Inflammation is one of the leading causes of several common diseases. If you have been dealing with issues related to inflammation, you know the struggle all too well.
There are things you can do though! Like eating foods that reduce inflammation and drinking anti inflammatory tea.
What causes Inflammation?
The link between poor eating habits and inflammation has been given much attention in recent years.
While inflammation helps our body to heal itself, prolonged inflammation caused by toxins we ingest and not getting sufficient exercise to excrete these toxins has led to diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, disorders of the skin, crohn’s disease, asthma, heart disease and even cancer.
Scientific research has also lead many to conclude that simple changes to our diet can significantly reduce the likelihood of suffering from these dreadful conditions.
One such dietary change is incorporating various teas which help to control or prevent inflammation into your diet.
Best Anti Inflammatory Teas
Tea's are a favorite remedy of mine. With so many choices, you can almost always find an herb to help with what ails you. Here are a few of my favorite herbal teas for inflammation.
Dandelion
As strange as this may sound, dandelion tea packs a powerful punch in the fight against inflammation. This unassuming weed can be used to detox your body, reduce bloating caused by water retention, treat constipation and calms upset stomachs.
Although many have just begun to explore the full potential of dandelions, this plant has been used by both the Chinese and Native Americans for its medicinal properties for hundreds of years.
This little "weed" can be found in many lawns. If you decide to naturally forage dandelion yourself, be sure that it comes from an area that wasn't sprayed with pesticides, or too close to a street, as they could be contaminated.
Ginger
Ginger tea is another great anti inflammatory tea. Ginger has been branded as a superfood and it is clear to see how it earned that title. Ginger has been harvested for its medicinal properties for centuries.
It is often used to treat stomach issues such as nausea and indigestion since it soothes the intestinal tract.
This study stated
"As a result of anti-inflammatory effect of ginger, it can reduce muscle pain after intense physical activity."
An added benefit, ginger has a distinct, yet pleasant taste and can be consumed as a tea or spice.
Turmeric
Turmeric tea is closely related to ginger and has also been getting a lot of attention since it helps protect our bodies from dangerous inflammation.
Curcumin is the substance contained in turmeric which inhibits inflammation and also gives the spice its distinct bright yellow color.
It is recommended that you always add a touch of black pepper to your turmeric tea, since this will ensure that you are able to absorb the nutrients contained in the tea fully.
Green Tea
Another great tea for inflammation is green tea. The Japanese have glamorized Matcha Green Tea as the key to their longevity. This tea is made from the powdered leaves of the green tea plant.
This tea helps to keep dangerous inflammation at bay because it contains unusually high amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential because they help to prevent the type of inflammation caused by free radicals.
Eucalyptus
We are all quite accustomed to Eucalyptus oil. This aromatic oil is used to relieve congestion cause by colds or allergies. I was amazed when I discovered it could also be utilized in the form of a tea.
This trick was borrowed from the aboriginal people who still reside in Australia. They have been using Eucalyptus tea to treat inflammatory diseases like arthritis, for thousands of years.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon not only adds a delicious flavor to our sweet treats, but studies have shown that it can also be used to manage prolonged inflammation.
Fennel
Fennel is another plant that is primarily used to add flavor to our foods but is also quite beneficial to our health. Additionally, Fennel helps us to relax since it contains analgesic compounds. Recent studies have even confirmed that fennel may be used to alleviate the pain of menstrual cramps.
No matter which herbal tea you decide to make use of, here are a few simple tips:
Never boil any delicate leaves. It is better to steep the leaves by pouring hot (but not boiling) water over them to get the best flavor and preserve its medicinal properties.
Use healthier sweeteners like honey and spices instead of granulated sugar, to enhance the flavor of your tea. Sometimes a little lemon juice can make it more palatable.
You can also try combing two or more of the herbs above for a delicious and inflammation fighting blend. This can also help tone down some of the flavors. For example, Dandelion tea is quite bitter.
While this is useful for those with digestive issues, it may make it difficult to drink. But if you add ginger and cinnamon to it, also the flavors are less intense and the tea becomes naturally sweeter.
Ensure that you consult a medical practitioner before deciding to incorporate these special teas into your diet. This is especially so if you are pregnant or taking medication for a pre-existing health condition.
By now, you should realize that a lot of the ingredients we have in our homes can be used to help keep us healthy. Maintaining your health does not have to be expensive.
Once you spend some time doing a little careful research, you will discover more about how you can eat your way to good health. Now is the time to take decisive action to improve your health.
Leave a Reply