Strawberry Tea Benefits
Strawberries are widely consumed by people living all over the world. These fruits are small to medium in size, reddish in color, sweet, juicy and absolutely delicious. Not only are strawberries tasty, they are highly nutritious too. They contain high amounts of Vitamin C, along with significant amounts of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Strawberries also provide the body with Vitamin K, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, folic acid, manganese, magnesium, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, copper and riboflavin.
Most dietitians advise people to consume this fruit on a regular basis. While some prefer to eat the fruit as it is, others have it in the form of a fresh smoothie, shake or tea. During the winter season, there is nothing more inviting than a cup of warm strawberry tea. Of course, in the summer, you could have iced strawberry tea, or even freeze the brew into popsicles for children and teens. People who have tasted the brew state that the tea is as delicious as the actual fruit.
Strawberry tea can be derived from the fruit or the leaves of the plant, but in most cases, the tea is prepared by steeping dried strawberry leaves in a glass of boiling water for around 10 minutes or so. Strawberry tea is also easily available at many stores and supermarkets. There are several health benefits of strawberry tea that you can enjoy, by consuming strawberry tea on a regular basis, some of which include:
- Reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases
- Preventing certain types of cancer
- Boosting the immune system, enabling it to fight off various diseases and ailments
- Treating digestive problems, like diarrhea
- Relieving the symptoms of certain skin conditions like eczema
One of the main strawberry leaf tea benefits is that it contains a high amount of calcium, because of which it boosts the production of milk in nursing mothers. However, women who are pregnant, or breastfeeding should speak to their doctors before consuming this beverage. People who are on blood-thinning medicines should also avoid strawberry tea, as it could increase the risks of bleeding.
There are no significant side effects that have been reported because of strawberry tea consumption. However, strawberry allergy is quite common in people of all ages, especially children. In case you notice symptoms like a rash, nausea or vomiting, after having strawberry tea, it is important that you consult your physician immediately.
Strawberry Tea Nutrition
Strawberry tea nutrition facts may vary, depending upon the ingredients used to prepare it. There are several brands of strawberry tea available in stores too and in order to know the nutritional content for each, it is best to read the label. One glass of commercial strawberry tea could have anywhere between 20 and 80 calories. Given below is the strawberry tea nutritional information for an easy recipe that you can use at home:
Recipe For Homemade Iced Strawberry Tea:
Ingredients:- 1 Pint of fresh strawberries
- 4 Cups of brewed tea, cooled
- ½ Cup sugar
- ¼ Cup lemon juice
- Ice cubes
Directions:
- Keep 3 to 4 strawberries aside and pour the rest into a blender. Cover the blender with a lid and puree the strawberries till they reach the desired consistency
- Using a strainer, pour the pureed strawberries into a pitcher
- Pour in the brewed tea, along with the lemon juice and sugar. Stir in the sugar till it completely dissolves.
- Take a chilled glass and place the ice cubes in them. Pour in the strawberry tea over the ice and garnish it with a berry before serving it. This recipe should yield around 5 cups of iced tea
Alternately, you could also prepare a strawberry tea mix and store it in an airtight container for about 6 months or so.
Strawberry Tea For Pregnancy:
There are several health benefits that have been associated with strawberry tea. However, the effects of the beverage have still not been evaluated on women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Strawberry tea contains tannins, which could block the absorption of iron. This is very unhealthy for pregnant women, as it could lead to anemia, causing the red blood cells in the body to reduce. Anemia is very dangerous for pregnant women, as it could stop the growth and development of the fetus, resulting in a miscarriage.
Nevertheless, there are several instances of women who have had strawberry tea during pregnancy and have gone on to deliver normal, healthy babies. It is best therefore, for women to check with their doctor about the feasibility of drinking strawberry tea during pregnancy.
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