When You Drink Chamomile Tea Every Day, This Is What Happens To Your Body
Chamomile tea is a popular beverage that plenty of folks enjoy on a daily basis. In addition to black tea and green tea, like oolong, Darjeeling, and matcha, people have been drinking chamomile tea for hundreds of years, according to Healthline, touting it as a natural way to rectify a variety of ailments. A member of the Asteraceae plant family, chamomile is an herb with a pleasant and light perfume-like taste with an earthy overtone. Chamomile tea can often be identified by its smell as well as its golden or amber color.
While chamomile tea is certainly not a new addition to our diets, scientists are finally starting to study in earnest the health benefits that it can provide to regular drinkers. And what they've found is promising, further confirming the belief that chamomile tea really is good for you.
So, do you enjoy a cup or more on a daily basis? Are you curious as to how it's impacting your health? According to experts, this is what happens to your body when you drink chamomile tea every day.
You can decrease your blood pressure if you drink chamomile tea every day
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 78 million people in the United States have hypertension, aka high blood pressure. That's one out of every three adults, which is quite the staggering and worrying statistic, as the Mayo Clinic notes that it can cause some pretty severe bodily damage. As you can have hypertension without even knowing it, it's advisable to have your blood pressure checked.
Fortunately, drinking chamomile tea every day can help you manage your blood pressure. Kathryn Bubec, a registered dietitian, explained to The List, "Chamomile tea can lower elevated systolic blood pressure significantly. This can help to relieve associated conditions such as hypertension headaches, as well as improve heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems."
While chamomile tea is not a substitute for your medication nor a stand-in for a healthy diet and exercise regimen, it's good to know that the beverage is an easy weapon to wield in your fight against hypertension.
Drinking chamomile tea every day can reduce inflammation
Chronic, low-level inflammation has been linked to a whole host of diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, depression, and a variety of other physical conditions, according to NPR. This sort of inflammation is different from the acute inflammation that's triggered when you cut yourself or suffer a sprain, which is good for you as it helps you heal. However, inflammation is not a state you want to be in all the time, as that can cause wear and tear on your body and its systems.
If you're someone who battles chronic inflammation, drinking a cup of chamomile tea every day may just help you fight that pesky condition, as noted by Sofia Norton, a registered dietitian. "Some compounds found in chamomile, such as alpha-bisabolol and matricin, are known to reduce inflammation," she shared with The List. "This can be especially beneficial for people with autoimmune disorders."
If you drink chamomile tea every day, you will sleep better
Have you ever heard that drinking chamomile tea every night before bed can improve the quality of your sleep? Well, it turns out that's not just a rumor. In a way, chamomile tea can actually be compared to benzodiazepine medications (like Xanax, Valium, and Librium) because it can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Registered dietitian Kathryn Bubec explained the basis for the comparison when speaking to The List, saying, "It is believed that impact is owed to apigenin, a flavonoid compound that affects the central nervous system similarly to a mild sedative. Other compounds in chamomile tea may interact with GABA [gamma-aminobutyric acid] and benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, adding to this effect."
So, if you struggle with insomnia every night and want to find a natural remedy, try drinking a cup of chamomile tea in the evening before you go to bed. But don't overdo it on the tea, lest you have to get up and use the restroom a few hours later, thereby disrupting your sleep.
Drinking a cup of chamomile tea every day may help you relax
Drinking chamomile tea every day, specifically during the evening hours, could help you relax, according to registered dietitian Amanda A. Kostro Miller. "There is a small amount of research to support that chamomile tea is beneficial for relaxation," she shared with The List. "Studies have been conducted in the elderly population and in postpartum women." That could bode well for the rest of us, too — because who doesn't need to unwind once in a while?
Even though more studies need to be done to better understand the precise mechanisms at work here, Kostro Miller says there's no reason to give up your nightly cup of tea just yet. "If you want a nice cup of chamomile tea before bed, go for it," she continued. "A warm beverage like chamomile tea can be part of your nightly wind-down routine if it's comforting to you, even if research is not substantial behind it."
