This post will discuss 7 amazing butterfly blue pea tea benefits.
The butterfly blue pea flower is known worldwide for its blue color when dropped in boiling water, making it unique compared to other teas.
The plant is grown in South East Asia and is famous for its health benefits, and its scientific name is Clitoria ternatea.
It is rich in an antioxidant compound known as anthocyanins which are responsible for the sharp blue colour we see.*
Due to its color, manufacturers use the plant in several ways, such as in drinks, foods, and cosmetics. The tea changes its blue colour to violet when a lemon is added.
In this article, you will learn about the benefits of drinking butterfly blue pea tea, its side effects, and how to use it.
Health Benefits of Butterfly Blue Pea Tea
- It contains Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties.
The butterfly pea flower has a high level of antioxidants called ternatins, which are responsible for the blue colour of the flower.*
Ternatins are known to be inflammatory because they prevent cancerous growth.**
The other antioxidants the flower contains include
Kaempferol is a compound known to prevent cancerous growth. Eating food rich in kaempferol can prevent colon, liver, and skin cancers.*
Delphinidin-3,5-glucoside helps boost your immune system and induces apoptosis (known as cancer death).*
p-Coumaric acid studies have shown that it contains properties like antimicrobial, antivirus, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer, which may prevent diseases.*
- It Helps To Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
Taking butterfly blue pea tea has been shown to regulate blood sugar levels despite sugar consumption.
One study on 15 men revealed that taking butterfly pea tea or its extract in a portion of food reduces insulin levels in the blood, hence the blood sugar.*
This flower’s antioxidant properties can prevent damage to the cell caused by diabetes/
Benefits for skin, hair and weight loss
- It Nourishes Your Skin And Improves Your Hair Health
Cosmetologists have used Butterfly pea flowers to nourish the skin and to make your hair look healthy.
The extract hydrates your skin by 70% through topical application and has anti-aging properties.*
Research has shown us that butterfly pea extract can help grow your hair and prevent hair loss.*
- It Can Stimulate Weight Loss
According to some studies, butterfly pea extract may control specific cell-progression pathways to slow the growth of fat cells.*
Ternatins found in the plant can block fat synthesis in your body.**
- It Enhances Digestion
Butterfly blue pea tea can reduce indigestion and nausea due to the plant’s anti-inflammatory properties. Because of its anthelmintic properties, it aids in limiting the spread of dangerous bacteria.
Additionally, it stimulates the liver’s bile to flow, serving as a mild laxative. Like many other diuretic teas, butterfly blue pea tea can help people lose weight by clearing their bodies’ digestive systems of unnecessary waste and replacing it with antioxidants.
Benefits for the brain and eyes
- It Helps Your Brain To Function Well
Some studies indicate butterfly pea flowers may increase the brain’s concentration of acetylcholine**, a chemical necessary for attention, memory, and other mental functions.
The butterfly pea flowers can help slow down age-related memory loss and promote mental health, including warding off the effects of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and chronic stress.
- It Can Help Shield Your Eyes
Butterfly pea extracts contain antioxidants that can shield the eyes from the effects of free radicals, such as those caused by the sun, irritants, and a poor diet. Additionally, it also improves blood flow to the eyes. Butterfly pea extracts and eye gels treat vision-related conditions like damaged retinas, blurred vision, glaucoma, tired or strained eyes, and poor night vision.*
Are There Any Side Effects to Drinking Butterfly Blue Pea Tea?
There are no side effects associated with butterfly pea tea if consumed in moderate amounts.
It is better to talk to your doctor if you have an underlying medical condition or are pregnant before taking butterfly blue pea tea.
You should only drink one to three cups of herbal tea daily and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using plant extracts.
How To Make Butterfly Blue Pea Tea?
To make butterfly blue pea tea, add one teaspoon (4 grams) of dried flowers to one cup (240 mL) of hot water.
Before straining out the dried flowers, let the tea steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot or cold, and enjoy!
To enhance the flavour, squeeze in some lime or lemon juice. Due to ternatins found naturally in the plant, the acidity of the lime or lemon can give the beverage a rich violet colour.
You can also add a small amount of raw honey for more sweetness. Other ingredients, like raw ginger root, mint, lavender, cinnamon, hibiscus, and the peels of orange, can enhance the flavour and health benefits.
You can also find it in some cosmetics and gardening products that support crops that fix nitrogen.
FAQs
You can drink the tea any time of the day, but experts recommend having it after a meal because it helps digestion. You can drink 1-2 cups of blue tea per day.
Butterfly blue pea tea encourages relaxation, and you can take it in the evening.
It is naturally caffeine-free, so enjoying a cup of it can help you feel less stressed and even makes it easier for you to fall asleep.
In Southeast Asian medicine, they use butterfly pea flowers to treat stress and insomnia.
Early research suggests that the flower may function by having a positive effect on the central nervous system.*
Try making a stress-relieving tea with a mix of chamomile and butterfly pea flowers if you want to help yourself unwind.
The digestive system is greatly improved when you drink a cup of blue tea once or twice a week on an empty stomach because it helps to flush out toxins that have built up in the body.
Overall, numerous studies point to the fact that butterfly blue pea extracts are immune system boosters. Antioxidants found in butterfly blue pea extracts, such as folate and zinc, are used to treat infertility and may increase both male and female fertility.
Conclusion
The butterfly blue pea flower has fantastic health benefits with minimal side effects if taken moderately.
If you are yet to add it to your diet, please do so to enjoy all of the benefits. If you have an underlying medical condition or are expecting a child, please confirm with your doctor to see if you can take it.