It's hard to constantly feel like your best self as a busy college student. We struggle to manage to eat three balanced meals a day and get 8 hours of sleep a night. And when flu season hits, it's a pain to make it over to the health center to confirm whether you're dying or not, but don't worry, it's just a cold.
From green to black to all sorts of herbals, there's a tea for every ailment. Keep in mind that this guide doesn't list nearly all the options, just some tried and true remedies!
1. For The Early Wakeup Call
Many students turn to coffee in the morning, which has become super-accessible thanks to Keurigs in dorm rooms, coffee shops on campus, or fresh brewed coffee served in the dining hall. A healthier and less caffeinated option is a cup of black tea.
There are a bunch of varieties of black tea, from Chai to Earl Grey to English Breakfast. On average, black teas contain anywhere from 30mg to 60mg of caffeine. In comparison, coffee has 100 to 120 milligrams of caffeine.
While seasoned coffee drinkers may not think tea can provide the boost they'll need, it definitely will. It also eliminates that jittery feeling coffee often brings.
My recommendation: You can't go wrong with classic Lipton black tea
2. When You Need An Immune Boost
Another great caffeinated tea option is green tea, which comes in an abundance of flavors and varieties. Green tea does have less caffeine than both black tea and coffee (see an in-depth comparison here), but what's important is it's loaded with antioxidants that help prevent colds.
Health gurus have been praising this drink for years and it's truly a great pick-me-up when you're not feeling your best, or when you just need a little boost.
My recommendation: Mighty Leaf's Jasmine Green Tea is just flowery enough!
3. Dining Hall Food Not Sitting Well?
As someone who has a very sensitive stomach, I found myself devouring antacids before I realized that dairy and I are not friends. But I like pizza, so i'm always living on the edge.
This is where peppermint tea (along with Tums) comes in handy. Peppermint tea is an herbal tea (aka caffeine free) that works to help with digestion.
There's a reason why restaurants offer mints after dinner- they know you'll need something to settle your stomach after one too many bites of your dessert! Peppermint tea is a great thing to sip after any large meal; let it steep for 3-5 minutes and you'll have a delicious and easy bellyache free remedy.
My recommendation: Bigelow's Mint Medley is a perfect, minty blend
4. For Killer Cramps After You Have Exceeded The Daily Dose Of Advil
Ladies, you know what I mean when I say that cramps are the worst. Periods are not only a pain in the ass, but a pain literally all over your body. When medicine and hot compresses simply aren't doing the trick, I always turn to ginger tea.
Let me just pause to say that ginger is absolutely amazing. The root, which can be turned into tea, acts as an anti-inflammatory, which relaxes your muscles and help those awful cramps. This property also comes in handy when you have sore throats or stomachaches.
Ginger aids with digestion; so if peppermint just isn't your cup of tea, ginger is a great alternative! Ginger tea can be "spicy" if you've never tried it before, so don't let it steep too long if you're looking for a milder taste.
#Spoontip: try flavoring your tea with lemon or honey!
My recommendation: Yogi's Ginger Tea; this brand has adorable affirmations printed on the tags of its tea bags and they never fail to make me smile.
5. For Finals Week
Okay, if you're anything like me or the majority of college students, stress doesn't only come during finals week. However, chamomile tea is always a great solution for stress. Like peppermint and ginger, chamomile tea is an herbal tea with some amazing benefits. This tea is great to have before bed; chamomile is naturally relaxing and will help bring down your heart rate as well as combat insomnia!
My recommendation: Tazo has a great chamomile tea that always hits the spot. You can also order it at Starbucks for when you're craving relaxation in the midst of a busy day!
6. When You Finally Admit That, Yes, You're Sick
Whenever I start to feel myself getting sick, I'm constantly boiling water, steeping tea, and drinking cup after cup in a last effort to ward off an impending cold or sinus infection. But sometimes, this scramble doesn't work and I'm left to cope.
Here's where lemon tea becomes a life saver. Lemon tea is great for when you have a sore throat and need something light and warm to soothe it.
My recommendation: Yogi's Throat Comfort Honey Lemon Tea (I'm a big fan of this brand for all my tea needs!)
Hopefully this little guide to some of the best benefits of various types of tea can help you stay on top of your health in a super cozy way. Drinking tea is a great way to cure simple health problems and also to practice mental health; taking a moment to steep a cup is a perfect way to step away from life's stressors and simply enjoy!