Mint tea is a popular tea around the world. It has a great aroma and flavor. Many people enjoy mint tea for its flavor than health benefits.
If you didn’t know, mint tea has got a lot of health benefits like easing digestion, increasing energy, aiding weight loss and others discussed in this article.
To start with;
What is mint?
Mint is an aromatic herb got from various species of the mint plant. Also known as Mentha, mint is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae which contains around 15 to 20 plant species.
The herb is used is popularly used fresh or dried in making many dishes and tea at home. In cooking, mint adds flavor and an amazing aroma to dishes.
It is used as an ingredient in foods and beverages from teas, salads, desserts, pastries, soups, and sauces.
By manufacturers, mint is used in toothpaste, gum, candy, and many beauty products.
Mint is a name for over different plant species of that family and some of the examples include peppermint and spearmint all belonging to the genus mentha.
What are the varieties of mint?
There are very many varieties of mint and the common ones include;
- Lemon balm.
- Chocolate mint
- Lavender mint
- Ginger mint
- Banana mint.
- Corsican mint
- Apple mint
Which mint is best for tea?
Peppermint is one of the most commonly used mint variety for tea. It is a hybrid of spearmint and water mint. It is stronger than spearmint and gives off a deeper taste and flavor.
Spearmint is used in making tea though it’s not stronger than peppermint. For a mild flavor, aroma, and taste, spearmint can be the best mint variety for tea.
Apple mint is another amazing variety used in making tea. It smells great just like granny smith apples and is used to make an amazing tea with a great aroma and taste.
What does mint tea do for the body? What are the mint tea benefits you should know of?
Many types of teas from herbs have many health benefits. Is it the same with mint tea? Here are mint tea benefits associated with drinking it.
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Mint tea relieves digestive disorders.
Peppermint eases digestion by relieving digestive symptoms
like gas, bloating, indigestion, and acid flux.
Taking a cup of mint tea is known for relaxing the digestive system curing constipation and easing the pain. It is can be used as a remedy for stomach ache too.
Most importantly, mint tea is an immediate remedy and relief to people with irritable bowel syndrome. Menthol a compound in mint is said to relieve and alleviate IBS symptoms through relaxing the muscles of the digestive tract.
2. Mint tea freshens your breath.
the mint herb has a pleasant smell and you will find it in many kinds of toothpaste, mouthwashes, and chewing gums.
The main reason mint is used in mouth cleaners and fresheners it’s because of its pleasant smell and presence of antibacterial properties that kill dental germs.
These effects reflect in mint tea too making it a breath improving health. Drinking a cup daily can improve a person’s dental health and freshen the breath.
3. Relieves nasal congestion and clogged sinuses.
The presence of antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties makes mint tea a remedy to the common cold, clogged nasal passage, and related allergies.
Menthol which is an active compound in peppermint improves airflow and gets rid of sinuses. Drinking a cup of mint tea will clear your nasal passage and warm you up in case of a cold.
4. Soothes menstrual cramps.
Drinking a cup of mint tea can reduce pain caused by menstruation in women. Mint helps to reduce the pain as it acts as a muscle relaxant.
Mint tea improves the symptom of painful periods and is as effective as some pain-relieving drugs. It reduces the intensity and length of menstrual cramps by relieving pain and preventing muscle contractions.
5. Mint tea improves your sleep.
A cup of peppermint tea can help you get better sleep as it is naturally caffeine-free. The fact that mint is muscle relaxing makes it an ideal tea to educe proper sleep.
In order to get sleep, your body should be relaxed and most importantly caffeine-free.
6. Peppermint tea increases energy.
Drinking peppermint tea can help you raise your energy levels without getting caffeine into your system.
Mint tea alleviates the symptoms of fatigue and boosts energy levels. With mint tea you can get rid of mental fatigue too.
7. Mint tea relieves headaches and migraines.
Peppermint is a muscle relaxant and can relieve pains of which certain types of headaches are included too.
Menthol which is an active compound in mint increases blood flow and eases pain. In a study carried out it was found that mint tea is effective of curing headaches as 1000 mg of acetaminophen.
