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If you feel like you’re coming down with a cold or the flu, you can speed up your recovery naturally by staying hydrated and drinking a warm cup of herbal tea.
Several studies suggest that some herbal tea ingredients can ease respiratory infection symptoms. Detailed below are teas that can naturally relieve your colds and flu symptoms.
Echinacea is an herb that comes from the purple coneflower. Studies show that it stimulates immune activity to combat bacterial and viral infections. Both echinacea and green tea are full of antioxidants.
According to a small study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, drinking echinacea tea reduces the duration of upper respiratory conditions, as well as the flu.
Elderberry is a dark purple berry. In traditional medicine, elderberry extract is used to help patients recover from the flu or the common cold.
In a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, researchers reported that black elderberry, the most common form of elderberry, has anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. Other studies also revealed that elderberry reduces the duration of the flu.
Green tea is a popular beverage because it has many health benefits.
Medical literature on green tea confirms that this health drink is rich in antioxidants, which help your immune system fight off infections.
Green tea also supports the immune system and promotes a healthy metabolism. Drinking green tea when you have a cold will give you an energy boost as your body fights off the sickness.
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, an essential nutrient that your body needs to fight disease-causing infections.
Lemons are commonly used in home remedies for colds or a sore throat. You can either drink lemon tea or squeeze some lemon juice into your choice of herbal tea to boost its health benefits.
Turmeric tea is another traditional home remedy for colds and the flu. Turmeric is a golden-yellow herb with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Its main active component, curcumin, provides plenty of health benefits.
Turmeric is available as a whole root or in powdered form. Alternatively, you can purchase turmeric supplements in capsule form.
According to studies, consuming ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon (2.5 to 5 g) of turmeric powder with food daily is linked to many health benefits. Similarly, taking 500 to 2,000 mg of turmeric daily (15 to 60 mg of curcumin) also offer certain benefits.
On its own, curcumin can’t be absorbed efficiently into your bloodstream. Consuming curcumin with black pepper enhances absorption since the latter contains a substance called piperine.
Turmeric tea boosts skin health and digestive health. Traditional recipes for turmeric tea contain black pepper and ginger, another herb with anti-inflammatory properties. Adding lemon juice to turmeric tea can also give the drink a vitamin C boost.
However, if you are pregnant, diagnosed with a health condition or are taking medications (e.g., blood-thinning or diabetes medications), you should avoid turmeric as it can cause unpleasant side effects or interact adversely with your medication.
It is generally safe to consume turmeric regularly, but you should avoid it if you have bile duct problems, gallstones or a have a high risk of kidney stones.
Consuming too much turmeric can also cause gastrointestinal discomfort. If you have an iron deficiency or are prone to one, remember that turmeric can impair iron absorption.
The turmeric tea recipe below can be customized if you want to add other superfoods that can relieve a cold or the flu.
Ingredients for 1 serving:
Preparation:
Rest, take a nap, and drink lots of water when you’re sick. And instead of caffeinated drinks, consume soothing herbal tea to help you recover faster.
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