Staying healthy during Covid-19: take a (tea) leaf out of Turkey’s book, where residents drink herbal tea from morning to night to keep illness at bay
Hibiscus tea is full of vitamin C and great for immunity, while rosehip tea has been known to protect against diabetes – ready your Turkish tulip glass for these soothing beverages and stay fighting fit
It has become more important than ever for people around the world to keep themselves in good health and boost their immune systems to combat Covid-19 amid the prolonged pandemic.
Turkey has many practices that help people stay strong and healthy, such as drinking natural herbal teas.
According to the World Tea Report compiled by the International Tea Committee, Turkey took the first place for the highest consumption of tea with an annual 3.5kg per capita. In 2019, 260,000 tonnes of tea were consumed in Turkey.
Turks taking first place in this field was not surprising, since the country has a habit of drinking tea from breakfast all through the day until bedtime.
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism suggests drinking Turkish herbal teas from various plants, noting that some of them strengthen the immune system while others are good for fighting disease.
The ministry added, however, due to their varying effects, those with certain diseases must be careful of the herbal teas they consume.
Linden tea is known to be effective against the flu, colds and coughs, and can help relieve headaches. The tea also helps reduce anxiety and stress, and lower blood pressure. It is also consumed to fight liver disease and arteriosclerosis, and is known to have benefits for the digestive system. It is usually consumed with lemon.
Rosehip tea that is rich in Vitamin C is recommended for fighting bone and joint inflammation, such as osteoarthritis. It is known to regulate blood pressure, relieve rheumatic pain, slow the spread of cancerous cells, lower cholesterol levels and protect against diabetes. The tea is also used in treating colds.