Ginger Tea

One of my favorite herbal teas is ginger. It warms me up on cold winter mornings and helps to relieve minor aches and pains. Ginger is a very versatile herb and has a lot of things going for it. Since this is National Hot Tea Month, for today's blog, I will be talking about Ginger used in the form of a tea.

Ginger is known as a good choice for folks who travel and have problems with motion sickness. It is also known for minor problems with digestion such as gas, nausea and bloating. It contains anti-inflammatory properties that help with minor aches and pains of the joints. It warms you up when you have a cold and the tea has a bit of a spicy kick to it when you drink it. This can help soothe a sore throat and provide a sensation of warmth.

Ginger tea has vitamin C, and magnesium which can help with circulatory problems and ginger slightly thins the blood. It is useful for minor cramping that occurs with the menstrual cycle in women. Ginger contains antioxidants and has a calming effect for stress and tension. Some minor ailments that ginger can help with are heartburn, clogged sinuses and bad breath.

There is some controversy about the use of ginger for morning sickness. Be sure to consult your health care practitioner if you are thinking about using it for this purpose.Ginger should not be used if a mother is breast feeding. It could lower blood sugar so if you take more ginger than what is used for culinary purposes be sure to work with your health practitioner. High doses of ginger may not work well for folks with heart conditions.

Ginger tea is easy to make. Get some ginger root at the market and cut off a few slices. Add the slices to boiling water. Cover the pot and let it steep for 10 minutes. If you want a stronger tea use more slices of ginger. You can peel the ginger root before slicing, or leave it on depending on your preference. There are many blends of ginger tea that can be bought in tea bags. Some brands are a better quality than others. The quality of your water makes a difference in how good your tea tastes. Pure filtered water is the best. There are many things you can combine with the ginger to make a good tea. Lemon and honey are very popular. Peppermint or chamomile are good. Many types of chai tea have ginger in them.

Sources:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style-health-fitness/diet/8-health-benefits-tea/articleshow27714978.cms
http://bembu.com/ginger-benefits
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-961-ginger.aspx?activeingredientiname=ginger

To learn more about tea check out my website www.valerielull.com

Author
Valerie Lull
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net