Tea has been around for thousands of years. Many claim that it is the remedy for a multitude of health issues varying from stomach aches to diabetes. Since tea comes in so many flavors and varieties, it seems that not only is there a type of tea that will suit everyone’s taste buds, but there might also be a health remedy that we each can benefit from.
Whether you suffer from minor aches and pains—like a stomach ache— or if you are fighting a bigger battle—like cancer— it seems tea may help each of us in some way. While tea can’t replace the medicine of a doctor, it still can be enjoyed as a way to boost your immune system, calm your mind, or provide a helping hand in fighting off infections. You just need to know what type of tea to buy.
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If you are drinking tea to help a certain disorder, it’s important to know which type of tea does what for the body. Having a cup of tea isn’t a one-size-fits-all health benefit; in fact, different kinds of teas will provide different health benefits.
Hello Natural, a health and wellness website, formulated a list of fifteen teas that are known to help alleviate different medical needs. They include green, black, and chamomile tea among others and give detailed information as to why these teas will help certain ailments. Hello Natural explains that white tea “reigns as the least processed type of tea, making its antioxidant properties the highest […and] can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and is antibacterial.” If you need help getting to sleep or are suffering from stomach pains, chamomile is the tea of choice. “Chamomile can also soothe puffy eyes and can be used as an anti-bacterial mouthwash,” Hello Natural states. Black tea may lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes while peppermint tea is known to curb appetites and clear decongestion. Need a tea to help with your mental state? Passionflower tea is known to help soothe the mind and lessen anxiety. Chamomile tea can help stomach or sleeping problems and white tea has the highest antioxidant properties.
Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD LD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, states that “There doesn’t seem to be a downside to tea. [She thinks] it’s a great alternative to coffee drinking. First, teas has less caffeine. It’s pretty well established that the compounds in tea—their flavonoids—are good for the heart and may reduce cancer,” a medical informational website, WebMD states. When choosing teas, be careful because many of them do have high levels of caffeine, so make sure to take that into account. Not only does drinking tea have its benefits, but tea bags are known to help banish puffy bags around eyes. After you enjoy tea, recycle the tea bag and place them on your eyes for an anti-inflammatory effect. So, the next time grandma asks if you want tea after dinner, take a look in her cupboard. You never know what health benefits you will find.
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