If you’re a tea drinker, chances are you’ve sipped a cup or two of Earl Grey, or at the very least discussed its finer properties with another of your sophisticated tea-drinking friends. For those of you that haven’t, Earl Grey is a blended Chinese tea with a distinctive citrus flavor, as a result of adding oil from the bergamot orange. Those who have had the subtle joy of sipping its delicate citrusy contents would likely agree that it makes for a delightful afternoon beverage indeed.
But aside from a spicy aroma and pleasant taste, Earl Grey has another great benefit: its health properties. Well, 11 great benefits, to be exact.
It improves your mood
Bergamot, the ingredient that gives Earl Grey its distinctive citrus flavor, is a proven stress reliever, reducing anxiety and alleviating depression. This tea can also promote mood stabilization, meaning it can be an effective tool for those who suffer from strong mood swings.
It protects against heart disease
Just as it improves and stabilizes your mood, the bergamot contained in Earl Grey can also be an effective replacement for statin drugs by significantly lowering cholesterol. Bergamot has been shown by researchers to contain enzymes called hydroxy methyl glutaryl flavonones (HMGF), which can seek out and destroy proteins in the body known to cause heart disease.
It’s good for your teeth
Earl Grey tea contains high concentrations of an antioxidant called catechin, which has been shown to fight oral infections. Earl Grey also naturally contains fluoride, which protects your teeth against cavities and decay.
It aids in digestion
While most teas are often prescribed as a mild antidote for digestion problems, Earl Grey is particularly effective in alleviating constipation, nausea and acid reflux. It can even be an effective way to lower your chances of intestinal infection and worms.
It enhances immunity
Earl Grey tea can be an effective tool in improving your immune system function. Once again, this benefit is likely due to the bergamot oil in this tea, with the antioxidants contained in bergamot acting to target and destroy free radicals, which can cause serious harm to your body. The same antioxidants have been shown to reduce fevers, fight against infection and help manage a range of other acute and chronic conditions.
It boosts your energy
Earl Grey tea can elevate your energy levels due to its concentration of caffeine. While the amount of caffeine in this tea is considerably lower than coffee, it is still enough to keep you perked up through a long, boring meeting at work but is unlikely to keep you awake at night.
It maintains hydration
Sick of drinking boring old water? Earl Grey is an excellent alternative that keeps you hydrated, with plenty of antioxidants and nutrients to keep you going through the day. It also contains zero calories, so it can make a healthy replacement for sugary sodas or juices.
It can promote weight loss
The citrus ingredients in Earl Grey tea help to improve metabolic processes in your body, which can promote faster energy consumption and hence weight loss.
It nurtures your skin
It fights off colds
Earl Grey tea contains anti-viral compounds that can fight and repel viruses associated with the common cold. The immunity boost that Earl Grey’s bergamot provides can also help protect your body from contracting viruses linked to the common cold and the flu, and help speed recovery from these illnesses.
It lowers stress
The caffeine contained in Earl Grey tea has a stress-relieving effect on the body. Drinking Earl Grey can quickly relax and soothe the body and ease the mind, providing a potent anti-stress tool during times of pressure.
Ready to brew yourself a cup of Earl Grey and reap the benefits? Find out how to create the perfect cup of tea before you make your first brew.
—Liivi Hess
Liivi is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and is training to become a doula. She inspires women to find peace and personal power by taking control of health and fertility naturally. Liivi‘s passion is ancestral nutrition and primal lifestyle design. She and her partner Will live between Toronto, Canada and Queenstown, New Zealand.
Sources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10732973/A-cup-of-Earl-Grey-as-good-as-statins-at-fighting-heart-disease-study-finds.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376738811002134
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.03035.x/full
http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-SPKJ201221091.htm
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.5172/conu.673.30.1.69#.VuZIj_krLrc