Drinking tea, whether ceremoniously or recreationally, provides more benefits to the human body than simply being an alternative to water.
For centuries, people have turned to tea to alleviate the burden of a stressful day. Only in the last century, however, have scientists decided to investigate why and how tea can bring you into a state of calmness. The likely cause is a very important amino acid called L-theanine, which targets serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters.
Serotonin, specifically, has been at the center of discussion when it comes to depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. When this neurotransmitter is at low levels, it can wreak havoc on your body. You can experience bouts of irritability, waves of crippling sadness, loss of sexual desire, and disturbances in your sleep cycles.
De-Stress with a cup of tea
When you’re feeling stressed, drinking a hot cup of tea can help regulate those serotonin levels and bring you back to center. However, stress also can trigger other physical symptoms that may be better alleviated with CBD-infused teas. For example, headaches and stomach issues, once triggered, do not easily resolve on their own. This is why CBD-infused teas are the perfect way to relax and de-stress.
It has been scientifically proven that CBD interacts naturally with the endocannabinoid system. This system’s functions include, but are not limited to, pain management, immune response, and sleep regulation. To learn more, dive into some cannabis 101 and learn all the benefits of CBD-infused tea and other edibles as well as where you’ll soon be able to find them.
Strengthen your immune system
Traditional teas, like black and green tea, as well as herbal blends, are rich in antibacterial and antiviral properties. Though certain blends have specific curative abilities, tea drinkers’ immune systems are overall better equipped to handle viruses.
A study conducted back in 2003 by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that tea drinkers’ bodies reacted faster and more efficiently to combating germs than non-tea drinkers.
Blood samples were taken at the beginning of the experiment for comparison. After 4 weeks of drinking tea or coffee multiple times a day, samples were drawn once again. Scientists then introduced the E-coli bacteria to both groups’ blood samples.
What they observed was that the samples from the tea-drinkers produced 5 times more interferon than they did at the beginning of the experiment. Interferon is a protein the body creates to prevent virus cells from duplicating in the body. The coffee-drinkers’ samples showed no change.
Prevent diseases
As if strengthening the immune system wasn’t beneficial enough, teas can also prevent certain diseases from ever materializing.
All traditional teas are rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidants. These protect your body from free radicals that can cause a host of diseases. One of the ways polyphenols helps the body is by improving metabolism and thereby minimizing the risk of obesity. Research has shown that obesity is linked to cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Polyphenols also improve insulin sensitivity, which is an added benefit to those who are at risk of developing diabetes in their lifetime. Unfortunately, statistics show that about 1 in 4 Canadians have the disease or are prediabetic.
Fortunately, there are a variety of tea blends currently available and coming soon on the market with a number of different properties. So, drink to your health and feel the stresses melt away.
