Reviewed by Dr. Sharon Stills, NMD
Your hormones, they are a-changing. Sometimes the transition goes easily, but not for most women. Hot flashes, sore breasts, mood swings and just plain feeling old — menopause can seem like a losing battle. But what if feeling like yourself again — maybe even feeling younger — was as easy as pouring yourself a cup of warm, comforting tea?
In our coffee-obsessed culture, tea often gets second billing. But the latest science says women in perimenopause should give tea another sip. Have a minute? Put the kettle on and let’s talk about why you need more tea in your life.
Green tea is great, but matcha green tea is even better
As studies show, green tea’s antioxidant compounds help relieve inflammation and stress — two triggers for menopause symptoms. Green tea also helps improve memory and cognition, keeps your bones healthy and strong, and boosts metabolism. All that makes it easier to stave off weight gain during menopause. There’s also evidence that green tea may even reduce risk for breast cancer and diabetes.
Now, imagine if you could take all of these amazing benefits and multiply them by 10. That’s exactly what happens with matcha green tea, powdered green tea made from shade-grown tea leaves. Cup for cup, matcha green tea provides an estimated 10 times as many antioxidants as standard green tea. Plus, matcha contains Vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium, all of which are key vitamins and minerals that support hormonal balance.
In its loose-powder form, matcha is easy to make, too. Just add ½ teaspoon of matcha to 1 cup hot, but not boiling, water and whisk until dissolved. For an easy coffee alternative, add matcha to heated almond milk instead of water, and whisk until it’s frothy.
Red clover tea is an excellent hot flash hack – and more
Of the many herbs and botanicals that reduce menopause symptoms, red clover gets a special shout-out because it makes such a nice tea. In case you’re not familiar with this menopause powerhouse, isoflavones in red clover help the body balance estrogen, which diminishes hot flashes and night sweats.
According to a study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology International, red clover also helps with other menopause-related symptoms like low libido, anxiety/depression, sleep troubles and fatigue. And there’s more scientific good news: red clover’s compounds relieve PMS and improve both women’s heart health and the appearance of skin and hair as we age.
A cup of fresh brewed red clover tea has a mild, sweet taste. Find red clover tea at health food stores, by itself or blended with mint and other herbs.
Relax… with tea
Coffee’s higher caffeine content can trigger the body’s stress response, forcing the adrenal glands to produce stress hormones. Over time, the adrenals can become over-taxed. When this happens, an imbalance in your adrenal hormones can develop, and the other hormones the adrenals help to support — including your sex hormones — can be thrown off course.
If you are already experiencing warning signs of hormonal imbalance , think about having tea instead of coffee, especially in the morning. Black tea has less caffeine than coffee, and most herbal teas are caffeine-free, making this switch a simple fix.
Pick a tea — black, white, green, herbal — and drink up!
Your soothing cup will help make the menopause transition a little easier for you. And of course, it’s always appropriate to make tea for two. Ask a friend over for a relaxing chat over tea so you can let another woman in on this natural secret ingredient to a calmer and more balanced life.
