Polycystic ovary syndrome, more commonly known as PCOS, is a condition caused by hormonal imbalance. In this, the ovaries produce excessive amounts of androgen, which is the male sex hormone and is found in women in faint amounts. In India, an estimated 20% of women suffer from this condition, which in teens and younger women causes irregular periods and excessive hair growth on the body. However, in older women, it can lead to difficulty in conceiving, can cause miscarriages and even infertility. Hence, it is extremely crucial to manage it. Although the doctor might prescribe you some medication, since it is a lifestyle-related condition, hence you need to change that considerably. Losing weight, taking a balanced diet, and exercising are generally recommended. But can certain herbal teas help in this? As per Fitbee, which is a Hyderabad-based fitness company that specialises in fitness and nutrition programs for women, five kinds of herbal teas can help you with PCOS. But before we go through them, let us understand this condition a bit better.
What Is PCOS?
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Short for polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS is a condition in which the ovaries produce too much hormone androgen. It is named ‘polycystic ovary syndrome’ because of the formation of a large number of cysts in the ovaries, however, this doesn’t happen in every case. These cysts produce the hormone androgen, as per the Johns Hopkins University, which causes several health problems in women. Here are some of its symptoms:
- Missed or irregular period
- Excess hair growth on body parts other than head
- Weight gain
- Acne
- Hair thinning
- Infertility
As you already know that PCOS can cause irregular periods in young women, and can even lead to infertility in the older ones. Here are some other complications it can cause:
- Type-2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Heart issues
- Uterine cancer
Teas For PCOS
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If you are suffering from PCOS, here are some herbal teas that might help, as suggested by Fitbee:
Dandelion Root Tea
If you are looking for a time-tested herb for PCOS, then dandelion root tea is the thing for you. Not only can it help you with the condition, but it is also believed to help in the case of inflammation, high blood sugar levels, and urine infection. Here is how you can make it:
- Boil a cupful of water.
- Add about 2 teaspoons of dried dandelion root to it.
- Let it steep for 2-3 minutes.
- After that turn off the stove and let it steep for half a minute more.
- Strain it and you get yourself a warm cup of dandelion root tea.
Chamomile Tea
This tea is generally known for its calming and relaxing effect. However, do you know it can also help you with PCOS? Not only that it is also believed to help you with colds and stomach aches. This is how you can make it:
- Boil a cup of water and pour it into a teapot.
- Add a teaspoon of chamomile tea and let it steep for a few minutes.
- Strain the mixture and enjoy this relaxing brew.
Spearmint Tea
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Quite similar to peppermint, spearmint has a sweet relaxing flavour. It is also added to toothpaste, mouthwashes and candies. Spearmint is rich in antioxidants, which help relieve digestive upsets. It also has an anti-androgenic effect, thus helping with PCOS. Here is how you can make it:
- Boil a cup of water.
- Turn off the stove.
- Add a few spearmint leaves to the water, cover the lid, and let it steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Strain and enjoy a refreshing cup of spearmint tea.
Cinnamon Tea
Now, who doesn’t like cinnamon? This spice is widely used in Indian cuisine, from masala tea to curries. However, do you know, you can also make tea using it? Here is how you can make it:
- Boil a cup of water and then turn off the stove.
- Place a cinnamon stick into it and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Add a black tea bag to the mixture and let it steep for a few more minutes, and you get yourself a cupful of cinnamon tea.
Ginger Tea
Ginger is widely known for its myriad health benefits, one of which is regarding PCOS. Here is how you can make ginger tea:
- First, thinly slice some ginger. You can use a 1-inch slice of ginger per cup.
- Boil a cup of water and add ginger to it.
- Let it boil for a few minutes.
- Sieve the mixture and you get yourself ginger tea.
- You can add either lemon or some honey for taste.
These are some healthy teas you can have when suffering from PCOS. Along with these, do remember that a healthy lifestyle is crucial in this condition. Hence, maintain a healthy weight, have a healthy diet, manage stress, and exercise regularly.
(With inputs from Fitbee, which is a Hyderabad-based fitness company that specialises in fitness and nutrition programs for women)
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