Lemongrass is an herb that originated in Sri Lanka and southern India, but now grows in many countries around the world. The stems of the plant are a common ingredient in Asian cuisine, but lemongrass can also be brewed to make tea. The plant has long leaves that resemble those of seaweed. Although there are about 55 species of lemongrass, only Indian and West Indian varieties can be used in cooking.
Several researchers are interested in the health and medicinal benefits of drinking lemongrass tea. In this article, we look at some of the health benefits this tea may offer, and we look at the evidence supporting these claims.
The benefits of lemongrass tea
Lemongrass tea can have many benefits, including relieving anxiety and preventing infections. Many people believe that lemongrass tea offers multiple health benefits, but researchers haven’t yet conducted enough large-scale studies to prove these benefits. Doctors know, however, that this tea can help fight free radicals, reducing the incidence of inflammation in the body. Lemongrass contains compounds that fight inflammation: chlorogenic acid, isoorientin and swertiajaponin.
Inflammation is a factor in many health problems, including pain and heart disease. As such, lemongrass tea could be a beneficial drink to incorporate into your diet.
Below are seven other health benefits that can result from drinking lemongrass tea.
1. Relieve Anxiety
Many people find sipping hot tea to be relaxing, but lemongrass tea may offer additional anxiety-reducing properties. According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the scent of lemongrass can help people with anxiety. Although some people already inhale lemongrass essential oil for stress and anxiety relief, researchers still need more evidence to be able to confirm this benefit.
2. Lower cholesterol
According to an article in the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, consumption of lemongrass extracts appears to reduce cholesterol levels in animals.
The study notes that this reaction is dose-dependent. This means that larger amounts of lemongrass could further lower cholesterol.
3. Infection Prevention
According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the study results suggest that lemongrass may have some infection-preventing abilities. For example, the plant appears to reduce the incidence of thrush, a fungal infection that commonly affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV.
4. Improve oral health
In many countries where lemongrass is native to the region, people take the stalks of lemongrass and chew them to improve dental health and keep the mouth clean. The journal Food Chemistry published a study confirming these results. The authors examined 12 plants and found lemongrass extracts to be one of the strongest inhibitors of bacterial growth in lab samples. They used bacteria that can cause cavities in the mouth, including Streptococcus sanguinis.
5. Relieve pain
According to a study, lemongrass may be able to block pain. This means that drinking lemongrass tea could potentially help prevent a person from feeling pain.
6. Boost Red Blood Cell Count
Results of a 2015 study suggest that drinking lemongrass tea infusions daily for 30 days can increase hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count in the body. The researchers performed blood tests on 105 human subjects at the start, then at 10 and 30 days into the study. They concluded that drinking lemongrass tea stimulates the formation of red blood cells. Although they did not identify precisely how lemongrass achieves this, they suggested that the tea’s antioxidant properties may play a role.
7. Relieve bloating
Drinking lemongrass tea can have diuretic effects, which means it stimulates the kidneys to release more urine than usual. According to a small-scale study published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition, drinking lemongrass tea increases urine output more than other beverages. This diuretic effect on the body can be beneficial in cases where water retention leads to bloating. This is a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Lemongrass tea recipe
Lemongrass stalks are available at many grocery stores. It is possible to prepare lemongrass tea at home. After purchasing the stems from a grocery store or herbalist, people can follow these steps to steep their tea:
use 1-2 stems cut into 2-4cm pieces
boil a cup of water
Pour boiling water over the lemongrass stalks to infuse them.
leave the stems in the water for at least 5 minutes
Strain the liquid from the stems and pour it into a teacup.
By adding ice cubes, you will get a lemongrass cold tea.
The tea should taste fresh and lemony. One should start with one cup of lemongrass tea daily, then add more over the following days if desired.
Most grocery stores and health food stores sell lemongrass tea.
To remember
Lemongrass tea can be a delicious beverage that also has health benefits. Although most of the studies conducted on lemongrass tea to date have been small-scale or conducted in the laboratory, the results show that lemongrass tea can help improve oral health, lower cholesterol and relieve bloating.
In addition to drinking lemongrass as a tea, people can add this herb to dishes such as soups and stir-fries.
