Why Cranberry Tea Is a Woman’s Best Friend

Drinking tea is a tradition almost as old as the human race itself. When it comes to drinking herbal teas, the traditional reasons have almost always been homoeopathic and health-driven, and cranberry tea is no exception. A highly astringent berry that is much more pleasant to consume as a tea than as an afternoon snack, cranberries are incredibly rich in antioxidants, which is why drinking cranberry tea has so many homeopathic applications—most particularly for women.

One of only three native North American fruits to be grown for commercial purposes, the cranberry has an interesting history. Used as a food, a dye and a health aid for hundreds of years, newcomers to North America and native tribes alike benefited from this bright red berry. Whalers consumed cranberries to prevent scurvy at sea, and Native Americans utilized them in pemmican—a high-protein and vitamin-dense dish made from dried deer meat, melted fat and crushed cranberries. These days, cranberries are popularly consumed at Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, but the health benefits of cranberry tea suggest that it should be enjoyed year round.

Improving Gum Health

While it certainly doesn’t seem like a benefit that would get top billing, healthy gums are essential to overall good health. Drinking cranberry tea helps to prevent and slow the progression of gingivitis. Many illnesses can be linked to an unhealthy mouth and teeth. Regularly drinking cranberry tea benefits your gums, teeth, mouth and therefore, your body.

Urinary Tract Health

One of the main reasons women drink cranberry tea is due to its medicinal assistance in urinary tract and kidney infections since women suffer from urinary tract infections at a much greater rate than men. Called the “Newlywed’s Disease,” UTIs form when certain bacteria sometimes find their way into a woman’s urethra, and because a woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s, that bacteria can more easily travel from the urethra and into the bladder where it will multiply and cause infection. The infection can then make its way to the kidneys where significant damage can occur if the infection is left untreated. Cranberry tea can actually be used to cure a urinary tract infection because it can flush out toxins, while its antioxidant properties go to work in combating the infection itself. If you suffer from regular UTIs, make cranberry tea a daily part of your diet in order to prevent them from starting in the first place.

Eye Health

Eye health often gets taken for granted, but your eyes are just as susceptible to damage from external toxins and regular use as is any other part of your body. Cranberry tea’s antibacterial qualities make it a natural defender against both environmental dangers and degenerative diseases.

Heart Health

Because it helps in boosting the body’s immune system, cranberry tea assists in maintaining a healthy heart. As cardiovascular disease continues its run as the leading cause of death across the United States, the phytochemicals in the skins of cranberries are being looked to more and more as a way to promote a healthier hearts. Phytochemicals are known to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, and because cranberry tea includes the skin of the berry, it is a great way to get regular doses of phytochemicals.

Stress Relief

Sitting down to a hot cup of cranberry tea is in and of itself a way to unwind and combat stress, but cranberries also possess stress-relieving properties.Because women more often endure the demands of work, family, relationships, house and kinship duties, their stresses can all add up to a pressure-filled life. While a cup of tea won’t create more hours in the day, taking a little time out to pause, reflect and contribute to your own personal well-being can greatly reduce stress levels.

Cranberries are a super-food whose history and benefit to the human race is older than the colonial times that preceded the United States. If you’re interested in an easy, healthy and natural way to improve your health, drink cranberry tea. It’s a great way for anyone—especially women—to enjoy better health from the top of their gums to the bottom of their hearts.