What are the best teas for inflammation and pain?
Looking for an easy home remedy to soothe inflammation? Simply brew a cup of tea. Many teas are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, helping reduce stiffness and aches. Tea consumption for health dates back to 2737 BC in China, where it was used to calm the mind and heal the body. Scientific research supports these claims, showing that tea’s antioxidants can alleviate pain and discomfort caused by inflammation.
However, not all teas offer the same benefits, as their chemical compounds vary. The good news is many teas have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. In this blog, we’ll explore the best teas for reducing both acute and chronic inflammation, starting with a clear understanding of what inflammation is.
What is an inflammation?
Inflammation is the natural mechanism for your immune system to respond to injury, diseases, and infections. So, “Inflammation”, in general, is good until it goes out of control and becomes chronic. We expect inflammation to gradually disappear after protecting our body from danger.
Chronic inflammation can lead to serious health risks by causing the immune system to attack healthy organs. To reduce this risk:
- Health Risks: Increases chances of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
- Preventive Approach: Adopting a healthy lifestyle helps manage inflammation.
- Natural Solution: Adding anti-inflammatory teas to your daily routine can provide relief and protection.
Best teas for Inflammation and Pain
Now, we have a clear idea about inflammation and the need for its protection. As discussed earlier, one tea might be more useful than the other for tackling inflammation. So, what is the best tea for inflammation? Let’s scan.
Black Teas
Black tea is often praised for offering many health benefits similar to green tea. The difference is that black tea contains more caffeine as compared to green tea, however, both are significant in fighting chronic inflammation. Black tea contains abundant flavonoids such as theaflavin and thearubigins that hinder the excess release of inflammatory enzymes. Additionally, these compounds also contribute to abolishing the free radicals in the body. So, to prevent chronic inflammatory issues, black tea is amongst the best tea to drink, which also protects you against different serious health conditions including, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Despite so many health benefits, unfortunately, it might also have some negative impact when you are on medication or you are intolerant to high caffeine. If this is the case for you, limit your black tea intake level, else there should be no problem with consuming 4 to 5 cups of black tea per day.
Plus, you can enjoy black tea with or without milk, it should not impact the anti-inflammatory properties of the tea.
Green Teas
Acknowledged often as the healthiest beverage, green tea is widely praised as the no.1 tea when talking about the maximum antioxidant content. The bountiful catechins including EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) together with numerous flavonoids aid in protecting against free radicals and reduce inflammation and pain resulting from rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and various cancers.
Additionally, you have the option to choose from varieties of blends for different flavors. So, if you are looking for the best green tea for inflammation with a floral blend, you may want to try Jasmine Green tea, the floral blend from the High Himalayas of Nepal packed with plentiful antioxidants and a beautiful jasmine aroma.
Green tea offers multiple health benefits beyond its anti-inflammatory properties:
- Boosts Immunity: Strengthens the immune system.
- Health Protection: Lowers the risk of Parkinson’s, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
- Medication Interaction: May interfere with drugs like nadolol, codeine, bortezomib, and acetaminophen.
- Consultation Recommended: If on medication, check with your doctor for a safe intake limit.
White Teas
Although white tea comes from the same plant - Camellia Sinensis as the other true teas, it goes through minimum processing than other teas which results in a higher antioxidant content including polyphenols and other micronutrients that aid protection against many diseases. Proven effective against inflammation, white teas are especially beneficial for those with weak bones as regular white tea consumption is great to boost bone density. Plus, white tea has lower caffeine than green tea and black tea making it the best anti-inflammatory tea if you are not a fan of high caffeine in tea.
Lemongrass Teas
If you are looking for anti-inflammatory herbal tea, then lemongrass tea is what you need to try. For those who are looking for caffeine alternatives, drinking lemongrass tea daily may be the solution to get rid of the pain as a result of inflammation. The tea contains two vital compounds named geranial and citral, which the researcher believes to be credible for the anti-inflammatory boon in the beverage.
Because lemongrass tea is caffeine-free, you can enjoy it at any time of your day, before bed too. So, it shouldn't be strenuous for you to adjust the tea in your daily routine to aid in preventing critical health conditions including stroke and heart disease.
Cinnamon Teas
Cinnamon is a commonly used spice for brewing spicy flavored teas. Cinnamon teas are also blessed with anti-inflammatory properties with rich antioxidant compounds.
