21 Herbal Teas and Supplements that Boost Metabolism and Improve Health

As early as the discovery of fire, mankind has heated up water in combination with whatever plant life they found in their environment to consume. Leaves, twigs, roots… whatever they could get their hands on. Over time they were able to establish which leaves helped with which ailment whether it be an upset stomach, difficulties with dreams or sleeping and even muscle aches and pains. Based on their surroundings, a plant could be identified, used and consumed as what we now know as tea. Today there are hundreds of known combinations of herbs, roots and other dietary supplements that can be made into tea in order to provide benefit for the body.

Tea is representative of humans and their relationship with nature. It evokes images of peace, calm and strength all at once. It is integral to the daily life of most Europeans, particularly in England.

In history, events like the Boston Tea party will be remembered forever as the political protest which wasted 342 whole chests of tea. Wars have been fought for far more, but that is how important tea was and still is in our culture.

As mankind advanced in other areas, tea also became popular in other countries as well. For example, green tea took off in China as it was primarily taken in as only a form of medicine.

Green and black teas are now emphasized in modern day to keep us awake, to strengthen our immune system. It can help with cardiovascular disease and even cancer.

Green tea, in particular is connected with several studies to lower blood sugar as well as increase antioxidants in the body. It can be used to prevent cells from becoming cancerous and helps to boost the metabolism so that your body can burn fat more effectively.

The proof is in the history of the evolution of tea. As mankind continues to develop its own relationship with herbal and natural remedies they have come to find that there are steady and simple solutions that can work just as well (and in some cases, better) than pharmaceuticals.

Of course, we aren’t saying to use tea instead of your prescribed medications. However, you’ll be happy to note that there are many tea combinations that can complement traditional medications in order to get your body to a healthier point, to aid with certain conditions and to promote mental health as well.

Why Should I Drink Herbal Teas?

There are hundreds, potentially thousands of different types of teas consumed all over the world. Each with their own health benefit and flavor. And most who drink tea tend to do it just for the comfort of it all, without even knowing how it is helping in behind the scenes. There is so much more to tea than just good flavor:

What Tea Can Do For You

— Epigallocatechin Gallate: This is found in herbal teas and helps specifically with cardiovascular disease to prevent heart attacks by opening up closed channels in the body.

— Fluorides: The good type of fluoride inside of most teas helps to calm teeth and gum issues and even helps to prevent cavities from happening!

— Antioxidants: Herbal Tea works as an important antioxidant in the body which combats oxidative stress as well as damage brought on by free radicals.

— Vitamin D: Many of us are Vitamin D deficient and this causes a whole host of health concerns such as depression, overeating, sedentary lifestyles.

Just One Cup Of Tea A Day Could Change All That For You!

It doesn’t take much for you to be able to feel the benefits of tea, but it does take some effort. One little cup here and there isn’t going to do it. However, drinking at least one full cup a day can work wonders. If you want to have additional benefits though, keep in mind that many tea combinations require you to take up to two or three cups per day. The good news is, all of that tea is good for you.

Health Benefits of Drinking Herbal Teas

Let’s take a look at some of the additional benefits that tea can provide beyond specific ailments. These benefits will come into play no matter what you make your tea with.

Hydration:

Since herbal teas are literally just water and herbs it is easy to make the connection between tea and hydration. Of course the more tea that you drink the easier it is to be hydrated! Most humans all over the world are dehydrated, but imagine if more of us could just drink more tea we would be far better off and much healthier.

Drinking multiple cups of tea per day (especially those kinds with low or no caffeine) can keep your cells hydrated, which can also reduce headaches, keep your skin clear and make your joints move better.

Mood Stabilizing:

The compounds in standard green and black tea have compounds that help to reduce stress and help the body manage better when under stressful situations. If you know you are going to have a bad morning at work or have a busy meeting, it may be a good idea to reach for the tea rather than the coffee.

Full of Antioxidants:

Antioxidants have a wide range of beneficial effects on the body including anti-aging, reduction of damage from free radicals and smoother body processes. Antioxidants benefit almost every system within the body and also are good for digestion and specific conditions as well.

