot or iced varieties. Try adding a little stevia or honey for a sweet tea drink that can easily top unhealthy sugar-laden fruit juices that many of us have become accustomed to.

1.) Dandelion Tea

Health Focus

It’s time to look at your garden differently. Instead of seeing nothing but weeds, envision a potent cocktail of nutrient-rich compounds. The health benefits of dandelion tea shouldn’t be ignored.

Dandelion root tea is an excellent aid to cleansing, specifically targeting the liver and forcing cancer cells to die. This tea helps the liver break down waste products while helping the kidney to filter the blood of the waste products. Dandelion also stimulates the liver to create bile flow, aiding in digestion overall. Finally, this tea can stabilize blood sugar levels, proving to be effective as an inflammation reducer. Overall, this tea is antioxidant-rich, nutrient-rich and cholesterol-reducing.

Picking wild dandelions for homemade healthy teas sounds like an adventure, but you should be careful about the source of your supply. Not all dandelions grow in optimal conditions. Avoid any plants that could be contaminated by pollution.

Dandelion tea tastes great hot or warm. You can consume it throughout the day. Choose this tea in the springtime as a liver cleanse when these weeds are growing. Add a bit of honey or stevia to bring some sweetness to the very characteristic taste.

Start experimenting with healthy teas today, and you’ll soon find dozens of ways to incorporate them into your everyday life.

Have you enjoyed reading about the potential health benefits of tea? Take a look at our collection of articles about how to lose weight by cooking at home.