Cholesterol is essential for body functions but can become extremely harmful when present in excess. High cholesterol levels can cause fatal heart attacks and strokes.
According to experts, it is important to make a lot of lifestyle and dietary amendments and adjustments to naturally get rid of high LDL cholesterol levels, which should ideally be below 100.
And so, regular consumption of natural herbs like rosemary – loaded with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory compounds, not only takes care of your overall health but also helps balance cholesterol levels.
How does Rosemary tea reduce bad cholesterol?
According to doctors, rosemary – which has numerous culinary and aromatic ingredients according to traditional herbal and Ayurvedic medicine, can be made into tea and had every day.
Rosemary tea – totally devoid of caffeine, can be enjoyed for its flavor, aroma, and immense health benefits. Rosemary is packed with antioxidants – compounds that help protect your body from oxidative damage and inflammation. 1
This activity of the herb is largely attributed to its polyphenolic compounds like rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid which help keep plaque formation at bay.
Studies also say that both rosmarinic and carnosic acids have antitumor properties and even slow the growth of leukemia, breast, and prostate cancer cells. 2
Other health benefits
Apart from flushing out bad cholesterol, rosemary tea is also helpful in:
Lowers blood sugar levels
When left untreated, high blood sugar damages your eyes, heart, kidneys, and nervous system.
Therefore, doctors say it is critical that people who have diabetes properly manage their blood sugar levels. And hence, regularly drinking rosemary tea can do that.
According to studies, compounds in rosemary tea increase the absorption of glucose into muscle cells, lowering blood sugar. 3
Improves mood and memory
Everyone undergoes episodes of stress and anxiety sometimes. And so, drinking and inhaling compounds in rosemary tea helps boost your mood and even enhance your memory.
One study found that taking 500 mg of oral rosemary twice daily for 1 month significantly lowered anxiety levels and improved memory and sleep quality among college students, compared with a placebo. 4
This herbal tea also relaxes and calms you by promoting a healthy balance of gut bacteria and reducing inflammation in the hippocampus, the part of your brain associated with emotions, learning, and memories.
Aids digestion
Rosemary tea is also beneficial for your digestive system by helping you get over issues like constipation, bloating, and recurrent acid reflux.
According to doctors, through better digestion, the risk of high cholesterol can also be reduced effectively.
How to make rosemary tea?
It is very easy to make rosemary tea at home and the process only requires two ingredients:
- Water
- Fresh or dried rosemary leaves
To make this tea, you can simply:
- Bring a cup of water to a boil.
- Add a teaspoon of loose rosemary leaves or dried ones to the hot water. Let it steep for 5-10 minutes, depending on how flavorful you like your tea.
- Strain the leaves from the water using a mesh strainer and later discard the used rosemary leaves.
- Pour your rosemary tea into a mug and enjoy. You can add a sweetener, such as sugar, honey, or agave syrup according to your taste.