Introduction
Are you frequently falling ill? Getting stuck at home frequently with cough and cold? Well nature has the solution for you. Take a refreshing sip of herbal tea blends for boosting your immunity. With herbal tea blends for immune support, you can fight cold and naturally. Here we will explore everything you need to know about the best herbal tea for immunity as well as recipes, key herbs, and tips on daily consumption which will boost your overall wellness.
Understanding the Immune System and Its Nutritional Needs
Before we delve into the topic of herbal tea blends for immune support, let us take a brief glance at how our immune system works and what kind of nutrition it needs to function properly.
Packed with anti-oxidants anti-inflammatory compounds immune-support teas help meet the nutritional needs required to strengthen your immune system.
Key Nutrients Essential for Immune Health
Let us have a look at the key nutrients found in immune-boosting teas and how they strengthen your immune system.
1. Vitamin C
A powerful anti-oxidant, vitamin C is widely used for boosting immunity. It protects cells from oxidative damage. Immune system boosting teas that are made from herbs rich in vitamin c, like elderberry, especially helpful in making your body better prepared for fighting off inspections.
“In United states, FDA recommended 90 mg/day for adult men and 75 mg/day for adult women. Whereas in European union, the recommendation varies; 110 mg/day for adult men and 95 mg/day for adult women,” states a research paper titled Immune boosting functional components of natural foods and its health benefits.
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune regulation. It activates T cells and macrophages that help your body in fighting off infections.
Research shows that vitamin D can curb growth of cancer cells, control infections and soothe inflammation.
3. Zinc
Zinc boosts your immune system by supporting the production ofinfection-fighting cells. “Evidence suggests that if zinc lozenges or syrup is taken within 24 hours after cold symptoms start, the supplement can help shorten the length of colds,” states an article on the official website of Mayo Clinic.
4. Antioxidants
There are several herbs that boost the immune system with their anti-oxidant properties. One such example is turmeric herbal tea which boosts immunity is one such example. It comprises curcumin which acts as a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound.
What Research Says
Echinacea for Immune Support
Research shows echinacea gives a boost to white blood cell production in the body and strengthens your immune system against infections.
It is packed with antioxidants, molecules that help your body defending against oxidative stress, a condition related to chronic illnesses like heart diseases and diabetes.
Several older studies have shown that echinacea may strengthen your immune system to fight off infections and help you recover faster.
“Taken together, these findings demonstrated that Echinacea is a wide-spectrum immunomodulator that modulates both innate and adaptive immune responses,” states a study titled Enhancement of innate and adaptive immune functions by multiple Echinacea species.
This makes herbal tea made from echinacea a popular natural remedy among immune-boosting tea recipes.
A review shows that echinacea can reduce can reduce the risk of getting an upper respiratory tract infection by 22%. But there is no significant evidence regarding its effect on the duration of sickness.
Ginger’s Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Ginger, commonly used ginger lemon herbal tea for immunity, has compounds likegingerols and shogaols that soothe inflammation. This makes it an effective herbal tea blend for immune support and for improving respiratory health.
Research shows that fresh, but not dried ginger is effective against viral respiratory tract infection as it blocks viral attachment and internalization.
Turmeric’s Immune Benefits
Turmeric has an effective anti-inflammatory agent called curcumin which also has anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties.
“Turmeric is a curry spice that originated from India, which has attracted great interest in recent decades because it contains bioactive curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin),” states a study.
However, most research papers that have investigated on the health benefits of turmeric have used high dose supplements and not turmeric tea. So far, there has not been any concrete evidence that turmeric tea will have the same effect as turmeric supplements. The results of studies on turmeric benefits using turmeric supplements cannot be used for turmeric tea.
Moreover, your body does not absorb curcumin very efficiently from turmeric and hence the amount of curcumin you will be getting from turmeric tea is most likely lesser than researchers use in studies on concentrated turmeric supplements.
Elderberry’s Cold Relief Properties
Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants elderberry tea can be an effective herbal tea blend for immune support. Research shows that elderberry may have components that help your body fight off the flu virus and other infections.
