The Magic of Drinking Tea

Tea kinda has a bad rap. I once heard it referred to as hot leaf juice, and my kids have said it tastes like grass water. They’re not entirely wrong, but I happen to have a new fondness and appreciation for hot tea. My boyfriend, Eric, and I have gotten into the recent habit of drinking hot tea before bed. That one small change has made a significant difference in our lives.

Part of a healthy lifestyle

Something I deeply appreciate about Eric is our mutual love of living a healthy lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, we plan nacho dates and treat days, and our love for butterfinger cosmic brownie concretes from our local ice cream joint is pretty intense. It’s just that the majority of the time, we are conscious about what we consume, aiming for high nutrition, high lean protein (as little animal product as possible), low-calorie meals in our everyday lives. This is how we maintain a sense of overall wellness and, more specifically for me, how I take care of the health of my eyes.

Tea for health

Tea has been a historical staple in wellness and continues to stand the test of time. The nutritional benefits of tea are surprisingly immense, but depend on the type of tea you drink. In general, you want to be sure that your tea doesn’t have any added sugar and is low in caffeine if you choose to drink it before bed like we do.

Some people add honey or even milk and sugar to their tea in order to change its taste. Doing so can significantly lower the health benefits of the tea, so be cautious of what unhealthy things you might add into this healthy drink.

Choosing teas

When choosing tea that specifically targets eye health, you’ll want to choose one that is high in antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin. You read that correctly - some teas contain lutein and zeaxanthin! The same exact nutrients those of us who have been diagnosed with macular degeneration look for in our fruits and veggies, and the same nutrients we supplement in our vitamins. Green tea is high in these antioxidants.

Remember that antioxidants counteract free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are damaging molecules in cells that cause disease. Antioxidants protect against cancer, heart disease, and... you guessed it... eye disease!

Flavonoids

When researching the health benefits of tea, I learned a new word: flavonoids. Flavonoids are found in tea leaves and help protect our eyes from diseases such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Here’s how: some flavonoids collect in the retina and help protect our retinas from dangerous UV rays.¹

Tea for sleep

Drinking tea can also aid in a good night’s sleep. Sleep benefits our health in many ways. I’ve never really been a great sleeper, especially since having kids. But, I do have to admit I’m getting better at it, as I’ve made it a priority to try. Eric is a great sleeper, so I’ve naturally fallen into some of his healthy sleep habits (thanks, Eric).

Without enough sleep, we don’t:²

• Grow and heal
• Level out hormones (important to our mental health)
• Process nutrients properly (why did I even eat that salad?)
• Function as well throughout our day (zombie attack)
• Fight off viruses as well (hello, we’re in the middle of a pandemic)

Click here to read more about the health benefits of sleep: I Really Need to Learn How to Sleep.

Herbal teas are calming and soothing and help to reduce inflammation and promote blood flow. These things offer a really great, natural setup for catching some z's. Reduced inflammation and proper blood flow are huge bonuses to the health of our bodies and eyes. All I have to do is drink some hot tea, and my body does the rest for me? Sign me up!

Chamomile and peppermint teas are great for aiding in a good night’s sleep.

Hydration

Drinking a hot cup of tea at bedtime (or anytime, really) helps hydrate our bodies. Proper hydration is another health benefit that I’ve learned from Eric. We jokingly refer to ourselves as hydro-homies. Anytime he’s feeling off, whether it be a small headache or a sense of low energy, he drinks a big glass of water. Sure enough, it helps fix whatever is broken more often than not.

Hydration is always a good thing. More specifically, hydration at bedtime can help our bodily processes and functions like digestion and nutrient absorption.

Weight Control

We have also found that hot tea at bed curbs that feeling of wanting to snack. Snacks at bedtime are a real problem for me. When I snack at bedtime, I tend to overdo it, mindlessly munching while catching up on our favorite shows or writing in bed. Plus, for some reason, I don’t generally choose the healthiest of snacks at the end of the day.

We have each found a few different tea flavors that we find delicious and have been pleasantly surprised at how well this new habit of ours helps keep our nighttime cravings at bay. Drinking tea at bedtime gives us the nutrients we seek, keeps our tummies full, and tricks our mouths into thinking we are indulging. Win, win, win!

"Sick of tea? That’s like being sick of breathing." - Uncle Iroh from The Avatar

Andrea Junge