Mindfulness with tea


With the pandemic affecting the ability to do our daily activities, and the unfortunate passing of loved ones, it has had a large impact on our mental health over the year. 

Almost one in five adults (19.2%) were likely to be experiencing some form of depression during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in June 2020; this had almost doubled from around 1 in 10 (9.7%) before the pandemic (July 2019 to March 2020).(1)

Many people in their day to day lives don’t think about how to deal with their stress and yet drinking tea is a normal part of everyday lives, so why not try mindful teas to help easily manage stress. Take some time to destress with your busy life just by having a simple cup of tea!


What is Mindfulness? 

Mindfulness, is paying more attention to the present moment, especially to our thoughts and feelings, and the world around us. This can help improve our mental wellbeing.

 It is very easy to get lost in our working lives and not paying attention to ourselves and our feelings. Becoming more aware of the present moment can help us enjoy the world around us and enjoy things we take for granted. A recent survey shows that 27% of Brits have drunk more tea since the lockdowns began, with 34% of those surveyed reporting that they turn to tea for comfort and one in ten “putting on the kettle in a crisis.” (1) This just goes to show that people naturally choose tea as their mindfulness cure, comfort and opportunity to take a break  and to destress. 



Science behind the tea


There are many different teas that can help with mindfulness and are also used to aid meditation. Scientists say that there is also evidence of long-term health benefits to drinking certain teas.

It was discovered that drinking half a cup of green tea a day lowers the risk of developing depression and dementia.(2) The antioxidant for green tea is known as gallate (EGCG), which accounts for 42% of brewed green tea and is known to make people feel calmer and improve memory – who doesn’t want that as they get older!. 

As a beverage, Due to high levels of antioxidants and chemical compounds of flavonoids and amino acids in tea, it’s a beverage that offers huge benefits; here are just a few of the best teas to help the mind & their health benefits:

Chamomile Tea

 The tea helps to naturally increase serotonin and melatonin levels in your body, leaving you feeling relaxed without feeling drowsy. Plus, it can help relieve tension by soothing muscle aches and headaches often associated with stress and anxiety.

We offer Camomile and Mint blend for serenity here.

Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is known to help relax both your mind and body is great for your digestive system, which can be helpful if your stress or anxiety levels tend to bring on tummy troubles. Helping to relax muscles, it can also help to soothe tension headaches brought on by anxiousness.

Try our Purely Peppermint tea here.

Lemon Balm Tea

lemon balm tea contains rosmarinic acid, which helps to activate GABA receptors in the brain. Plus, it has shown to be helpful in improving concentration levels. It can also help relieve stress and tension.

Green Tea 

Green tea contains a flavonoid called epicatechin, to help protect your brain from oxidative damage, to help combat the negative effects that stress has on your body and can also help improve memory.

Green tea is also one of the best sources of L-theanine, and has been shown to be helpful in improving stress levels, reducing fatigue, and promoting better sleep.

We have a selection of green teas available here.


 

This goes to show that it’s a fact, drinking tea can improve  your everyday life. Just taking the time out to enjoy a cup of mindful tea can make a difference to your day and your health in the long run.

If you’ve not tried mindful teas before, we offer low cost sample packs of approx. 6 – 8 cups which will allow you to try new varieties out.

Why not give it a go and see what difference it makes to you! We’d love to hear, so please feel free to feedback your experiences on social media.

 




References:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00398-1

https://www.souladvisor.com/your-sanctuary/article/healthy-living/nutrition/health-benefits-tea

https://www.artfultea.com/tea-wisdom-1/2019/5/1/teas-for-stress-relief

https://www.sipsby.com/blogs/functional-herb-spotlights/best-teas-for-stress-anxiety