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Best Herbal Teas to Boost Immunity This Winter

In Traditional Chinese medicine, cold foods and beverages make foods harder to digest and it actually cools your body down. We want to keep the body warm and keep a strong digestive system. This supports a healthy immune system and herbal teas are loaded with antioxidants and antibacterials to keep us from getting sick. Warm beverages are going to be your best friend. Herbal teas are staples in a winter diet. 

Here are some of the best herbal teas to boost immunity this winter:

1. Turmeric Teas

Turmeric is a bright orange root with a slightly bitter flavor that is related to ginger and often used in Indian cuisine. Turmeric contains a compound known as curcumin, which contains antimicrobial properties and can help to ward off illness.

2. Ginger Teas

Like turmeric, ginger also contains antimicrobial properties that can help to boost your immune system and keep you safe and healthy. 

3. Licorice Root Teas

Used in Chinese herbal medicine for hundreds of years, licorice root has a wealth of health benefits, including antiviral and antimicrobial properties that can help to boost your immune system and keep you from getting sick. Licorice root should only be consumed in moderation, so be sure to limit yourself to only a few cups of tea with licorice root per day.

4. Peppermint Teas

Peppermint is cool, minty, and soothing - the perfect thing when you’re feeling under the weather. Studies have shown that peppermint has antimicrobial and antiviral properties that can help ward off illness, and it’s also high in antioxidants along with a variety of other health benefits.

5. Chamomile Teas

Chamomile has been used as a component of herbal medicine for centuries to help boost the immune system, soothe symptoms of the common cold, and aid in rest and relaxation. While studies concerning chamomile’s many benefits are still ongoing, recent research indicates that chamomile may contain antibacterial properties that can help to ward off illness and keep your immune system in tip-top shape.

6. Lemongrass Teas

Lemongrass is a common ingredient in a variety of tea blends that has a pleasant citrus flavor. Recent studies have shown that lemongrass has antibacterial properties that can help to protect the body against illness. Lemongrass is also high in antioxidants and can help to reduce inflammation.

7. Hibiscus Teas

Teas that include hibiscus contain antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can help to ward off illness and promote overall health. Hibiscus also has many other health benefits, including high levels of iron, antioxidants, and Vitamin C.

8. Black Tea

Black tea contains catechins with antiviral properties that can help to keep you from getting sick. Like other types of tea made from the camellia sinensis plant, black tea is high in antioxidants and has a variety of other health benefits, like soothing inflammation and boosting heart health.

9. Green Tea

Unlike other types of tea, green tea is either steamed or pan-fired soon after harvest in order to halt the oxidation process, which preserves the green color of the tea leaves and may also result in increased levels of beneficial compounds like antioxidants and catechins. Studies show that the catechins present in green tea can help to ward off the flu and the common cold.