8 Ways Tea Can Help You From Head To Toe

Finding the right tea can be difficult — there are so many brands, flavors, and brew shops in cities all over the world. But if you do your research ahead of time, you may be surprised to find that each kind of tea may benefit your body in a specific way. Luckily, there are varieties out there that will suit tea enthusiasts of all kinds. Whether you drink your tea for leisure-time enjoyment or for its health benefits, after just a few sips, you can relax with the knowledge that you're helping your body.

Basil tea has always been a popular remedy in Ayurvedic medicine. Basil helps to alieve upset stomach, abdominal gas, and stomach pain. Fresh basil is also a great ingredient for anything you wish — it provides the same benefits in everything from salads to cocktails.

If you're looking to lose a little weight, bilberry tea helps with the balance of sugar levels in your body. This may reduce cravings for sugary sweets and treats. Not a big fan of berry-flavored teas? There are other teas that help with weight loss as well.

Chai spices have been proven to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, as do herbal blends that include ginger, stinging nettle, and fennel. If you are feeling under the weather, this may be the best tea for you to try.

"Green tea is considered to be the king of teas based on its catechin content," says Liz Weinandy, MPH, RD at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. According to Weinandy, green tea contains antioxidant compounds that help prevent cell damage. These beneficial compounds have been shown to improve cholesterol levels, lower the risk of numerous heart-related issues, and help retard the formation of plaque that causes Alzheimer's disease.

Often used in "sleepy tea" or holiday blends, peppermint is a natural source of menthol. Menthol acts as a muscle relaxant, and helps keep the body calm and sleep better through the night. It can also provide stress relief.

Turmeric is native to India, and is the element that gives curries and other foods their orange color. Curcumin, a compound in turmeric, relieves pain and arthritis, decreases blood clots, prevents cancer, strengthens digestion, detoxifies the liver, and heals skin wounds. Numi Organic Tea recently launched a new line of turmeric tea.

Saffron tea contains the radiant orange spice, saffron, that has been shown to be as effective as certain antidepressant drugs, including imipramine and fluoxetine. Saffron also helps with mood swings. Make tea with a pinch of saffron and experience these amazing effects.

Studies have found that white tea destroys bacteria, thus helping the body fight and prevent common illnesses. Arbor Teas of Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers fair trade-certified teas with compostable packaging.