Although the rise of specialist coffee outlets has driven the growth of java around the world for the last decade or so, tea is still one of the most popular drinks in the world, and actually sits in second place (to water’s top billing) when it comes to consumption levels.

If you’re someone who only has the occasional tea though, there are many reasons to add more of the drink to your diet. For starters, tea can be enjoyed in any climate and any time of day because it’s refreshing when served ice cold, and soothing and relaxing when served hot.

teas

The mind and body can also reap many benefits from tea. You might like to enjoy:

  • The stomach-soothing effects of ginger tea
  • An increase in immunity from reishi mushroom tea
  • A variety of vitamin-boosting and other benefits from dandelion root tea, peppermint tea, and green tea

Read on for the rundown on these five top tea choices that are well worth drinking on a regular basis.

1. Reishi Mushroom Tea

In ancient Eastern Medicine, reishi mushrooms were described as the “mushroom of immortality” because of the many benefits the fungus has for the human mind and body. More recently, scientists around the world have been conducting laboratory research on the mushrooms to see what applications the reishi might have for modern Western medicine; they have been reporting exciting results.

In Japan, for instance, the anti-cancer properties of the fungus have been recognized officially, and the government there has condoned use of the mushroom as a cancer treatment. Furthermore, research has also scientifically shown that reishi mushrooms and correspondingly the tea made from the fungi, can:

  • Help to improve focus, memory and concentration
  • Relieve the symptoms of arthritis and muscle aches
  • Work as a natural antihistamine for people suffering from allergies
  • Ward off heart disease and cancer
  • Reduce inflammation
    Relieve anxiety and stress, and calm the nerves
  • Boosting immunity levels

Acting as an immunostimulant, reishi mushrooms are also said to be able to balance out any threats to the body’s equilibrium. This means that reishi mushroom tea may be helpful in treatment conditions and diseases such as high cholesterol, AIDS, chronic bronchitis (and other types of infections), leaky-gut syndrome, constipation, and Epstein-Barr.

2. Dandelion Root Tea

Although many people drink roasted dandelion root as an alternative to coffee (it tastes and looks quite similar), the number of dandelion root tea benefits are incredible. For instance, dandelion root tea can:

  • Act as a liver detoxifier and blood purifier
  • Help to improve blood circulation
  • Regulate blood sugar levels
  • Aid weight loss
  • Improve digestion
  • Reduce the risk of urinary tract infections
  • Help purify the kidneys and the bladder
  • Ease aching joint
  • Reduce bloating
  • Treat a number of skin conditions

The variety of essential vitamins and minerals that dandelion root tea contains, such as magnesium, zinc, vitamin B, vitamin C, potassium, iron, and calcium, are also beneficial for the mind and body in a variety of ways.

3. Green Tea

Popular green tea is another beverage that’s great for your health. The drink is chock full of antioxidants known as catechin polyphenols which, in high concentrations, can help to prevent problems like heart disease, cancer, and high cholesterol.

Studies into the beverage have indicated that drinking green tea daily can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by approximately ten percent (when consuming one cup per day), as well as aid in weight loss when three or more cups are drunk each day. The catechin compounds in green tea assist with losing weight because they work, alongside other chemicals, to increase fat oxidation in the body, as well as a person’s thermogenesis levels (the process that occurs when fat is burned as fuel).

4. Ginger Tea

If you regularly suffer from the symptoms of motion sickness, or feel the cold a lot, it is a good idea to start drinking ginger tea more regularly. Ginger is well-known as a digestive aid that helps with travel sickness, as it can curb nausea, vomiting and related stomach problems. Tea made from this helpful vegetable also works to warm up the body during cold times of the year, and can quite quickly ward off chills.

5. Peppermint Tea

While it’s a refreshing beverage to drink, peppermint tea also has some great health benefits for the human body. Like ginger tea it can help to sooth the stomach when you’re feeling nauseous, but in addition, it can also help to relieve other stomach issues such as bloating, muscle spasms, and abdominal gas.

Peppermint tea can also be an effective treatment for the symptoms of colds and flu, because the menthol in the leaves (the main active agent) is a decongestant. Menthol soothes sore throats, thins mucus, and helps to break up chesty coughs, making tea made from this plant perfect during the winter months.