From Our Kitchen To Yours
Tea, Natures Medicine Cabinet
Writer / Cheryl – New Kitchen Store
Typically most people are either coffee drinkers or tea drinkers. Even if they drink both they tend to prefer one over the other. In my younger years, I was almost exclusively a coffee drinker. I would pretty much only drink tea in the summer in the iced form. As time has gone by, I am now one of those people who like both.
The main reason for my switch to drinking more tea is because I have become more and more aware of the health benefits of drinking tea. Nearly 20 years ago I was diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). At the time, after a myriad of horrible tests, the doctors sent me away with the diagnosis but nothing else. They said there was nothing they could do and that I would have to learn to live with it. I definitely knew that it was not something I could just live with, so I turned to alternative medicine. The more research I did, the more and more often I was directed back to tea as a help in alleviating my symptoms. Not just any tea though, specific teas for specific symptoms. The two main teas that I found to help the most are ginger tea and peppermint tea.
Did you know that ginger is a natural remedy for nausea and vomiting? It has been found to be just as effective as prescription antiemetic drugs but without any of the nasty side effects. Peppermint is a natural muscle relaxer. When I was having severe gut cramps I would brew a very strong cup of peppermint tea and within 20 minutes most, if not all of the cramps were gone.
Do you suffer from acid reflux, heartburn, GERD or any other stomach complaint? I did. I found green tea to be the answer. Green tea reduces the acid in your stomach and helps reduce these very uncomfortable problems.
Another great herbal tea is raspberry leaf tea. No matter what stage of life a woman is in, from pre-teen to post-menopausal, raspberry leaf tea has been proven to help the female organs work properly. It reduces cramping and bleeding in younger women, and helps, almost by magic, reduce hot flashes that accompany the change of life. This is another tea that I can personally attest to its benefits in this area.
Need a burst of energy? Try moringa tea. Moringa is a tree native to north India. Almost all of the tree is edible and used for medicinal purposes. Moringa leaves are an excellent source of many different vitamins and minerals and are also rich in antioxidants. If I am not able to have my morning cup of coffee, I always reach for my moringa tea. It gives me the same energy as coffee but without the caffeine.
Did you know Oolong tea boosts your metabolism? Yep, it sure does! It combines the qualities of green and black tea and the polyphenol found in this tea may boost your metabolism. And every little bit helps when trying to lose weight!
I could go on and on about all the different teas and the benefits of tea, but it would fill this entire magazine. Suffice it to say, that no matter which tea you choose whether black, white, green, Oolong, or herbal there are health benefits to them.
If you are looking for a place that carries a huge variety of high-quality teas, come to New Kitchen Store. We have an excellent selection of Super Herb Teas, educational tea books, and tea-making equipment available. Without a doubt, you will find a tea to suit your tastes or your health needs.
New Kitchen Store is the largest gourmet kitchen supplies store in Michiana! Come visit us at 330 Liberty St. Walkerton. For more information, call 574-586-2745 or check out our website at NewKitchenStore.com.
