Health Benefits of Iced Tea

Today is national iced tea day! So, what are the health benefits of iced tea? As long as your tea doesn't contain too much sugar, here are some of the benefits:

• Can help you stay hydrated

• Boosts antioxidants

• Can help your heart health

• Helps heal wounds faster and strengthen your bones and teeth due to the manganese it contains

• Can improve your liver health

• Strengthens your immune system

• Can help prevent heart disease

• Can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes

• Contains flavonoids which have been linked to prevention of cancer and chronic diseases

Here is my favorite homemade iced tea recipe, it is super simple and contains no refined sugar and no artificial sweeteners.

Ingredients:

• 8 cups of boiling water

• 3 bags of black tea (you can use your favorite brand, I use Lipton)

• ¼ cup of organic honey

• 6 lemon slices (use more or less to fit your taste)

• Desired amount of ice cubes- I use around 4 cups

Instructions:

1. Add boiling water to a heat safe pitcher

2. Add the tea bags in the pitcher and let steep for around 7-8 minutes

3. Pour in the honey and lemon slices and stir until the honey is dissolved

4. Place the pitcher in the fridge

5. Remove tea bags after about an hour- leaving them in longer will make stronger tea (whatever your prefer)

6. Leave the pitcher in the fridge from a couple hours to overnight

7. Remove the tea bags before serving, add your ice, and stir