Do you need period juice? Brands are selling drinks formulated for that time of the month
Aunt Flo has arrived — and this time, she’s bringing a beverage cart.Period-friendly drinks have flooded the wellness world, with brands promising their specially formulated concoctions can help take the edge off that time of the month. The Cycle, for instance, sells two canned drinks it markets as supporting hormonal health around your period, including one for the week before and another for the days you’re on it.Another player in the space is Pink Stork, which sells PMS Tea to support menstrual regularity, energy levels and mood while easing pre-period woes.Then there’s Jovia’s lineup, which has herbal teas formulated for different phases of the cycle, including a menstrual “comfort” tea, follicular “nourish” tea and luteal “balance” tea.Mixhers’ Hertime PMS, meanwhile, is a powdered “hormone support supplement” marketed as a daily packet that, when mixed with water, can soothe cramps, ease bloating and help level out mood swings.The company also offers Hertime PMS+, an extra-strength formula marketed for more intense symptoms, including severe cramping, heavy flow and irritability.It’s enough to make you wonder: Can these period-friendly potions actually ease the monthly misery — or are they just pouring your hard-earned cash down the drain?These so-called period drinks fall into the booming category of “functional beverages,” which are crafted with added ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs or other compounds that are designed to provide benefits beyond hydration.“Across these products, there are a handful of ingredients that have real clinical evidence behind them,” Janelle Connell, a registered dietitian, told The Post.“The three stand-outs are chaste berry, ginger and lemon balm.”Research suggests chaste berry may ease PMS symptoms including breast tenderness, headaches, irritability and mood swings. Ginger, meanwhile, has anti-inflammatory properties that may help with cramping, nausea and bloating.
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