HERE IS PART TWO of our Six-Part Series: Teas for Good Health, Hydration, and Vitality!
See what we discovered about echinacea, ginger, chamomile, hibiscus and rosehips, green tea, and oolong tea, along with tips on how you can enjoy the benefits of each.
Ginger
Native to South Asia and China, ginger is a culinary root that has been celebrated for its spicy flavor and health-promoting qualities for over 5,000 years. From oral health to digestive health, here are three benefits of ginger tea you can start enjoying today. We also added some tips on how you can easily add this antioxidant-rich flavor to your health and hydration routine.
1. Relieve inflammation, muscle soreness, and pain.
Ginger contains raffinose and gingerol. These are two compounds that are shown to temporarily help reduce inflammation and pain. Ginger tea may be an effective remedy for alleviating exercise-induced muscle soreness, menstrual cramps, headaches, and pain from osteoarthritis.
2. Support a healthy, beautiful smile.
If you want to experience your best overall wellbeing, a healthy smile is key. And since 50 percent of American adults over 30 have gum disease, it’s worth paying attention to the health of the tissues that support your teeth!
While it doesn’t replace brushing, flossing, and routine dental visits, the compounds in ginger tea can help reduce plaque. It can also help reduce the inflammation that contributes to cavities and gum disease, making it a great ally to your oral health regimen as well.
3. Reduce nausea and improve digestion.
Your digestive tract (also known as your enteric nervous system) is lined with over 100 million neurons—as many as you’ll find in the brain of a cat! Your digestive tract is also referred to as your “second brain”, it communicates VERY closely with your actual brain about your physical and emotional state. In fact, chronic irritation in your digestive system—such as nausea and indigestion—may even trigger mood changes, such as anxiety and depression.
Ginger tea may help ease indigestion and promote a comfortable post-meal experience. It can also help alleviate nausea from sea sickness, surgery, chemotherapy, and morning sickness.
How to Prepare Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is available in teabags, or can be prepared using fresh ginger root. If you’re using a teabag, steep it in a mug of freshly boiled water for up to 15 minutes and drink once cooled. To prepare fresh ginger tea, peel and thinly slice about 2 inches of fresh ginger, boil in 2 cups of water for 10 to 20 minutes, strain the pieces, and enjoy once cooled.
Unless you have a known ginger allergy or a sensitivity to spicy foods, ginger tea is considered safe for most people. Ginger has a slight blood thinning effect (like aspirin) and may lower blood pressure, check with your doctor if you have a health condition or are currently taking any medications.
