Today we’re going to talk about something simple, affordable, and powerful — tea.
For thousands of years, people have turned to plants for healing. And as believers, we recognize that God created plants not only for beauty and nourishment, but for our well-being.
Genesis 1:29 reminds us, “Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth… They will be yours for food.’” Tea is one of those gifts — leaves, roots, and flowers steeped in hot water — bringing comfort and health benefits to the body.
Let’s explore seven of the best teas for your health.
1. Green Tea – The Antioxidant Powerhouse – Green tea is rich in catechins, especially EGCG, which research shows may support cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive function. In vitro and in vivo research indicates EGCG may disrupt cancer development and progression through multiple biological mechanisms such as triggering programmed cell death or apoptosis in various cancer cell lines (including oral, breast, lung, and prostate cancers) while leaving healthy cells unharmed. EGCG inhibits the formation of new blood vessels needed for tumor growth and acts as a powerful antioxidant. It can also help the cancer patient by improving cognitive function, improving mood, and reducing inflammation.
My husband drinks green tea several times each day. I do drink it, but since I must watch caffeine levels, I only occasionally drink this tea which is lower in caffeine than black tea. I do put Matcha tea, which is a concentrated form of this tea in powder form, in my daily smoothie to get the valuable EGCG catechins. I buy it at Costco. ½ teaspoon contains 30 mg of caffeine, which is about one-third of what black tea contains. And ½ teaspoon is what I use.
3 John 1:2 says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Green tea probably has the best ability to improve our health.
Green tea is high in EGCG.
- Chamomile Tea – The Calming Healer – Insomnia is a major problem for cancer patients, and sleep issues also increase with age. Chamomile is among the medicinal plants or leaves containing apigenin, which binds to brain receptors that promote sleep and relaxation. Clinical studies show chamomile may improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety symptoms. When I’m staying in a hotel, I almost always make use of the hot teas provided in my room. Chamomile is always one of them.Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Yes, chamomile tea may help you to relax so you can fall into that deep sleep that heals, restores, and detoxes your body.
- Peppermint Tea – The Digestive Soother – Peppermint tea, which is rich in menthol, is a scientifically supported natural remedy for digestive issues, particularly effective at relaxing gastrointestinal muscles to ease IBS, bloating, cramping, and indigestion. I love to sip on peppermint tea after a meal. Warm peppermint tea is highly recommended after meals for most people. It contains no caffeine, which I must be cautious about. Studies also show that it improves bile flow, but it is not recommended for those with acid reflux, heartburn, or hiatal hernia because it can relax the esophageal sphincter, exacerbating symptoms. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. And we can care for that temple by drinking teas such as peppermint tea.
Peppermint tea is good for digestion.
- Ginger Tea – The Anti-Inflammatory Booster – Research indicates that ginger is an effective, natural treatment for reducing nausea and vomiting, particularly for pregnant women, post operative surgery, and sometimes chemotherapy, acting via gut-motility improvement. Ginger contains gingerols and shogaols (sha’ gols) that have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea effects in clinical research.
I did an entire video on “Seven Useful Benefits of Ginger,” and you can view it here. It’s also easy to make your own fresh ginger tea. I used it after chemotherapy to help with nausea. My husband used the fresh ginger when we hit high waves at sea on a cruise. You simply take fresh, organic ginger and chop it up and then steep it in boiling water.
Jeremiah 30:17 says, “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.” Ginger is a restoring herb that is anti-inflammatory, boosts the immune system, and calms nausea and vomiting. It’s just one of many things in nature God has given us to restore our health.
Hibiscus tea can lower your blood pressure.
- Hibiscus Tea – The Heart Helper – The first time my husband and I had hibiscus tea, we were in Egypt. It was served to us in an art gallery. The deep red color revealed the rich concentrations of antioxidants such as beta-carotene, anthocyanins, and vitamin C that was readily available to nourish our bodies. We only wanted more. This tropical, flowering plant is more than just a colorful decoration for your garden. Hibiscus tea is a fragrant herbal tea made from the dried calyces of the flowers of the hibiscus plant.
Studies show hibiscus tea may help lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and improve cholesterol markers. It may have benefits for kidney function and relief from symptoms of urinary tract infections. It acts as a diuretic, helping your kidneys remove extra fluid from your body. But be careful, this tea might stain your clothes if you have the oopsies like me!
