Benefits of Spearmint tea for Pcos

Benefits of Spearmint tea for Pcos

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition of cyst formation in ovaries in women because of higher than normal level of testosterone in the body. This hormonal imbalance causes excessive growth of coarse hair on women body which is known as hirsutism.

There are many causes of PCOS some of which are stress ,general inflammation in the body or insulin resistance.

Cure of this demands lifestyle changes and changes in your diet, key factor of which is not to exclude everything from your diet but to eat a healthy substitute of it to gain long term benefits.

If we talk about diet changes then you should add one more thing to your list which is SPEARMINT TEA. This tea provides tons of benefits to PCOS women not only in treating hormonal imbalance but also in reducing hirsutism that comes with it and so much more...

How SPEARMINT TEA works?

1-For Hormonal Imbalances

Studies have shown that including spearmint tea in diet not only reduces male hormones like testosterone in women, but also increases female hormone like LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone).

Thus by decreasing testosterone in body it reduces the risks of PCOS and increases fertility by increasing female hormones in women.

2-Reduces Hirsutism

Thick coarse hair is a characteristic of male body caused by testosterone hormone. In women with PCOS this hormone is abnormally high in the body thus leading to the growth of thick, coarse hair on the body especially around nippular area, chest and face.

You can get rid of these hair by just adding this simple natural ingredient in your diet, that by reducing testosterone level in the body reduces the coarse and thick hair on the body of women.

3-Reduces Stress

As you know by now that stress also contributes to PCOS. In some countries spearmint tea is also used to reduce stress and anxiety and to promote healthy sleep. Spearmint contains menthol that has been shown to promote relaxation.

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain. It inhibits certain nerve signals in brain thus decreases nervous system activity. It is believed that menthol in spearmint interacts with this neurotransmitter receptors and promotes sedation and reduces stress.

4-Contains Antioxidants

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of PCOS. Oxidative stress occurs due increase in the number of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in the body and impaired ability of the body to produce antioxidants to prevent their harmful effects. ROS damages cell membranes that can lead to cell death. Somehow in PCOS natural ability of our body to produce antioxidants reduces thus leading to oxidative stress.

Studies have shown that certain oxidative stress markers( MDA, AGEs and XO etc )are present in higher levels in women with PCOS than other women. These markers are a sign that shows more than normal amount of ROS formation in the body and their adverse effects.

So it is extremely necessary to detoxify the body to get rid of these ROS by adding antioxidants in your diet such as vit C, vit E, beta-carotene, flavones, catechins. Spearmint leaves are rich in antioxidant compounds such as menthol, limonene, flavones, flavanones and rosmarinic acid that help to get rid of ROS in body thus detoxifies the body.

How much spearmint tea is recommended per day...

It is recommended to have 2-3 cups of spearmint tea per day to gain its beneficial effects.

Caution

Make sure to not exceed this quantity as it my reduce the sex drive(low libido), reduced  strength and muscle tone, depressed mood, weight gain and sleep disturbances.




RISK FACTORS OF PCOS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

RISK FACTORS OF PCOS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

If you have pcos you should know that it comes with several impacts on our overall health.It can cause many problems to our body if not treated or controlled.Here you will be able to know the risk factors that come in hand with pcos along with their management.

 • Risk Factors of Pcos

   1- Type 2 Diabetes

     Hyperinsulinemia,one of the cause of pcos,causes insulin resistance which leads to chances of type 2 diabetes.Their body is able to make insulin but their cells are unable to use it to move glucose in them.

     Thus you have to make sure to watch your blood glucose levels,don't eat such food that spike your blood glucose as it will harm your body and cause even severe insulin resistance.

   2- Depression

    Hormone imbalance also lead to mental health issues mood swings,depression,anxiety and mood swings.

   3- High Cholesterol

   There is still no accurate proof that how pcos causes high cholesterol levels,but about 70% of women with pcos have hypercholestrolemia.

   Their lipid profile is effected as..
- high triglycerides level
- decrease in HDL level(which is healthy/good fat)
- high LDL level(bad cholesterol)
- increase VLDL

  Also apolipoproteins B, that metabolizes lipids and carry fat around the body,is raised and apolipoprotein A1 ,which is the major protein component of HDL,decreases.

   4- Sleep apnea

   First of all what is sleep apnea?Its a sleeping disorder in which you snore while sleeping and breathing starts and stops repeatedly.

   Hyperandrogenism and increased fat deposition disturbs our sleep signals thus leading to sleep apnea.
  
   And thats not all,your sleep deprivation causes tiredness,difficulty losing weight,hypertension and even insulin resistance thus further exacerbating the condition.

  5- Obesity

   As discussed earlier pcos leads to type 2 diabetes in which the cells become insulin resistant leading to high blood sugar levels that causes weight gain as the blood glucose is not utilized by the cells for their function.

   Also increased cholesterol in pcos also plays a role in weight gain and leads to obesity.

  6- Infertility

   If not managed properly pcos can cause infertlilty.But remember it can be cured if you take care of your health and diet and exercise regularly to shed those extra pounds, it will help alot in reversing this condition.

