What Are The Health Benefits of Mint Tea?

A hot cup of mint tea can be quite enjoyable after a meal, but you probably didn’t know that drinking mint tea benefits your body in many ways.

Mint tea is the infusion of the leaves of the peppermint plant that is believed to have herbal properties. The two main sought after ingredients in peppermint are peppermint oil and menthol; both of which are believed to have medicinal properties. Let us look into the supposed health benefits of mint tea that makes it being consumed regularly by a great number of people.

Though, the use of mint tea to relieve a multitude of diseases goes back to centuries, there is no strong evidence to support the health benefits of mint tea; the reason being that very little clinical trials have been carried out regarding this. However, there are many positive reported health benefits of drinking mint tea.

Mint tea health benefits

• Relieves digestive symptoms – From all the studies made on it so far, it is gathered that the health benefits of mint tea are mainly centered on the digestive system. It relaxes the gastrointestinal muscles, thereby preventing muscle spasms from developing there. Spasm in the gastrointestinal wall is a common symptom of digestive ailments; hence, mint tea is helpful in relieving a lot of ailments affecting the digestive system such as heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea and vomiting. You can brew mint tea from either fresh or dried peppermint leaves and drink it to soothe an upset stomach.
• Improves mental focus and performance – The invigorating aromatic fragrance of mint tea and its cool flavor helps in improving the mental alertness and focus. This quality of mint tea makes it a useful concoction for students and employees to stay alert and focused.
• Improves cough and congestion – One of the health benefits of mint tea is that it helps in relieving cough and congestion associated with common cold. Mint tea helps in the thinning of mucus, thereby acting as an expectorant. Moreover, it also helps in relieving the symptoms of sore throat. If you are suffering from the symptoms of cold and congestion, drink at least four to five cups of mint tea daily to get the benefit.
• Improves bad breath – At least, one credible benefit of the mint tea that can be said with certainty is that it is effective against bad breath, thanks to the mint flavor of the peppermint oil. It is helpful in improving the bad breath that results from smoking, drinking, and eating onion and garlic.
• Relieves nausea and motion sickness – Mint tea has antispasmodic qualities that help in relieving the nausea and queasy feeling that develops in people suffering from motion sickness-an ailment characterized by development of nausea while traveling in a car, boat or airplane.

Other less documented health benefits of mint tea includes its ability to control mild asthma, and relieve stress.

Taking aside the fact that the medicinal effects of mint tea are scientifically proved, it doesn’t hurt to have a drink or two. It has been said that believing in a cure is far more effective than the cure itself. Mint tea will continue to be used as long as people believe in its medicinal properties. Maybe in the future, further studies may uncover some secrets of the mint tea that justifies the interest people has in consuming it.