It’s Tea Time! No… not “tee time”. This isn’t about golf. Tea is a timely topic for right now. We’ve previously explored how to support our immune system using herbs and supplements. Now we turn our attention to tea. Whether we’re boosting our body’s health defense systems or fighting off something, tea is a critical part of our wellness arsenal. Just a heads up: This post may include benefits from everyday teas that will surprise you.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and the information here is not intended as a replacement for care from the appropriate healthcare professional. Please always check with your relevant medical professional beforehand on whether the teas/beverages indicated in this post are safe for you to use.
Warm Lemon Water
Yes I know. Technically this is not tea. Think of it as an herbal tea. 😉 Years ago while listening to a Deepak Chopra audio program about weight loss, I learned about the health benefits of drinking warm lemon water. Of all the benefits, a statement similar to the following has stayed in my mind over the years: “Drinking warm water with lemon in the morning is an Ayurvedic practice that helps to clear the digestive tract of toxins that have built up overnight”. I typically add juice from only 1/4 of a lemon (versus 1/2 of a lemon) to 8 ounces of warm water. I don’t do this every morning, but I do use it on a regular basis.
Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through affiliate links (marked with asterisks) in this post.
Ginger Turmeric Tea
*Turmeric Ginger Tea (or Ginger Turmeric Tea ) is an herbal tea with two powerful ingredients. Ginger is antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and has many benefits. Turmeric is antiviral, antifungal, and some consider it an even better anti-inflammatory than ginger. Both are known for boosting the immune system. You can readily purchase this blend in tea bags, but be sure to look for black pepper in the list of ingredients, as it helps the body to absorb the turmeric. Lately I have made some form of this tea an almost daily experience. Check out this Turmeric Tea recipe on YouTube.
>>>Safety First
Please do read this WebMD article on supplements that are natural blood thinners. Ginger, turmeric and a few other items are on the list. Please also note the medical Disclaimer at the top of this post.
Lavender Tea
While typically known for it’s ability to promote relaxation, I have found lavender tea to be great for pain relief. I once had it years ago while I was struggling with a sore throat. I quickly noticed that of all the teas I had tried, the pain and discomfort were greatly relieved after a cup of lavender tea. Now it’s my “go to” tea at the first sign of a scratchy throat. I use 1 tablespoon of *Lavande Sur Terre Dried Lavender Flower Culinary Grade in a *Disposable Tea Filter Bag, and I let it steep for 5 minutes. Occasionally I will sweeten it with Manuka honey, but often I opt to drink it unsweetened.
Tulsi Tea
Tulsi (aka Holy Basil) is an adaptogen that relieves anxiety, promotes cognitive function, and balances the immune system. We first discussed adaptogens in our previous Ashwaghanda post. In his book *Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief, David Winston shares that in his clinical practice he uses Holy Basil to enhance cerebral concentration and memory, as an antidepressant, to re-regulate immune response, and other uses.
Honestly, I first purchased loose leaf tulsi tea so I could play with my bottom dispensing teapot that I received as a gift from a dear friend. NOTE: I also purchased this *Aberdeen Tea Infuser by GROSCHE which is very similar, and I love it because it easily disassembles for cleaning.
Back to the tea! The *Organic India Tulsi Original Loose Leaf Herbal Tea packaging says that it “encourages tranquility, clarity, relief from stress, robust immunity and stamina”. I drank it regularly during high stress periods at work, and I loved the taste. In fact, I think it’s time to re-introduce tulsi into my Tea Time rotation!
Green Tea
For years I’ve heard how green tea is “good for you”, but it wasn’t until I read *Eat to Beat Disease by Dr. William W. Li that I really learned just how good! According to the author, it has been shown to kill cancer stem cells. The EGCG (a polyphenol in the green tea leaves) reduces the growth of colon cancer stem cells by 50 percent. Further he states:
Another study from the University of Salford in England showed that matcha green tea, a form of powderized tea leaf, can interrupt the metabolic pathway of breast cancer stem cells, depriving them of energy and causing them to die. The effect of the EGCG in green tea on targeting cancer stem cells may help explain the protective effects of tea against colon and other cancers.
Eat to Beat Disease by William W. Li MD
Have a listen as Dr. Li answers “Can Green Tea prevent cancer?”
>>>Matcha Green Tea
Speaking of matcha green tea, I recently tried this *Jade Leaf Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder (Premium Culinary Grade). After digging into the difference between the grades, I learned that the culinary grade is good for making lattes, baking and cooking. For just making traditionally prepared tea, the ceremonial grade is intended for this use case. Ultimately, these are considered guidelines and the choice is yours! Using the culinary grade matcha tea, I whipped up a lovely Matcha Green Tea latte using the sweetener of my choice. YUM!
>>>Pomegranate Green Tea
Recently, I was thrilled to find this *Organic Pomegranate Green Tea. Based on Dr. Li’s book, I noticed this tea includes 2 powerful ingredients that benefit the body’s health defense systems: green tea and pomegranate. Check out his blog post regarding immunity to find out about the significance of pomegranate juice and other foods.
>>>Green Tea Impact on Influenza and Common Cold
While researching for this post I stumbled on an interesting National Institutes of Health article regarding the possible effect of EGCG on Influenza and the common cold viruses. However it does indicate, “Although experimental studies showed antiviral activity with tea consumption, evidence for its clinical efficacy is not conclusive.” Still, given all the other benefits from consuming green tea, it isn’t a hard sell for me to switch it to a daily Tea Time event.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is an herbal tea made with the dried flower petals that has anti-inflammatory & cancer starving properties. In his book, Dr. Li states the following:
Researchers at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal, found that chamomile tea could inhibit angiogenisis by interfering with the signals needed to activate vascular cells to start developing blood cells.
Eat to Beat Disease by William W. Li MD
Try this *Buddha Teas Organic Chamomile Flower Tea or find a brand/variation that you prefer.
>>>Drink to Beat Disease
Hear about the wonders of green and chamomile tea in Dr. Li’s own words. Check out this short video from Day 2 of his Drink to Beat Disease series from August 2021. Finally, this NIH article section documents the Scientific Evaluation of Chamomile in detail. Be sure to also see the Safety Issues section of the same article.
Well that’s it. This isn’t intended to be an exhaustive list, but it’s a good start for Tea Time. What about you? What are your current “go to” teas and why? Let us know in the Comment section.
Recent Comments