Why drinking herbal tea is good for your health

One of the best ways to keep hydrated, herbal teas are an ideal solution for several reasons.

Herbal teas are beverages made by steeping one or more herbs in water. Different herbs have different properties and require specific extraction methods. By using water as a solvent, medicinal compounds can be extracted from certain plants for specific purposes.

Why herbal teas are good for your health

1. They encourage daily fluid intake

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has confirmed that there is a cause/effect relationship between individual daily hydration and maintaining normal physical and cognitive functions. Studies have shown that a 1% loss of body water will usually balance out within 24 hours, but if this correction does not take place and the percentage of water lost increases, physical and cognitive functions are affected.

According to Ministry of Health guidelines, there is no set standard for the correct amount of water a person should drink each day to keep healthy – it will vary depending on each person's state of health, the environment in which they live, their lifestyle (sedentary/active) and their diet.

However, baseline levels have been established under moderate conditions in all respects: in terms of environmental temperatures, diet and physical activity levels.

infants up to six months of age

• 100 ml/kg per day

• aged between 6 months and one year: 800 to 1000 ml/day
• aged between 1 and 3 years: 1100 to 1300 ml/day
• aged between 4 and 8 years: 1600 ml/day
• aged 9 to 13 years: 2100 ml/day for boys and 1900 l/day for girls

adolescents, adults and the elderly

• females 2 litres/day
• males 2.5 litres/day

However, many people don't drink water frequently enough because they fail to make the drinking action part of their daily routine or they find it has an unpleasant or boring taste. So here's the main reason why drinking herbal teas is good for your health: they offer a more enjoyable and compelling way to enhance your everyday fluid intake - a crucial aspect of good health.

2. They have therapeutic properties

Herbal teas can have different types of properties depending on the herb or mix of herbs used to make them. There are herbal teas that have properties related to slimming, draining, laxative, etc. Ideally, you should go to a reputable herbalist's shop to purchase the best product for your personal needs.

3. They can be enjoyed for a healthy break

Instead of consuming unhealthy options like coffee, alcohol, or junk food during breaks, consider sipping on herbal tea. It's a simple way to take a break from your busy routine and care for your health.

4. They are nutritionally beneficial

All herbal teas contain valuable nutrients, such as minerals, vitamins and trace elements, which are supplied by the plants chosen to make the drink.

5. Their warmth is good for you

•  herbal tea warms you up when it's cold, thus aiding your body’s temperature-regulating function;
• it raises the temperature throughout your respiratory system, helping to break down any phlegm;
• it aids the digestive process;
• it helps to relax your mind and body.

6. Great for quenching your thirst when it gets hot

Are herbal teas only good to drink when it's cold? No, not at all! There are many varieties that can be made with cold water, or you can make them with hot water, put them in the fridge and drink them when they're cold. Mint or liquorice herbal teas, just as an example, have valuable diuretic properties, as well as being a very tasty way to quench your thirst on hot summer days.

When can you drink herbal teas?

Herbal teas can be drunk at any time of the day: at breakfast, as an alternative to the usual coffee; after lunch to aid digestion; mid-morning or mid-afternoon for a hydration break.

Although herbal teas tend to be associated with winter, they are actually a great option all year round! In fact, cold herbal teas can be enjoyed at the height of summer, when fluid intake is even more important due to the higher temperatures.

How to make three different types of herbal tea

There are different ways of making herbal tea:

1. Infused herbal tea
   Probably the most popular process, it is the same as when typically making black or green tea; the infusion is brewed by pouring boiling water over the herbal mixture, leaving it to soak in a closed container for 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the selected plant varieties.
2. Herbal tea decoction
   The decoction technique consists of steeping the herb mix in cold water and then bringing it to a boil for 5 to 30 minutes. The brew is then left to simmer over low heat for a few minutes and then strained before drinking.
   Different  herbal mixes require specific preparations, which are indicated on the package labelling or explained by the herbalist at the shop.
3. Macerated herbal tea
   In this version, the herbs are left to soak in water at room temperature for between one day and several weeks. Any remaining plant material is then squeezed and strained.

Preparing herbs in this way is not very common, but it can be beneficial for plants that are highly sensitive to temperature. Such plants may lose their beneficial properties when exposed to hot water. It is also useful for plants that may release unwanted substances when heated.

To make the best herbal tea, you should use high-quality water that is free from any unpleasant taste caused by chlorine residues. Using filtered water is a great choice to ensure that the water used in your herbal tea is at its best, without unwanted flavours that could affect its final taste.

Read all about home filtration in our Guide.