The natural world of herbs and spices has never been busier, and the more we learn about how these remedies boost the immune system, the more in demand they become. Yet, eating daisies and dandelions doesn't quite have the attraction (or flavor) as it does when these beneficial plants are steeped in a soothing cup of herbal tea.
Yet, with all of the promises from immune-boosting teas, which are the ones that the health professionals agree actually work? Here, we'll share the reasons why a healthy immune system matters, and how you can build better immune function just by replacing your current beverage with one of these immunity-boosting teas.
Why Strengthening Our Immune System Is Important
Human health is a complicated thing. Your body is designed to work in a particular way, with all of your systems functioning as a whole. But when one part of your overall health is "out of whack," your immune system jumps in to try to fix it and bring it back to a general homeostasis, or a state of balance.
Keeping this balance is crucial for a healthy life. When any part of your inner system fails, the damage can be severe, leading to chronic diseases or even death. But your organs can only function effectively when the body's internal system is stable, which, according to human studies, ultimately means getting the right nutrients and movement into your day.
How Can Tea Contribute to Your Immune Health?
While a nice hot tea isn't going to help you with the physical requirements, it can be an easy way to help build a strong immune system. Most teas are sourced from the Camellia sinensis plant, and their health benefits come from the polyphenols, a group of powerful antioxidants that are in them.
Recent studies show that polyphenols play an important role in your body, protecting against medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The immunomodulatory effects of polyphenols also extend to plant compounds known as flavonols, which can lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol. Of course, if you have any of these health conditions, always talk to your healthcare provider before making any major changes in your nutrition.
In general, though, antioxidants are never a bad thing. Depending on which health-promoting properties you're looking for, a cup of herbal tea built into your daily routine can help your immune response kick in faster when you need it most.
Best Teas to Boost Immune Systems
Whether you're looking to buy loose-leaf tea that's great at fighting infections to get rid of that sore throat faster, you need to calm a queasy stomach, or you want to boost your overall immune function, these teas have you covered.
Green Tea
Loose-leaf Green tea comes in many flavors, such as Sencha, Jasmine, and Genmaicha, but this category is frequently headed by the ever-popular matcha tea. All green teas "stem" from the same plant. It's how they're processed that determines their characteristics.
Green teas are a gentle tea, made from the delicate young leaves of the plant and harvested in the spring. Oxidation, which changes the color of the tea, is stopped quickly by immediate steaming. The leaves are then rolled, which shapes the tea and releases flavor and aroma. Once dried, the leaves are then rolled again to reach the desired size and shape, then dried one more time.
Matcha is the only green tea processed differently. Instead of immediate drying after steaming, the stems are removed, and the leaves are ground into a powder with a stone mill. Rather than steeping Matcha, the powder is poured into hot water, and the entire leaf is consumed.
Regardless of the type, green tea is known to support your immune system because of its high polyphenol and L-theanine content (an amino acid that encourages white blood cell production). Green tea, in particular, has an antioxidant known as the Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which can neutralize free radicals and defend immune cells against damage. Get yours as a turmeric latte or sip it in a hot cuppa with your morning scrolling.
Ginger Tea
Looking for a more specific way of drinking tea to help your digestive system? Look no further than ginger tea!
This powerhouse of the gut health world is more than an immune-boosting tea: Ginger's effects can eliminate that yucky feeling of nausea and improve your digestion. Along the way, you'll notice side effects like reduced inflammation and pain, and better cardiovascular health. These benefits come from the gingerols and other active compounds that boast antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric Tea
Turmeric is actually a spice derived from the Curcuma longa plant and used in many recipes. However, the active ingredient is curcumin, and this is what makes a powerful turmeric tea that shifts your immune response to help with joint pain, inflammation, and cardiovascular health.
Including this as one of your daily immune-boosting teas can also help improve your liver function, aid in weight management, lower high blood pressure, and manage high cholesterol. Turmeric is often one of those "love it or hate it" ingredients, but the health benefits of this spice make it an in-demand supplement.
Instead of taking yet another pill every day, you can enjoy the perks of turmeric on your immune system as a flavorful herbal tea.
Elderberry Tea
You already know that Vitamin C is a key ingredient to an efficient immune system, but did you know you can get most of this vitamin from a cup of elderberry tea?
Rich in flavonoids and antioxidants, these berries strengthen the immune system, fight infections, and shorten the severity of colds and flu. As an immune-boosting tea, this one sits at the top of the list for lower inflammation, better heart health, improved digestion, and free radical fighting.
Unlike green teas, which are often too delicate to mix with other strong flavors, teas with elderberry for sale can be enhanced with ginger, orange juice, honey, and cinnamon sticks for a boost of taste, along with even more health benefits.
