Boost your bodys defenses with a cup of this slightly spicy steamy (or iced!)
Kseniya Ovchinnikova/Getty Images
Craving comfort, congestion relief or better digestion?
A cup of tea can be your all-in-one remedy.
Photo:Kseniya Ovchinnikova/Getty Images
Tea is the worlds second most popular beveragebehind waterand has been sipped for centuries.
One of those benefits is teas ability to help lower inflammation.
The #1 Best Tea
The award goes toginger tea!
Gingeris technically a rhizome (underground stem), similar to a root vegetable.
In its fresh form, you might find ginger in the produce section alongside onions and garlic.
Look for dried, ground ginger in its powdered form in the spice aisle.
you could steep tea using a chunk of fresh ginger or purchase loose-leaf or bagged ginger tea.
Ginger contains bioactive compounds, including gingerol and shogaol, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ginger is particularly effective because it targets multiple pathways involved in inflammation.
It may reduce symptoms associated with arthritis, nausea and the common cold.
Some research suggests ginger may be as effective as popping ibuprofen when it comes to natural pain relief.
While research shows promise for gingers anti-inflammatory benefits, the exact amount of ginger tea needed isnt known.
We still need more research.
Nevertheless, ginger tea is a delicious, inexpensive and safe option for those looking for natural inflammation relief.
What Is Inflammation?
We all experience inflammation throughout the day.
A paper cut that swells up and turns red is a classic example of your bodys inflammatory response.
Likewise, engaging in intense exercise or encountering everyday germs at the office or grocery store can trigger inflammation.
However, chronic inflammation is another story.
Its clear that chronic inflammation poses a huge danger to your health.
Those things include prioritizing sleep, managing stress and eating ananti-inflammatory diet.
As a dietitian, I always recommend starting with one goal at a time.
So, how about aiming for one thats small and simple?
Its inexpensive, full of flavor and easy to begin right now.
Tea also counts toward meeting yourdaily fluid needs, so its hydrating, too.
And thats why we rank it No.
1 for the best tea for lowering inflammation.
2020;12(1):157. doi:10.3390/nu12010157
Pahwa R, Goyal A, Jialal I.Chronic inflammation.
StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
