Inflammation is not something to take lightly. When you get injured or sick, your body’s inflammatory response comes on the scene to try and fix things. That’s fine in the short term. But it’s more problematic when inflammation sticks around too long and becomes chronic. In fact, low-grade inflammation can lead to serious health issues like arthritis, heart disease, even cancer.
What you put into your body has an enormous impact on whether inflammation calms down or rages on. That’s why your diet matters so much. While there’s no single food or beverage that, by itself, can reign in inflammation, certain types of tea may help calm your body’s inflammatory response by vanquishing free radicals that contribute to inflammation. Although coffee contains antioxidants, you might enjoy taking a break from this hyper-caffeinated beverage.
Let’s look at five types of tea that could become your new go-to drinks for keeping inflammation at bay. You’ll also discover how best to enjoy their deliciousness and reap those anti-inflammatory benefits. Are you ready to become a tea connoisseur?
The Soothing Chamomile Flower
Chamomile tea gets all the credit for being a total stress-relieving, snooze-inducing wonder drink. But did you know this humble little flowery tea also packs a powerful anti-inflammatory punch?
Chamomile comes from the chamomile plant’s fresh blooms, and it’s loaded with natural compounds like terpenoids and flavonoids that give it potential medicinal superpowers.
For centuries, chamomile has been used to help tame inflammation and ease issues like hay fever, muscle spasms, menstrual cramps, ulcers, wounds, and even gut problems. However, evidence is anecdotal or supported by small studies. But based on preliminary research, it’s a beverage with anti-inflammatory properties minus caffeine. Just brew up those bright yellow flowers, inhale the calming aroma and sip the fragrant liquid.
Decaf Green Tea: The Antioxidant Powerhouse
Green tea gets all the health headlines due to its powerful antioxidants, especially this rockstar compound called EGCG. Scientists have been seriously studying EGCG’s potential to fight inflammation in the body.
But here’s the catch – regular green tea also contains caffeine. If you’re trying to cut back on the jitters or just avoid caffeine altogether, no worries! Decaf green tea has you covered. It’s like the chill, caffeine-free cousin that still brings all those amazing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits to the party.
Preliminary research even hints that regularly sipping on green tea, whether caffeinated or decaf, could lower your risk of certain chronic diseases over time. But we’ll need more studies to confirm that theory. For now, just know that decaf green tea is a tasty way to give your body an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory boost, minus the buzz from caffeine.
Turmeric Tea: The Golden Spice
Turmeric has been the golden child of ancient medicinal practices like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. And for good reason – this vibrant yellow spice contains the powerful anti-inflammatory compound curcumin.
Making a warm, soothing turmeric tea by steeping freshly grated turmeric root or pure turmeric powder is like sipping on an all-natural inflammation-fighter. And since it’s caffeine-free, you can enjoy it any time of day without worrying about the jitters.
There’s another reason to love it. Research suggests that curcumin could be just as effective as certain anti-inflammatory drugs at reducing inflammation but without any of the gnarly side effects.
If you deal with achy, swollen joints or arthritis, turmeric tea could be your new best friend. That curcumin works its magic by helping to calm down inflammation in those problem areas. So why not spice up your tea game and add a little turmeric to your rotation? Just don’t spill it on anything – that bright yellow will stain like crazy!
Ginger Tea: The Spicy Healer
There’s just something comforting about cozying up with a steaming mug of spicy, invigorating ginger tea. This zingy root has been used for its medicinal magic for centuries, and it’s no wonder why.
Ginger contains these powerful compounds called gingerol and zingerone which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant superstars. You can brew up delicious ginger tea by steeping fresh ginger root or using the dried stuff.
Research suggests this warming beverage could help ease achy arthritis joints, soothe sore muscles (hello, post-workout treat!), and even take the edge off exercise-induced muscle soreness and inflammation. It’s a tasty way to give your body some TLC.
But ginger’s benefits don’t stop there. That same soothing power can work wonders on an unhappy gut by reducing nausea and calming digestive woes. Just be cautious if you deal with chronic acid reflux, as ginger could potentially aggravate that in some cases.
Overall, a lovely ginger tea ritual could be your new best friend for fighting inflammation from head to toe (and everywhere in between!).
Rooibos Tea: The African Red Bush
Rooibos tea, made from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant, is a naturally caffeine-free tea from South Africa. It has a unique flavor and a host of health benefits, and like the other options mentioned, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Rooibos contains aspalathin and nothofagin, two chemical compounds that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. To get the most inflammation reduction, choose unfermented “green” rooibos.
Incorporating Anti-Inflammatory Teas into Your Diet
Here are practical tips for getting the most out of your anti-inflammatory teas:
- To reap the anti-inflammatory benefits, make these teas a regular part of your diet. Sipping them on occasion and drinking soft drinks the rest of the time won’t do much to suppress your body’s inflammatory response.
- Choose organic teas, when possible, to avoid pesticides and other chemicals that could have harmful effects.
- Follow the instructions for brewing to extract the most antioxidants and other beneficial compounds from your chosen tea.
- If you take medication or have a health condition, talk to your healthcare provider before adding these teas to your regimen. They could affect the metabolism of your medications and other supplements.
Enjoy the Benefits of Sipping Anti-Inflammatory Tea
The herbal tea world is an absolute goldmine of tasty remedies. We’re talking chamomile, decaf green tea, turmeric, ginger, rooibos – the list goes on and on with caffeine-free options that lack caffeine and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Why not pour yourself a cup right now and toast to taking charge of your health, one wonderfully herbaceous sip at a time? Your body will thank you!
References:
- Srivastava JK, Shankar E, Gupta S. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Mol Med Rep. 2010 Nov 1;3(6):895-901. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2010.377. PMID: 21132119; PMCID: PMC2995283.
- Roberts JD, Willmott AGB, Beasley L, Boal M, Davies R, Martin L, Chichger H, Gautam L, Del Coso J. The Impact of Decaffeinated Green Tea Extract on Fat Oxidation, Body Composition and Cardio-Metabolic Health in Overweight, Recreationally Active Individuals. Nutrients. 2021 Feb 26;13(3):764. doi: 10.3390/nu13030764. PMID: 33652910; PMCID: PMC7996723.
- Huizen J. 10 health benefits of turmeric tea. Medicalnewstoday.com. Published January 10, 2020. Accessed February 28, 2024. .medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319638.
- .facebook.com/EatingWell. The 6 Best Anti-Inflammatory Teas. EatingWell. Published 2019. Accessed February 28, 2024. .eatingwell.com/article/2054960/the-6-best-anti-inflammatory-teas/
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