Have you ever thought about how a cup of tea can transform your life and make you feel light? No? Then you surely need to read this article, which is a bit long but will be an eye-opener for you. In this article, we would discuss the peppermint tea benefits and its side-effects in detail. So stay tuned because a lot is coming your way!
Let us first start by understanding where does peppermint come from? Peppermint is an amalgamation or cross breed of watermint and spearmint. For many years, peppermint has been used by the natives of Europe and Asia for its health benefits and minty taste. It’s refreshing taste, aroma, and health benefits make it one of the most added mints in various drinks across the world for more information visit here.
Taking about various uses of peppermint, two are the main ones. The first one is peppermint tea and peppermint oil. Peppermint tea i mainly used for muscle relaxation and pain relief, whereas peppermint oil is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome. But that is not it. There are several other benefits of peppermint products, and this article we will talk about peppermint tea. Because tea is love, and when it comes to health benefits, it becomes heavenly.
Table of Contents
Peppermint tea benefits
So starting with peppermint tea benefits, the list is never-ending. If you sit with your grandma, she can probably tell you it is one of the best things that you can consume during your hectic day. So without making you wait for more, we enlist all the peppermint tea benefits below!
Solve stomach problems
Peppermint Tea is known to solve all your stomach related problems. As it is a type of mint, it has menthol, which curbs acidic reactions in your stomach, providing you instant relief from acidity. It relaxes the muscles of your abdomen and reduces cramps. So if you are on your periods, peppermint tea can be your saviour. Also, when it comes to peppermint tea benefits, how can we miss upon the fact that it helps in reducing inflammation, which in turn reduces stomach ache. So, if you have any stomach related issues, peppermint tea is your best friend.
Digestion
Peppermint tea helps in better digestion. The menthol helps the stomach in releasing gastric juices, which can fasten then digestion process. Hence, this helped in better bowel movement and reduced bloating. So if you want to look good in that party attire, do start taking peppermint tea without fail.
Fresh breath
There is a significant benefit of peppermint tea. That is, it helps in curbing bad breath. Yes, you read that right. The aroma and taste of the tea is so refreshing that it can make bad breath say bye-bye. This is the sole reason why many kinds of toothpaste have peppermint in them. But there is a reason why it reduces bad breath? The first reason is its taste, and the second is that peppermint helps in killing germs and bacteria present in the mouth. So whenever you feel your breath is not that great, you know what to make. Make sure you do not add peppermint flavour, but the real peppermint tea leaves for better results.
Relieves cold and flu
You must have heard your grandma and mom telling you to drink tea when you are down with cold and flu. Well, actually, they were talking about peppermint tea. One peppermint tea benefit is that it helps in keeping common cold and flu at bay! It fights cold while building up your immunity. It is also commonly used in villages and naturopathy centres for soothing sore throat. The logic behind all this magical work of peppermint tea is simple; menthol helps in relaxing the muscles, which in turn relieves congestion. Also, there are antioxidants in peppermint tea, which increases the rate of blood circulation, which results in a faster flow of white blood cells.
Boosts immunity
The peppermint tea benefit, which is actually worthy to note, is that it helps in boosting immunity. Its antibacterial properties help in keeping bacteria-related illnesses away. Peppermint also contains some vitamins and nutrients which help your body to stay active against various diseases.
Cures fever
Menthol is known to break fever. Hence, if you have a fever, you can surely consume peppermint tea, which will help you in bringing down your fever. Also, as menthol relaxes muscles, peppermint tea helps in getting down the pain and aches associated with illness.
Helps you concentrate
Now the benefit that we are going to enlist is actually going to shock you. Peppermint tea helps you with focus and mental awareness. Who knew an excellent cup of tea could do that for you? Studies have proved that the scent of menthol tends to increase focus and mental awareness. Peppermint tends to keep your brain refreshed and rejuvenated to handle any sort of work pretty well. So if you have a meeting to prepare for, peppermint tea is your true friend.
Relieves nausea
If you feel nauseous, peppermint tea can help you even there. The antispasmodic properties of peppermint help you in keeping nausea and vomiting urges away. So before boarding a plane or starting a long road trip, it is better to have peppermint tea. (Shhh, we just told you the secret to no more motion sickness!)
Reduces stress
Coming to the next benefit of peppermint tea is that it helps in reducing stress significantly. Two of the many properties of peppermint include its aromatherapy and Ayurveda properties. These properties help peppermint tea act as a sedative that relaxes your mind and body. Also, if you are concerned that you might end up drinking a lot of peppermint tea, then it is worthy of mentioning that this tea is caffeine-free. So you can easily say no to insomnia and stress with peppermint tea.
