Every mama wants to feel good and look good. Though that goal appears easy to achieve for some, other mamas find it hard to find the perfect balance between maintaining a healthy weight and facing the daily stresses of motherhood. What’s a tired mama gotta do? Tea may be the answer.
Apart from proper diet and exercise (plus adequate sleep), some studies back the benefits of drinking tea. It’s easy to consume, widely available, and safe even for lactating mothers. Here are types of tea that could benefit you in your “healthier me” goals.
Tea for better heart health and lower cholesterol levels
Most medicinal teas such as green tea, oolong tea, black tea, rooibos tea and white tea aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. These teas are believed to improve blood circulation. Green tea can lower the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease. It can also lower triglycerides (fat found in the blood) and low density lipo-protein (bad cholesterol). Overall, flavonoids (antioxidants) found in tea are good for the heart and may even reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Turmeric tea also helps loosen restricted blood vessels. If you are a smoker, you are more prone to menstrual cramps because smoking cigarettes may cause a decrease of oxygen levels in the uterus and constriction of blood vessels. Better quit smoking and add turmeric to your diet.
Weight loss made faster by tea
Oolong tea stimulates fat burning while green tea promotes weight loss and fat burning. Moreover, it is a calorie-free drink so you can have as much as you want without the guilt! Both teas, including ginger tea, can help in improving metabolism and proper digestion. Tea, in general, can positively modify gut bacteria which helps in weight loss.
Tea to tame your sugar levels
Hibiscus Tea can ward off cravings for unhealthy sweets. Oolong tea is believed to reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Chamomile tea’s antioxidants can help prevent diabetes complications such as nerve and kidney damage. Black tea is known to reduce blood sugar levels after eating a meal. Insulin plant tea, considered to have originated in India, is believed to lower blood glucose levels.
Better brain health with a cup of tea
Oolong tea contains L – Theanine, an amino acid responsible for alertness and reduction of anxiety. It is also known to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, Peppermint tea aids in easing headaches and migraines. Green tea, on the other hand, reduces the risk of stroke; can also counteract the oxidative stress in the brain.
Turmeric, on the other hand, can ease inflammation in your immune system.Thanks to its main substance curcumin, turmeric may also prevent depression because as shown in studies in animals, curcumin affects serotonin and dopamine, which are brain chemicals responsible for your mood, sleep, and anxiety. A drop in serotonin levels could drive depression and make it harder for you to respond properly to stress.
Tea for healthy skin
Tea to aid lactation
Some types of tea aid in lactation. It calms and soothes the breastfeeding mama, allowing improved milk production. While tea is a diuretic, it could improve mama’s liquid intake if more water is consumed after every tea time.
Less menstrual cramps
What triggers menstrual cramps? An excess of hormone-like, inflammatory compounds called prostaglandins are released by the endometrium as they break down, causing the contractions. The more prostaglandins released, the more severe your menstrual cramps will be. But fret not, because women now have an option to lessen these monthly pains, with the help of turmeric, either in powder or drink form.
Turmeric tea aids in digestion. Drink it hot or add its powder form to a soup to help your body digest food, especially if you have a fatty and oily diet. Remember that when you have a high cholesterol meal, your body may produce more estrogen that prompts thicker uterine walls. This could increase incidents of painful cramps.
Turmeric may be a good alternative to some menstrual cramp culprits like caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol increases your estrogen levels--more estrogen means thicker uterine wall. If you want to sip something hot in the morning or in between work breaks, opt for decaffeinated and non-alcoholic turmeric tea! It’s healthier, delicious, and affordable too.
Tea for great memory
In a study, Dr. Gary Small and his colleagues in the Longevity Center at the University of California, Los Angeles found that curcumin, a key component of Turmeric, improved the condition of adults with mild memory problems. After standard cognitive tests for six (6) months, conclusive results showed that those who have been taking curcumin twice daily have shown a notable (28%) improvement in memory tests as opposed to those who took placebo and showed no significant improvement.
In the same study, it was learned that those who took curcumin had lower levels of the protein beta-amyloid and tau proteins, both of which can determine the probability of Alzheimer’s disease at an early onset. If curcumin could help break down these proteins, you are less likely to have Alzheimer’s as you age.
Apart from preventing Alzheimer’s, curcumin was also found to be helpful in improving the health of diagnosed patients. In a study by Shrikant Mishra and Kalpana Palanivelu published in the Annals of Indian Academy and Neurology, it said:
“Due to various effects of curcumin, such as decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation, the overall memory in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease has improved.”
Antibacterial, antiviral properties of some tea
Most of us drink tea to soothe colds and sore throat, or aid the food to pass the gut, there is certainly a lot more to tea than meets the eye. Most teas have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that provide added immune boost. It can even help your body detoxify. So, turn the heat up, put the kettle on and enjoy your cup of tea.
You can check out plenty of tea variants and flavors here on edamama to start your tea drinking journey.
