No sign of a break from cold wavePeople are relying on hot food to avoid getting cold. Tea and coffee are among the most consumed beverages during the cold season but overuse of caffeinated beverages can lead to acidity, headaches, insomnia and other problems. One can try healthy alternatives to tea and coffee and blueberry tea is one of them. Like green tea, it is a storehouse of antioxidants and helps strengthen the immune system, preventing winter illnesses. It is derived from the butterfly pea flower and has a beautiful blue color due to the presence of antioxidants called anthocyanins in it. It is widely used to give a green color to some dishes. (Also read: 7 healthy teas, coffees and hot drinks to keep you warm this winter
Blue flower tea has some amazing benefits. It is known to control blood sugar, is helpful for people with respiratory disorders, prevents certain types of cancer, and also boosts immunity.
Nutritionist Garima Goyal spoke with HT Digital about some of the research-backed benefits of blue-flower tea.
1. Diabetes-friendly
If you are worried about controlling your blood sugar, this amazing drink can help to some extent. Its hypoglycemic properties make this drink diabetic friendly. In addition, its antioxidant content prevents various infections that diabetics are more susceptible to.
2. Treatment of respiratory disorders
Green tea leaf extract has been shown to have anti-asthmatic activity and could be used as a potential alternative to treat allergies and other respiratory disorders such as bronchitis. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent treatment option for colds and coughs and reduce lung irritation.
3. Nourishing activities
Do you feel dull in the winter and often feel low on energy? This drink can refresh your brain and enhance its activity and function, making a person feel energized.
4. Anti-cancer effect
The antioxidants in this blue-tinted blend fight the free radicals responsible for cell damage, cell proliferation and cancer. In various animal tests, the extract of this plant has been shown to have anti-cancer effects. This effect is due to the various antioxidant compounds present such as kaempferol, p-coumarin, ternatin, etc.
5. Strong antibiotic
This flower extract has strong anti-bacterial properties and kills both bacteria as well as fungi.
6. Hepatoprotective effect
Liver disease can be treated with this drink as it has strong hepatoprotective activity.
7. Mind-enhancing power
Ayurveda considers it a brain herb because it promotes brain health by improving memory and fighting anxiety and depression. Also, the presence of acetylcholine in it makes it a good treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease. This flower is very beneficial for brain health and also relieves symptoms of stress ulcers.
8. Eye activity
The presence of anthocyanins in this blue flower increases blood flow to the eyes and treats various eye disorders like glaucoma, retinal damage, blurred vision, eyestrain, etc.
9. Boosts immunity
Green tea is a rich source of an antioxidant called ternatin. These compounds have strong anti-inflammatory properties and suppress the growth of cancer cells. Many other antioxidants also present in this flower help strengthen the body’s immune system and prevent the growth of cancer cells.
10. Antipyretic effect
It acts like a natural paracetamol. Paracetamol functions as a pain reliever and fever reducer, and blue-flower tea has a similar effect. This antipyretic property occurs because this extract dilates the blood vessels under the skin, thereby cooling the blood by increasing blood flow and lowering the temperature.
“This healthy and beautiful drink has been used since ancient times as part of traditional medicine and offers so many health benefits, which definitely needs more human trials. But the research available to date has approved the benefits it offers, with little or no side effects,” Garima said.