   Remember if you are able to lose weight in pcos,it increases your chances of conceiving.

  7- Non-Alcoholic Fatty liver

  NAFL is also linked with insulin resistance and obesity.About 25-30% of the population is influenced by it.


    • Management of Pcos

    

  1- Weight Management

     Maintaining an ideal weight is the key to pcos management.
     Always remember that in case of pcos you have to lose weight by eating right food not less food.
           
        -  Low GI Food.  Always prefer food that has low glycemic index,as they do not cause spike in blood sugar levels as we ingest them,as it is very harmful especially in insulin resistance case,rather they slowly increase the blood sugar levels.

        - Fibre.  Food high in fibre keep you full for longer period of time.The main benefit we get here is that it not only lowers cholesterol levels but also controls blood sugar levels.

        - Omega 3 fatty acids. Food rich in these fatty acids help reduce testosterone levels in pcos.Nuts(almonds,walnuts etc),seeds(flaxseeds,chia seeds),fish especially fatty fish,plant oils(canola oil,flaxseed oil) are some food items that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

        -High Protein food. Are more filling and also reduces insulin levels both of which have positive impact on pcos.

  2- Exercise

     Exercise should be the crucial part of your life if you are suffering from pcos.There are tons of benefits of exercise..
    - it improves insulin sensitivity thus preventing chances of type 2 diabetes
    - helps to manage weight
    - lowers cholesterol levels
    - produces serotonin hormone which improves mood,sleep and appetite.

  3- Proper sleep

    8 hours sleep is crucial for healthy body and mind.Lack of sleep decreases insulin resistance,increases hunger and ofcourse affects your mood which by now you are well aware is not good for someone who is suffering from pcos.

  4- Reduce Stress

   I can not emphasize it enough.Though it does not seem to cause a big deal,stress can definitely intensify pcos,so follow these extremely simple steps to improve your mood.
      -Meditate
      -Keep yourself busy
      -Do things that make you happy
      -Do not overthink
  

  • Conclusion

    I hope by know you know the mandatory steps that you need to take to manage this condition.See your doctor and run some tests to see if you have any of the risk factors mentioned above.Make healthy diet and exercise your weapons to fight this condition and always remember to stay happy because you can do it.


Overview of Pcos.

Overview of Pcos.

• Pcos

Also known as "Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome" is a hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age.The ovaries develop numerous small collections of fluid(follicle) and fail to release eggs regularly due to high androgen levels.
   
 
As you can see left ovary is normal whereas the right ovary is polycystic.

• Symptoms

Symptoms of pcos vary from person to person.Here we are going to talk about symptoms that are seen in majority of the cases.

    1-Irregular periods

      Most important symptom of pcos is irregular periods.Hormonal imbalance creates problems in ovaries and the egg may not develop as it should or it may not be released as it should be leading to missed or irregular menstrual periods.

    2-Excessive Hair Growth

      High androgen(testosterone) level in woman with pcos causes excessive hair growth on face,chest,back and this condition is called Hirsutism.


    3-Acne

      High levels of male hormones(testosterone) in the body causes oily skin leading to breakouts and  acne but you should also know that this is  not true in all cases as this condition  depends on the type of pcos you are  dealing with which i will talk about later.
   

    4-Weight Gain

      This is the issue that almost every woman with pcos faces.Weight gain occurs mostly around the area of waist.

    5-Sleep Problems

      Pcos causes insomnia or poor sleep that causes tiredness and even makes it difficult to lose weight.

    6-Hair Loss

      Thinning of hair and hair loss from head is also a sign of pcos

    7-Infertility

      Now keep that in mind that pcos is a common,but treatable,cause of infertility in women.Having pcos does not mean you can't get pregnant.
    

• Causes

-Hereditary
-Increased insulin levels
-Chronic low grade inflammation
-Excess androgen
           
                         Hyperinsulinemia
                                      ↓
                      Increased androgens
                              and  LH
                                      ↓
                           Oligo-ovulation
                                      ↓
                                  PCOS

•Diagnosis

    1-Chronic anovulation

     If you have 8 or fewer periods/year or your cycle length is greater than 35 days then you should probably see your doctor as it can be a case of pcos.

    2-Clinical/Biochemical Hyperandrogenism

     As i have discussed above pcos is caused by increased testosterone levels in body.So it can be a diagnostic test.

    3-Polycystic ovaries

      Cysts in ovaries can be seen on ultrasound if you have pcos but remember that 12 or more follicles in each ovary measuring 2-9mm in diameter is a sign of pcos.

• Management/Treatment

  -A healthy lifestyle 
  -Healthy Diet 
  This is all you need to cure this situation.Medications may help you but a long term solution of this problem always comes from your lifestyle and eating habits and the most important one is your mental health.You should be healthy physically as well a mentally.
     

• Conclusion

  -If u have any of the symptoms then go and see your doctor.
  -Gain knowledge about your condition.
  -Make sure to eat and live healthy.
  -And don't panic because this condition can be cured.
  -And believe me if you want it you can do it.