In the cold season, consuming teas becomes not just a pleasure but a necessity for maintaining health. Nutritionist Dr. Sergiu Munteanu provides details about the benefits of teas, key ingredients, preparation methods, and how they can contribute to well-being during the cold season.
General Benefits of Teas
Nutritionist Dr. Sergiu Munteanu states that teas offer numerous health benefits when consumed regularly.
Strengthening the Immune System: Teas are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, essential for protecting the body.
Hydration: Teas help maintain hydration, which is crucial in the cold season.
Calorie Control: By consuming teas instead of more caloric beverages, we can limit our daily calorie intake.
Warming the Body: Hot teas contribute to thermal comfort, making them ideal for the cold season.
Key Ingredients in Autumn Teas
Some plants and ingredients that should not be missing from autumn teas include:
Hawthorn: an excellent source of vitamins C and A, helps strengthen immunity, improving skin and vision health.
Elderberry: rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, supports immunity, detoxifies the body, and has diuretic and calming effects.
Ginger: contains gingerol, which helps decongest the respiratory tract, has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.
Willow Bark: known for its anti-inflammatory effect, helps lower blood sugar levels and normalizes digestion.
Peppermint and Lemon Balm: these plants have calming effects, help combat autumn fatigue, and improve sleep.
How Teas Contribute to Strengthening the Immune System
Teas are excellent sources of vitamin C and antioxidants (such as gingerol) that have immunomodulatory effects. These substances help strengthen the immune system and prevent colds and seasonal infections.
Additionally, Dr. Sergiu Munteanu explains that there are several teas that aid digestion:
Ginger Tea: contains gingerol, which not only helps decongest the respiratory tract but also reduces inflammation. Ginger is known for its antimicrobial properties, helping the body combat infections.
Willow Bark Tea: this plant has antimicrobial and antifungal properties, contributing to the prevention of infections. It also helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which is important for maintaining energy and overall health.
Fennel Tea: rich in antioxidants, fennel supports digestion and helps detoxify the body. These properties can reduce the risk of intestinal infections.
Anise Tea: contains anethole, a compound that has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. It can help relieve cough and soothe throat irritation.
Coriander Tea: this can help improve digestion by stimulating the secretion of gastric juices, thus facilitating the digestive process.
These plants help improve the digestive process and prevent abdominal discomfort that may arise from certain foods.
Hydration of the Body
Teas not only hydrate but also provide a supply of vitamins and antioxidants. Unlike plain water, teas offer additional benefits through their active compounds. Teas such as nettle, artichoke, peppermint, and elderberry help detoxify the body by eliminating water-soluble toxins.
Teas for Relaxation
To reduce stress and anxiety, Dr. Sergiu Munteanu recommends teas made from mint, lemon balm, valerian, linden, chamomile, and lavender.
These plants have calming effects and will contribute to a more restful sleep and reduced stress levels.
Preparation and Consumption
To preserve the nutritional properties of teas, it is recommended to prepare them with water at a temperature of 70-80°C. The exception is ginger tea, which should be prepared with hot water for better extraction of gingerol, according to nutritionist Dr. Sergiu Munteanu.
Teas from Pharmacies
Nutritionist Dr. Sergiu Munteanu recommends choosing teas from pharmacies, where products are usually standardized, ensuring the content of active substances and their preservation under optimal conditions, according to him.
Teas can help with the digestion and absorption of certain foods. For example, digestive teas can facilitate the digestion of proteins and prevent intestinal inflammation, normalizing intestinal transit, especially after hearty meals.
