Wellness
Now that my favorite season has arrived, I had to make sure that I shared at least one article on the topic of teas — because if there is one thing that is super soothing to the soul (that also has proven health benefits), it’s a hot cup of herbal tea (with a teaspoon of honey in it). The reason why we’re going to explore teas that specifically can help to improve moods is because, let’s not act like a lot of what is going on in our country right now isn’t stressful AF.
And just like I’ve told some of my friends, this is the time to almost become obsessed with cultivating a sanctuary space within your home (check out “15 Ways To Make Your Home A Cozy Sanctuary This Fall”) and doing as much pampering and self-care as possible, so that you can feel calm and relaxed. And yes, one way to do that is to know what you can consume that will help to make you feel better.
That starts with 10 teas that can help you in an abundance of ways — including when it comes to elevating your moods (which is something that we all need from time to time)…just in time for cooler weather and all that fall has to offer (yay!).
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1. Turmeric Tea
Antioxidants-wise, turmeric tea is pretty potent. And that is why health experts say that it is able to do everything from strengthen your heart and soothe arthritis-related symptoms to improve the quality of your liver and even decrease some of the symptoms that are directly associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). And yes, if you happen to be having a low day, the super active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, can help to boost your moods and even make depression-related symptoms less apparent.
2. Passionflower Tea
Feeling a little stressed out? If so, passionflower tea may be just what you need. I say that because the strong antioxidants in this tea can help to relieve anxiety, decrease symptoms that are associated with menopause (like hot flashes and headaches), can lower your blood pressure and is supreme when it comes to improving your quality of rest. Also, since passionflower tea has a reputation for being a sex hormone balancer, if you’re in a cranky mood because your libido hasn’t been where it usually is, this is a tea that can help out in that department as well.
3. Chamomile Tea
If you’ve got digestion issues, you want to control your blood sugar levels a bit better or you want to do a bit more to keep your heart health intact — where’s your chamomile tea at? Aside from all of what I just said, this herbal tea is a fan favorite among many health experts because it also hydrates skin, helps to heal acne (from the inside out), makes it easier to sleep and it even has properties in it that can lower your risk of being diagnosed with certain types of cancer.
And if you know that your moods have something to do with a lack of sleep or you are feeling restless in some way, chamomile tea may just be the all-natural remedy that you’ve been looking for. For decades, it’s had the reputation for helping to relax people to the point where they are able to feel soothed and are able to sleep soundly.
4. Black Tea
Black tea is one of the most popular teas when it comes to getting rid of free radicals. This is important because the stronger your body’s cells are, the stronger your immune system will be and the less likely you will have to deal with chronic diseases.
Black tea is also a winner because it helps to lower cholesterol levels and improve your gut health, it has the potential to decrease your blood pressure and reduce your risk of experiencing a stroke and, if you can’t seem to concentrate on something (in the moment) to save your life, black tea is a drink that can make it easier to focus too — not to mention the fact that black tea increases longevity…and if that doesn’t put you in a good mood, what in the world will? LOL.
Seriously though, black tea also makes the “good mood list” because it has properties that contain polyphenols (a group of plant-based chemical compounds) that have been directly linked to less stress and better moods.
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5. Lavender Tea
Lavender tea is the kind of tea that every woman should have in her possession. Since it contains anti-inflammatory properties, it can help to relieve menstrual discomfort. Since it contains antifungal elements, it can help to treat yeast infections from the inside out. Since it is loaded with antioxidants, it can strengthen your immune system and even encourage hair growth. And just how is it good for your moods? Well, something else that lavender tea’s properties are able to do is calm your nervous system down. And the less anxious you are, usually the better you end up feeling…right?
6. Lemon Balm Tea
If you’re looking to get rid of a bit of inflammation in your system, look no further than lemon balm tea because, among science and health experts alike, it has a solid reputation for that. Lemon balm tea is also good for you when it comes to bringing relief to menstrual cramps (which damn near puts us all in a bad mood), improving symptoms that are related to insomnia, strengthening your memory and overall cognitive abilities and even treating indigestion.
Another cool thing about lemon balm tea is, since it contains properties that help to relax you, it can put you in a calm state of mind — even under semi-stressful situations.
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7. Chai Tea
Personally, I am a super fan of chai tea. Not only do I like the way that it tastes, I’ve always dug that chai means life in one of my favorite (spiritual) cultures: Hebrew. If you’re curious about how chai tea can help your health and well-being, it does so by filling up your system with antioxidants, reducing menstrual and headache discomfort, easing digestion issues, decreasing muscle-related pain and keeping your blood sugar levels in check.
And if you’re dragging a bit after lunch, chai tea is also great at increasing your energy levels and making you more alert. Chai latte, anyone?
8. Peppermint Tea
Any tea that has a hint of mint is going to automatically be exhilarating — and that alone makes it worthy of this particular tea gem list. Plus, peppermint tea is able to reduce headache (and migraine) discomfort, freshen your breath, clear up nasal congestion, aid in supporting your weight loss efforts and it can also make seasonal allergies easier to deal with.
That said, if the mood that you’re experiencing has something to do with mental fatigue, studies reveal that peppermint has the ability to give you a natural energy boost without putting you on the (potential) roller coaster ride that can come with consuming caffeine. Awesome.
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9. Sage Tea
Areyour cholesterol levels totally off of the charts? You definitely need to have some sage tea in your kitchen cabinet or pantry then. Sage works effectively in this area by improvingyour lipid profile/panel — which basically means that it helps to reduce how much fat is in your bloodstream. Aside from that,sage tea can help you when it comes to fighting off free radicals, improving the quality of your skin, reducing bad breath, soothing a sore throat and decreasing nausea in pregnant women.
How is it great for your mood? Well, if you happen to be going through perimenopause,since it contains estrogen-like properties, it can help to reduce symptoms that are associated with it as well as making it easier to relax and feel less stressed out.
10. Blooming Flower Tea
If you’ve never heard of blooming flower tea before, it’s basically tea that is made out of tea leaves and edible flowers. As a tea lover, I like this particular one because it’s pretty as hell to look at. Beyond that, blooming flower tea also has some impressive health benefits including the fact that many (edible) flowers are loaded with antioxidants and amino acids.
Not only that but they can help to strengthen your immune system, they are able to increase blood circulation throughout your body, they can improve your vision (over time), make your hair and skin (more) radiant and they are superb when it comes to improving digestion and detoxing your system.
Mood-wise, consider a cup or two of blooming flower tea a couple of times a week in order to get more rest at night and experience less brain fog (which can put you in a bad mood due to feeling confused and not being able to concentrate) throughout the day. Yep…pretty and potent. Enjoy, sis. Enjoy!
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