Keep Warm With Ginger Tea
As the season changes, it is a good idea to begin looking for ways to keep our bodies warm and our immune strong. One of the ways you can do this is by drinking warm ginger tea.
Ginger is an amazing herb that is loaded with antioxidants and minerals. Thought to improve digestion and relieve nausea, it is often used to ward off allergies, colds and the flu. It can also soothe a sore throat, loosen phlegm, expand the lungs and calm sneezing or sinus irritation. As an added benefit ginger can also improve blood circulation, preventing stroke, and act as prevention for cardiovascular disease. It may also aid in lowering cholesterol.
For some people, ginger can cause stomach discomfort as this spice can feel like heartburn or indigestion to a sensitive stomach. If this occurs for you simply give your body a bit of time for it to clear the ginger from your system. Usually, this happens within a few hours.
It's very easy to make ginger tea. Here's how to do it.
Ginger Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
4 cups of water
2-3 inch piece of fresh ginger root
honey (optional)
fresh lemon juice (optional)
cinnamon (optional)
cayenne pepper (optional)
peppermint (optional) - can be added 2 minutes before the ginger is done simmering.
Instructions:
Wash and peel the ginger root and slice it into thin slices.
Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan.
Once it is boiling, add the ginger.
Cover it and reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Simmering for this length of times allows the ginger oils to mix into the hot water
Strain the tea.
Add honey and lemon (or the other optional items) to taste.
Notes:
Keep in mind that if you are making this tea to strengthen your immune system and ward off colds and flu, sugars and sweeteners are not recommended.
It can also be made by just grating a fresh piece of ginger into a mug and filling it with hot water, or you can buy it as dried, loose pieces or in teabags.
Cinnamon, cayenne, and peppermint can all improve the actions of ginger tea either together or individually with the ginger.
Benefits of Drinking Ginger Tea
Good for digestion: Ginger tea has the capacity to soothe digestive issues. Drinking just a cup of ginger tea is very beneficial for your digestive system. There is a study that shows that ginger tea may be just as effective as some medications.
Reduces the risk of kidney damage: Consuming ginger tea on a daily basis may help reduce the risk of kidney damage. It may even manage the effects of diabetes as this spicy root contains zinc which helps in the secretion of insulin.
May help control blood pressure: In a 2017 study, it was found that people who consume ginger daily had a lower risk of hypertension. So, it may be helpful to drink ginger tea if you experience high blood pressure.
May aid weight loss: Ginger tea can help regulate blood sugar levels and control the urge to eat. The tea improves the metabolism and has a fat absorbing quality which helps in weight loss.
Fights headaches and migraines: There’s been a good amount of research into ginger and its pain-relieving effects, and it shows that ginger tea may benefit people struggling with headaches and migraines.
High in Antioxidants: Ginger is loaded with antioxidants and has been proven to have effects on tumour cells.
