Ease Bloating, Lower Your Blood Sugar, and Fight Inflammation with CCF Ayurvedic Tea

Ayurveda, the Indian sister science of yoga, is a traditional system of medicine and nutrition that offers us natural remedies for our most common ailments. Of those remedies, there is one that’s considered balancing for all Ayurvedic “types” (called Doshas) that can help you boost your health in more ways than one — CCF tea.

CCF stands for cumin, coriander, and fennel. The tea blends together these three seeds to make up a concoction that can help you improve your digestion and reduce stubborn symptoms, balance your blood sugar, and reduce inflammation in the body.

Individually, each of these ingredients boasts some pretty impressive health benefits. Cumin is high in antioxidants, and it’s been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and even anti-cancer properties. On top of that, results from some studies suggest that the active compounds in cumin can help control blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels, while also aiding weight loss.

In the US, coriander is actually called cilantro, but the seeds that come from the plant are what’s used in CCF tea. Coriander seeds are also rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, and they’ve been shown to help lower blood sugar levels, improve heart health, and even have protective benefits for your memory and brain! One interesting study also showed that coriander seed extract lowered inflammation and reduced the growth of breast, colon, and lung cancers.

Fennel seeds are the final ingredient in the CCF concoction. Fennel seeds also contain powerful antioxidants and high amounts of nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and calcium which are important for keeping your heart healthy. Fennel seeds may also reduce inflammation, control your appetite, and even improve menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disruptions, and pain during sex!

Perhaps what’s most impressive about these ingredients is that all of them work to improve digestion. In Ayurveda, CCF tea is most known as a digestive tonic that reduces bloating and gas, reduces inflammation in the digestive tract, and improves elimination and gut bacteria. It’s the perfect thing to sip to soothe a disrupted tummy!

CCF tea is easy to make on your own. According to the recipe on the Kripalu Ayurvedic Center website, you can combine 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds, and 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds to make your own tea. Simply boil four cups of water, then add the seeds to it and boil for five to ten minutes, and sip throughout the day.

Luckily, you can also easily purchase CCF tea already made. I like this one from Banyan Botanicals ($13.99, Amazon). You can make a single cup of CCF tea by adding 1 1/2 teaspoon of tea to 1 cup of water and boiling for five to ten minutes.

Here’s to better health and a happier gut!