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Health and Healing From Eating A Clean Diet Consisting of Actual Food
We use red raspberry leaf tea regularly in my house. It has a very pleasant taste, especially with a little raw, organic honey added to it. It is easy to make and easy to drink. I will often make a large batch, enjoy a hot cup, and bottle and refrigerate the rest to enjoy iced the next day. This tea is nutritive, calms the stomach, helps with "female issues," and is known as a "flu" fighter, among other benefits.
Nutrients in Red Raspberry Leaf
Red raspberry leaf contains several vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, manganese, B vitamins, and vitamins C, E and A. Given that the raspberry plant did the work of making these minerals and vitamins bioavailable, they are more easily assimilated in our bodies than lab-created, inorganic forms.
A Women's Health Herb
Raspberry leaf is known to increase the tone and function of the uterine system, including help regulating the menstrual cycle. Part of this benefit is a decrease in "moodiness," cramping, excessive bleeding and general discomfort some women experience during their cycle. Given that red raspberry leaf is high in B complex vitamins, which are know to help combat PMS, it can help alleviate moodiness and irritability associated with a woman's cycle. During pregnancy red raspberry leaf has been used to decrease morning sickness and general queasiness as well as false labor pains. After birth this herb has been used to help return the uterus to its normal size and decrease bleeding along with improving breast milk quality.
A Flu Fighter
The bioavailable vitamins and minerals in this tea, including C, make it a common ingredient in "flu" fighting teas. I use it solo in my home, year round, for the vitamin and mineral benefits which are good for general health and the immune system. The polyphenols found in red raspberry leaf are known to have antioxidant properties. Among these compounds is ellagic acid, touted to have anticancer effects. Flavinoids and tannins found in the tea are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
How I Make My Raspberry Leaf Tea
- I boil filtered water in my glass tea pot.
- I turn off the heat and add 1 tablespoon organic, dried leaves per 8oz cup of tea to my tea pot.
- I place the lid back on my tea pot (to keep beneficial compounds from escaping) and steep for approximately 7 minutes. My daughter likes a milder flavor, so I steep hers for 5 minutes.
- I strain my tea, add a bit of organic, raw honey, and sip.
I will make large batches and refrigerate them to drink as iced tea later. I aim to drink a quart of this tea most days. Doesn't always happen, but, I aspire to drink that much.
Common Sense Note: The high level of personal responsibility and common sense used by an individual speaks well of the one using it. I am not you, your advisor, your doctor, your naturopath or your decision-maker. I am sharing my own thoughts and choices and stories, the personal journey and choices of myself and my family. You and only you are responsible for your own choices, research and path.