Our tea in Egypt was made fresh from the flowers, and it was to die for. I don’t remember needing any sweetener for it. It can be served hot or cold, and it contains no caffeine, which is especially important for me.
Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Hibiscus tea is like medicine for your heart. Here’s the hibiscus mix that I use. You can also use hibiscus tea bags from Yogi teas.
Turmeric tea contains curcumin and is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
- Turmeric Tea – The Golden Healer – Turmeric, a spice that has long been recognized for its medicinal properties, has received interest from both the medical/scientific world and from culinary enthusiasts, as it is the major source of the polyphenol curcumin. Curcumin aids in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia.
It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and performance in active people. Most of these benefits can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Ingesting curcumin by itself does not lead to the associated health benefits due to its poor bioavailability, which appears to be primarily due to poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid elimination.
There are several components that can increase bioavailability. For example, piperine is the major active component of black pepper and, when combined in a complex with curcumin, has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%. Curcumin combined with enhancing agents provides multiple health benefits.
I found this bag of turmeric tea combined with ginger, black pepper, and mango. I love this tea because it’s a great anti-inflammatory tea. Frankly, I don’t like to use too much turmeric as a spice or in a tea due to its pungent flavor, but the mango and ginger mixed in with the turmeric balances out the flavor, and the black pepper enhances the bioavailability. I bought this blend at The Spice and Tea Exchange in Highlands, NC. It’s expensive, but a little goes a long way.
Ezekiel 47:12 speaks of leaves “for healing.” Curcumin is taken from the root of the plant, and many teas come from the root, leaves, or flowers of plants. God made all of these plants for our healing.
Marshmallow root tea is good for rebuilding your gut.
- Marshmallow Root Tea – The Gut Builder – Marshmallow root tea is an herbal, caffeine-free brew known for its soothing, mucilaginous properties. It is often used to alleviate digestive issues, soothe sore throats, and calm respiratory irritation. Rich in mucilage, the tea forms a gel-like coating on inflamed mucous membranes in both the digestive system and the respiratory tract. This mucilage brings relief from heartburn, indigestion, and stomach upset. It also eases coughs and throat irritation. Besides having antioxidant properties, this tea can also repair the gut lining.
These reasons alone are why my naturopathic doctor recommended that I buy organic marshmallow root tea from Mountain Rose Herbs. You can brew this hot by steeping 1-2 teaspoons of dried root in 8 ounces of boiled water for 7-10 minutes, or you can brew this cold by soaking the root in cold water for several hours or overnight to maximize the extraction of the gel-like mucilage. This might surprise you, but the cold infusion of this brew is the most effective. So that’s what I do.
I must be honest with you. At first, I did not like the taste of this tea. So I brewed it with other teas like peppermint, etc. to improve the flavor. But now, I’ve acquired a taste for it and I only need to add a few drops of stevia to make it enticing for me. One caution though. The mucilage can block the absorption of medications, so it’s best not to take medications or vitamins within one hour before or up to two hours after drinking this tea.
I enjoy tea time with friends.
Tea hydrates, nourishes, and invites us to slow down — a sacred pause in a busy world.
Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Many cultures use tea as a social time to relax and slow down with others. Elisabeth Elliott loved teatime and used it as a way to fellowship with others and share her faith.
When my husband and I go on Viking cruises, one of our favorite things to attend each day is teatime from 3-4 pm. They serve fresh, organic teas of all kinds with biscuits and sandwiches. We simply go for the tea. The first time we went on Viking Ocean Cruises, we wondered why so many people were moving towards the tearoom around 3 pm. Now we understand because we are one of those couples that moves towards the tearoom at 3 pm. We rarely miss. It’s a time to fellowship with others, slow down, hydrate, and bring much-needed antioxidants and phytochemicals into our bodies.
Never forget that tea is an important dietary source of flavanols which can affect the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases including heart disease and cancer. Start with one cup a day. Be consistent. And give thanks for the natural gifts God has provided.
What teas do you like to drink?
View this message on YouTube:
Seven of the Best Teas for Your Health
Related video:
Seven Useful Benefits of Ginger
For Your Health,
Ginny
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, a finalist in Serious Writers Book of the Decade, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It recently received the Christian Authors Network’s (CAN) Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing for reaching 62.5 million people with a message of cancer prevention and survival. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers along with over 75 media outlets. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com.
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**** This content is strictly the opinion of Ginny Brant and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Ginny Brant nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. ****
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