As we race around to take care of a family and everything else that a busy life requires, many of us neglect our own health. We’re up early to find lost homework and we stay up late to bake cupcakes or do laundry. Relaxation and sleep aren’t even on our to-do lists. That works in the short run, maybe, but it’s certainly not a long term plan.
We all know about the importance of healthy eating and all the rest, but when’s the last time you really paid attention to taking care of yourself?
While you’re contemplating that, there’s one thing you can absolutely do. Sit down and drink a cup of tea. It’s not only a delightful way to catch your breath, but it has health benefits galore. Busy moms can order their favorite varieties online from organic stores that offer free shipping like Buddha Teas.
Tea is sort of a miracle because despite the fact that it tastes good, it also has little calories, no fat, and no carbs. That alone puts it leaps above almost anything else you could drink when you’re thirsty, to have with a meal, to enjoy on a break, or for the important hydration that your body needs.
On top of that, some lovely teas offer special benefits like these:
Nutrition Boost
Even though tea has hardly any calories, many varieties have nutrients important for your overall health. Here are some examples:
- Lavender Tea has high concentrations of vitamin C, calcium, and iron, as well as a good amount of vitamin A.
- Alfalfa Leaf Tea has vitamins A, D, E, and K, and also has minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and potassium.
- Corn Silk Tea is full of B-complex vitamins plus calcium, zinc, and potassium.
- Gotu Kola Tea is a natural source of vitamins C and K, and the essential B-complex vitamins thiamin, niacin, and riboflavin. It also provides minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.
Weight Control and Fitness
You might not have thought that tea could be part of a regular diet and exercise program, but here are some reasons why it should be:
- Gymnema Tea actually contains substances that reduce the body’s absorption of sugar. It comes from a plant native to India and Africa, and its Hindi name, gurmar, translates to “destroyer of sugar.” This tea also temporarily blocks your taste buds’ ability to recognize sweetness, which, over time, helps reduce cravings for sugary treats.
- Hibiscus Tea contains polyphenols that regulate metabolism.
- Flax Seed Tea has omega-3 fatty acids that promote stronger muscles. Its other natural properties help to counter inflammation and help stressed muscles heal and repair more quickly.
- Fenugreek Seed Tea is loaded with nutrients that help build muscles, including choline, niacin, potassium, and ascorbic acid. It’s also got the amino acids tryptophan and 4-hydroxyisoleucine.
Antioxidant Protection
Antioxidants are all the rage these days, but do you know why they’re important? Well, as we breathe, our bodies produce highly reactive molecules that are called free radicals. These free radicals interact with and cause oxidation damage to other molecules in the body, leading to a wide range of potential ailments and chronic diseases.
To combat these free radicals, we need a steady supply of antioxidants to augment the ones our bodies make by themselves. All tea, and green tea in particular, is a natural high-powered antioxidant, and it also doesn’t hurt to add to your diet some of the other super-antioxidant foods like dark leafy greens, blueberries, cranberries, red and purple grapes, sweet potatoes, beans, and whole grains.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
As part of the body’s healing process, moderate inflammation revs up the immune system and brings nourishment to sites of infection and injury, but too much inflammation can be damaging. Lavender tea, ginger tea, and others have excellent anti-inflammatory properties that help to keep inflammation under control.
Anxiety and Stress Relief
High stress can absolutely destroy your health, and even its mildest version certainly doesn’t make for happy living. The very act of sitting quietly and wrapping your hands around a cup of tea is soothing in itself. Your favorite tea, no matter what it is, will help to calm jangled nerves and clear your head. But here are some teas that serve special duty in the war against stress:
- Ashwagandha Tea, from the root of an Indian herb, works to limit the effects of stress and may even block the release of the body’s stress hormones.
- Kava Kava Root Tea has antispasmodic qualities to release tension from stressed muscles and provide that “aaaah” moment after an active day.
- Lavender Tea is a delicious stress-reliever. Simply breathing in its graceful floral scent provides a respite from the outside world.
- Chamomile Flower Tea is an age-old remedy for calming the mind and body and sending you off to a restful sleep.
A Bonus:
Even if you take good care of yourself, you can still catch the occasional cold. We all know that tea with honey is a natural soother for sore throats, but this article will tell you even more.
