A Nutritional Psychiatrist Says These Are The Best Teas To Sip On For Anxiety

One of my resolutions this year is to drink more tea. Why? Well, I could certainly stand to hydrate more during the day, but mainly because tea is inherently soothing. Seriously, name something more calming than a chamomile at bedtime. I'm waiting! 

Our podcast episode with Uma Naidoo, M.D., launched at the perfect time, as the Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, nutritional biologist, and professional chef shares her favorite soothing teas to quell anxiety (and surprisingly, chamomile doesn't make the list).

Allow me to caveat by saying that any tea, generally, is great for mood support. Liquids (think teas, broths, and plain ol' water) are an important category in Naidoo's anti-anxiety grocery list, so any kind of fluid (assuming they aren't laden with sugar and artificial flavors) earns an A+ in her book. 

You see, the link between brain health and hydration1 is well documented. "People who are not drinking enough water also appear more anxious," says Naidoo. "I've even seen a panic be precipitated by being severely dehydrated." 

The National Academy of Medicine recommends nine cups of water daily for women (even more for pregnant and breastfeeding women) and 12.5 cups for men, but as always, listen to what your own body needs. As a general rule, "Just make sure that you're sipping water throughout the day," Naidoo suggests.

Naidoo suggests making these teas part of your daily hydration regimen, and they can even be helpful for in-the-moment bouts of anxiety.