Peppermint tea is known as an aromatic plant that can be used for both cooking and medical purposes as it has properties such as: analgesic, antispasmodic and aphrodisiac. Peppermint tea also helps to boost digestion and as such recommended to drink after meals. It also features an antiparasitic property which is very useful in the control of giardiasis and amoebae.
peppermint tea improves digestion and reducing nausea, which can be prepared with using ordinary mint known as Mentha spicata or any other type that is known under the name Peppermint or Mentha piperita. Herbal teas like peppermint tea offers more benefits that just for its delicious taste and for relaxing, it offers more than that. There are lots of benefits of peppermint tea that can benefit and aid digestion, immune system and cancer risk.
As the name suggest, peppermint tea is an infusion of mint. The botanical name of this plant is Mentha piperita. Peppermint tea can also be called mint tea, also note that mint tea is naturally caffeine-free. It is believed that mint tea has healing properties and cures various stomach diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and even headache.
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What is peppermint tea good for?
Mint tea help combat oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer because it contains Phenolic acids, flavones and flavanones, which act as the main antioxidant. Mint tea is long used in traditional medicine and it is made from the leaves of peppermint and also contains some of the essential oils of these leaves.
Mint tea is widely consumed in various parts of the world because of its many benefits. Herbal practitioners recommend that peppermint tea gets rid of many infections and stomach problems. In addition to its scent, which can be used to ward off bad breath, it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter. Therefore, it is advisable for patients with GERD to stay away from peppermint tea. Mint tea also has properties to relax and soothe the intestinal muscles and relieve cramps, diarrhea and indigestion. peppermint tea also helps to emit the intestinal gas in the body system.
Types of peppermint tea
Mint tea has different varieties but spear mint (Mentha spicata) and peppermint (Mentha x piperita) are the most common mint varieties used in tea. Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) is also widely distributed and has a similar taste to spearmint although the leaves are frizzy. The mint family also contains a number of other types used in tea, including lemon balm, Oswego tea and many culinary herbs. Varieties such as pineapple mint and orange mint can also be used in tea, although they are less common in commercially.
Health Benefits of Mint Tea:
Many mints have many traditional medical benefits. Studies on the benefits of mint tea for health are new and few human studies have been conducted. To what extent various benefits demonstrated in laboratory studies are actually transmitted to people who drink peppermint tea is unclear. Henceforth note that there are lots of evidence and researches that shows that peppermint tea have lots of benefits to offer:
Does peppermint tea have caffeine
Like most herbal teas, all mint family plants are 100% caffeine free.
Antioxidants
Spearmint, peppermint and other mints have been found to be rich in antioxidants, a broad class of chemicals believed to enhance overall health by preventing bodily injury and protecting against cancer and tumors.
Makes you stress free
Mint tea is one of the best tea when it comes to stress and anxiety relives. It hels a lot with getting rid of stress and makes you feel better.The menthol contained in mint tea helps in muscle relaxant and also has an antispasmodic effect. It helps you to relax in the midst of a permanent mental stress.
Is peppermint tea good for weight loss?
The short answer is yes, peppermint tea help with losing weight. When you take a cup of mint tea, it would make you feel full for long time, so you won’t feel hungry for a while. This will help you avoid adding extra calories and losing weight to your day.
Iron absorption
It has been proven that mint tea can improve the body’s ability to absorb iron. In the Middle East, it is common to prepare black tea with spearmint. For a fact black tea is known to inhibit the absorption of iron, mixing black tea with mint can help reduce these effects.
Antibacterial and antifungal activity
Different researches have shown that spearmint, peppermint and other mints inhibit and destroy the growth of harmful bacteria, including MSRA (a dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacterial strain). It has also been shown that spearmint prevents the growth of a number of species of harmful fungi.
Benefits for the stomach and gastrointestinal disorders
Mint tea has traditionally been used to soothe the stomach and to treat some gastrointestinal problems and also help in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
Other benefits of peppermint tea
Mint tea has several other benefits apart from the ones listed above. It does not only controls flatulence and diverticular disorders, but also treats irritable bowel syndrome, nausea and vomiting. In addition, mint tea consumption improves digestion and significantly reduces heartburn. It is also thought to dissolve gallstones and suppress gallstone pain. Practitioners in herbal medicine also believe that mint tea is useful for reducing the severity of herpes outbreaks and controlling muscle aches and chronic pain. In addition to fighting off bad breath, mint in the form of hot tea eliminates constipation, cough and colds, as well as the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Light asthma can also be tamed by regular and prolonged consumption of peppermint tea. It is also known to drastically reduce stress.
The mint tea is very useful for teachers, actors, speakers, singers and other professionals who need to use their voice as it calms the throat dry and irritated. Adding honey to mint tea and sipping hot can work wonders and never let your throat dry out or itch. It is also confirmed that mint tea is beneficial for improving hair quality because it gives them shine, smell, radiance and power. Regular consumption of mint tea lowers estrogen levels in women and is therefore considered beneficial for women with hirsutism. Regular and longer peppermint tea consumption reduces the amount and density of unwanted facial hair by lowering estrogen levels. To feel this mint effect, it is recommended to take a lot.
How to make peppermint tea ?
One of the best feature of mint tea is that you can grow your own mint at home and also make a drink out of it. It only takes few steps to follow. Listed below are ways to go about it-
- The boiled water content should be at least two cups of water in a pot
- Select a handful of mint leaves and tear them apart.
- Add the leaves according to the strength of the tea you want.
- After boiling water for few minutes, do not strain the water immediately after turning off the burner. Allow the water to absorb all the nutrients of the mint.
- you can now pour into a cup after filtering. If you want to give your tea more flavor, you can add a touch of honey. Remember that after making tea, you only need to add honey. But note that the honey added shouldn’t be cooked.
Peppermint tea is a tonic for the health, henceforth you can skip your milk tea, make yourself a cup of mint tea today and stay healthy.
Easy way to plant Mint
Mint can be stored at home and also easy to grow, on field or in a pot. Before planting make sure the soil is moist and well treated with fertilizers. It only blooms on moist soils, but prefers sandy, well-drained soils. Though the best way to plant mint is in a pot or in a flower box. Also prune the mint regularly so that the stems would be removed for consumption.
Is peppermint tea good for a pregnant woman?
Mint tea is not recommended for pregnant women, as it may have effect the unborn baby, it is also not recommended to children under the age of 5 years.
Conclusion
Mint tea is an important part of our lives, from the alleviation of stomach upset to the refreshing taste and aroma of beverages. The soothing properties of mint leave can leave you relaxed, help reduce stress and mental pressure. It is the quality and regeneration of mint. A cup of mint tea can help you in different ways. Mint tea also helps in weight reduction, reduces heartburn, makes the skin radiant and so on. No major side effects is related to mint tea as you can drink anytime. The dietitian and Macrobiotics also agree that mint tea is an excellent blend for the metabolism, relieves excess acid and cleanses acne when applied to the skin. People with irritable bowel syndrome (RDS) should drink tea at least three to four times to heal the bowel.