The 5 Best Teas for PCOS: Are There Actually Benefits?

Finding beverages suitable for PCOS can be challenging because most include a lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners. However, herbal teas might be a fantastic choice if you seek strategies to treat your PCOS symptoms organically. Several herbal teas for PCOS can offer significant relief to reduce symptoms.

We know that sugar remains at the top of the list of foods to avoid PCOS. Dairy could be better, too. You can boost your PCOS weight loss efforts by replacing sugar and dairy-containing beverages with herbal teas.

Tea can also relax our nerves to get a better night’s sleep.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Weight Gain: Risks and Complications

Whatever the cause, gaining excessive weight is bad for your health. Many of the issues linked to weight gain and insulin resistance are more common in women with PCOS, including:

●     Diabetes Type 2

●     High Blood Pressure

●     Endometrial Cancer

●     High Triglycerides

●     Infertility

●     Sleep Apnea

Tea leaves naturally contain beneficial chemicals that can aid your weight loss efforts, especially when dealing with PCOS.

Although tea doesn’t contain a significant amount of vitamins or minerals, it contains small amounts of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin C, fluoride, folate, thiamin (B1), and beta-carotene. If you want something that has more vitamins but you would need to drink in less moderation, then try juicing for PCOS.

Let's get into some of the tea's primary ingredients and go through them one by one.

The First Tea Ingredient: Polyphenols

Polyphenols are the organic compounds that are present in plants. Primarily, these compounds are responsible for tea's health benefits.

Dry tea plant leaves contain polyphenols, mainly flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants and makeup about 30–42% of their weight. Most flavonoid family members are flavonols, referred to as tannins or catechins.

The flavonols commonly found in tea (EGCG) include:

• epicatechin
• catechin
• epigallocatechin
• epicatechin gallate
• gallocatechin
• epigallocatechin gallate

Caffeine

Caffeine levels in white, green, and black teas range from 14 to 61 mg per 6 to 8-ounce serving (one serving).

In contrast, an eight oz cup of regular coffee has 80–100 mg. of caffeine. Hence, herbal teas have a small amount of caffeine.

Although tea has very little protein, it does include an amino acid called L-Theanine, which helps to lower stress and enhance cognitive abilities.

Which is the Best Tea for PCOS Weight Loss?

Research suggests that women with PCOS experience more oxidative stress than those without the condition. Antioxidants aid in scavenging the harmful free radicals produced by oxidative stress.

Studies have shown that drinking 300 ml of either green or black tea improves the antioxidant activity in the participants' blood.

In particular, antioxidant activity was 1.5 times higher after drinking green tea than after drinking black tea.

However, several other types of tea can aid in PCOS weight loss. Let's learn about the other effects of these beneficial herbal teas, such as treating PCOS infertility.

While it is crucial to remember that while PCOS teas might be marginally helpful, improving the rest of your diet can significantly impact you.

Here are a few valuable tips to get these herbal teas' most benefits.

Consume Wholesome Fats

Aim to cut back on or altogether avoid foods high in saturated or trans fats for the sake of your heart. Instead, choose avocado, olive, or oils manufactured from nuts or seeds. But since heart-healthy fats may have a lot of calories, use them sparingly.

Take Care of your Portion Sizes

Start checking the nutritional information on packaged foods to determine what constitutes an appropriate serving size.

Frequently, recommended serving quantities are far smaller than we imagine! In addition, reading labels can help you keep tabs on your daily caloric intake in addition to helping you avoid overeating.

Add Foods High in Fiber to Your Diet

To prevent or control weight gain due to polycystic ovary syndrome, you must be selective with carbohydrate intake.

Make complex and nutrient-rich carbohydrates, like those found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, part of your diet. That’s because fibers regulate blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol.

Reduce Your Sugar Intake

If you are dealing with PCOS, now is the time to curb sugar cravings. Artificial sweeteners offer calories but without any nutritional value.

Hence, excessive sugar intake can lead to obesity and other health problems. Instead, replace cookies and candy with dark chocolate and fruit. In addition, replace soda or juice with flavor-infused sparkling water.

Eat a Well-balanced Diet

You can maintain a healthy weight with a well-balanced diet. Consume non-starchy veggies, like roasted broccoli, grilled asparagus, or a salad bowl in addition to herbal teas. Make room for ‘healthy’ carbohydrates in your menus, such as whole wheat pasta and brown rice.

Reduce Your Salt Consumption

We recommend consuming home-cooked food as much as possible if you struggle with PCOS-related weight gain. That’s because most of our sodium comes from processed or packaged meals. If you are too busy to cook on weekdays, order packaged food items with the least salt calories per serving. That will help you deal with issues like water retention and edema.

Can Teas Help with PCOS Fertility?

Some types of tea can indeed ease common symptoms and complications due to PCOS, such as infertility. But the immediate advantages are modest. You'll achieve much better results by fixing other aspects of your diet. Chronic inflammation and insulin resistance are the fundamental mechanisms that trigger PCOS. Your diet and gut health influence these processes, either favorably or unfavorably.

