Caffeine-free herbal teas (hot or iced) taste great, but did you know they have benefits beyond flavor? Herbal teas are a key ingredient in my wellness regime. Here are a few of my favorites, and how I use them.

You can enjoy caffeine-free herbal teas on any phase of the Fast Metabolism Diet. Choosing a medicinal tea can help support and detox your body, during and after the FMD. All food can be medicine. Here are ways to make your morning oatmeal medicinal.

The Liver Cleansers 

Burdock, milk thistle and dandelion teas are all powerful liver cleansers. That's a big deal anytime because your liver is the primary filter for eliminating toxins from your body. It's even more important when you're on the Fast Metabolism Diet because your liver is working overtime to help metabolize fat.

On the H-Burn, your special tea includes both milk thistle and dandelion, a one-two punch to help speed elimination of toxins and release stored fat.

Ginger tea

Ginger tea is more than a spicy treat with a touch of sweet to it. Ginger also soothes your intestinal tract, relieves sinus congestion, lowers blood sugar and stimulates your body to burn fat. It's even the key ingredient in this delicious sore throat remedy. Ginger tea also stimulates your digestion and fights inflammation -- so it's good for soothing excess gas and might help relieve joint pain.

Peppermint tea

Nothing soothes an upset stomach like a hot cup of peppermint tea – that’s one reason why I’ve included it on the D-Burn, for digestive issues. Mint also helps dilate your blood vessels a bit, lowering blood pressure and soothing headaches. If tea doesn't cure a headache on its own, try applying some essential oil of peppermint on your forehead -- some swear it'll relieve a migraine.

Rose hips

Rose hips are one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C you can find, with 30 to 50 times the vitamin C content you'd get from citrus fruit. They're also rich in heart-healthy antioxidants and cancer-fighting lycopene and make a fruity, tart-tasting tea to give you a great immune-system boost in any season.

Pau d'arco tea

Pau d'arco tea has an earthy, woody taste to it (it’s made from tree bark), and is one of the very best teas out there for cleansing everything from candida to parasites. Pau d'arco is also used to treat respiratory infections and shows some promise for treating cancer too.

Traditional Medicinals Smooth Move

Drinking water, gentle exercise, and fiber or magnesium can help ease constipation, but if you're still feeling "stuck" the gentle Senna in Smooth Move tea can help get things moving again. The taste is a bit like orange spice tea: sweet with just a little bit of a tang to it. Note that some people are sensitive to Senna, so if you’ve never tried it before, go slow.

Yogi Immune Support

This lively, mildly spiced tea has elderberry extract and mullein leaf to support your immune and respiratory systems. This is a real secret weapon for travelers because it gives your immune system a solid boost -- and it tastes great!