Current:Home > Contact-usIs mint tea good for you? Health benefits of peppermint tea, explained.-LoTradeCoin
Is mint tea good for you? Health benefits of peppermint tea, explained.
View Date:2024-12-23 19:31:53
How do you take your tea? With cream, sugar, honey? How about salt?
That’s what chemistry professor Michelle Francl suggested to neutralize bitterness in her book “Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea.” A tea controversy ignighted over social media that was reminiscent of the Boston Tea Party – if only because both the U.S. Embassy in London and British company, Yorkshire Tea, got into it (all in good fun) on X.
Despite the recent brouhaha, perhaps the one thing we can agree on is tea drinking is very personal. Some people drink black tea, while others prefer herbal; some prefer one cube of sugar while others honey.
But if you’re a peppermint tea fan, we've got you covered. Here are all the health benefits to know.
Is peppermint tea good for you?
Yes. Tea in general is healthy – it’s an easy way to boost hydration and is packed with antioxidants. Tea contains polyphenol compounds, which have antioxidant properties, registered dietitian Danielle Crumble Smith previously told USA TODAY. Studies show the antioxidants found in teas may be able to prevent and treat diseases like cardiovascular disease and have anti-aging and anti-diabetic effects.
But each tea offers unique health benefits.
Peppermint tea benefits
Peppermint tea is known for soothing the stomach and promoting regular bowel movements, Crumble Smith says.
A 2021 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found peppermint oil reduced the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Other animal studies suggest peppermint tea may be able to relax gastrointestinal tissues. Peppermint calms stomach muscles and improves the flow of bile, according to Mount Sinai Health Systems.
According to a 2019 study examining the effects of aromatherapy, smelling peppermint may also lessen anxiety. Other studies show peppermint tea can relieve migraines, headaches, muscle spasms and menstrual cramps.
However, Mount Sinai advises individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a hiatal hernia to avoid peppermint tea. Peppermint may worsen symptoms of heartburn and indigestion because it relaxes the muscle between the stomach and esophagus and allows stomach acids back up into the esophagus.
Does peppermint tea have caffeine?
No, peppermint tea is naturally caffeine-free. If you’re looking for an energy boost, try black tea, which has about half the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee at 47 milligrams, or green tea, which has 28 milligrams in an 8-ounce cup.
But even if it doesn’t have caffeine, peppermint tea may be able to sharpen your alertness and memory. Crumble Smith points to one study where college students who drank peppermint tea before a cognitive assessment experienced increased alertness and memory skills.
What is the healthiest tea?:Health benefits of black, herbal and more
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered.
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Is black tea good for you?" to "How is the healthiest diet?" to "How long does food poisoning last?" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
veryGood! (584)
Related
- A Pipeline Runs Through It
- Selena Gomez Details Embarrassment After No Longer Having a Teenager's Body
- Caitlyn Jenner Reveals She and Ex-Wife Kris Jenner Don't Speak Anymore
- Southern Charm: Shep Rose & Austen Kroll Finally Face Off Over Taylor Ann Green Hookup Rumor
- Olivia Munn Says She “Barely Knew” John Mulaney When She Got Pregnant With Their Son
- House fire or Halloween decoration? See the display that sparked a 911 call in New York
- U.S. F-16 fighter jet shoots down an armed Turkish drone over Syria
- Armed man sought Wisconsin governor at Capitol. After arrest he returned with loaded rifle
- Maine elections chief who drew Trump’s ire narrates House tabulations in livestream
- Officers’ lawyers challenge analysis of video that shows Black man’s death in Tacoma, Washington
Ranking
- Burger King's 'Million Dollar Whopper' finalists: How to try and vote on your favorite
- Kim Zolciak Calls 911 on Kroy Biermann Over Safety Fears Amid Divorce
- What Congress accomplished with McCarthy as speaker of the House
- Apocalyptic bus crash near Venice kills at least 21, Italian authorities say
- South Carolina lab recaptures 5 more escaped monkeys but 13 are still loose
- The Taylor Swift jokes have turned crude. Have we learned nothing?
- US Customs officials seize giraffe feces from woman at Minnesota airport
- A man with a gun was arrested at the Wisconsin Capitol after asking to see the governor. He returned with an assault rifle.
Recommendation
-
OneTaste Founder Nicole Daedone Speaks Out on Sex Cult Allegations Against Orgasmic Meditation Company
-
India says the Afghan embassy in New Delhi is functioning despite the announcement of suspension
-
Week 6 college football picks: Predictions for every Top 25 game
-
FedEx 757 with landing gear failure crash lands, skids off runway in Chattanooga
-
'Wheel of Fortune' contestant makes viral mistake: 'Treat yourself a round of sausage'
-
McDonald's and Wendy's false burger advertising lawsuits tossed
-
Army identifies soldiers killed when their transport vehicle flipped on way to Alaska training site
-
Selling Sunset Season 7 Release Date Finally Revealed