Benefits of Consuming Tea for Reducing PCOS-Related Symptoms

Most women with PCOS have insulin resistance as a primary contributing factor. According to a meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled studies, tea may lower blood sugar levels, fasting insulin, and HbA1c.

Consuming different herbal tea alleviates PCOS and guarantees a successful weight loss journey. Here are some benefits that you can achieve.

Weight Loss

Up to 70% of women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome struggle with weight issues. Tea may help push your weight loss efforts in the right direction. That’s why almost every commercial weight reduction and fat-burning supplement lists green tea as one of its ingredients on the label. This is due to the recurrent evidence linking green tea extract to successful fat burning, particularly during exercise.

Improved Cholesterol Levels

Low HDL (good cholesterol) and higher triglyceride (TG) and LDL (bad cholesterol) values are common in women with PCOS. Additionally, such women have a higher chance of developing heart diseases. The good news is that tea may reduce the chances of developing these conditions.

To determine the relationship between tea consumption and HDL-C levels, a study followed over 80000 subjects for six years. Researchers concluded that the TG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratios gradually rose, and women who consistently consumed tea experienced a reduced age-related decline in HDL-C. In addition, age-related fall in HDL-C links to an 8% decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

The most beneficial teas were green and black teas, while floral or herbal teas seemed to have no or little effect on HDL-C. Adults with mild hypercholesterolemia participated in the randomized, double-blind crossover research, which concluded drinking five cups of black tea daily for a specific time.

Reduction of Androgens

This is an intriguing effect of tea because androgen excess is the root cause of PCOS. According to studies, specific tea varieties, such as green and spearmint tea, may reduce androgens.

Alleviate Stress

Stress may seem to be your middle name if you have PCOS. Your symptoms may significantly worsen if you are under a lot of stress. What to do? Take a seat and enjoy a cup of tea! One study found that participants who had tea beforehand had reduced cortisol levels after completing stressful tasks, with the difference becoming most noticeable 50 minutes after task completion.

The Top 5 Teas for PCOS

1.   Spearmint Tea

For PCOS sufferers with high testosterone levels and related symptoms like hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face or body), spearmint tea is a fantastic herbal beverage. According to studies, women with PCOS who drink spearmint tea have lower levels of free testosterone and higher levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone, and estradiol.

Thanks to its capacity to reduce testosterone, spearmint tea can help to restore follicular growth in the ovarian tissue and promote ovulation. So if you struggle with elevated testosterone or hirsutism or have trouble ovulating, spearmint tea is an excellent remedy for reducing PCOS-related weight.

2.   Green Tea

This gift of nature is rich in phenolic compounds such as shogaols, paradols, and gingerols, which have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. As a result, some chronic disorders, such as chronic heart disease and high blood pressure, are less likely to develop.

Green tea reduces free testosterone levels and insulin resistance in overweight PCOS women. Therefore, it is preferable to substitute your regular dose of coffee with a cup of green tea.

3.   Cinnamon Tea

This tea is an excellent herbal tea for PCOS, especially if you have blood sugar or insulin levels because it lowers blood sugar levels. Unbalanced blood sugar levels are common causes of PCOs and weight gain.

Since cinnamon reduces insulin resistance and improves the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, cinnamon tea can significantly reduce PCOS-related symptoms.

According to a Columbia University study, women with PCOS had more regular menstrual cycles after consuming cinnamon extract than those who received a placebo. In addition, two of the trial's participants gave birth during the study. So consider including cinnamon in your diet, especially while consuming carbohydrates. It's a cheap and natural solution.

Make sure you use natural cinnamon. Cassia, a separate plant species, which is not the same as authentic Ceylon cinnamon, is used in many popular "cinnamon" products. To receive the full benefits, ensure your cinnamon comes from Ceylon.

4.   Ginger Tea

Ginger helps regulate the female hormonal balance. In addition, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger has a beautiful effect on common PCOS symptoms, including cramping, mood swings, and headaches. It's ideal to have ginger tea in the morning or the evening. For added advantages, you can also add honey or lemon.

5.   Raspberry Leaf Tea

Though traditionally associated with the fairer sex, the raspberry leaf can also benefit men. Men and women consume raspberry leaves to improve their energy levels, increase fat metabolism, and assist with skin issues. It also strengthens immunity and provides relief from respiratory problems.

However, one of the most well-known benefits of raspberry leaf tea is that it regulates the imbalances that cause the lining of the uterus to be too thin.

As a result, consuming raspberry leaf tea strengthens the uterus’s lining, reducing the chances of a miscarriage. But when pregnant, discontinue using this tea because it is a popular remedy for sending women into labor.

Even though there isn't much scientific proof, raspberry leaf tea can still benefit PCOS-affected women since it contains potent antioxidants and many other necessary elements. Hence, it's a risk-free option for alleviating PCO-related symptoms and aiding weight loss.