The more antioxidants that you get, the better. Routine tea drinking is a surefire way to load up as there are a number of antioxidants in standard teas. If you drink tea that has additional immunity supplements or that is mixed with fruit juice, you can get even more.

Lose Weight:

It is estimated that the Americans drink more than 50 BILLION gallons of soda per year. Replacing soda with tea can help you to reduce sugar intake, remove carbonation from your diet and removes corn syrup from your drinking habits.

It is estimated that the average American could cut out soda, replace it with tea or water in their diet and do nothing else, and still lose 20 pounds over the course of 6 months. The heavier you are and the more soda you drink, the more likely that you will see results. Of course, if you use a lot of sugar in your tea, you would reduce the effects but it is a simple step that can help support you in any current weight loss goals that you might have.

The 21 Best Herbal Teas To Choose From

While it is exceedingly difficult to try to choose from the literal thousands of teas available on the market today, we have done our best to pick the tried and true, best herbal teas out there. Each provides a different benefit for the body. Consider your own conditions and lifestyle and then pick the herbal teas that are most beneficial for you.

Each of these teas provide

Blackberry Leaves Tea

Strengthens the immune system
Relieves digestion and bowel trouble
Improves memory and cognitive functions

In many areas of the Pacific Northwest blackberries are considered an invasive species, and even seen as a weed. But it is so much more than that!

Blackberry leaves tea not only provides a beautiful berry flavor but it doubles the flavonoids and the antioxidants you would find in other teas which makes it very good for you.

Cardamom Tea

Relieves cough and sinus trouble
Helps with nausea and motion sickness
Purges caffeine from the body

Many haven’t heard of the impressive and refreshing effects that Cardamom tea has on the digestive tract. These sweet white flowers and seeds are a common stomach tonic in both India and Guatemala. If you feel blocked up, nauseated, have general stomach pain or gas, cardamom tea calms all of the symptoms down. It also helps to lighten certain issues of the cardiovascular system and with a little honey can calm down coughs brought on by allergic reaction. If you are trying to let go of caffeine, cardamom makes the switch easier.

Chamomile Tea

Relaxes the mind and body
Cures digestive ailments and diarrhea
Relaxes the body to bring positive dreams

Chamomile tea brings to the mind images of bedtime. Many all over the world use it for its relaxing properties. When experiencing times of trauma or intense stress, chamomile relaxes you from the inside out. It also helps aid digestion caused by stress, which can be very difficult when one is having a hard time. During stressful times it is also difficult to sleep and that is chamomile primary function.

Cinnamon Tea

Boosts the immune system
Controls blood sugar for diabetics
Strengthens the respiratory system

Cinnamon tea is a flavor packed beverage that is extremely easy to put together. Essentially you soak a cinnamon stick in boiling water and that spicy beverage will be ready to go in just a few minutes. Cinnamon tea helps the body fight against common viruses, such as the rhinovirus as well as pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. It helps to speed up the metabolism when you are trying to lose weight and makes the body stronger by improving the immune system. Another common benefit is blood sugar control. Those who suffer from diabetes would benefit from incorporating this tea into their daily life.

Dandelion Tea

Liver tonic and helps relieve withdrawal symptoms
Diuretic
Antioxidant and improves immune system weakness

Not just weeds, research says: Dandelion Tea is stuffed full of nutrient rich vitamins and minerals. Many types of Dandelion Teas exist as a diuretic to redistribute fluids when there is a water retention concern in the body. It helps the liver to perform correctly and is often used as a detoxifier for when you want to clean your body from spending too much time drinking, taking too many chemical filled drugs or eating the wrong kind of food.

Echinacea Tea

Makes colds go away faster
Prevents illnesses from taking hold
Improves the immune system

When it comes to improving the immune system after the onset of a cold, Echinacea Tea has been the Go To tea for centuries. Not only does it help to prevent the onset of the rhinovirus, but if you do get infected, it helps the illness go away faster.

Ginger Tea

Stimulates the mind and body
Aids in severe digestive disruptions
Relieves stomach pain

Ginger tea is commonly used as an energy booster after an extremely sedentary time frame. When you need to be alert after being sleep deprived or if you just need to move onto another project after a long day, you can take ginger tea to stimulate your mind. Ginger is similarly used with mint teas as an anti-inflammatory and ally of the digestive system. Research shows that it can also help those afflicted with various types of arthritis by taking down the swelling in the joints.