The aroma in the tea can help to relax brain muscles and soothe the headache. The pleasant aroma in mint tea is also stress calming making mint tea an effective remedy for headaches.
8. It may help fight bacterial infections.
The presence of anti-bacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties in mint make it a bacterium fighting tea.
Peppermint tea can kill and prevent the growth of common bacteria that may lead to illness. Drinking peppermint tea can boost your immune system to fight illnesses caused by common bacteria.
9. Mint tea may aid weight loss.
drinking mint tea can help to burn calories and fat for weight loss. The ability of mint to ease digestion helps to lose weight. Since poor digestion is linked to weight gain, enabling faster and easy digestion can help lose weight all of which can be done by mint tea.
Being able to fully absorb nutrients from food and eliminate waste from our body efficiently can boost weight loss.
Mint also boosts metabolism and the faster the metabolism, the more calories burned.
Mint tea is also very low in calories whereby 2 tablespoons of fresh mint provide only 2 calories making it an ideal weight loss tea.
10. Mint tea reduces nausea.
Drinking a cup of peppermint tea can help get rid of nausea caused by morning sickness, pregnancy, chemotherapy, and Motion sickness.
It is considered safe for pregnant women and can reduce vomiting. A cup of mint tea can calm your moods and relieve nausea instantly.
11. May improve brain function and memory and reduces stress.
The aroma from a cup of mint tea can improve brain function, It is said to improve alertness, calm the brain, and reduce stress.
The ability of mint tea to relax the muscles can help get rid of fatigue-related stress.
What are the side effects of mint tea?
Mint tea is generally considered healthy, safe, and acts as a natural remedy.
However, mint tea has a few side effects that are associated especially to a certain group of people especially if taken in large quantities.
- Many people have allergic reactions towards certain herbs and of which mint tea may be too. It can cause allergic related conditions like rashes, mouth sores.
- It may cause negative medical interactions making drugs less effective and may cause side effects.
- Mint tea might cause stomach disorders like diarrhea, cramping, and stomach ache.
- Mint tea can worsen stomach ulcers because of the menthol presence which can aggravate the ulcers causing further damage.
- It can pose a threat to pregnant women causing emmenagogue effects which stimulate uterine blood flow putting a risk to the pregnancy.
- It may worsen Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) as it worsens the symptoms to some people.
- Mint tea can also lower blood sugars worsening diabetes when the right level of blood sugar cant be maintained. It may also interact with diabetic drugs.
How do you prepare fresh mint tea?
To start with, you should choose the type of mint you are to use.
Ingredients.
- A handful of fresh mint.
- Honey to taste.
Directions.
- Drop the mint leaves into the teapot or saucepan you are going to use while boiling.
- Fill up the teapot with water and let boil until it turns to a slightly pale yellow/green hue.
- Add honey to taste and serve while hot.
Can mint tea help you lose weight?
Mint tea is an aromatic drink filled with many health benefits of which weight loss is also available.
First, in line, mint tea is low in calories which means that it’s a tea you will take to satisfy you yet its low in calories.
For weight loss, mint tea can suppress hunger preventing cravings. Drinking a cup of mint tea before a meal will help you consume less food thus fewer calories that can be easily burned.
You will also feel satisfied longer when you drink mint tea.
Mint tea also prevents weight regain that may be associated with slow or disturbed digestion.
However, taking mint tea is not a guarantee for weight loss when you aren’t following a weight loss diet and doing exercise.
Is mint tea the same as peppermint tea?
Mint tea is the type of tea made from any of the many varieties of the mint plants. Examples of the varieties of mint used in making mint tea include peppermint, spearmint, apple mint, and others.
Mint tea can be a combination of more than one type of the many varieties of mint.
Peppermint tea is the type of tea made from peppermint type of mint.
The bottom line.
There are many mint tea benefits associated with its consumption? However, try to consume mint tea responsibly with the utmost five cups a day.
Don’t choose mint tea over medication, in case you are to take it as a supplement to medication, first seek advice from your doctor.
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