Whether you’re mentally prepared to admit it or not, it’s still wintertime and we’re still in the thick of the coughs, colds, aches, and other ailments that come with super-cold, dry, and harsh weather. That combined with less daylight and being stuck in poorly ventilated indoor spaces makes for rough fun for a few months every year. With all the bugs going around, we owe it to ourselves to try our best not to get sick—and if we do, to get over it quickly. These two cousin concepts are known as immunity and recovery.
While tea has plenty of overall health benefits, some teas have wellness effects that are more targeted at things like relaxation, metabolism, blood pressure, or aging. Immunity and recovery are superpowers that everybody always needs, year-round but especially these days. They aren’t related to any one specific condition, but rather, a general set of strengths that ensures overall strength and vitality for warding off the worst, or for overcoming the peskiest.
Hibiscus: The Prevention Queen
Rich in vitamin C, this pink wonder, is a true marvel of illness prevention. In addition to more antioxidants like beta-carotene, it’s also known for being antibacterial and for helping with kidney function (essential for filtering out the bad stuff). The flower-derived herbal tea also contains flavonoids and, most notably, anthocyanins, which is where its distinct red hue comes from, and what provides serious immune system strength. As we always note, this one is just as tasty served on ice in the summer months.
Ginger: Not Just for Digestion
Aside from green tea, ginger is probably the one we mention most when it comes to a healthy regimen. Delicious blends like Heavenly Tea Leaves’ Lemon Ginger, one of many organic picks, include the rhizome, which is dried and cut up for consumption in tea form (or you can use fresh!). It’s most known for its digestive benefits, but it has plenty more. As noted by the Cleveland Clinic: “While ginger touts anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties that can boost your immune system, it also contains antiviral and antibacterial properties that can help keep you healthy.”
Elderberry: An All-Aroud Star
For combatting colds, the flu, and viruses, elderberry is an ingredient that, with consistent consumption, doesn’t miss. Tea made from this dark and tasty berry, with the same color-creating compound as hibiscus, delivers on a well-functioning immune system as well as fever reduction, ameliorating muscle aches, and specifically helping with respiratory-related illnesses. Some studies even demonstrate that it reduces the duration of illnesses like the flu—and when you’re feeling that under the weather, every day counts. Heavenly Tea Leaves’ Blueberry Delight is a concoction that combines it with ingredients like bitter orange peel, rosehip, and of course blueberry, to deliver on deliciousness.
Turmeric: All About Ayurveda
We’ve previously covered turmeric as an essential element of Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian practice meant for overall wellness. The rich yellow spice, with a pungent flavor to match, boasts a “strong anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing properties.” Plus, the root has been shown to be an antimicrobial agent. Sounds like some serious protection built in. Insider tip: some say that adding a pinch of black pepper helps your body absorb curcumin, the active compound in turmeric.
These are just four of many examples of high-quality loose leaf teas or tea components that really make all the difference when it comes to stopping illness before it starts, and also to recovering fast and with as few bumps in the road as possible. Of course, these are not magic potions or cure-alls, but they definitely are proven important elements of a diet and lifestyle that works for your body instead of against it. So, to round out this winter, try a daily dose (or two) of any combination of these disease fighters, and fingers crossed, you’ll make it to spring feeling fantastic.
