Maybe you’d like to detox and cleanse with something different. Here is an option: a tea-tox. Basically, it involves drinking herbal tea - one of the world's most popular beverages.
Tea-toxing is aggressive, so I suggest trying it for only one day, two at the most, depending on how you feel.
So - why a tea tox?
It is a somewhat gentler form of fasting - something most women in my programs embrace as a proven strategy for weight loss, weight maintenance, and hormone balance. I have been practicing fasting for years now and view it as part of my ongoing commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Fasting has also been shown to improve “biomarkers,” those biological indicators of our medical state – things like blood pressure and cholesterol and glucose levels that might signal how susceptible we are to problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and breast cancer.
Fasting can also increase metabolic function, improve insulin sensitivity reduce oxidative stress, tame cravings, and help you become a more-efficient fat burner. It also can improve mental health around menopause and lessen anxiety and depression. What’s more, fasting supports a process called autophagy, the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells. It takes this name from the fact that “phagy” means eat. So the literal meaning of autophagy is “self-eating.”
So let’s get down to the basics of tea-toxing. Some steps to success:
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Refrain from alcohol or coffee. Limiting or abstaining entirely from alcohol is one of the best ways to keep your body’s detoxification system running strong. Fasting accelerates this process, speeds up the detoxifying of the body alcohol, and heals damaged cells.
Love your morning cup of joe? Me too! But too many cups could be worsening your menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes Too much caffeine also triggers an upswing in cortisol and other stress hormones, which has a weight gain effect.
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Spike your tea. Add a few drops of edible essential oils. They have additional benefits. Some examples:
- Lemon essential oil, lime essential oil, grapefruit essential oil for a fat burning drink.
- Bergamot oil for sleep, depression, or anxiety.
- Clove oil for brain fog and memory.
- Ginger or basil oil for digestive health.
- Choose your teas. Focus on nutritious teas that have a healthy and balancing influence. Certain herbs may help balance your hormones, and herbal teas made with them are a great way to reap the benefits. You’ll want to select your teas based on your symptoms. Choose 3 or 4 for your tea tox. The chart below lists these teas, and I cover these in my new book MenuPause™.
Top Botanical Teas for Menopause
|
Tea: |
How It Works: |
Best For Treating: |
|
Black Cohosh |
Works on serotonin in the body |
Estrogen imbalance, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness |
|
Chamomile |
Contains flavonoids that are responsible for the medicinal benefits of the tea |
Poor sleep quality, menstrual pain, blood sugar control, osteoporosis, and inflammation |
|
Chasteberry |
Contains flavonoids that can influence certain hormone levels in your body especially prolactin, progesterone, and to a certain extent, estrogen. |
Premenstrual symptoms, particularly breast pain and soreness; and menopausal symptoms |
|
Cranberry |
Anti-bacterial |
Urinary tract infections |
|
Dong Quai |
Anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic |
Estrogen imbalance, cramps, and menopausal pelvic pain |
|
Elderberry |
Contains an antioxidant called anthocyanin that clears the body of free radicals. It also has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. |
Constipation, colds, flu, and pain |
|
Ginger |
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory |
Nausea, bloating, and gastrointestinal discomfort |
|
Ginseng |
An adaptogen that helps the body handle stress |
Fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and hair loss |
|
Green tea |
High in phytonutrients |
Fatigue and weight gain |
|
Maca root |
High in phytoestrogens, which exert a weak estrogen effect |
Libido, fatigue, and other menopausal symptoms |
|
Milk thistle |
High in phytoestrogens, which exert a weak estrogen effect; antioxidant |
Liver detoxification |
|
Mint |
High in antioxidants |
Digestive issues, concentration, headaches, and hormone imbalances |
|
Passion Flower |
Sedative |
Sleep disorders, night sweats, and anxiety |
|
Red Clover |
High in phytoestrogens, which exert a weak estrogen effect |
Estrogen imbalance, night sweats, hot flashes, bone density, high blood pressure, and immunity; and may protect against breast cancer |
|
Red Raspberry Leaf |
Contains fragarine, a plant compound that helps tone and tighten muscles in the pelvic area, which may reduce the menstrual cramping caused by the spasms of these muscles |
Perimenopause symptoms, heavy menstrual flow, and various menopause symptoms |
|
Rosemary |
High in antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory compounds |
Blood sugar control, mood, memory, and brain fog |
|
Valerian |
Sedative, anti-spasmodic |
Depression, mood swings, insomnia, and anxiety |
Source: Dietz, B.M., et al. 2016. Botanicals and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals for Women’s Health. Pharmacological Reviews 68: 1026–1073.
Enjoy your tea throughout the day. Here is an example of when to have your tea.
Breakfast
Raspberry Leaf Tea OR any tea of choice – 1 to 2 cups
Mid-Morning
Green Tea OR any tea of choice – 1 to 2 cups
Lunch
Chasteberry Tea OR any tea of choice
Mid-Afternoon
Green Tea OR any tea of choice – 1 to 2 cups
Dinner
Mint Tea OR any tea of choice – 1 to 2 cups
Try this tea tox for a day. If you feel good, repeat it a second day. But stay on a tea tox no longer than 2 days in a row. Also, it’s fine to do a tea tox like this several times a year. As for the teas I recommend, enjoy them any time!
The chart above lists these teas, and I cover these in my new book MenuPause™.
A Tea-tox is just one of the many strategies I recommend in my new book, MenuPause to overcome a weight loss plateau, reduce hot flashes, night sweats and brain fog. Order your copy of MenuPause™, and get these FREE gifts:
- 6-Day Plans at a glance
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- Meal Plans and Servings
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