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Chamomile tea contains antioxidants that may offer health benefits, which may reduce your risk of some diseases. Chamomile tea may also help improve sleep and digestion.
Chamomile tea is a popular beverage that also offers a variety of health benefits.
Chamomile is an herb that comes from the daisy-like flowers of the Asteraceae plant family. It has been consumed for centuries as a natural remedy for several health conditions.
To make chamomile tea, the flowers are dried and then infused into hot water.
Many people enjoy chamomile tea as a caffeine-free alternative to black or green tea and for its earthy, somewhat sweet taste.
Furthermore, chamomile tea is loaded with antioxidants that may play a role in lowering your risk of several diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
Chamomile has properties that may aid sleep and digestion, as well.
This article will discuss 5 potential health benefits of drinking chamomile tea.
Chamomile has some unique properties that may benefit the quality of your sleep.
It contains apigenin, an antioxidant that binds to certain receptors in your brain that
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These findings are promising, but more studies are necessary to determine the extent of chamomile tea’s effects on sleep. Nevertheless, drinking chamomile tea before bed is certainly worth a try if you have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Summary: Chamomile contains antioxidants that may promote sleepiness, and drinking chamomile tea has been shown to improve overall sleep quality.
Proper digestion is extremely important for your overall health.
Limited evidence suggests chamomile may be effective for promoting better digestion by reducing the risk of certain gastrointestinal conditions.
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Despite these findings, more human research is needed to confirm chamomile’s role in digestion.
Nevertheless, there are many anecdotal claims that drinking chamomile tea is soothing to the stomach. Traditionally, it has been used to treat several digestive ailments, including nausea and gas.
Summary: Chamomile tea may protect against diarrhea, stomach ulcers, nausea and gas, likely due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
The antioxidants found in chamomile tea have been linked with a lower incidence of certain types of cancer.
Chamomile contains the antioxidant apigenin. In
Additionally, one study of 537 people observed that those who drank chamomile tea 2–6 times per week were significantly less likely to develop thyroid cancer than those who did not drink chamomile tea.
These findings are promising, but more high-quality, human research is necessary to make a conclusion regarding chamomile tea’s role in cancer prevention.
Summary: Chamomile tea contains the antioxidant apigenin, which may help lower inflammation and reduce the risk of several types of cancer.
Drinking chamomile tea may aid in lowering blood sugar levels.
Its anti-inflammatory properties may prevent damage to the cells of your pancreas, which occurs when your blood sugar levels are chronically elevated.
The health of your pancreas is extremely important, as it produces insulin, the hormone responsible for removing sugar from your blood.
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Additionally, several
Most of the evidence regarding chamomile tea’s role in controlling blood sugar is based on results from animal studies. Nevertheless, the findings are promising.
Summary: The anti-inflammatory effects of chamomile tea may promote blood sugar control, especially when it’s consumed with a meal.
Chamomile tea is abundant in flavones, a class of antioxidants.
Flavones have been studied for their
More research is necessary to confirm chamomile tea’s role in promoting heart health, but it certainly couldn’t hurt to include it in your diet.
Summary: Chamomile is a great source of flavone antioxidants that may play a role in improving heart health.
The following health benefits of chamomile tea are mostly anecdotal and not supported by scientific research:
- Boosts immune health: Chamomile tea is often promoted as a strategy for preventing and treating the common cold, but evidence for this is lacking. It has also been said to be soothing for sore throats.
- Relieves anxiety and depression: There is some evidence that chamomile may reduce the severity of anxiety and depression, but this is mostly based on using it as an aromatherapy or taking it as a supplement.
- Improves skin health: It has been reported that applying chamomile to the skin via cosmetic products, such as lotions, eye creams and soaps, may be moisturizing and helpful for reducing skin inflammation.
- Prevents bone loss: Some claim that chamomile tea may play a role in preventing bone loss that leads to conditions like osteoporosis. However, evidence for this is weak.
Although these health claims lack evidence, that does not mean they are false. They simply have not been studied yet and may be in the future.
Summary: There is currently no strong evidence that drinking chamomile tea improves immune, bone and skin health. Additionally, research regarding its role in anxiety and depression is lacking.
Drinking chamomile tea is generally safe for most people
There have been
Furthermore, cosmetic products that contain chamomile may be irritating to the eyes if they make direct contact with them. This
It is also important to note that the safety of drinking chamomile tea has not been established in young children, pregnant or nursing women and people with liver or kidney disease.
Nevertheless, there have not been any reports of life-threatening adverse reactions or toxicity from drinking chamomile tea.
Summary: Although a few people may be allergic to chamomile, it is safe for most people to drink. Negative side effects are extremely rare.
Chamomile tea is a healthy beverage.
It is rich in some powerful antioxidants that may have a variety of health benefits, including reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease.
Although the research relating to chamomile tea is promising, there have simply not been enough studies to make a conclusion about its effects on health.
Many of the studies relating to chamomile tea have been conducted in animals and test tubes, and the results cannot be translated to humans.
Nevertheless, chamomile is very safe to drink, and many people enjoy drinking it for its delicious taste and comforting aroma.
If you want to explore chamomile tea’s potential benefits, it is definitely worth including in your diet.
