I don’t drink coffee (gasp), it’s just something that’s never really sit well with me (except for the Starbucks Pumpkin Chai Latte, sooo good!) However, I do enjoy a good tea once in a while. My favorite tea is my mom’s homemade chai, with it’s wonderful aroma and spices.
Lately I’ve been trying out different teas for both it’s soothing and medicinal effects. It started because of this commercial I keep seeing on TV of a mom drinking a special tea to help her get a better nights sleep. It made me start thinking about and researching teas and how they can help. Especially as moms, we go through a lot and often while breastfeeding, so tea seems like a great, natural way to help those ailments.
Of course I’m no expert, so I asked my friend Mubina Jiwa, a Naturopathic doctor as well as a mother, to share what her favorite teas for moms are.
Guest Blogger Dr. Mubina Jiwa, ND
Tea can be therapeutic for a mum. It is soothing and can be used for it’s medicinal properties. I love prescribing teas for mum’s because they are easy to make and I am not worried about contraindications. That said, any pregnant or breastfeeding woman should consult their naturopath before indulging in theses teas to make sure it’s the right choice for her.
These teas are 4 or my favorite:
1. Licorice Tea – energy, PMS, cravings
Licorice is great for energy and every mum needs an energy boost at some point in the day. It also nourishes our adrenal glands, which is the organ that produces the adrenalin that gives us energy. Licorice tea has a pleasant flavour and can give you a bit of sweetness you might be craving. It can also help manage PMS as the adrenal hormones can influence female hormones with are responsible for the irritability, cravings and cramps. Licorice tea can also help soothe the digestive system and may reduce constipation and water retention. You shouldn’t have more than 3 cups a day and I often recommend re-using the tea bag so the second cup is not too potent. Licorice is also not recommended to be taken continuously for more than 4-6 weeks. I would recommend putting this tea in a rotation and having it once or twice a week.
2. Ginger Tea – digestive, antimicrobial, headaches
Ginger is excellent for digestion and around this time of year, after indulgences, we could all use a digestive aid. You can make fresh ginger tea by boiling a few slices of ginger root, or opt for ginger tea bags. I love a cup of ginger tea after a heavy meal. Ginger can also help with headaches or migraines and as a bonus can curb any nausea the headache brings. It is also great for colds and flu’s as ginger helps break down phelgm, leaving you less congested. You can also add lemon slices or some good quality honey to your tea to give you a different flavour and some antimicobial kick. You can give some ginger tea to the whole family if you feel like you are coming down with something.
3. Rooibos – caffeine substitute, anti-aging
Rooibos has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years and for good reason. It has been a staple in South Africa for years. It is rich in antioxidants, which can be anti-aging, and is a healthier caffeine-free option to black tea. The antioxidants in the Rooibos can help prevent free radical damage which keeps your cells healthy and decreases inflammation. As a bonus is, it lowers tannins so it doesn’t interfere with iron absorption, as black tea does.
4. Lemon balm – relaxing, calm, sleep-aid
Lemon balm is a fantastic tea for mum’s who are making lists in their minds as they fall asleep. We all know how hard it is to put our busy day’s behind us and relax in the evening. It is a great tea to drink in the evening after the kids go to bed. It can help you relax, de-stress and get a good nights sleep. You can also give it to you school aged kids to help the calm down in they are particularly anxious about something.
Dr. Mubina Jiwa, ND is the director of Essence of Health and an associate professor at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She manages a private practice in downtown Toronto and consults for several companies.
Dr. Jiwa is the naturopathic expert on CTV’s Marilyn Denis Show and regularly appears on numerous radio and television programs.
For more information about Mubina you can visit essenceofhealth.ca and follow Mubina on Twitter @essenceofhealth
In case like me, you weren’t sure what Contraindication meant, it is a condition or factor that serves as a reason to withhold a certain medical treatment.
Do you already drink any of the teas mentioned above? If so which one and if not, what’s your favorite type of tea to drink?
I love tea. I’ll have to try the licorice one. I definitely could use some help in the PMS department.
Agi:)
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Yes, I am in agreement with you on that one Agi!
Very interesting! Think I’ll try out some rooibos in rotation so I’m not on coffee every day.
That does seem like a great alternative to coffee Brianna.
When I married into an Indian family, tea was suddenly a major part of my life. One cup in the morning and one after dinner was the norm. Now that I’ve cut out white sugar, I’m trying out new teas that are flavoured (David’s Tea has some crazy good flavours) but I do also love the simple blends – ginger and lemon is my perfect cure for guts that need some TLC. Yay tea!
I don’t drink coffee or tea. However, I do realize I should start liking tea. It’s so good for you. I’ve never heard of Rooibos.
Thanks so much for this great post!! I used to be a huge coffee gal but have realized it’s taking a toll on my health. I’ve just gotten into trying out different teas so it was so nice to see this informative roundup. Thanks 🙂
I love tea too. Worked at Starbucks but never really became a coffee drinker. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I like to drink tea – mostly different types of black teas. Although we usually only have orange pekoe in our house. When I have the opportunity in a restaurant, I like to try different teas. Lately I’ve been drinking decaf tea but I”m not sure if it’s healthy. That’s an interesting point about lemon balm tea – that it can be calming for children. I’ll have to look into that. There’s so much in life that can cause anxious moments for youth. A calming cup-of-tea sounds like a great remedy
I found the lemon balm tree interesting too. We could all do with a little more calm in our lives Pamela 🙂
LOVE tea! Like you Salma, really enjoy our homemade Indian Chai, every morning, but enjoy other teas as well. One of my favorites is for sure licorice and Lavender peppermint, that was my signature tea at the Spa !!! Recently was introduced to Vanilla Earl Grey, have never enjoyed Earl Grey, but loved it !
Thanks for sharing ! 🙂