“Rubini elderberry liquid extract is active against human pathogenic bacteria as well as influenza viruses. The activities shown suggest that additional and alternative approaches to combat infections might be provided by this natural product,” says a 2011 study.
Top Immune-Boosting Herbal Teas
You have several effective herbal tea blends for immune support. Here the benefits and recopies on how to make herbal teas at home.
1.Echinacea immune support tea
Known for its immune boosting qualities, echinacea is widely used in herbal tea blends for immune support. Research shows that it can be effective in boosting immunity and can relieve symptoms of cold if taken regularly.
Benefits of Echinacea
It is effective in reducing the severity of cold and boost the production of white blood cells in your body, strengthening the immune system.
Preparation
Take 1-2 teaspoons of dried echinacea and steep them in hot water for 10 minutes.
2.Ginger tea with Lemon Health Benefits
With ginger lemon herbal tea for immunity, you can combine the anti-inflammatory benefits of ginger with the vitamin C of lemon. Research shows that the combination is effective against sore throats and boosts immunity.
Benefits of Ginger-Lemon tea
It soothes inflammation and strengthens immunity.
Preparation
Take fresh ginger and grade it properly. Then steep in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Add lemon juice as per your taste to give your body an additional boost of vitamin C.
3.Turmeric Herbal Tea for Immunity
Turmeric is a widely used herb known for its anti-inflammatory qualities, making turmeric herbal tea beneficial for those vulnerable to respiratory tract infections. Research shows that combining turmeric with black pepper leads to better absorption.
Turmeric Tea Benefits
Its anti-inflammatory components prevent respiratory infection.
Preparation
Take 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Put it into hot water and add black pepper as per your preference. Steep for 5-10 minutes.
4.Elderberry Tea for Immunity
Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, elderberry tea is a valuable herbal tea blend for immune support. According to research elderberry prevents respiratory infections.
Elderberry Tea benefits
It provides your body with antioxidants and improves your respiratory health.
Preparation
Take dried elderberries and steep them in hot water for 10-15 minutes.
Homemade Herbal Tea for Immunity: Creating Your Own Blends
1.Select a Base Herb
Select your primary herb such asechinacea or elderberry, known for their immune boosting properties.
2.Add Complementary Herbs
You can add ginger or peppermint to it for improving respiratory health.
3.Experiment with Ratios
Start preparing the herbal tea of your choice with a 2: 1 ratio of bast to complimentary herbs.
Brew
You can steep 1 teaspoon per cup of hot water for 5-10 minutes.
Benefits of Drinking Immune System Boosting Tea Daily
Taking immune-boosting herbal basis has more benefits than just immune support.
Hydration
Herbal teas keep your body hydrated. Proper hydration is key condition for strong immunity.
Stress Relief
Chamomile or lavender tea is known for reducing stress and indirectly strengthening your immune system by controlling the cortisol levels.
Nutrient Boost
Research shown that several immune boosting teas are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.
Antioxidant Support
Herbal teas which are rich in antioxidants protects the cells from oxidative stress. It is essential for maintaining strong immunity.
Conclusion
By regularly taking herbal tea blends for immune support, you can have a natural remedy to boost your immunity. Herbs likeechinacea, elderberry, ginger, and turmeric in form of teas offer a natural way of staying healthy. So, are you ready to have strong immune system with herbal tea blends? Let us know in the comments section.
FAQ: Immune Support Teas
What are the best herbs to boost the immune system?
Echinacea, ginger, turmeric, and elderberry are considered to be highly effective in boosting immunity. These herbs with scientifically proven immune support benefits, are especially effective when taken as teas for respiratory health.
How does herbal tea help with immunity?
Your body gets vital supplies of vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds which soothes inflammation and boosts immunity.
Can you drink herbal tea every day?
Yes, most of the immune support teas are safe to be taken on a daily basis. However, it is advised to rotate teas at regular intervals to prevent over exposure to a single compound.
What is the best time to drink herbal tea?
To stat your day in a refreshing way, you can have ginger tea, As for night, chamomile tea can be taken for a relaxing evening.
