WORDS BY Bex Fairbrother

This week we will be posting a new ‘it’ tea each day that we suggest you try to get you through the working week. I hope you are thirsty because its time to drink to your health!

For thousands of years people from all over the world, particularly in the East, have been drinking tea of all different varieties. In modern-day society, tea has become a tonic to help boost our health and sense of well-being. Supplemented with a healthy, balanced diet, herbal teas can give your body an extra health-kick. With such a large number of herbal teas available on the market, there is one for every day and mood. Here are 5 of Hip and Healthy’s favourites:

THE HAPPY TEA

Why not start your week with a cup of Clipper’s Rise and Shine? This carefully crafted mood enhancer, infused with Organic yerba mate, lemongrass and lemon verbena will have you set up for the day in no time – perfect for those sleepy mornings! The unique blend is full to the brim with health benefits. Yerba mate, the main ingredient, is a species of Holly that is native to subtropical South America. It was first used and cultivated by the Guarani people and has been to said to help aid weight loss, as it is both an appetite suppressant and thermogenic; meaning it increases the rate at which fat is burned. Yerba mate also contains caffeine, which helps stimulate the mind and body. Many people who drink it on a regular basis said they did not suffer the negative side effects that are normally associated with caffeinated drinks. In conjunction with the refreshing fragrance of lemon verbena, this invigorating blend increases energy and wards off the blues. This winning combination is the perfect choice to help lift your mood on overcast, dull days and can help counteract symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

Yerba mate also contains theophylline. This has medically been used to stimulate the heart muscle, which is essential for strong cardiovascular health. It also contains immune-boosting saponins, whilst also stimulating increased bile flow and therefore acts as a digestive aid. In addition to refreshing the body, lemon verbena’s essential oil helps us to focus and stimulates brain function. Lemon Verbena is also very relaxing and has a number of therapeutic qualities. It is well known for its abilities to strengthen the nervous system and calm digestive tract cramping, alleviating any colon and stomach spasms. Margaret Roberts, author of Herbal Teas for Healthy Living, says that lemon verbena promotes overall nervous system health and in tea form combats both depression and the ill effects of stress.

So if you want a quick pick-me-up grab a cup of this invigorating infusion.