Green Tea

Universal health remedy
Lessens overall stress
Antioxidant
Lessens cancer cells
Metabolizes cholesterol
Lowers blood pressure

If you have never heard of Green Tea you are likely hiding under a rock somewhere.

Green Tea is the most widely known and used tea. It is a general tonic for multiple ailments. Many consider it entirely universal. Have a stomach ache? Drink Green Tea. Have a cold? Drink Green Tea. Have a stressful day? Make some Green Tea. This tea has been proven to lessen cancer cells forming in the body. It is an antioxidant. It helps the body metabolize food as well as lowers cholesterol and even lowers blood pressure. It is truly a Universal Tea. If you try nothing else tea related, go to the store and get yourself some green tea right now. You will NOT regret it!

Hawthorn Tea

Clears out excess sodium
Circulates and redistributes blood
Helps heal matters of the heart

Hawthorn Tea is a little known tea which is developed out of essentially the entire hawthorn plant. From the berries which are red or blue depending on their age, to the flowers which are white, to the leaves which have five fingerlike furles. Hawthorn helps to cycle out unnecessary sodium, and relieves stress. This tea is underestimated mostly just because not many have heard of it, but is a powerful tonic particularly when it comes to heart health. And not only physically, it is also known to be an ally of the heart emotionally. In matters of the heart, Hawthorn tea provides a calming energy during stressful situations and helps blood circulate through the body.

Hibiscus Flower Tea

Helps to lower blood pressur
Relieves symptoms of severe panic attacks
Regulates cholesterol levels in the body

Hibiscus can be found in tea mixes such as Zinger Tea and has a beautiful, light flavor which is slightly sweet. The tea is from the flowers themselves and not only is known to calm a person down, but actually lowers blood pressure. This is an excellent tea to take if you have hypertension, high cholesterol and other heart related concerns.

Lavender Tea

Lessens symptoms of whooping cough
Calms down bronchitis and pneumonia
Brings relaxation to body and mind

Lavender is used in essential oils, cooking, poultices, cosmetic products, shampoos, perfumes. It is a universal smell that brings comfort and calmness to whoever is present. The purple flowers can be added to hot water and taken for any kind of issues of the respiratory system. So if you have asthma, whooping cough, bronchitis or pneumonia, you can drink this tea to relax the symptoms so that you can function. It also helps to bring down the overall body temperature and fevers.

Lemon Balm Tea

Brings relief to heart burn
Regulates mild to severe thyroid dysfunction
Relieves gas and diarrhea

Lemon Balm is surprisingly related to the mint family. It grows in giant bushes wherever it is planted and smells similar to sweet lemonade. The leaves and flowers of this plant is used in tea to increase metabolism by controlling issues related to the thyroid and helps with stress overall. It is also known to calm down digestive troubles, such as gas or diarrhea.

Lemongrass Tea

Aids in digestive tract trouble
Brings refreshing flavor to Asian cooking
Relieves digestive bloating

Countless Asian cooking recipes include lemongrass into their soups for additional flavor and to bring the healing properties of the herb into the soup itself similar as what would happen in teas. Because Citral is in Lemongrass, it is easier to digest the food being ingested, and the tea itself calms down all manner of intestinal discomfort.

Milk Thistle Tea

Liver tonic and expels toxic build up
Helps relieve addiction withdrawal symptoms
Increases circulation

Milk Thistle tea isn’t well known in the general public but amongst medical practitioners it is known to be a cleanser of the body. It cleanses the liver and clears out excess toxins as well as makes it run more efficiently by producing more bile to improve digestion overall. If you are quitting smoking, or drinking, or taking pills, adding milk thistle tea to your daily regimen will make withdrawals much easier to deal with because it helps clean out the toxins faster.

