Not really a tea
Nothing screams “autumn” more than a cup of hot herbal tea. It’s the coziest thing to sit on a couch with your woolen socks on, watching a good movie and sipping this hot, flavorful drink from your most favorite cup. Despite their name, herbal teas are not true teas at all. True teas, including green tea, black tea and oolong tea, are brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal teas, on the other hand, are made from dried fruits, flowers, spices or herbs.
In addition to being delicious, some herbal teas have health-promoting properties. In fact, herbal teas have been used as natural remedies for a variety of ailments for hundreds of years. Interestingly, modern science has begun to find evidence supporting some of the traditional uses of herbal teas, as well as some new ones.
Here is the list of the most common herbal teas and how they can boost your immune system for the cold months to come.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is most commonly known for its calming effects and is frequently used as a sleep aid. Some studies examined the properties of chamomile tea and found that it helps to improve sleep quality and reduces the symptoms of depression. What’s more, it is also believed to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and liver-protecting effects. While more research is needed to confirm these effects, preliminary evidence suggests that chamomile tea may offer a wide range of health benefits.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea is one of the most commonly used herbal teas in the world. While it’s most popularly used to support digestive tract health, it also has antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Several studies have shown that preparations of peppermint oil can help relieve indigestion, nausea and stomach. Furthermore, studies have repeatedly found that peppermint oil is effective at relieving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Next time when you experience digestive discomfort, peppermint tea is a great natural remedy to try.
Ginger tea
Ginger tea is a spicy and flavorful drink that packs a bunch of healthy, disease-fighting antioxidants. It also helps fight inflammation and stimulates the immune system. Studies consistently find that ginger is effective at relieving nausea and it may also relieve nausea caused by cancer treatments and motion sickness. Evidence also suggests that ginger may help prevent stomach ulcers and relieve indigestion or constipation. We always drink ginger tea whenever we feel like getting into the flu or (better) do it in advance to avoid it!
Sage tea
Sage tea is well known for its medicinal properties, and scientific research has begun to support the impact on brain health. A number of test-tube, animal and human studies have shown that sage is beneficial for cognitive function. There is one more reason to try out sage tea as it is potentially effective against the effects of the plaques involved in Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, sage appears to provide cognitive benefits for healthy adults as well. A number of studies found improvements in mood, mental function and memory in healthy adults after they took one of several different types of sage extract.
Lemon Balm tea
Lemon balm tea has a light, lemony flavor and seems to have health-promoting properties. In a small study people who drank either barley tea or lemon balm tea for six weeks, the lemon balm tea group had improved elasticity of the arteries. In the same study, those who drank lemon balm tea also had increased skin elasticity, which typically tends to decline with age. Furthermore, a number of studies have shown that lemon balm improved mood and mental performance. Two studies including 20 participants evaluated the effects of different dosages of lemon balm extract. They found improvements in both calmness and memory. Lemon balm tea may offer a number of potential health benefits and would make a good addition to any herbal tea collection.
Rose Hip tea
Rose hip tea is made from the fruit of the rose plant. It is high in vitamin C and beneficial plant compounds. These plant compounds, in addition to certain fats found in rose hips, result in anti-inflammatory properties. Many studies found it effective at reducing inflammation and its related symptoms, including pain. Rose hips may also be beneficial for weight management, which is a hot topic during the winter months, isn’t it? As one 12-week study in overweight people found that taking rose hip extract resulted in decreased BMI and belly fat. Rose hip’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may also help fight skin aging. After gathering all this information, rose hip tea instantly hopped to the top of our cold season tea list!
Conclusion
In spite of not being “real” teas, herbal teas are an excellent alternative to high sugar beverages. They do not contain any calories and provide a wide range of health benefits. What could be better? Make yourself some hot tea, pour it in a thermo mug and go for a walk in the autumn rain. The experience will be magical!