Obesity and high fat in the bloodstream are common causes of inflammation in many. Lowering cholesterol levels is crucial for preventing this category of inflammation. Cinnamon tea works by lowering the bad cholesterol and boosting good cholesterol levels in your body to reduce inflammation and improve heart functioning. Plus, tea is also beneficial in lowering blood sugar to assist further.
Not a heavy tea drinker? Well, worry not, the research shows a single cup of cinnamon tea in a day is adequate to gain all its anti-inflammatory benefits. So, cinnamon tea is the best tea to drink if you are not much into tea, but are looking for anti-inflammatory benefits. The tea is good for both temporary inflammation and long-term inflammation.
Ginger Teas
Adding spicy taste and flavor, ginger is also praised for making your food healthy. No wonder, the ingredient is commonly found in many cuisines all around the world. When blended with the tea, it adds multiple health benefits including anti-inflammatory perks, thanks to the “gingerols” and “school”, active ingredients in ginger that help your body effectively and timely respond to inflammation and pain. The tea has been found helpful, particularly in reducing pain resulting from menstrual discomfort, muscle soreness, and arthritis.
In addition, the researchers have compared ginger tea’s anti-inflammatory properties with ibuprofen medicine, the commonly prescribed medicine for inflammation. They praised this natural inflammatory tea for similar benefits, but with fewer side effects.
You can blend ginger with different herbal teas or caffeinated tea to gain its pros. Also, you have the option to purchase Green tea from the market and simply brew it to enjoy.
Turmeric Teas
Turmeric belongs to the same family as ginger and too offers anti-inflammatory health benefits. However, the compound responsible for this wonderful health perk is different. Unlike ginger, where gingerols and shogaols are key compounds for anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric contains a different compound referred to as curcumin to offer the benefit.
The tea has been identified to be effective in reducing the pain and inflammation resulting from health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
Recently, this natural anti-inflammatory tea has seen a big rise in terms of popularity for its multiple health benefits which are supported by research and clinical trials.
Rosehips Teas
Just so you know, rosehips are orange-red fruits you see at the top of the rose flowers that are very rich in vitamin C. For decades, they have been used as home remedies. Additionally, different research has found it to be effective against inflammation and pain too. The powerful compounds behind them are galactolipids and phytochemicals which have been identified to offer anti-inflammatory benefits reducing the oxidative stress in the tissues.
Fighting the free radicals in our body to prevent cell damage, this anti-inflammatory herbal tea reduces the inflammation and pain resulting from both types of arthritis - rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
Conclusion
Drinking regular tea offers many health merits and most of them do reduce pain and inflammation. However let’s note that tea does not miraculously work to eliminate all types of pain, especially those from fractures or broken bones. However, if the reason for your pain is internal inflammation, it is ideal to include anti-inflammatory tea in your routine unless you are on medication that directly interferes with the tea. For the best result, go for the tea full of antioxidants and nutrients to fight inflammation neatly. Danfe Tea is cultivated in hilly regions in Nepal where the pristine climate alongside mineral-rich soil in the high altitude ensures the abundant nutrients and antioxidants packed tea to offer the best health benefits. Plus, at Danfe Tea, you will get a variety of options, whether you are looking for anti-inflammatory herbal tea or caffeinated tea. Visit us and explore the best Nepal teas in our assortments.
FAQs
What tea is good for arthritis and inflammation?
Tea rich in anti-inflammatory compounds helps relieve arthritis and inflammation. Key compounds include polyphenols, EGCG, gingerols, shogaols, and phytochemicals. The best teas for daily consumption include green tea, rosehip tea, turmeric tea, ginger tea, lemongrass tea, black tea, and cinnamon tea.
What is a natural drink for inflammation?
Herbal teas are a great natural choice for fighting inflammation. Teas like green, ginger, turmeric, and rosehip are rich in antioxidants that help the body combat chronic inflammation.
What reduces inflammation?
An anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle help reduce inflammation. If you have chronic inflammation from conditions like heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, consult your doctor for lifestyle changes. Adding anti-inflammatory teas can further support the process.
Are herbal teas anti-inflammatory?
There are numerous herbal teas available, but, not all of them help reduce inflammation and pain. However, there are plenty of them which do reduce inflammation. Some of the best anti-inflammatory herbal teas that work well are Ginger herbal tea, Lemongrass herbal tea, rosehip herbal tea, and Turmeric herbal tea.
Are teas good for back pain?
Yes, tea with anti-inflammatory compounds helps to ease back pain unless they are the result of fractures or structural breakdown. So, consult with the physician before totally depending on the tea only in case you are suffering from chronic back pain.
