LET’S SPICE UP OUR TEA
Adeolu Eletu
“Chiya khaau na” or “Let’s have a cup of tea”… We, all, must have either said or heard it a lot of times. No matter what the weather or the time, No one can really deny the opportunity to have a cup of tea, really. Tea is one of the most popular recreational drinks in our country. After water, tea is the highest consumed beverage in the entire world. In addition to being a delicious, refreshing drink, Tea also has health-promoting properties. We have been consuming tea since we were a baby but did you know its benefits? It helps prevent cancer, increase blood circulation, lower blood pressure and blood sugar, boost metabolism, lower bad cholesterol, and blood fat levels. It also helps increase the fat burning process, slow down the action of digestive enzymes, promote fat oxidization, soothe the digestive system, calm your mind and the list goes on. If you are lucky, unlike me, you get to wake up in the morning with a hot cup of tea at your bedside. (I have to prepare the tea on my own.) But only recently did I learn how we could transform a plain black tea into a blissful drink. That can be achieved by using the herbs, spices, and flowers that we can find at home or our surroundings. The spices not only help boost the flavor of the tea but also help in promoting our health. The spices and herbs bring their unique taste and also health benefits to the table. Following is the list of herbs and spices along with their benefits that we can add to our tea to make it taste better: It reduces inflammation, relieves stress, and tension. It relieves nausea, improves digestion, and blood circulation. It strengthens immunity, relieves congestion, and cleans sinuses. It relieves stress and anxiety, promotes restful sleep, clears sinuses, and relieves sore throat. It is a natural appetite suppressant. It also helps prevent bloating and gas. It balances hormones, helps clear skin, and soothes burns and rashes. It is beneficial for cold and flu, indigestion, and stomach pain. It helps relieve pain, hypertension. It lowers cholesterol and increases antioxidants. It helps improve mental health and fight viruses. It is also helpful in fighting the harmful effects of inflammation. It detoxifies the body and boosts digestive function. It enhances skin wellness and promotes heart health. It also helps soothe migraines. It helps alleviate depression and anxiety. It regulates blood sugar and remedies inflamed gums. It is high in antioxidants, may help protect against cancer, can kill bacteria, may improve liver health, and can help treat stomach cancer. It also has antiseptic, antiviral, and anti-microbial properties that keep common infections, cold, and cough at bay. It helps improve digestion and also helps boost metabolic rate which further helps in weight loss. It is good for digestion, anti-inflammatory in nature, and is helpful in fighting against depression. It also helps cleanse the skin from within. It supports liver function and helps detoxify the body. It promotes a healthy gut and helps heal an upset stomach. It helps in digestion, detoxing, and cleansing one’s body from with and regulation of high blood pressure. It boosts metabolism and burns fat. It also relieves menstrual pain and heals cold and flu. It helps manage stress and anxiety. It helps in gradual weight loss. It is used to improve memory power and prevent memory loss. It prevents one’s lungs from damage and helps aid digestion and prevent obesity. It also has anti-aging properties and relieves inflammation and pain. It aids diabetes treatment and fights inflammation. It helps reduce cancer risk and fight fungal infection. It helps treat respiratory issues and improve skin health. It helps cure cough and cold and helps digestion. It boosts blood circulation and treats sleep trouble. It is also known to be a secret to longevity. Ayurveda Expert Dr. Ashutosh Gautam suggests that cardamom is one such spice that must be consumed on a daily basis in order to stay healthy and increase your life span. It helps boost the immune system and aids digestion. It helps one prevent sore throat, cold, and cough. It keeps one’s blood pressure under check and helps detoxify the body. It is high in antioxidants which basically help prevent heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. It aids digestion and helps get rid of gas. It treats cough and cold, fights infection, supports brain function, and helps improve overall health. It is rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C, which help fight free radicals that are responsible for early aging and diabetes. It helps improve digestion, alleviate cramps, and reduce nausea. It also helps treat digestive ailments such as bloating, gas, indigestion, and constipation. Just because your tea has now gotten tastier does not mean you should drink a lot of tea. You might know some people who drink 5 to 6 cups of tea every day. Now that the winter is coming we are going to be drinking lots of tea. Yes, tea has its benefits but too much is not advisable. There have been different studies that have different opinions on how much intake of tea is good. On average, 3 to 5 cups of tea in a day is fine. So let’s impress our guests and relatives by spicing up our tea.
