Health Benefits of Spearmint Tea
Spearmint tea contains antioxidants and other bioactive compounds that may provide various health benefits. Some key things spearmint tea may be suitable for include:
- Digestion: The menthol in spearmint promotes bile flow and calms the stomach and intestinal muscles, helping with digestion and soothing discomfort from conditions like upset stomach, gas, or indigestion. It may also help with diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms for some people.
- Detoxification support: Spearmint contains rosmarinic acid, which promotes antioxidant activity in the body and may help rid the body of toxins and waste. This makes spearmint tea a considerable beverage choice for a detox cleanse.
- Breath freshener: Spearmint tea is a natural breath freshener due to its robust, minty taste and smell. Sipping it after meals is an easy way to keep your breath feeling fresh throughout the day.
- Respiratory relief: The soothing menthol in spearmint can help loosen congestion and clear the airways when you have a cold or the flu. It may relieve cold symptoms like cough or sore throat as well.
- Headache relief: Some research suggests spearmint and its menthol compounds can help relax blood vessels in the brain and decrease tension, offering a natural remedy for tension or stress headaches.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: Early research found that rosmarinic acid in spearmint has antioxidant properties that can help reduce inflammation in the body, suggesting it may help ease conditions with inflammation components like irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, or asthma.
- Potential to relieve menstrual cramps: For some women, sipping on spearmint tea during their period can help relax cramped uterine muscles, easing menstrual discomfort. Spearmint tea may be able to help regulate estrogen levels, too.
- Weight management aid: The menthol in spearmint is thought to stimulate digestive enzymes and support metabolism, making spearmint tea a potentially helpful beverage for those wanting to lose weight or manage their calorie intake. It may also curb appetite by reducing cravings.
Regular spearmint tea consumption provides numerous potential health benefits related to digestion, detoxification, respiratory health, headache relief, and managing conditions involving inflammation. Let's look at how you can easily make spearmint tea at home to take advantage of these benefits.
How to Make Spearmint Tea at Home?
Making spearmint tea at home is simple and allows you to enjoy fresh, high-quality flavours of organic spearmint. Here are step-by-step instructions:
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp dried spearmint leaves or 4-5 fresh spearmint leaves (you can use more or less to taste)
- 1 cup of water
- Raw honey or stevia (optional, for sweetener)
- Lemon slices (optional, for flavour)
Directions:
- Bring water to a boil in a saucepan or kettle. You can use filtered or spring water.
- Place the spearmint leaves in your mug or tea infuser. If using fresh leaves, place them directly in the mug.
- Once the water has boiled, remove it from the heat and pour the steaming water over the spearmint leaves or infuser.
- Steep for 5-10 minutes, depending on how strong you want the flavour. Steeping longer will result in a stronger, more intense mint flavour.
- Remove the leaves or infuser from the tea. Squeeze in fresh lemon juice if using.
- Add a drizzle of raw honey or a packet of stevia to taste, if desired. Stir to mix.
- Enjoy your refreshing spearmint tea while it's hot! You can also make a chilled iced tea by steeping it overnight in the fridge.
That covers the basic method for making spearmint tea. Feel free to customize it to your tastes by adjusting the amount of spearmint, steeping time, or adding extras like lemon or honey. Using fresh spearmint leaves from the garden provides the ultimate flavour, but dried spearmint works well too.
Lifeblend Teas recommends only using organic spearmint leaves for maximum benefits and purity. Our Organic Spearmint Leaf Tea makes an excellent option here, as it's crafted from only the highest quality organic spearmint grown without pesticides or chemicals. Try substituting our organic spearmint tea bags for fresh or dried spearmint leaves in the recipe above.
Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Maximizing Spearmint Tea Benefits
To maximize the potential health benefits of drinking spearmint tea, consider these additional healthy lifestyle strategies:
- Drink 2-3 cups per day between meals. As with any other herbal tea, drink in moderation and don't rely on it excessively.
- Eat a balanced diet with plenty of whole foods like veggies, fruits, nuts, beans, lentils, eggs and fish or meat in moderation. This supports your overall health.
- Stay hydrated by also drinking water throughout the day along with your spearmint tea.
- Reduce stress through activities like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, spending time in nature or socializing with friends and family. Managing stress is crucial for health.
- Get regular physical activity - engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise like walking, dancing, gardening, or biking per week.
- Watch sugar and carb intake, which feeds inflammation. Focus on healthy fats, proteins and fibre to stay full.
- Consider taking a high-quality probiotic supplement. Spearmint's benefits support your microbiome, so enhancing your gut health is wise.
- Try an aromatherapy diffuser with spearmint essential oil for additional respiratory benefits. Breathe deeply when it's running.
- Get plenty of quality sleep and do gentle stretches or simple yoga before bed to manage tension.
Making healthy lifestyle choices besides enjoying spearmint tea regularly helps maximize its detoxifying, digestive and anti-inflammatory properties to support your whole-body wellness. At Lifeblend Teas, we hope you give homemade spearmint tea a try! Let this classic mint tea's natural flavours and potential benefits refresh you inside and out. Breathe deep as you sip - the aroma alone can have calming effects.