Drinking chamomile tea every day may decrease your cancer risk
Fewer things are scarier than receiving a cancer diagnosis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. But, if you drink a cup or more of chamomile tea every day, you may decrease your odds of developing the disease, according to registered dietitian Hayley Cimring. "Chamomile tea is rich in apigenin, a flavonoid that kills cancer cells," the expert explained to The List. "These compounds are especially efficient against prostate cancer."
It's not only effective against prostate cancer, though. Chamomile tea can help fight other forms of the disease as well. According to Healthline, foods, like that contain apigenin, like chamomile tea, can also help ward off breast cancer, as well as cancers of the uterus, skin, and digestive tract. Plus, they can help to stave off thyroid cancer, according to a study in the European Journal of Public Health. That's all good news!
Looking to lose weight? Drink chamomile tea every day
One out of every three adults in the United States are overweight, and two out of three adults are obese, according to the results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported by The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Perhaps that's one reason the CDC concluded nearly 50 percent of Americans are trying to lose weight by adjusting their diets and/or exercising more.
If you're included in those statistics, think about drinking chamomile tea every day, says registered dietitian Amanda A. Kostro Miller. "If you are trying to lose weight, you may want to consider having plain chamomile tea in place of other beverages like soda, loaded coffee drinks, juices, sports drinks and alcohol," she explained to The List. "Chamomile tea is a great low-calorie beverage choice, so it can help you follow a weight loss diet." She added that chamomile tea also tastes great, which is a bonus. Just don't put a bunch of sugar in it, because that would defeat the purpose.
Your complexion will improve if you drink chamomile tea every day
You might not think about it this way, but your skin is the largest organ in your body. It makes up approximately 16 percent of your total body mass, according to the 2013 study "UV Radiation and the Skin," and is about two millimeters thick.
Interestingly enough, drinking chamomile tea every day can help you fight pesky skin irritation and rashes, according to Renee Snyder, a board-certified dermatologist. "Chamomile can be used to help treat rashes and inflammatory skin conditions," she revealed in an interview with Women's Health. "It possesses flavonoids that have a strong inhibitory effect on free radicals." Good to know.
You don't even have to drink chamomile tea to get the benefits, either. There are other options, according to registered dietitian Hayley Cimring. "It has been reported that applying chamomile to the skin via cosmetic products, such as lotions, eye creams and soaps, is moisturizing," she revealed to The List.
You will have less anxiety if you drink chamomile tea every day
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, some 31 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at least once during their lives. Additionally, some people are more at risk than others. Women have been found to be more likely than men to develop an anxiety disorder such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or agoraphobia.
While chamomile tea is no substitute for proper medication and any therapy your doctor may recommend, drinking it every day can help you find some zen, as noted by registered dietitian Kathryn Bubec. "Compounds found in chamomile tea may increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain," she explained to The List. "GABA serves as a counterbalance for another neurotransmitter (glutamate), and imbalances between these two chemicals often play a role in anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)." If you're already drinking chamomile tea every day, keep up the good work.
If you drink chamomile tea every day, your diabetes risk will drop
Believe it or not, 34.2 million Americans have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, which is a total of 10.5 percent of the entire United States population, as noted by the CDC. Additionally, 34.5 percent of American adults have prediabetes. Given that diabetes can lead to a slew of health problems, that's not good news for people in the U.S.
If you have diabetes already or are concerned you might be at risk, consider adding a cup of chamomile tea to your daily diet. Why? Drinking a cup of the herbal tea every day could help you fight the disease and its negative impacts, says registered dietitian Sofia Norton. "Chamomile tea compounds protect beta cells in the pancreas, suppress blood glucose levels, and boost glycogen storage — all of which can help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes in the long run," she revealed to The List.
Drinking chamomile tea every day can help with joint pain
Are you struggling with joint pain and overdoing it on the ibuprofen? If so, drinking chamomile tea every day just might provide you with some relief, according to registered dietitian Amanda A. Kostro Miller. "You may have less joint pain," she told The List. "One study found that chamomile helped reduce back and knee pain in subjects; however, more research is needed to confirm this." But, in the interim, if you find that chamomile tea works for you, drink up and spare your stomach from NSAIDs if you can.
