Chamomile tea is often thought of as a beverage of rest and relaxation. After all, a soothing and gentle cup of chamomile tea is perfect for sipping, especially after a long and hard day.
Alongside its naturally sweet flavor and sweet aroma, chamomile tea offers a variety of health benefits, from alleviating stomach pain and lowering blood sugar to reducing anxiety and promoting better sleep.
Chamomile is an herb that comes from the flowers of a plant from the Asteraceae plant. For centuries, people have used this plant as a natural remedy for a variety of health concerns. If you want to make this tea, you’ll need dried chamomile flowers and infuse them into water.
Chamomile tea is a guilt-free choice when it comes to beverages, but you might have questions about this certain tea. Does chamomile tea have caffeine? Does it make you sleepy? What are the benefits of chamomile tea? Does regular consumption of this tea help your body detox?
We answer the most common questions associated with chamomile tea.
Does Chamomile Tea Have Caffeine?
Is caffeine a big no-no to your diet? Worry not because chamomile tea doesn’t contain caffeine.
Herbal teas, like chamomile tea, are not made from the tea plant Camellia Sinensis (which contains caffeine). Instead, herbal teas are produced from roots, leaves, seeds and flowers of other plants. Apart from potential trace elements, chamomile tea does not contain caffeine.
When made in the purest way, chamomile tea has zero caffeine content. After all, this tea is just an infusion of an herb. Any tea made from plants will not contain caffeine.
There are just a few exceptions, such as Yerba mate.
If you need more assurance, chamomile tea, when brewed in its purest form, is also called the “sleep tea.” This is because this tea has several soothing, relaxing and calming properties (which we’ll discuss more later). The presence of caffeine does not contribute to sleep or relaxation. In fact, it has the opposite effect. Caffeine boosts or triggers brain activity and fights fatigue.
Pure chamomile tea doesn’t do either. Instead, it helps you relax, which proves its zero-caffeine content. So, if you want a caffeine-free choice from your tea collection, go with chamomile.
However, notice that we say pure chamomile. If you’re using fresh flowers (which you process into dried chamomile), you don’t have to worry about caffeine. But if you buy processed chamomile tea mixed with other tea varieties (e.g. oolong, green, white or black tea), your tea could have caffeine.
When buying chamomile tea, check the ingredients first and see if there is caffeine. It usually says so on the packaging.
Does Chamomile Tea Make You Sleepy?
It does.
For years, chamomile tea has been used to reduce anxiety, treat inflammation and help people sleep better. Dried chamomile is commonly considered a sleep inducer or mild tranquilizer.
The calming effect of chamomile tea is often attributed to an antioxidant called apigenin, which is abundant in chamomile tea. This antioxidant binds specific brain receptors that reduce your anxiety and promote sleep.
However, even though a cup of chamomile tea can make you feel sleepy, there is no conclusive evidence that it can improve the quality of your sleep. It can only promote sleep.
If you are having trouble falling asleep, adding a cup of tea to your routine of relaxation is a must. Make sure you drink a warm cup of chamomile tea before you go to bed. Drinking tea is a good replacement for unhealthy sleep habits like scrolling through your phone or drinking alcohol.
What are the Benefits of Chamomile Tea?
Apart from promoting good sleep, chamomile tea guarantees many health benefits due to its richness in antioxidants.
If you drink chamomile tea at home or in tea rooms, you’ll benefit from the following:
Better Digestion
Proper digestion is crucial to your health. If you’re experiencing GI issues, drinking chamomile tea could help.
There is limited evidence that suggests chamomile tea can help in promoting better digestion by reducing your risk for certain GI issues. For instance, some studies have reported that chamomile can protect you from diarrhea due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Another study suggested that chamomile can help prevent ulcers since it reduces acidity in the stomach while inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
Protection Against Certain Types of Cancer
The antioxidants found in chamomile tea have been linked to cancer prevention. As mentioned above, chamomile contains the antioxidant apigenin. According to studies, this antioxidant can fight cancer cells, especially those of the uterus, prostate, skin, digestive tract and breast.
Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Drinking chamomile tea can also help you manage your blood sugar. Its anti-inflammatory properties can prevent damage to your pancreatic cells, which occurs when your blood sugar levels are often elevated.
Reduced Inflammation
Inflammation is the immune system’s response to infection. If you experience chronic inflammation, it means your healthy cells are often damaged, which leads to degenerative and autoimmune diseases.
Chamomile tea contains compounds that can reduce inflammation. Regular consumption of chamomile tea can help relieve gastrointestinal pain, curb hemorrhoids and protect you from autoimmune diseases.
Reduced Anxiety
Chamomile tea is also believed to offer relief for anxiety. Some studies show that this tea has a benzodiazepine-like effect on its drinkers.
Is it OK to Drink Chamomile Tea Every Day?
Drinking a cup or two of chamomile tea every day is safe. Some studies have shown that you can drink up to five cups of chamomile tea in a day.
If you want to include chamomile tea in your diet, you can consume it any time of the day. However, it’s best consumed in the evening if you want to sleep or relax. If you have diabetes, add a cup of chamomile tea to your meals.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Chamomile tea is a caffeine-free beverage you must include in your daily routine. It’s a good alternative to caffeinated coffee or sodas. They can keep you going, but there are times when you need to wind down, relax and rest. For these moments, you’re going to need a cup of chamomile tea.
Enjoy a cup today.
