There`s this tea I saw my folks drink as I grew. I drank it sometimes too. It took me about a decade to know the benefits of this tea; I wish I knew earlier. Congratulations, as it will take you less than five minutes to discover jasmine tea and its super benefits. Are you ready for an adventure? This tea, well known for its pleasant fragrance, is derived from jasmine flowers. Its origin can be traced back to the ancient Chinese culture when it was consumed to treat some health challenges. Taiwan also produces jasmine tea, however, it was introduced to the world years ago by China.
There are various kinds of jasmine tea such as
- jasmine green tea
- jasmine white tea
- jasmine oolong
- jasmine black tea
Another classification, asides the kinds of jasmine tea that exist are the shapes of the leaves that are used to make tea.
Nutritional Value of Jasmine Tea
A serving of freshly prepared jasmine tea contains these nutrients
- Calories: 2
- Calcium: 0%
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 5 g
- Fat: 2 g
- Iron: 0%
- Protein: 4 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Vitamin C: 0%
A Short Discourse on Jasmine Flower
Should we discuss jasmine tea without touching on the flower? Not a good idea.
- A Jasmine leaf is arranged opposite in most species. The leaf shape is simple, trifoliate or pinnate with 5-9 leaflets, each up to two and a half inches long.
- The Jasmine stems are slender, trailing, green, glabrous, angled, and nearly 4-sided.
- A number of Jasmine species bear white flowers, which are about an inch in size.
- The Jasmine oil, which is a quite popular fragrant oil, contains benzyl acetate, terpinol, jasmone, benzyl benzoate, linalool, several alcohols, and other compounds.
- The variety, Jasminium sambac, is a clustered flower of an equally strong scent known in Hawaii as the Pikake.
- The two types of Jasmine which are used for oil production are the Jasminum grandiflorum and Jasminum officinale.
- Jasmine shrubs attain a height of 10-15 feet, growing approximately 12-24 inches per year.
- Jasmine leaves are either evergreen or deciduous.
- The nectar of the fragrant flowers of Carolina Jasmine, Gelsemium sempervirens, is poisonous, however, its dried roots are used as a sedative in some medicinal preparations.
- The Jasmine flower oil which is extracted from the two species, Jasminum Officinale and Grandiflorum, is used in high-grade perfumes and cosmetics such as creams, oils, soaps, and shampoos.
Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea
It’s Great for Cardiovascular Health
Regular consumption of jasmine tea can alleviate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol level as well. Both factors are responsible for heart problems such as heart attacks and stroke. The compounds found in the tea function to reduce LDL oxidation. It is also effective for treating constricted blood vessels. When consumed on a daily basis, the enzymes present in the jasmine tea aids the proper flow of the blood in the bloodstream. It also prevents risks of blood clotting.
It’s Perfect for Insomniacs
Jasmine tea is super cool for your nervous system. Its soothing and healing properties function to relax your tensed nerves. It helps you sleep peacefully for long hours because the jasmine flower contains sedative compounds. When consumed in tea form, the sedative compounds gradually induce sleep into insomniacs. That’s not all, as jasmine tea is effective to regulate your irregular sleep patterns.
It’s Splendid for Psychological Health
Regular consumption of jasmine tea can treat various psychological problems because it’s enriched with sedative qualities. It’s been confirmed that it contains nutrients that are essential for treating depression, anxiety, tension, and similar health challenges. Drinking a warm cup of jasmine tea can put an end to severe headaches. It also helps give relief to the mind and empowers concentration.
It’s Effective for Cancer Prevention
Jasmine tea destroys cancerous cells because it contains polyphenol. Polyphenol has the potential to prevent risks of various cancers such as stomach, pancreatic, ovarian, prostate, skin, lung, breast and bladder. The polyphenol content alleviates dangerous enzymes found in tumors and cells that permit the further spread of cancer in the body.
It’s Fantastic for the Digestive System
Dietary fiber is super essential in treating indigestion, and jasmine tea has got dietary fiber. It functions effectively to promote the growth of good bacteria in your gut. What’s more? The components in jasmine can soothe chronic inflammatory disorders such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
It Controls Diabetes
For people who have issues with diabetes and sugar levels, including this tea in their daily diet is a great idea, as it’s got low sugar content. It is also an effective home remedy to regulate sugar levels in your bloodstream. Consuming this health-friendly tea can lower sugar levels in more ways than you can imagine. Jasmine tea delays the onset of type 2 diabetes as well.
It Boosts the Immune System
Jasmine tea is bursting with antiviral and antibacterial properties, and both components can eliminate factors that contribute to the weakness of the immune system. The weakness of the immune system brings about frequent occurrence of illnesses. But hey, just a cup of jasmine tea solves the immune system issues — it does give your immune system that strength it needs to get you going, illness-free.
It is Anti-inflammatory
Chronic rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain may not be strange to people who are elderly. The anti-inflammatory properties found in the tea are just perfect for them because of their effectiveness in combating muscle aches.
Dealing with Weight Loss
Now is the time for overweight people to rejoice because the solution is right here — jasmine tea!. A fascinating fact about this tea is that it facilitates digestion and speeds up your metabolic rate; what does this do? It results in reduced body weight. A cup of jasmine tea, like green tea, is able to aid weight reduction. You really need to have some jasmine tea.
It Gives you a Youthful Skin
The antioxidants present in jasmine tea help delay the aging process. They are potent enough to eliminate free radicals that destroy skin cells and tissues. These free radicals are responsible for premature aging. Regular consumption of jasmine tea can alleviate the disliked appearance of a fine line, wrinkles, and age spots. What’s more? It tightens your sagged skin too. With all these, how wouldn’t you have that youthful look you desire? *winks* Janine tea is great for you, no doubts.
It’s Effective in Preventing Cough and Cold
Because jasmine tea is antibacterial and antiviral, it provides relief in common cold, flu, and constant coughs. Drinking warm jasmine tea is powerful in treating a cough and cold because it is bursting with soothing properties. These properties should be avoided if you have respiratory diseases.
Side Effects of Jasmine Tea
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Jasmine tea should be avoided during pregnancy. It is not beneficial to expecting mothers. Why? It contains caffeine which increases the blood pressure. If you really must consume it, then you should contact your gynecologist before doing so.
Contraindications
Those who are treated with antibiotics, adenosine, benzodiazepines, chemotherapy, clozapine, blood thinning medications need to avoid drinking jasmine tea.
Adenosine is prescribed when one suffers from an irregular heart rhythm. Drinking jasmine tea may lead to negative reactions.
Drug Interactions
Jasmine tea, as already stated, has calming and relaxing effects. People who suffer from hypertension need to avoid it because it does interfere with the hypertension medication to drop the blood pressure.
Final Words…
Tea at its best, you might want to say. Just a cup of jasmine tea does all these wonders, how much better can life be? So after all these, who wouldn’t want to have a sip of this amazing tea?
