Know in one minute about Red clover tea
- Red clover tea is an herbal tea, made from dried or fresh flowers of the plant.
- This herbal tea is rich in isoflavones, flavonoids, vitamins, and essential minerals.
- Rose clover tea treats menopausal symptoms and cleanses the liver.
- Antioxidants in this herbal tea boost immunity and protect against infections.
- Improve hair, nail, and skin texture and prevent aging.
- Intake of red clover tea treats mood swings, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disorder.
- Reduce inflammation and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Introduction
Red clover tea is an herbal tea, made from dried or fresh flower buds of the red clover plant (Trifolium pratense). It is a perennial herb that belongs to the bean and peas family Fabaceae. Red clover is found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and America but today spread to other continents. This plant has pink to purple or red flowers that are dietary supplements because of the isoflavones. Red clover can be used as tablets (Promensil), capsules, tea, and is easily available in supermarkets and health food stores (1). Red clover tea and its benefits are as follows.
Common names
Red clover plant common name is cow clover, meadow clover, wild clover, creeping or craw clover.
Components present is red clover tea
Red clover tea benefits are due to the presence of isoflavones. The main isoflavones are genistein, daidzein, biochanin A, and formononetin. These compounds are plant-based chemicals having estrogen-like effects on the body. It also contains other flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, and apigenin), vitamin, and essential minerals (potassium, magnesium, chromium, potassium, calcium, sodium, and iron) (2).
This herbal tea eases menopausal symptoms. It also maintains the cardiovascular system and improves bone health (3).
Red clover tea benefits
1. Detoxify the liver
Red clover tea contains important phenolic compounds, which help to cleanse the liver thus reducing toxicity (4).
2. Presence of antioxidants
Red clover tea contains natural antioxidants like isoflavones and polyphenols. These compounds protect the cell from harmful radicals and boost the immune system by reducing oxidative stress (5).
3. Prevent aging
Intake of red clover tea improves skin elasticity, thickness, and hydration due to the presence of isoflavones in them (6).
It acts as a skin-whitening agent that reduces skin pigmentation and increases collagen content that prevents skin aging (7).
4. Treat cancer
Red clover tea contains isoflavones that inhibit the growth of cancer cell-like breast, colorectal, and prostate cells(8). It prevents the spread of cancer from an organ to other organs (9).
5. Manage diabetes
Formononetin, biochanin A, and genistein found in red clover tea inhibit digestive enzymes, suppress sugar absorption, and decrease blood glucose levels. Thus daily intake of isoflavone-rich red clover tea helps to control blood glucose levels and regulates diabetes (10).
6. Good for the heart
The isoflavones and anthocyanins in red clover tea help to lower blood pressure. It also reduces swelling and oxidative stress (11). It also lowers the cholesterol level and tension of the blood vessel wall thus treating heart disease (12).
7. Improve hair growth
Red clover contains Biohanin A which prevents hair loss and supports hair growth. Thus this herbal tea consumption and application on the scalp can prevent hair loss from follicles and promote growth (13).
8. Ease menstruation
Due to the deficiency of estrogen menopausal women suffer various issues like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings (14). It also causes depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, painful sexual intercourse, fragile bone, hair, nail, and skin texture. Intake of red clover tea acts like an estrogen and reduces these menopausal symptoms as well as improves bone density (15).
9. Treat thyroid
Thyroid disease is linked to estrogen and is more common in women than men. Intake of red clover tea acts like estrogen which stimulates the production of the hormone in the gland and prevents thyroid disease (16).
10. Good for athletes
Intake of red clover tea increases the muscle glycogen level and generates energy. This results in reduced exercise fatigue and improves exercise performance. It also improves intestinal health by enhancing the good microbiota in the gut (17).
Safety
A research study suggested that red clover extracts are safe for women for three years without any side effects (18). The amount found in red clover tea is too small to be of clinical relevance. Moreover, it is considered to be safe by FDA’s list and can be included in many beverages and teas. Thus intake of this herbal tea in a moderate, amount is safe however further study is needed to prove its healing power (19).
Side effects of red clover tea
1. Excessive drinking of this herbal tea (5–6 cups/day) for a long time may cause nose bleeding. It also causes the leaking of blood near the surface of the skin (20). Due to these reported side effects, it’s best to limit this herbal tea to 1–3 cups daily.
2. People who are taking hormonal medications should avoid red clover tea. This is because; it enhances the power of medication due to its estrogenic activity.
3. Red clover tea contains coumarins which have blood-thinning effects. Therefore, the person who is taking blood-thinning pills or before surgery should avoid this tea because of the chance of bleeding.
4. Do not take Red Clover if you are taking
- Not recommended for those who are allergic to aspirin.
- Women should not take red clover tea, those taking contraceptives, or high risk of breast cancer.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also avoid red clover tea until the safety of this tea during pregnancy may be confirmed
- Red clover tea should not be consumed with an anticancer drug like tamoxifen. It may decrease the effectiveness of the drug (21).
How to prepare red clover tea?
Ingredients
- Red clover flower (4 when using fresh or 1-3 teaspoons in dried form)
- 1 cup Water (250 mL)
- Honey or sugar (1 teaspoon)
- Cinnamon (½ teaspoon)
- Lemon (½ teaspoon)or mint leaves (2 leaves)
Direction
- Wash the red clover flower when used fresh.
- Bring the water to boil and then add red clover flowers and mint leaves.
- Steep the flower buds for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add dried flower tops to the boiling water and steep for 5–10 minutes.
- Now strain with a fine strainer and add honey or sugar and lemon.
Q&A
1. What are the health benefits of red clover tea?
Red clover tea is good for the heart, liver, bones, and guts. It acts like antioxidants that prevent aging, boost immunity, and alleviate many menopause symptoms. This herbal tea controls glucose levels, reduces swelling, hair fall, and treats thyroid issues.
2. What are the health benefits of drinking red clover tea?
Drinking red clover tea improves mood by treating depression, anxiety, and tiredness. It removes harmful radicals from the body and boosts the immune system.
Red clover tea also treats hot flashes and night sweats. It also treats sleep disturbance, painful sexual intercourse, fragile bones, hairs, nails, and skin texture.