Peppermint Tea
Tea varieties with peppermint in them are abundant, so you can enjoy this popular flavor as a black tea or herbal remedy. Peppermint leaf comes from the Mentha x piperita plant, so it's a tasty mix of spearmint and watermint. The tea offers medicinal benefits that soothe digestion because of the essential oils like menthol found naturally in the leaves.
Drinking peppermint tea can revive your mood with its minty flavor and odor, and that zing heads straight to your immune system. Peppermint has been used for thousands of years to improve symptoms of sore throat, the common cold, toothaches, and bacterial and viral infections.
Black Tea
While everyone has their favorite, loose-leaf black tea has been traditionally labeled as one of the best teas around. The quintessential OG, black tea can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, promote gut health, boost concentration and focus, and balance blood sugar. Because the flavor is strong enough to stand on its own, black tea is often paired with echinacea, bergamot, and other dried fruits for subtle or rich flavors.
Is it a good immune-boosting tea, though? The answer is a resounding "yes."
A 2023 study found that adding three cups of black tea to your daily routine substantially increases your healthy gut bacteria, which is crucial to a well-oiled immune system and can guard against cognitive decline. To add more immune system-friendliness to your tea, look for Nelson's Tea blends that embrace the perks of other plants like Cinnamon Spice, Dark Chocolate Cherry, Mango Passionfruit, and Blueberry or Raspberry Earl Grey.
White Tea
Even more delicate than green tea, loose-leaf white tea is a special butterfly in the world of robust immune-boosting teas. Sourced from the younger leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant, white tea is naturally light in flavor with a subtle sweetness. Because it's minimally processed, the natural antioxidants and other health benefits are saved, making it a powerful immune-boosting tea.
The antioxidants fight free radicals, the L-theanine and polyphenols strengthen the immune system. Even better, white tea is a defender of the whole body, fighting off infections with its antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Squeeze some lemon in your cup for a little added flavor and a boost of nutrition, and enjoy!
Hibiscus Tea
For those who enjoy a bold, sweet flavor in their drinks, hibiscus tea is the perfect solution. Hibiscus is naturally sweet, but its rich taste makes it ideal as a blend with other immune system-boosting favorite tastes like our Nelson's Tea favorites of Raspberry, Blueberry, and Cran-Orange Vanilla. It's not uncommon to see hibiscus as an added ingredient in many flavored teas.
On its own, hibiscus tea falls into the herbal tea category. If you're trying to strengthen your immune system, you can't go wrong with hibiscus. This beautiful flowering plant is high in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories. Drinking this crowd favorite tea as a way to boost your body's ability to fight infections and recover from colds, flus, and injuries is a surefire way to support immunity and overall health.
Chamomile Tea
What's your favorite bedtime routine? No matter what it looks like, adding a cup of chamomile tea is an effective way to improve your sleep quality while also adding a boost of support to your immune system.
Chamomile tea for sale is full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and antibacterial properties, making it a favorite immune-boosting tea. But as a bonus, chamomile has calming properties that reduce stress, letting you fall asleep soundly and get better rest. When your body can sleep properly, giving it time to recover, your immune system can function optimally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there specific nutrients in herbal tea that enhance immunity?
Your immune system relies on compounds like polyphenols and antioxidants such as catechins and flavonoids to function. Herbal tea is full of these nutrients. Look for ingredients like echinacea and Vitamin C to increase the support and effect that the tea offers your immune system.
Can drinking tea help me recover faster when I'm sick?
While everyone is different, general research shows that drinking tea loaded with antioxidants and vitamins can reduce the severity and duration of illnesses like common colds and flu. Specifically, Vitamin C and echinacea are the go-to ingredients to look for in these types of immunity teas.
Are there any potential side effects of drinking immune-boosting teas?
It's possible for immune-boosting teas to have side effects when they're consumed excessively or if you have specific medical conditions, like an autoimmune disorder. Since these teas have herbs and spices that stimulate the immune system, they can trigger symptoms. If you're concerned about the effects of anything in your diet, including teas, on your prescriptions or health issues, talk to your medical provider before adding a new tea to your diet.
How often should I drink immune-boosting tea to boost my immune system health?
Studies vary on this answer, but one or two cups a day is a good target to aim for. Your immune system requires regular nutrients to keep it functioning optimally, which can be provided in 1-2 cups of tea plus a healthy diet.
Final Thoughts on Tea for Health Benefits and Immune Support
Sure, you could take those supplements packed with echinacea and other herbs and spices. But don't you have enough on your plate? If swallowing pills isn't your thing, the right immune-boosting teas could help you get the antioxidants and other immunity essentials you need in a hot cup of yumminess.
Choosing your next tea depends on the vitamins you want and the effects you're hoping to notice. We recommend having a ginger-based tea on hand at all times to soothe nausea when it crops up, and an immunity blend with Vitamin C for daily use. Check out our wide selection of teas to boost immune system health at Nelson's Tea.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