That's not all that chamomile tea can do for your bone health, according to Medical News Today. The tea has also been shown to prevent or slow the onset of osteoporosis, thanks to how it impacts your estrogen levels. It may also help improve bone density, which makes for a stronger and healthier skeleton.
You will have fewer digestive problems if you drink chamomile tea every day
While digestive health isn't exactly the most pleasant topic of conversation, making sure your intestines and other digestive organs are healthy is of vital importance. To that end, if you're looking for an easy way to improve your gut function, sipping on chamomile tea every day is a good option, according to registered dietitian Kathryn Bubec. "If you struggle with issues such as gas, diarrhea, and ulcers, drinking chamomile tea can help to relieve your symptoms," she explained to The List. "Chamomile acts as a muscle relaxant in the intestinal tract, which tends to decrease cramping and better regulate your bowel movements."
Additionally, your daily chamomile tea can help you fight symptoms of indigestion and acid reflux, revealed Bubec. "It can also help to normalize gastric acidity as effectively as over-the-counter antacid medications, decreasing ulcer risk," the expert continued.
Your heart health will improve if you drink chamomile tea every day
The number one cause of death in America is cardiovascular disease, according to the CDC. That beats out everything from cancer to stroke to accidents to complications from diabetes, showing just how dangerous problems with the heart can be.
Fortunately, if you drink chamomile tea every day, you're naturally protecting your ticker, according to registered dietitian Hayley Cimring. "Chamomile tea is rich in antioxidants which are very beneficial in keeping the heart strong," Cimring shared with The List. "It contains flavonoids, which help reduce the risk of coronary artery diseases and heart attacks."
Additionally, a 2015 study in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation found that drinking chamomile tea with meals reduced bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with type II diabetes. Since having high cholesterol and triglycerides can cause damage to your heart, that's good news for regular chamomile tea drinkers.
You may boost your immune system if you drink chamomile tea every day
Are you someone who gets sick each and every time cold and flu season rolls around? Or, maybe, you're the parent of a child who somehow manages to bring home every single illness that pops up in daycare? Well, you might find that drinking chamomile tea every day can help you ward off those annoying germs.
"Chamomile tea has antibacterial properties, which help strengthen the immune system and keep it functioning properly," registered dietitian Hayley Cimring explained to The List. "Regular consumption of chamomile tea can reduce your chances of catching colds and coughs."
Both Medical News Today and Healthline caution that evidence of chamomile tea's impact on the immune system is anecdotal and that more studies are needed to show a solid, scientific connection between the two. Yet and still, adding a cup of chamomile to your daily diet when you're at risk of sickness certainly can't hurt!
Struggling with menstrual cramps? Drink chamomile tea every day
More than 84 percent of people who menstruate are thought to experience pain related to their period, according to a study conducted by doctors in Italy. Of that percentage, 32 to 40 percent reported that they've had pain and cramping so severe that they've missed school or work. Period pain is no joke!
If you know all too well the reality of painful periods, you may find adding a cup of chamomile tea to your daily regimen to be a good idea. A 2010 study first published in the Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility found that women who drank chamomile tea every day for a month reported decreased menstrual pain. That's not all, either, as they also said they experienced less anxiety and distress associated with their monthly cramps.
Of course, chamomile tea isn't going to replace any medication that you take to manage period cramps. However, it can help, which is enough to encourage anyone who's living with this pain to give the cuppa a shot.
There are risks that come with drinking chamomile tea every day
While the vast majority of the things that happen to your body when you drink chamomile tea every day are good, not everyone is going to reap wonderful benefits. Bear in mind that your mileage may vary, especially when it comes to anecdotal evidence.
Additionally, not everyone should drink chamomile tea every day or even at all. For one, infants and very young children should not consume chamomile, according to Medical News Today. That's because like honey, chamomile tea may contain some botulism spores. Healthy adults can usually fight off these spores, but little ones? Not so much. Their immune systems are still developing, so it's best to play it safe and avoid giving to your baby at all costs.
Also, if you have a severe pollen allergy or have ever had an allergic reaction to chamomile in the past, don't drink chamomile tea. This allergy can get worse over time and any potential benefits are certainly not worth the risk of a having an allergic reaction.