Easy Key to AGE IN REVERSE
Tea (whether you sip it or apply it topically) is packed with healing nutrients that help you look and feel ageless
Grandma used to say a cup of tea could cure any ill, and she’d put the kettle on to help with everything from sleeplessness to a stomachache. Now experts are discovering that the brew can do even more: “Tea is packed with nutrients that work internally to increase circulation, and it can also be used topically to reduce redness and even help encourage hair growth,” asserts New York City dermatologist Debbie Palmer, M.D., author of Beyond Beauty. Read on to discover the easy remedies that will work wonders for you!
TO NIX BELLY BLOAT
A sluggish lymphatic system can lead to a buildup of toxins and water retention that makes us look bloated and feel blah. The easy solution? Sip dandelion tea. “The herbal brew’s detoxifying compounds trigger the release of bile, cleansing the liver and escorting toxins from the body, while its diuretic properties help flush out excess fluids,” says nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., author of The Fat Flush Plan. This effect alone can help women shed 3 to 5 pounds — and 1 to 2 belly inches — in just two days. Bonus: When ingested, dandelion tea’s vitamins and minerals have been shown to strengthen hair. Simply steep a bag of dandelion tea (like Alvita Organic Dandelion Root Tea, $7, The Vitamin Shoppe stores) in 1 cup of boiling water. Drink 3 to 5 cups over two days for a noticeable change by day three.
TO SOOTHE ROSACEA
October’s cooler temperatures can trigger rosacea flare-ups that leave skin looking ruddy. What can help: applying chamomile tea to skin. “The plant’s anti-inflammatory bisabolol has been shown to reduce redness and irritation on contact,” says Dr. Palmer. To get the benefits, steep 3 chamomile tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water; let cool. Soak a washcloth in the brew, then drape it on your face and leave on for up to 15 minutes. Repeat three times a week for an even complexion in three weeks.
TO BOOST THINNING HAIR
Hair follicles narrow as we age, leading to thinner strands that shed more easily. But peppermint’s menthol stimulates the scalp, increasing blood flow to help promote faster growth of stronger strands. In fact, a recent study found menthol to be just as effective as the drug minoxidil at regrowing hair. To do: Steep 4 peppermint tea bags in 3 cups of boiling water. Let cool; pour onto damp hair. Massage into the scalp for 5 minutes, then rinse. Repeat twice a week for fuller tresses in 30 days.