Drinking herbal tea has many health benefits. Discover what herbal tea does for you and why you should drink more of it.
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We’ve all become more aware of our health in the past few years. There’s nothing like a global pandemic to make you really think about the importance of staying well. So, it is no surprise that herbal teas have seen a huge increase in popularity.
Even before the pandemic, interest in herbal tea was on the rise. Black tea and coffee are no longer the only go-to hot drinks – there’s now a wide range of herbal varieties on offer instead.
Many of the herbs used to make herbal teas have been used for thousands of years to treat illness, improve our health, and help us get the best from life. The exact benefits will depend on which herbs are used, but there are plenty of options available.
We love to dive deep into the different benefits of specific herbal teas. But today’s post has a wider focus. We’re looking at the general benefits of drinking herbal tea and why you might want to make these delicious hot drinks a regular part of your daily routine.
The Benefits of Herbal Tea
The beauty of herbal tea is that there is one for almost every situation. Learning a bit more about the different herbs and their benefits will help you find a blend that is just right for you. Our blog can help!
However, there are some benefits of drinking herbal tea that are fairly universal. No matter what blend you choose, herbal teas can boost your health in the following ways:
1. Keep You Hydrated
We all know that we should stay well hydrated to keep our bodies and minds functioning at their best. The NHS says we should all aim to drink 6-8 glasses of fluid a day. But this is easier said than done.
Our busy lives make it hard to remember to drink enough fluids throughout the day. And many of us find we’re more drawn to sugary soft drinks or fruit juices than to water. Even flavoured waters can contain a surprisingly high level of sugar.
We need a way of getting enough fluid that is tasty and interesting without being packed with sugar, additives, and caffeine. So, what’s the solution?
You guessed it – herbal tea. Many are naturally caffeine-free, making them a great alternative to coffee or black tea. There’s a wide range of flavours available, so you’re sure to be able to find one that pleases your tastebuds. And they are free from sugar and artificial sweeteners, making them a healthier choice than fizzy drinks, fruit juice, or flavoured waters.
2. Packed with Antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules that act to neutralise free radicals – unstable atoms that can damage our cells, causing disease and speeding up the signs of ageing. They are found in many foods, especially plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs.
Since herbal teas are made from herbs and spices, many blends are particularly high in antioxidants. This means they can help to combat free radicals and protect our bodies from damage.
In turn, this may help to reduce inflammation in our bodies. Chronic inflammation has been linked to a whole host of diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease.
As well as containing antioxidants, many of the ingredients found in herbal teas are also natural anti-inflammatories, protecting our bodies even further against disease and ageing.
3. Low in Calories
Herbal teas are made by infusing fresh or dried plants in hot water. As a result, they are naturally very low in calories.
Unlike black tea, herbal tea is typically drunk without adding milk, which also helps to keep the calories down. And many are naturally sweet, especially those that contain ingredients like liquorice, chamomile, or cinnamon.
If you are keeping an eye on your weight, switching to herbal teas might help you stick to your daily calorie goals. Some herbs have even been linked with weight loss (when used as part of a healthy lifestyle).
4. Stress-Relieving
In a frantic world, one of the most important benefits of herbal tea is its ability to relieve stress and help us relax.
There is something extremely soothing about the everyday ritual of making tea. It is no wonder that some cultures have elevated this process to the level of a cultural ceremony.
Even if you aren’t quite ready to perform a full Japanese tea ceremony every time you make tea, just the act of boiling the kettle and pouring hot water over a waiting tea bag can be a calming experience.
Curling up with a cup of hot liquid is a time-honoured way of dealing with stress and worry. And there are certain herbal teas that can do even more to relieve anxiety and lift our mood.
Many of the herbs used in herbal tea have mood-enhancing properties. They help to lower our levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and support us in regulating our nervous systems.
Other Benefits of Herbal Tea
While we’ve been concentrating on the general benefits of herbal tea in this blog post, there are many more to be discovered when you dive deeper into the different types of tea available.
Some of the other popular reasons to drink herbal tea include:
- Support digestion and gut health
- Get a better night’s sleep
- Boost the immune system
- Cleanse the body
- Reduce pain and inflammation
- Stimulate the brain
- Lose weight and burn fat
Click the links to discover more about which herbal teas can bring these benefits. You can also use the function filter to explore the teas in our shop by purpose.