This summer we will be gulping down glass after glass of all of our favorite cold drinks. We love our cold drinks and there will be no shortage of them out and about as things continue to heat up. In fact, as Frappuccinos, iced coffee, and iced tea have taught us everything that once was hot and can now be cold, especially in July!
Instead of buying a jug of "extra sugar please" off the store shelf you should consider brewing your own natural teas at home. They stay fresh and at their finest refrigerated for up to a week and they are fairly easy to make. Every tea serves a different purpose. Consider a bit of green or black tea for a nice natural caffeine boost (great with ginseng and honey too) or a more relaxing valerian tea as you enter your midsummer's dreams. If you can stomach the bitter taste you may also consider other uncommon natural teas like damiana or orange peel, both of which help with energy and focus but without stimulation of caffeine. There are also tangier varieties like hibiscus and elderberry. These natural teas are great for a day of work and study.
Below are three natural teas that you should consider brewing yourself or at least drink them in lieu of the over the shelf sugary varieties.The benefit they provide may surprise.
Blueberry Oolong Tea
One of my favorite iced teas all summer is blueberry oolong tea. It is a strong tea with a nice bite to the flavor but with a smoothness that makes it go down nicely. The blueberry adds a nice sweet touch to the flavor as well. Blueberries are full of antioxidants and have even been said to help fight the aging process. Oolong tea meanwhile is said to be active with enzymes that help metabolize Triglycerides (fat cells) which aids in weight loss. One study, for instance, showed that a group of women switched to drinking oolong tea rather than alternative beverages they actually showed greater weight loss than those who only drank water.
Black Tea
Black tea is perfect to jumpstart your day and is just one step down from coffee. It is said to possess the highest caffeine levels out of all the natural teas you can drink. In addition, it also contains theaflavin antioxidants and has been shown in some studies to reduce to blood pressure. similar studies have also revealed that drinking three cups of black tea daily may reduce the risk of stroke, by 21% on average.
Green Tea
Green tea is another healthy antioxidant-rich brew that stands around among these natural teas. Though not as strong as a black tea it also provides a small boost to start your day. This natural tea also possesses the vital antioxidant catechin and may aid in overall cardiovascular health. In fact, one study showed that one cup a day may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 10%. One sub compound known as EGCG has shown that it may even yield qualities that aid in the prevention of cancer.
These are only three of many natural teas that you should consider drinking this summer. I certainly recommend brewing your own natural teas at home or at least considering them over whatever "10% or less" juice drink many stores seem to be peddling these days.
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