The benefits of herbal infusions by Danielle Copperman
In this blog Danielle Copperman, British model, entrepreneur (founder of Qnola) and writer who is passionate about wellness and health shares her views on the health benefits of herbal infusions. Danielle, an expert in healthy lifestyle, dietician and nutritionist, is a widely published author as well as a holistic chef, author of the cookbook and lifestyle manual, Well Being.
Herbal infusions: an excellent way of dosing essential minerals and vitamins to our body.
We hope you enjoy it!
Infusions are a great way to dose up on essential minerals and vitamins, and one of the best ways to hydrate. Depending on what you infuse your drinks with (water, milk, juices), they enhance the flavour, and add emotional and physical benefits for the mind and body. Whether you infuse your water jug or bottle with fresh herbs, spices, fruits or vegetables, or prefer to steep your ingredients in boiling water for a tea, this is a super hydrating way to consume essential ingredients. Beyond this, you may infuse milks to use in breakfast recipes (like chamomile-infused nut milk for chia see pudding or on cereal), and this is a wonderful way to flavour daily recipes.
The health benefits vary depending on the ingredients you use to infuse your liquids with. You can use ingredients that enhance energy, improve mood and encourage positivity, encourage relaxation, balance sugar levels, aid sleep, aid skin, reduce stress and anxiety, aid digestion, support the immune system and so much more. And you can use a combination of many ingredients to creative really bespoke infusions, and infusions with more than one functional purpose, with many properties. The KÖNSE Healthy Gut infusion, for example, can calm the nervous system, relieve stress, promote relaxation, regulate sleep and balance mood, whilst holding anti-inflammatory and restorative properties to improve the digestive system and overall well-being that relies on a healthy gut, too. I particularly love this tea as I always like to cleanse after eating and doing so with a hot drink is really refreshing and grounding, as well as functional – to enhance and encourage smoother digestion. You can find an infusion for any occasion and for any ailment, almost, so as long as you are clued up on the ingredients, it can be a really fun and experimental process finding what works for you and using different infusions different days and at different phases in your life.
And the KÖNSE Sugar Balance Herbal Tea – made with Herbal tea blend of Green tea Sencha*, Cinnamon*, Ginger*, Red tea Pu-Erh Supreme*, Nettle, Sage, Cloves*, Orange peel*, Orange blossom – combines such subtle ingredients that on a cellular level – both physically and emotionally – can help to realign the body and mind, post sugary snacks.
You can find an infusion for any occasion and for any ailment, almost, so as long as you are clued up on the ingredients, it can be a really fun and experimental process finding what works for you and using different infusions different days and at different phases in your life.
Infusions are so simple to incorporate into your daily routine, as adding them to cold water is just as easy as drinking enough water during the day. They are also great because you don’t have to digest the whole ingredients to enjoy the benefits; meaning you don’t risk taxing the body and digestion more, or between meals. You can have infusions for the morning and evening that you have daily, or just know which ingredients work best for you if and when you want them (no need to do it every single day, necessarily). You can have your favourite digestive blend for post-breakfast, lunch or dinner, and again a sleep aid if you struggle with sleep – it’s all about tuning in, finding what you need most, and working them into your schedule effortlessly whenever you need a little extra support. You can also have infusions for no particular reason. You can use things like cucumber, mint and chia seeds in water simply to add flavour and enhance hydration, too. I love to have mine mid-morning after breakfast, all afternoon during winter to keep warm and comforted, after dinner and / or before bed.
You can even use waste ingredients (like strawberry tops, carrot tops, peelings (if cleaned well)), for infusions. This means less goes to waste and you still enjoy benefits of certain foods. I think infusions are a really natural and sustainable creation, too. You can use dried ingredients which can be stored for months, even years. There is literally no waste involved – you could even use post-infused ingredients on flowerbeds and in compost or soil once used – to benefit the outdoors, too.
Natural and sustainable wellbeing is here to stay. Focusing on rituals that are natural and support each person’s natural and ever-changing needs, is key for wellbeing. Natural ingredients are always best. And looking at sustainable food habits, ingredients, sourcing and wellbeing rituals in general, this is going to become the new norm. With threats of crop failure and lack of resources, our shopping and eating habits will – or should – surely be changing and slowing down in the years to come. We will begin using more local produce and more seasonal produce, not by choice but by what’s available for us at any given time. It sounds strange to be going backwards, almost – back to our roots, so to speak. But it is a beautiful thing, and I think we will develop more innovative ways for people in cities without gardens, for example, to be able to be somewhat more self-sustaining, too.
You can even use waste ingredients (like strawberry tops, carrot tops, peelings (if cleaned well)), for infusions. This means less goes to waste and you still enjoy benefits of certain foods. I think infusions are a really natural and sustainable creation, too. You can use dried ingredients which can be stored for months, even years. There is literally no waste involved – you could even use post-infused ingredients on flowerbeds and in compost or soil once used – to benefit the outdoors, too.
Try adding well-cleaned waste ingredients to your infusions.
Natural and sustainable wellbeing is here to stay. Focusing on rituals that are natural and support each person’s natural and ever-changing needs, is key for wellbeing. Natural ingredients are always best. And looking at sustainable food habits, ingredients, sourcing and wellbeing rituals in general, this is going to become the new norm. With threats of crop failure and lack of resources, our shopping and eating habits will – or should – surely be changing and slowing down in the years to come. We will begin using more local produce and more seasonal produce, not by choice but by what’s available for us at any given time. It sounds strange to be going backwards, almost – back to our roots, so to speak. But it is a beautiful thing, and I think we will develop more innovative ways for people in cities without gardens, for example, to be able to be somewhat more self-sustaining, too.