Nettle Tea

Immune system supporter
Rebuilds the body’s deteriorated adrenal glands
Relieves symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Nettle Tea is chalked full of nutrients, yet many don’t understand its potent qualities because of its prickly nature. This plant is often considered just a weed which causes allergic reactions if you prick your finger. But like many natural medicine tools, the Earth provides what we need even if you might not think so at a glance. Taking the leaves of the plant and boiling them in hot water, creates a veritable kickboxer of health to support your immune system. Nettle tea helps to rebuild the adrenal glands which are wounded due to too much caffeine or not enough rest. It is also known to relieve the painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and helps calm down painful coughing as a result of allergies or the common colds.

Peppermint Tea

Relieves nausea, vomiting and motion sickness
Prevents allergic reactions from worsening
Relieves chronic pain and pressure

Any mint tea is going to be helpful for your immune system and also as a calming stomach tonic, but peppermint tea specifically adds the extra punch needed for severe nausea, or vomiting. If you are going to travel at all via boat or ferry, having peppermint tea ready to go will calm down the effects of motion sickness as well as open up the respiratory system, preventing allergies from causing problems breathing. If you have chronic pain, having a glass of peppermint tea a day will relieve pressure in aching joints.

Red Clover Tea

Relieves menopausal and menstrual cycle discomfort
Calms down itchy skin due to PMS
Increases good feelings overall

An ally to women’s health, Red Clover Tea has been used for centuries to comfort cramping during the menstrual cycle. It is a tonic for the pelvis, aids in having a relaxing night sleep and helps to reduce stress. Menopausal women use red clover tea as a way of relieving the symptoms of menopause overall. Red clover tea is made from the blossoms themselves which have been dried out and added to boiling water.

Rooibos Tea

Lowers blood pressure
Reduces stress
Powerful sleep aid and antioxidant

Rooibos Tea has a beautiful and rich flavor which is added often in combination with other herbs. But rooibos tea on its own is a powerful antioxidant which can clear up hundreds of different kinds of ailments. From lowering blood pressure, to reducing stress and helps us have a good night’s sleep.

Rose Hip Tea

Boosts vitamin c intake into the body
Provides foundational immune system support
Brings relief to premenstrual pain

An ally for adrenal function as well as tissue health, rosehip tea is made from the actual bud of a rose plant. Making tinctures or infusions out of Rosehips will aid with women’s issues and is an excellent way to get Vitamin C into the body. It helps to strengthen the immune system and research shows that rose hip tea can be taken to relieve premenstrual frustrations.

Turmeric Tea

Turmeric tea is a spicy and flavorful beverage enjoyed by millions all over the world. Research has shown it has associations with:

Healing alzheimer’s direct from neuro receptors
Clears plaque build up in the brain
Reduces inflammation throughout the body

Turmeric is an Indian spice which is now being researched to cure Alzheimer’s disease. Studies are following along the elderly in certain villages in India to see how it is used, and often it is being seen ingested in a tea form, but can also be sprinkled over food This is why so often Indian food has a yellow coloring to it. Many use turmeric as a part of their curry to give the dish extra flavor and as a culture already know how good it is for the body.

While researching the health benefits of Turmeric Tea, the University of California’s researchers discovered that the use of curcumin (which is the active compound found in Turmeric) actually blocked the plaque buildup in the brain which is known to cause Alzheimer’s.

This was an amazing discover that brings hopes to millions all over the world! Turmeric tea is also known to reduce inflammation overall and to help reconnect or regrow the neural tissues in the brain.

Turmeric Tea can be ingested fresh, just by buying this spice in bulk and adding to boiling water with a strainer or can even be purchased already in tea form.

Making Turmeric tea for yourself at home:

1st – Boil up to four cups of water

2nd – Add 1-2 teaspoons of ground turmeric based on how spicy you want it and allow to cook on low for about 10 minutes.

3rd – Strain with some cheese cloth or a fine sieve into your favorite tea cup and add honey or lemon based on preference and voila! You will have turmeric tea!

You Can’t Spell Healthy Without “T”

There are so many more teas in this world that you can experiment with, but hopefully at this point you have a good starting off point to begin your weight loss/ metabolizing and health filled tea adventure.

If you try switching your coffee out for tea for just one week you will feel the benefits immediately and will never go back! If you have more healthy or metabolizing teas to share, please give us your tips! We want to know what you’ve tried!