A hot tea brew is one of the best ways to start your day with. Although most people choose green tea because of its caffeine content (it makes a good substitute for coffee), ginger tea also provides a number of health benefits.
Here we provide 6 reasons why you should drink ginger tea first thing in the morning.
- Helps Digestion
Ginger is abundant in gingerols and shogaol, two powerful substances which stimulate digestion and increase nutrient absorption. In addition, the root also prevents constipation, heals gastric lesions and fights bloating, nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea.
- Promotes Circulation
Ginger promotes circulation while reducing hypertension and high blood cholesterol levels. In this way, it protects against cardiovascular disease. Moreover, it clears arterial plague, the combination of fatty substances and calcium which accumulates on the lining of the artery wall and blocks proper blood flow, thus preventing a stroke and heart attack.
- Anti-inflammatory
Ginger is packed with powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce inflammatory pain in the muscles and joints. Taken that chronic inflammation has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, pulmonary diseases and autoimmune diseases, regular consumption of ginger can actually improve your health on many different levels.
- Boosts Immune System
The active compounds in ginger – gingerols and gingerdiol have strong antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Plus, ginger improves the body’s immune response to infection, which means it’s the ideal tool for fighting flu and common colds.
- Boosts Brain Power
f ginger is consumed on a regular daily basis, it protects the brain from oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation, thus enhancing memory and cognition, especially in middle-aged women. Ginger also provides a sedative effect on an overactive mind and clears mental fog.
- Fights Cancer
Ginger not only reduces inflammation, but it also protects against cancer development by preventing the survival, proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. A number of studies have found ginger beneficial against lymphoma, liver, prostate, pancreas, lung, colorectal, breast, skin and bladder cancer.
Everyday Ginger Tea
Don’t use tea bags to make health-boosting ginger tea.
What you need:
- a small ceramic saucepan
- 1 cup of water
- 4 – 6 thin slices of raw ginger
- raw organic honey (to taste)
What you do:
Bring the water to a boil over high heat then add ginger slices and simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat, cool and serve with honey.