Help lose weight
Peppermint is known to aid weight loss. In many studies, it has been noticed that peppermint reduces appetite. So if you are on a diet, try taking green tea and peppermint tea on alternative days. This will help you in making your diet interesting and easy to follow.
How peppermint tea helps you lose weight?
Out of the benefits listed above, there is one benefit we will be elaborating upon, and that is peppermint tea weight loss. As this tea helps in losing weight, which is one primary concern of the generation today, we have the next part of the article dedicated to weight loss.
When it comes to weight loss, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? If it is less food and low calories, then you are thinking right. Low-calorie food helps a lot of people around the world to lose weight and gain confidence.
Now, considering the fact stated above, it is essential to note that peppermint tea has fewer calories, suppressed appetite, and helps in boosting immunity, which are the three main pillars of weight loss. This is why people around the world consume peppermint leaves and tea when it comes to weight loss.
We have also mentioned above that peppermint tea reduces stress. In many of the studies, it has been proven that increased stress levels lead to an increase in weight. Hence by consuming peppermint tea, you do not just reduce your stress but also the weight that comes along with it. That means 1 + 1 benefits with a single cup of your favorite tea.
Also, when it comes to weight loss, there is no denial that immunity plays an important role. So if a cup of tea can help you boost your immunity, then why not? The benefits of peppermint tea are unlimited, and when it comes to weight loss, there are just too many.
Peppermint tea recipes
Following are a couple of recipes which will help you in making some out of the box peppermint drinks:
Recipe 1: Yogi Tea
As the name suggests, this tea recipe was made in old times when there was no medical science. Nature was medicine. In this tea, peppermint leaves, fennel, chamomile, cocoa shells, etc. are added to make a powerful combination of health for everyone. This tea helps in fighting diseases and has a marvellous minty taste. If you ever happen to make this, do try and add some lavender in it to add on to its flavour.
Recipe 2: Mountain Rose Herbs
If you are a fan of herbal teas, then this one is definitely for you. In this tea, peppermint is mixed with Gotu kola and mugwort and red clove. If you ever happen to have cough or cold, this tea can be a saviour for you. Just mix all of the above ingredients and serve it in traditional Indian glass-wear to add more taste to it.
Recipe 3: Iced Peppermint Tea
This one is undoubtedly amazing. All you need is a handful of peppermint leaves, four teaspoons of dried mint leaves, some hot water, two lemons and one tablespoon honey. Take a blender and mix all of the above ingredients well. If you want, you can add extra sweeteners for better taste. Once done, you can put this blended mix into the fridge and take it out after 3-4 hours. For serving, just take a glass, pour the amazing iced peppermint tea, add a few mint leaves for garnishing and add 3-4 cubes of ice to keep the drink cool.
Side effects of peppermint tea
There are a few side effects of peppermint tea that you need to aware of:
- Peppermint tea is known to lower sugar levels. It has also been discovered that this tea is not suitable for patients with diabetes. If you are a patient or an average person who consumes an abnormal level of sugar, then it is advised to start with peppermint tea only if suggested by a doctor.
- Many people are allergic to either menthol or peppermint. Hence, it is advised to drink it only if you do not have such allergies. If you have had a cup of peppermint tea and do not feel well, then rush to your nearest doctor immediately.
- Peppermint has emmenagogue effects. Hence, peppermint oil is not used by pregnant women. This oil increases blood circulation and increases the chances of miscarriage.
- Peppermint is believed to be very strong for children and infants. It can cause a burning sensation in their month and hence it is advised to give small or no doses of peppermint to kids below seven years of age.
- There are not many peppermint tea plantations. This increases the risk of you getting contaminated peppermint leaves around you. This is one factor which reduces the benefits of peppermint tea.
- Some people experience stomach ache if they consume peppermint tea in excess.
- Peppermint tea can cause stomach ulcers. This is because of the menthol content in peppermint leaves which can irritate the stomach ulcers.
- In many of the cases, peppermint is seen to have disturbed the medical treatment of patients. Hence it is advised to take peppermint tea only after talking to your doctor.
Final thoughts
If you are someone who wants better skin wants to lose weight or establish a healthy habit, then drinking peppermint tea is just for you. To make this tea interesting for yourself by combining it with other ingredients. The key for a perfect peppermint tea is to experiment as much as you can. This way, you will start making what you actually like.
Also, while you know there are several benefits of peppermint tea, there are a couple of side-effects too. So it is always advised to consume it under the supervision of an expert and under moderation. Over-consumption of anything is anyway harmful.
However, in the world where stress, back acc, headache, stomach problems and weight issues are prevalent, peppermint tea is an absolutely amazing product for everyone. Also, its taste and types can make anyone fall for it. So next time you think of tea, think of peppermint tea.
