If you’re trying to break your coffee habit, just really enjoy tea, or want to try something different, you can use tea throughout the day to stay alert, comfortable, and finally, relaxed.
For mornings, I like two options. Normally, I’m a coffee fiend, but maté or green teas will wake me up, too (especially the My Morning Maté from Teavana—I didn’t think I would fall asleep for days the first time I tried that one).
Maté comes in several different flavors just like other teas, but the My Morning Maté tastes a lot like coffee, so it’s perfect for people who are trying to make the switch from coffee to tea.
At lunch time, you should drink white tea to prevent fat absorption, according to Dr. Oz in a segment on using tea to lose weight. It keeps the fat from entering the fat cells, so it can’t be stored.
The segment also states that white tea will help with any stress that’s built up during the day up until that point (they recommend drinking two cups). White tea is lower in caffeine than green and black teas. Republic of Tea has several flavorful white tea options.
The second part of the Dr. Oz segment recommends one cup of chickweed tea for bloating in the afternoons because it helps digestion. Personally, I’m more likely to suffer from fatigue and would reach for more green tea—maybe iced with some raspberries or other fruit thrown in—to perk up and feel more refreshed. Even a bottle of “just a tad sweet” honey green tea from Honest Tea would do the trick, plus you get antioxidants.
At night, when you’re craving sweets, wine, or just something, anything, while you’re watching television, you can try a fruity or spicy herbal tea and you may be surprised by how easily those cravings disappear. Try Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Herbal Tea, Raspberry Zinger Herbal Tea or Sleepytime Vanilla Herbal Tea.
Using tea throughout the day can give you the energy you need to make it through while revving your metabolism or helping you relax. You’ll also reap the health benefits of the antioxidants and curb cravings.
Photo credit: Celestial Seasonings
