Elevation of Health Through Tea
Welcome to the wild world of tea!
If you are a tea lover, well then I'm so glad you are with me!
There is a whole world to discover when it comes to teas and learning about all the benefits these medicinal leaves/plants can bring into our lives.
First there are over 1,500 types of tea in the world!
But the most common are green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea. All other teas are herbal teas which are infusions of a combination of plants, fruits, herbs and spices are caffeine-free.
We will first explore the world of traditional teas and then mention just a few of my favorite herbal teas and all their benefits... and a few side effects.
In my opinion the most powerful tea to consume is....
Green Tea
This is my absolute favorite tea! Green tea is the most popular teas in all the land. Green tea has been shown, in a number of exciting studies, to have many health benefits:
- Boosts metabolism
- Improves skin quality (anti-aging in a cup)
- Decreases cancer growth
- Improves brain function
- Protects brain from diseases
- Reduces risk of heart disease
- Reverses diabetes
- Decreases inflammation
The most important thing to note here is that green tea is an abundant source of EGCG (Epigallocatchin Gallate) ! EGCG what?
Simply put this compound is the most powerful antioxidant polyphenol. Green teas contain this incredible compound that has anti-cancer effects and MANY more benefits on human health. Drink up! It is recommended to consume 2-4 cups of green tea every day for maximum benefit... just source wisely!
Some of the most common types of green tea are:
- Matcha: This super powerhouse tea is actually made from the whole tea leaf. It is a powder that incorporates the incredible benefits of chloropyll that is maintained in the whole-leaf powder, due to the simple processing of drying tea leaves and grinding it into powder.
- Sencha - The most popular tea in Japan, sencha has a very mild and pleasant taste. It is made from the most flavorful top leaves.
- Green tea - there are many different types of green tea with so many benefits, check out my favorite sourcing site for all my green tea! CLICK HERE
Black Tea
Black tea is a perfect choice for all coffee lovers due to the fact that it has the highest levels of caffeine of all tea types.
When the tea leaf is harvested to make black tea, enzymes are activated, resulting in oxidation, that leads to the leaves withering. When this happens the catechins (a powerful antioxidant) originally present are converted to theaflavins, which are also powerful antioxidants! #boom
There are 3 main types of black tea:
Earl Grey - Black tea with bergamot oil (when sourcing make sure there is just bergamot oil and not "flavoring").
English Breakfast Tea - This is a blend of three other teas and is THE TEA in the UK.
Irish Breakfast - Another blend of a variety of black teas.
Oolong tea
This is where tea meets weight management. Similar to green tea, studies have shown that drinking oolong tea regularly can help prevent obesity by reducing weight through boosting fat metabolism!
Oolong tea is fragrant with a pleasant aroma and fruity flavor.
Now we will explore just a few of the hundreds of herbal teas that are out there! I share my absolute favorite types and their benefits!
Herbal Teas
This is where the magic happens. Next we will explore herbal teas.
I am a huge fan of infusing my daily life with many different herbal teas. I even love to combine them with my 3 times a day green tea and love that you can enjoy so many flavors and benefits!
Let's dive into to some of the benefits these herbal teas grace us with!
Ginger:
- Soothes the stomach (Study)
- Enhances immunity (Study)
- Protects Brain Health
- Eases pain
- Increases weight loss
- Supports digestive health (Study)
Turmeric:
- Reduces depression symptoms (Study)
- Fights inflammation (Study)
- Boosts skin health
- Could treat or prevent certain cancers
- Helps manage diabetes
- Combats obesity (Study)
- Aids in detoxification (Study)
Clove:
- Supports Immune Function
- Fights Infections
- Pain-relief / Analgesic Effects
- Helps stabilize blood sugar levels
- Promotes digestive health
Chamomile:
- Helps fight anxiety and depression
- High in antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatory
- Helps PMS and other menstrual disorders
- Pain-reducing abilities
- Relieves Congestion
- Promotes skin health
- Improves Heart Health
- Study
Passion Flower:
- Helps reduce effects of menopause
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces Anxiety
- Helps lower insulin levels
- Improves Sleep
- Reduces Inflammation
- Study
Kava:
- Helps fight cancer
- May reduce size of tumors found in prostate
- Boosts Immune System
- Reduces Anxiety
- Promotes Better Sleep
- Study
Roobios:
- Full of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
- Improves Heart Health
- Treats and may prevent diabetes
- Aids in Digestion
- Supports Strong Bones
- Aids in weight loss
- Keeps Skin and Hair Young
- Article with References
Licorice:
- Helps with heartburn and acid refulx
- Beneficial for leaky gut syndrome
- A powerful adaptogen that helps improve stress response
- Antiviral
- Benefits cough or sore throat
- Pain relief
- Article with References
Slippery Elm:
- Improves constipation and IBS symptoms
- Aids in Weight Loss
- Lowers Stress & Anxiety
- Reduces symptoms of sever psoriasis
- Study
Marshmallow Root:
- Treats Coughs & Cold
- Fights Bacterial Infections
- Repairs the gut lining
- Reduces Digestive Issues
- Heals Skin Troubles
- Lowers inflammation
- Reduces water retention
Echinacea:
- Combats cancer (Study)
- Boosts Immune System (Study)
- Alleviates Pain
- Acts as a laxative
- Anti-inflammatory
- Improves skin problems
- Helps improve mental health
- Relieves Upper Respiratory Issues
- Fights Infection
Elderberry (aka. Sambucus):
- Potent immune system booster
- Treats Colds and Flu (Study)
- 'Helps sinus infections
- Lower blood sugar
- Natural diuretic
- Encourages Health Skin (Study)
- Improves Hearth Health
Hibiscus:
- Lowers blood pressure (Study)
- Supports Healthy Cholesterol and Triglycerides (Study)
- Prevents Oxidative Stress
- Reduces Obesity and related risks
- Natural Antidepressant
Nettle Leaf:
- Help relieve osteoarthritis and joint pain
- Helps relieves allergies and hay fever (Study)
- Help reduce eczema
Ginger:
- Soothes the stomach (Study)
- Enhances immunity (Study)
- Protects Brain Health
- Eases pain
- Increases weight loss
- Supports digestive health (Study)
Turmeric:
- Reduces depression symptoms (Study)
- Fights inflammation (Study)
- Boosts skin health
- Could treat or prevent certain cancers
- Helps manage diabetes
- Combats obesity (Study)
- Aids in detoxification (Study)
Food... or teas in this matter, is truly medicine. I hope this section inspires you to make consuming a wide variety of tea in your life.
I drink 2-3 cups per day and one cup before bed.
Below I share with you my favorite brands and a simple ginger & turmeric tea recipe that you can make at home for an ultimate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory boost!
How to source clean teas:
Just like sourcing food, we must be conscious about sourcing tea as tea is also a heavily sprayed with chemicals and many are offered in bleached tea bags or come with added "natural flavorings" and preservatives.
- Organic is always best
- Source from companies that don't use chlorine-bleached tea bags. Which can also contain harmful chemicals such as doxin and epichlorohydrin.
Just like reading labels be sure to read the labels on your tea! Many contain natural and artificial flavors, and other ingredients not meant for tea!
Here are a few of my favorite brands:
Tazo Tea - Source organic options
Traditional Medicinals - Source organic options
Yogi Tea - Source organic options
I'm an avid tea advocate and hope more people understand the incredible health benefits that herbal, spiced, and green teas have AND they are so simple to consume!
In the love of teas,
Becky Wells
The Hippie Moms, LLC
www.thehippiemoms.com
The Hippie Moms Podcast
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