Best morning teas to drink for health, energy, anxiety, digestion

Best Morning Teas to Start Your Day

Waking up in the morning and enjoying a hot cup of tea is one of life's simple pleasures. But beyond just being a comforting morning ritual, certain teas can actually provide some nice health benefits when enjoyed first thing.

From soothing your stomach to boosting your mood and energy, here are some of the top teas to consider drinking in the morning.

Ginger Tea for Settling Your Stomach

Ginger has long been used to help calm nausea, motion sickness, and other upset stomach issues. The compounds gingerol and shogaol give ginger its digestive and anti-inflammatory effects.

Enjoying some ginger tea first thing in the morning can ease stomach discomfort, bloating, or indigestion. It's also a nice option if you deal with morning sickness. The spicy-sweet flavor makes for an invigorating start to the day. Look for blends with lemon, honey or turmeric to enhance the benefits.

Green Tea for Antioxidants

Known for its high levels of antioxidants, green tea is one of the healthiest beverage options you can drink in the morning. Antioxidants like EGCG help fight free radicals that can damage cells and lead to disease.

The antioxidants and nutrients in green tea may boost brain function to improve focus and concentration earlier in the day. The small amounts of caffeine also give you a nice energy boost without the intense jitters of coffee.

Black Tea for a Caffeine Fix

For those that need more of a wake-up call in the mornings, black tea can give you that caffeine fix. The caffeine content is higher than green but less than brewed coffee.

Opt for organic black breakfast blends and enjoy it plain or with a little milk. The polyphenols may aid digestion and heart health. This is a better option than soda, energy drinks or specialty coffee drinks loaded with sugar.

Chamomile Tea to Calm Anxiety

The delicate floral flavor of chamomile tea makes for a soothing, calming start to the day. Long used for its medicinal benefits, chamomile can ease anxiety and nervous tension thanks to an antioxidant called apigenin.

If you deal with anxiety in the mornings, a warm cup of chamomile can prep you for the day with a clearer mindset. It's also useful for promoting restful sleep. Drink a cup before bed as well.

Peppermint Tea for Digestion

Peppermint is renowned for helping to ease digestive complaints like gas, cramping and bloating. The menthol has a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect on the digestive tract.

If you ever feel bloated or uncomfortable first thing in the morning, try a cup of peppermint tea. The refreshing flavor and aroma can stimulate bile flow to get your system back on track. It may also curb hunger cravings.

How to Prepare the Perfect Cup of Morning Tea

Now that you know some excellent tea options for morning drinking, let's cover a few quick tips for brewing up the healthiest, most flavorful cup of tea.

Always Start With Fresh, Filtered Water

The quality of the water you use is just as important as the tea leaves when crafting a great cup. Use fresh filtered water whenever possible for pure flavor.

And make sure to bring the water just to a boil, then take off heat. Boiling longer causes water impurities to concentrate which alters taste.

Follow Steeping Instructions

To extract all the beneficial compounds from tea leaves, follow the recommended steeping time and temperature. Generally 3-5 minutes for steeping but always check the label or instructions.

Oversteeping makes tea taste overly bitter and release excessive amounts of tannins that can sometimes cause stomach upset.

Sweeten and Flavor as Desired

Feel free to adjust your morning tea to your taste preferences. A little honey or lemon adds natural sweetness while milk provides creaminess and cuts bitterness in black tea.

You can also blend teas together for unique flavor combinations. Try ginger with turmeric and lemon or chamomile with lavender and honey.

Drink From a Beautiful Tea Cup or Mug

Enhance your whole tea drinking ceremony by using your favorite tea cup, mug or bowl. Choose something beautiful that will elevate the experience and make your morning tea even more enjoyable.

A full ritual of preparing a nice cup and enjoying at your leisure is a wonderful self-care way to begin each morning.

So try one or more of these healthy, flavorful teas tomorrow AM. Your mind, body and tastebuds will thank you!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.