Tea: Beyond Just Warming Your Heart

by Noor H. Salem

In this brittle cold season, picking up a cup of warm tea after having to walk a long distance to your car, or perhaps as you cuddle near the fireplace during a snow storm might feel like the pot of gold behind the rainbow. Tea is simply incredible; you steep from a myriad of different plants or herbs, and end up with a warm cup of goodness.

Nonetheless, it’s essential to note that tea does more than warm your heart on that brittle-cold evening; tea can come along with a myriad of health benefits such as digestive aid, weight-loss, heart health benefits, and more, depending on which kind you drink.

It’s vital to note that not all types of tea are created equal. In fact, some types of tea could contain an excessive amount of toxic pesticide residue due to the harsh chemicals sprayed on them during harvesting. Since tea is not a food that is peeled prior to consumption, it’s highly recommended that you purchase it organic to minimize the pesticide residue. These toxic pesticide residues have been linked to cancer, infertility, cognitive decline, food allergies, and more detrimental consequences down the road.

Some of the best teas for digestive troubles include ginger, peppermint, sage, hibiscus, lavender, and green tea. Ginger or even turmeric tea contain anti-inflammatory properties, and make a perfect addition if you are struggling to reduce joint pain or muscle aches. Peppermint is caffeine free, and can be the optimum choice before bed, as it aids in relaxing your body all in all. If you are looking for a healthy option for energy early morning, green tea is a delicious and remarkably healthy choice. Enjoy drinking tea more often, and simultaneously reduce your intake of sugary sodas, alcohol, and other fruit juice.

This green tea is bursting with antioxidants, digestive benefits, cognitive health benefits, cancer preventive properties, anti-inflammatory properties, blood sugar benefits, and countless more. One of the best tea lines in the market are Choice Organic, ranging from delectable Japanese green tea to shiitake mushroom tea, too. All their teas are certified organic and contain no genetically modified ingredients. Again, be cautious of the residue that could be in the cup of tea you might have assumed was beneficial for your physical and mental well-being, and reach for organic.

For a twist to a traditional warm cup of tea in the winter, try this homemade iced green tea recipe for a nourishing and energizing drink. Adding fresh lemon juice boosts the vitamin c value of your drink, while adding a refreshing taste. Furthermore, lemon aids in weight loss, improved digestion, strengthens your immunity, prevents kidney stones, and astonishingly, it freshens the breath.

Using fresh raspberries in this recipe will make your drink sweeter than opting for frozen, so decide based on your sweet tooth. Raspberries are incorporate not only to provide a naturally sourced sweetener, but also for their dietary fiber, antioxidants, anti-cancer properties, anti-inflammatory properties, cardiovascular benefits, and cognitive health benefits. If it’s not the season for raspberries locally, search for organic frozen raspberries as a wonderful alternative.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Choice Organic Japanese Green Tea, brewed
• 1 cup ice-cold water
• 1 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 teaspoon ginger, ground
• 2 cups organic raspberries (fresh or frozen)
• ½ cup fresh mint leaves

Directions:

1. Place the tea, lemon juice, and raspberries in a blender and pulse until well incorporated.
2. Pour into serving cups; garnish with fresh mint. Enjoy!

*To make a slushie-like texture, add the fresh mint and three cups of ice to the blender and pulse into crushed. Serve immediately for optimum taste.

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.