Kerry McClure – Practical Wellness
January 26, 2015
One of my favorite hot drinks is Chai Tea.
I love Chai Tea for the taste and health benefits but I am not so in love with the sugar content and other ingredients of many pre-packaged offerings.
Here is some interesting and thought-provoking information about Chai Tea and a recipe on how to make your own Chai Tea.
Chai tea is made from strong black or green tea mixed with herbs and spices.
You would have to drink three cups of chai tea to achieve the same amount of caffeine you get in a single cup of coffee. And this ratio increases to 5:1 or 6:1 when you compare chai to strong coffee. By virtue of this fact alone, switching to chai will cut your caffeine intake dramatically, even if you have an extra cup.
Depending on the mixture that is brewed, there are various benefits of drinking Chai tea; however, all of the concoctions share some common benefits.
Common Benefits of Chai Tea:
Fight Free Radicals. Chai tea is a powerful antioxidant that helps destroy free radicals that are thought to be one of the causes of cancer, skin breakdown, and other disorders.
Promote Digestion. Tea of any kind can help digestion but the right combination of herbs and spices in chai tea can increase this positive benefit.
Replace Caffeine. If you need a cup of coffee to get started in the morning, chai tea may offer a healthier alternative. Since most blends of chai tea have relatively little caffeine, you can still benefit from a quick pick-me-up.
Improve Overall Health. Since you can add almost any spice or herb to the tea, you can blend the specific type of chai tea to target the specific problem you are experiencing.
Benefits of Different Types of Chai Tea:
Knowing the benefits of the ingredients in chai tea will help you decide which specific blend you want to drink.
Cinnamon Chai Tea. Cinnamon is an all-purpose spice that can help fight many different disorders. If you have an upper respiratory disease such as a cold, try adding some cinnamon to your tea. Cinnamon is also thought to help lower blood sugar and cholesterol and may help fight colon cancer. Many people swear by cinnamon as an aphrodisiac.
Cardamom Chai Tea. Cardamom is a spice in the ginger family. Although you might not be familiar with this one, cardamom is a great aid to digestion helping to improve your metabolism and reduce gas and bad breath. This is another spice that is reported to have aphrodisiac properties.
Clove Chai Tea. Cloves may be a potent cure for fungal infections. Used regularly, cloves may also help prevent fungal illnesses. In addition to drinking clove chai tea, you can also apply this tea to fight fungal infections on your skin.
Black Pepper Chai Tea. Black pepper chai tea helps to relieve upper respiratory symptoms and chest congestion, improves circulation and metabolism, and can help “sweat out” a fever.
Nutmeg Chai Tea. Nutmeg chai tea is a traditional spiced drink that helps relieve neurological pain. Many people swear by nutmeg to help maintain healthy kidneys and immune system.
Chai Tea Recipe:
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 cups water
3 black tea bags
1/8 – 1/4 cup honey (more or less for your sweetness level)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick
5 whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pinch ground nutmeg
2 cups milk of choice
Directions: In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add tea, honey and vanilla. Season with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg. Simmer for 5 minutes. Pour in milk, and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, and strain through a fine sieve or cheesecloth.
Sources for this post:
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/…/Why-Everyone-Should-Drink-Ch…
http://www.chai-tea.org/benefits.html
Additional Chai Tea Recipes:
http://www.med-health.net/Chai-Tea-Benefits.html
Recipe Source: New Leaf Markets
Consult your healthcare provider before beginning or changing any dietary regimen to ensure your changes are best for your individual needs.
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