Surprising Benefits of Tea!

Tea offers many benefits to your body. The leaves that are packed into those little tea bags are full of flavor and many great nutrients. Tea is the most commonly consumed beverage world wide after water. Tea originated in China around 2737 B.C. Leaves from a black tea shrub accidentally landed in some boiling water, and thus tea was discovered! Tea is referred to any herbs, spices, flowers or leaves that are dried and used to flavor hot water in the future. Sometimes bark and even twigs are used in specialty teas as well.

To prepare the tea, use very hot water. Steep the tea bag or strainer for 3-5 minutes to allow the nutrients to be released from the tea leaves and placed into the water. The longer you steep your tea, the stronger the flavor will be and the higher concentration of nutrients it will contain. Tea bags may be used for multiple servings at one time, but with each additional cup, the tea will become weaker and less nutritious. It is important to pour the hot water over the tea bag to initiate the release of nutrients.

If you are struggling from allergies, there are some easy tea remedies you can try. Tea that contains thyme can soothe the sinuses and help relieve the symptoms of allergies. Thyme contains antiseptic properties that help your body fight infections. Breathing in the steam can give you an extra burst of sinus cleansing! You can even brew a cup of thyme tea, making it very strong, and then add it to your bath water. The aromatherapy will be very soothing to your entire body.

The tea called "Pau d'arco" is a very well known tea amongst homeopathic medical professionals. It is the ultimate flu fighter! The tea is made from a bark and can usually be found only at a health food store or food co-op. It helps your body to fight bacteria and other microorganisms that may cause the flu or other unwanted effects to your body. This tea can be consumed daily to help boost your immune system!

To rid your body of stomach aches, menstrual cramps and even motion sickness try tea that contains ginger. The ginger root has been known to calm the stomach when nausea is present. Ginger helps your stomach by stimulating digestion. Some other herbs to look for in tea to calm your stomach include: fennel, anise and cardamom.

Tea can also be very beneficial to your skin. To keep your skin hydrated with a healthy glow, look for tea made of rose hips. The rose hips contain high levels of Vitamin K that will help rid your body of damaging toxins. For dull hair, try a tea that contains rosemary. Rosemary is proven to clean the follicles of your hair and also promotes more rapid growth of your hair.

Black and green teas are now known for their cancer fighting properties. They contain high levels of polyphenols, an antioxidant. These polyphenols may protect your cells from carcinogens and have also been shown to decrease the size of tumors. Drinking multiple cups of tea a day may also reduce your chance of heart attacks.

Different types of teas are consumed all over the world. The tea leaves have been an ancient source of flavor all while not knowing the many benefits the tea may provide. Next time you are at the store, why not browse the tea aisle and search for some of the ingredients listed to boost your immunity and ward off any other unwanted symptoms you may suffer from! Enjoy that daily cup of tea to promote a better well-being!