Stress is something no one wants to admit that they have but the truth is that we all experience some level of stress in life. It is the body’s natural response to mental, emotional or physical pressure and believe me, the world today has enough pressure to go around. Whether it’s pressure to meet that corporate deadline, be the perfect spouse, be the well-organized mom, balancing the cheque book or just following everyday world events can add stress to your life. A little stress it not always a bad thing, as many people find that it helps them to sharpen their skills and improves focus. I seem to be one of those persons that works better under pressure, a force of habit developed during my over two decades in the very stressful, deadline saturated, ever evolving world of corporate finance.

However, while a little stress may be normal, the body is not meant to endure chronic stress. Make no mistakes, chronic stress is very dangerous. I learnt this the hard way as I soon found myself with multiple symptoms such as digestive issues, chronic fatigue and insomnia. It can also cause headaches, aches and pains, as well as a weakened immune system. There are other symptoms of chronic stress.

It’s not always easy to completely remove the source of your stress so it’s important to find ways to manage it. I love tea and so I looked for teas that helped me to manage my stress levels. Here are three of my ‘Go-To’ teas that are relaxing and tastes great too!

Peppermint

The great thing about peppermint tea is that you can find it in just about any grocery store, online or even grow it yourself if you like to garden. Apart from its minty taste and wonderful aroma, peppermint tea is known for its ability to soothe and relax the digestive system. You can tell right away why I love this tea given my digestive issues. I found that it often did a great job relieving any bloating and indigestion I had. Since a lot of other symptoms stem from digestive issues, once I was able to soothe the gut a lot of other stress related symptoms like headaches and body aches went away. Peppermint tea specially made this list because it is naturally caffeine free and actually has the ability to promote good sleep. As an added bonus, its minty fresh flavor has been known to clear sinuses and freshen breath.

Green Tea

I must first admit that when I initially started drinking green tea it was to prompt more frequent bowl movements, a recommendation from a friend. In the beginning it did seem to help somewhat but I quickly began loving this tea for other reasons. This tea does have some caffeine but not enough to give you the jitters. I actually find this tea to be very calming. The theanine found in green tea is the amino acid that is believed to relieves anxiety and reduces stress based on studies. It is a great source of antioxidants and has been known to improve focus along with adding some bonus benefits such as protecting against heart disease and cancer. It’s usually another very easy tea to find at your local grocery store or online. Remember that thing I mentioned earlier which was the reason I initially started drinking this tea? Well, it turns out that green tea does have some laxative effects, more in some than others, which helps with some digestive issues and may promote weight loss.

Lemongrass Tea

Growing up in the Caribbean we call this ‘Fever Grass’ and it is often used to relieve flu and cold symptoms. It was categorized as a ‘Bush Tea’ since it was seldom, if at all found in the tea isle of the local grocery stores. The benefits of lemongrass tea have made it more popular and easier to find both online and instore. ‘Fever grass’ is usually prepared along with other ‘bush teas’ as a way to boost immunity but it can most definitely stand alone. This bush tea has an amazing aroma and an even better flavor. This tea packs antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which are all wins to me. It helps to reduce menstrual cramps and symptoms which is every girl’s dream and is believed to reduce systolic blood pressure.

I love tea and drinking tea is relatively safe to do but remember, if you are on medication, it is important for you to consult your doctor before replacing prescription medication with alternative medications. A lot of prescribed medication already contain compounds derived from plants and ‘too much of anything is good for nothing’. Peppermint, green and lemongrass teas are all great options for helping to relieve stress but of course there are other things that you can implement into your daily routine to have a holistic stress management regime.

Whew charl………… I don’t know about you, but I need a cup of tea!

What’s in your cup today? How about RELAXATION!