TEA TIME!
A cup of tea can really make a difference in your overall health!
As a coffee drinker for as long as I can remember, I never really understood the tea-drinkers. To me, the whole idea of tea was a little fussy and the drinkers of tea seemed a little too quiet and reserved. I identified much more with the edgy, stressed-out, no-nonsense coffee drinkers of the world. And then one day I was sitting in the kitchen of a new friend and she asked if she could make me a chai tea. Not wanting to come across as ungracious, I accepted the offer and found myself watching in awe as she began her elaborate tea prepping ritual. The kettle was put on to boil and she then carefully selected the perfect tea cups and saucers from a diverse collection. She added several teaspoons of chai tea to the boiling water and let it steep for about five minutes. Meanwhile she warmed some oat milk on the stove. She then added the tea infused water to the milk and let it simmer for another five minutes. While the spicy smell of chai filled the room, I felt as if time were standing still. I felt unusually calm and relaxed as I watched her strain the tea leaves and pour the tea into an adorable little teapot. She poured us each a cup and then sprinkled a little cinnamon on top and I could feel my excitement growing as I waited to finally sip from what could one be described as a small cup of love. In that very moment I realized how wrong I had been all these years. I had really been missing out on this tea thing. The time had come for me to venture into the tea-drinking world.
After purchasing the necessary paraphernalia, I began my journey into the world of tea and what exciting things I have learned. As my first experience with chai tea proved, just the ritual of making tea encourages feelings of calm, balance and self-care. The five or ten minutes spent making yourself a cup of tea is an act of self-love that can provide a needed break from your busy day to settle your mind and nerves and provide some moments of mindfulness and clarity. In addition to the reflective and self-loving act of making tea, there are also incredible health benefits for your body.
Whether green, black or herbal, tea has many healing benefits. In fact the medicinal benefits of tea have been proclaimed for centuries. For example, tea drinking has been reported to protect brain health, boost immunity, fight inflammation, support weight loss and even ward off cancer and heart disease.
Herbal teas are great for stomach issues, headaches, sleep and relaxation. Green tea is often considered a superfood as it is loaded with antioxidants. Green tea protects heart health by minimizing inflammation that can restrict circulation and cause blood clots. Catechins in green tea may help keep blood sugar in check, prevent cell damage and reduce formation of free radicals which play a role in aging and many disease processes. Green tea may also help accelerate weight loss due to amino acids that signal the body to burn stored fat. Black tea like chai is rich in theanine an amino acid that benefits your immune system and mental focus. Studies have also found polyphenols in black tea can improve gut health.
Whatever tea you prefer to drink, it is important to use high quality tea leaves. The leaves should be similar in size and shape and should unfurl slowly as you steep them. They should not be overly dried or old. Two of my favorite tea brands for delicious quality tea are Vahdam and Numi.
The small act of making yourself a cup of tea benefits your mind, body and soul. If you are already a tea drinker, when you slow down to enjoy your tea, make sure you take a moment to enjoy its aroma and watch your tea leaves mingle with the water and change color. Not only are you benefiting your health but you are practicing mindfulness too. If you’ve never tried tea and all this tea talk has piqued your interest, I highly recommend adding some tea time to your repertoire. You won’t regret it!