I first discovered raspberry leaf tea through a fertility page on Instagram (for reference – innate_fertility). In the wellness industry, this caffeine-free tea is known for supporting pregnancy and labour. When I first started drinking it, I was not pregnant, nor thinking about getting pregnant, but I was curious to see if it would help with my cycle regardless. Turns out, it’s great for women at any time. Here are all the benefits of raspberry leaf tea:

It reduces PMS symptoms

This is the reason I started to drink this tea. My PMS symptoms do not reach 10 on the pain scale, but if I could make them go away altogether, I would try. Most cycles, I will experience mild cramping on the first day. I’ll have a cup of raspberry leaf tea in the morning and in a few hours, the pain will be completely gone. It has this effect because of a compound it contains called fragarine. Fragarine works to alleviate menstrual cramps by strengthening the muscles within the uterus.

Beneficial nutrients & antioxidants

As well as fragarine, there are many other beneficial compounds in the raspberry leaf – polyphenols, vitamins A, B, C, D and E, calcium, potassium, selenium, and so many others (almost every trace mineral the body requires). The antioxidants within the tea also help to reduce inflammation in the body and lower oxidative stress. Say hello to younger looking skin.

Blood sugar balance

When it comes to our cycle and keeping our hormones in balance, blood sugar is so important. It is thought that raspberry leaf tea can assist with the levelling out of our blood sugar and lowering of blood glucose. While there isn’t a lot of evidence to support this, what’s the harm in trying?

Stress relief

Ah, the never ending search for stress relievers. What’s another to add to the collection? Due to the content of B complex vitamins, raspberry leaf tea can help lower stress, anxiety and nervousness, and can also improve quality of sleep (which, in turn, can lower stress).

It’s great for pregnancy & labour

Lastly, let’s talk about what this tea is known for – supporting pregnancy and labour. The strengthening effect on the uterus from fragarine also assists with pregnancy and the facilitation of labour. This tea can increase blood flow to the uterus, improve the quality of uterine contractions, and reduce the duration of the second stage of labour. Keep in mind that raspberry leaf tea is recommended to be consumed only after 32 weeks of pregnancy, due to its ability to stimulate contractions.

I think we can all agree that the benefits of raspberry leaf tea make it a worthwhile addition to our daily routine. I wonder if anyone else also thought that the colour of the tea would be red… Just me…? Okay.

Yours,

Kait x

Cover photo by hissetmehurriyeti