The main teas and their health benefits
The tradition of brewing herbs, flowers and fruits is ancient. As such, teas have crossed generations and remain among the most appreciated options in the world. However, more than one ideal drink to drink all year round, each type of tea can have different health benefits.
Tasty and healthy, teas can be incorporated into the diet to help speed up metabolism, detoxify the body or provide relaxation after a busy and tiring day. In addition, each herb has special properties, ranging from antioxidant action to decreased abdominal discomfort, for example.
With so many advantages, there is no excuse for not having at least one cup of tea just before bed. Certainly the properties of the drink will bring great results to your body as healthy and natural as possible.
The properties of teas
Besides being a tasty drink, each tea can bring a lot of benefits to your body and give that little help when it comes to losing weight, relaxing or improving digestion. TodaEla talked to nutritionist Claudio Souza, who explained to us better what are the main functions of teas and how they act in the body.
Diuretic Teas
They are those that help in the functioning of the kidneys, helping in the excretion of metabolic waste produced by the body. By encouraging this elimination of waste, diuretic teas often contribute greatly to weight loss.
The most recommended diuretic herbs are white tea, black tea, green tea, red tea, lemon balm and carqueja.
Soothing Teas
They are those that have the power to decrease the activity of the central nervous system, acting on muscle relaxation and causing the reduction of anxiety and body stress. To take better advantage of the effects, nutritionist Claudio Souza recommends that this type of tea be drunk at night, just before bed.
The most recommended soothing herbs are fennel and chamomile.
Antioxidant Teas
The constant chemical reactions that happen in our body can trigger the formation of free radicals, which are elements that cause damage to our body, mainly resulting in aging. Flavonoids, present in vegetables, fruits and teas, have the power to fight free radicals and thus prevent cell aging.
The most recommended antioxidant herbs are white tea and hibiscus.
Stimulating teas
While soothing teas act to slow the activity of the central nervous system, stimulating herbs act in the same region to increase nerve impulses, thereby accelerating blood flow, heartbeat and blood pressure. The goal of ingesting this type of tea is to improve the willingness to perform daily activities. The element that triggers these reactions is caffeine. Because they are beverages that concentrate large amounts of caffeine, the expert recommends that the consumption be done only in the morning and afternoon so as not to influence the night rest.
The most recommended stimulant herbs are green tea, black tea and yerba mate.
Digestive Teas
After meals, it is common for some people to report the appearance of gastrointestinal discomfort. This annoyance can be caused by specific foods or even fat intolerance in some dishes. In this way, these teas help in the digestive process and eliminate discomfort. This type of drink also helps to remove impurities from the body, especially from the liver, and also serves as a great detoxification ally.
The most recommended digestive herbs are chamomile, bilberry, mint, carqueja, red tea and green tea.
The power of each element
In addition to the diuretic, soothing, antioxidant, stimulant and digestive characteristics, there are several herbs that have specific properties that can greatly contribute to the health of the body. To better understand one of these benefits, TodaEla spoke with nutritionist Carolina Morais, who explains the action of the most common herbs.
- Rosemary: In addition to being a powerful healer, it also has digestive function and assists in the treatment of gastritis.
- Garlic: With anti-inflammatory effect, garlic helps lower cholesterol and acts against coughs and colds in general.
- Chile Bilberry: A powerful herb to aid the digestive process and bring comfort to those suffering from heartburn and gastritis.
- Chamomile: In addition to its known calming effect, chamomile enhances antibacterial activity and softens cramps by reducing muscle spasms. It is indicated for pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding because it avoids the cramps of babies.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon has the power to speed up metabolism and improve insulin function. It can help lessen mild cramps and gas and give a feeling of gastric fullness.
- Horsetail: The herb helps to eliminate trapped fluids and, consequently, reduces swelling. It is also rich in minerals, especially silicon, which contributes to skin health.
- Lemon balm: In addition to alleviating abdominal cramps and gas, lemon balm has the power to relax the nervous system, promote sleep and decrease anxiety.
- Hibiscus: Hibiscus flower tea is known for its antioxidant action, which prevents cell aging, as well as being diuretic and improving blood circulation.
- Mint: Ideal for reducing gastric discomfort, the herb is digestive and stimulating. It can even alleviate headaches and lessen anxiety.
The Best Way To Prepare Your Tea
To get the most out of each of the teas, you need to pay attention to some details when preparing them. For this reason, nutritionist Carolina Morais explains to us the ideal way to prepare the drink.
According to the expert, there is a difference between soft and hard plants. Soft herbs - which are the softest and most brittle herbs and flowers - should be prepared by infusion. For hard herbs - which are the hardest ones, such as horsetail, for example - the nutritionist recommends the preparation by decoction. For both methods, the ratio should be 1 tbsp of fresh or dehydrated herb, flower or fruit for each liter of water.
In the infusion, the water should be boiled to boiling point, then turn off the heat, add the herbs and let the preparation rest for a few minutes. The expert reminds us that the longer the drink is resting, the more pronounced its taste will be. In decoction, wait until the water reaches its boiling point, add the herbs and cover the container. Lower the heat and keep it for about 5 minutes.
Once ready and strained, the best way to pack the teas is in glass bottles. To make them even tastier and more refreshing, they can be stored in the fridge and drunk cold or blended with fruit of your choice.
Carolina Morais' last tip is always to prefer fresh or dehydrated herbs when preparing your tea. This is because the industrialized teas, which come in bags, usually have the addition of antifungals to increase their validity.
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Lastly, always look for a nutritionist when choosing to include teas in your diet. This will give you the best directions for achieving your goals in a healthy way, knowing exactly how to combine herbs, the right amount and time to take them, and taking full advantage of them.
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