Cranberry tea - what are its useful components
Blueberry tea (Vaccinium corymbosum) is prepared by soaking the leaves of the blueberry bush in hot water. [ [ref. 1] ] A fragrant and tasty drink, it provides a number of unique health benefits that make it both refreshing for warmer days and useful for your body.
- Calories: 2 kcal
- Fat: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg.
- Sodium: 7 mg.
- Proteins: 0 g
Making tea with blueberry leaves instead of regular tea leaves adds several other nutrients to your drink, including:
- Fiber for improved digestion.
- Vitamin C for strong antioxidant protection and collagen synthesis.
- Vitamin K for normal blood clotting and bone tissue.
- Manganese, which is a catalyst for the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, extremely important for the formation of thiroxine.
- Potassium - an important mineral that the body needs to work properly. It's a kind of electrolyte. Helps your nerves and muscles function properly.
Some people add dried cranberries before soaking the cranberry tea, which helps to provide extra nutrients and a more saturated taste. Note that adding dried fruits also means more sugar and calories.
Potential health benefits of blueberry tea
Although many people drink tea just because of the taste, this drink also provides beneficial nutrients. With cranberry tea, you can help your antioxidant defenses against damage to free radicals, support brain function and heart health. [ [ref. 2]
Let's look at why cranberry tea excels at other tea drinks and what its areas of utility are.
- Improved heart health. High potassium levels make blueberry tea a healthy drink for the heart. Studies have shown that a sufficient amount of potassium in your diet can help prevent heart disease. Drinking cranberry tea is a good choice to get more potassium without more fat, carbohydrates or sugars found in other potassium-rich foods.
- Better brain function. Cranberry tea can help your brain work better. This also applies to people with cognitive brain disorders such as Alzheimer's or dementia. For example, blueberry tea helps to prevent plaque build-up in the brain. While this won't create new brain pathways to replace the lost or prevent road weakening over time, neurons will be able to move more easily through the roads that already exist. This in turn facilitates thinking, processing information and remembering important events.
- Stronger immune system. If your immunity works well, the risk of getting sick is lower. In addition, with strong immunity, the recovery process can be shortened when you get sick. Cranberry tea is rich in vitamin C, which has been shown to help your immune system work better. Anthocyanins in blueberry tea further strengthen the body's immune system.
- Better circulation. If you find that your hands or feet are easily getting cold, you may have a circulatory problem. Healthy blood flow is key to allowing important nutrients in your body to reach vital organs and limbs. Red blood cells, in particular, deliver oxygen throughout the body, and they need iron. Calcium, on the other hand, helps the body absorb iron, and in cranberry tea there are many of both substances.
Potential risks of blueberry tea consumption
When consuming cranberry tea at once (more than 3 cups), you may experience nausea or diarrhea. Allergic reactions to blueberries are rare, but can occur. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to blueberries may be:
