With more and more people putting more concern on their health and wellness, detoxification products such as detox teas are becoming all the more popular. This article explains the top 5 detox teas for this summer. The human body is created with its own detoxification system, which includes the skin, liver, kidney and the colon.
Why Detox at all?
The human body is created with its own detoxification system, which includes the skin, liver, kidney and the colon. The liver and the kidney filter out the toxins in the body which goes out through the urinary system, the digestive system or as sweat through the skin. The body's waste management system works well under normal circumstances, but given today's fast-paced lifestyle and extensive exposure to waste and toxins, the body can only deal with so much. This brings us to the need to detoxify, or cleanse the body and get rid of toxins and waste.
Detox Teas help with detoxification (duh!). There are plenty of ways to detoxify the body and detox teas are just one of them. Regular consumption of these detoxification teas produce a number of positive effects on the body, and these include:
Healthier Organs: Drinking these types of tea help speed up the detoxification process, which lessens the pressure and the load on the liver, kidney, and colon. This, in turn, reduces conditions such as acne, bloating, indigestion, menstrual problems, and other organ-related problems.
Better Bowel Movement: These teas wash away plaque and waste formation on the colon, making bowel movement easier. This also aids in the reduction of water retention and better weight loss results.
Better Skin and Hair: A body that is full of toxins manifests itself in numerous ways such as acne in the skin or brittle nails and hair. Drinking detox teas can help balance the body's system, and clears out the skin making you look better and giving you that overall glow.
Calm and Relaxation: These teas do not only detoxify the body and cleanse it but also give you a feeling of calm and relaxation. This is very helpful especially if you are always stressed out.
Choosing detox teas isn't really difficult as there are plenty of flavors and varieties in the market. Some types of herbal teas include green tea, ginger tea, Dandelion root, peppermint tea, and Burdock Root. Each of these teas has its own distinct taste and has varying effects on the body, which is great considering the fact that you can try each of them for the purpose of variety.
DANDELION ROOT
The common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has been a worldwide weed for centuries. It is well-known in many cultures. People in every culture have adopted it for a number of medicinal applications. The dandelion root has been important mostly as a digestive remedy and for liver function. The leaf has been used as a diuretic and bitter digestive stimulant.
Native Americans used the whole boiled plant for treating kidney disease, upset stomach, and skin disorders. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it has long been known for helping with digestive problems and for boosting milk production in breastfeeding women. Even today, European herbalists continue the traditional use of dandelion as a treatment for fever, diabetes, and diarrhea.
In addition to its importance internally, dandelion is often added to herbal formulas for skincare. It seems to synergize with other herbs such as burdock root, licorice, insulae, and ginseng, in particular for application to acupressure points of the feet.
BURDOCK ROOT
Burdock Root prized for its detoxifying properties burdock root has been used to treat many skin conditions from psoriasis to gout and of course, acne. Burdock also increases the flow of urine which is one of the detox methods and has properties to reduce fever and purify the blood
Burdock root is also covered extensively in famous Dr.Axe and is highly recommended by him. Feel free to visit Dr.Axe's blog for more details on the benefits of Burdock Root.
Image courtesy - https://draxe.com
GINGER TEA
Ginger is a very popular spice used in oriental and far eastern cuisines. Not only is it a spice, but it is also a very useful item in a detox diet. It has properties that are very helpful in cleansing the body of toxins. There are many ways it can be used in detoxing, including as a food, a bath additive, and a tea. Here are some ideas:
Ginger Bath: Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of dried ginger to a tepid bath ( not hot). Soak in it to promote perspiration, relieve tired achy muscles and relieve congestion.
Ginger Cough Syrup: 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper, 1/4 tsp Ginger, 1 Tbsp Honey, 1 Tbsp Vinegar, 2 Tbsp warm water. Mix all ingredients and use as often as necessary to relieve chest congestion.
Tea: Add three thin slices of ginger to a cup of water that has been boiled. Steep for fifteen minutes. Drinking this tea while soaking in a Ginger bath will further the perspiration process to release toxins.
Ginger can be freshly grated or put through a garlic press and added to salads, soups, and noodle dishes. Ginger's cleansing properties will aid in the detox process because ginger acts as a cleansing agent in the kidneys and the bowel. It also stimulates the circulatory system and removes congestion from the sinus cavities. Because it acts as a digestive agent, it helps the body in digesting other foods for their nutrient value.
Adding ginger to the detox diet will enhance the body's ability to rid itself of toxins. It will also enhance the flavor of the foods that are eaten in the detox diet, which sometimes can seem bland
PEPPERMINT TEA
Dry peppermint leaves are utilized in creating refreshing minty teas that are greatly satisfying whether hot or cold. Peppermint leaves are also used to crown personalities in ancient Rome and Greece. It is still loved for its highly refreshing aroma and its caffeine-free and natural taste.
Peppermint is known for the following benefits:
It is a known source of vitamin C. Drinking the tea can play a great role in helping to support the body's immune system as it can keep viruses and bacteria away.
It is a good decongesting agent as it aids in clearing away air passageways from mucus. Apart from drinking tea, inhaling peppermint steam can also help relieve breathing difficulties.
Peppermint is also known to contain high levels of manganese. Manganese performs as an antioxidant which targets free radical in our body and aids in neutralizing them. Also, it plays a crucial role in encouraging proper bone structure growth.
Peppermint tea also has a high amount of an amino acid called tryptophan, which has a major role in producing the mood-controlling chemical called serotonin. And this may partly explain why a person's mood improves or is uplifted when it is uplifted after a cup of tea from peppermint.
This herb is also an important source of omega-3 fatty acids. Although these fatty acids can be usually obtained from fish such as mackerel and salmon, omega-3 can also be found in herbs such as peppermint and in fruits such as kiwi. This fatty acid can help increase good cholesterol levels in our body, therefore it is also known as one of nature's substances which are good for your heart.
Peppermint essential oil, when used in the areas of the head especially around the temple can help get rid of migraines, headache, and other pains because peppermint is also known for its healing properties.
When you create a peppermint tea for yourself, the quality of the water plays a crucial role. It is imperative that the water utilized in making the tea should be free of contaminants and should have sufficient oxygen to improve its natural flavor. Tea from peppermint which is created using pure water can give a minty and clean flavor, a beverage that is truly pleasant.
GREEN HERBS
First, is it an antioxidant? Yes and here is how it applies to weight loss. By working on the body as a natural laxative, it allows you to discard toxins and built-up waste that is trapped in your colon. The same properties that allow it to do this may help to prevent damage to your cells that may happen due to free radicals. The combination of these two aspects may leave you much healthier than when you started.
Second, does it increase the rate of your metabolism? This is up for debate, and in my opinion, I think it depends on to a certain extent on the individual, their activity level, and their overall health prior to beginning the green tea diet. But, some people do claim that green tea does increase the rate of their metabolism.
Last, is it a natural detox? This was touched on in the previous paragraph, but not fully. The basic idea that supports this claim says that like many other herbal teas when green tea is drunk hot, it will act to one, hydrate your bowls, and two flushes them. This is too up for debate, but it does seem to have this effect on many.
Now you could, of course, pick each one individually and try to bring them into your daily routine or as an easy alternative, you could pick our Detox Tea from Teatox Life that contains all of the essential ingredients like burdock, peppermint, dandelion root, senna and much more.
