Peppermint Tea For Weight Loss – Health Benefits And Recipes

The use of peppermint tea for weight loss is fast gaining popularity. The tea is almost calorie-free, suppresses appetite, reduces stress, and promotes digestive aid. It is a refreshing drink: the mild aroma and taste of peppermint tea help relax the nerves and rejuvenate your entire system. All in all, peppermint tea is great for your body and mind. So, why not include it in your daily routine and kick-start your weight loss journey? Read on to know all about the uses of peppermint tea for weight loss.

How Peppermint Tea Aids Weight Loss

1. Suppresses Appetite

Peppermint has a strong scent, which has been documented to reduce appetite and suppress craving.

Along with that, it is also a low-calorie fitness drink. This is why people who chew on peppermint sticks or pellets all day eat little. If you have a sweet tooth, consider switching to a cup of peppermint tea to lose weight in healthy manner as it helps suppress your appetite (1).

2. Supports Digestion

Many scientific studies have recorded that peppermint tea helps settle the gastrointestinal tract and promotes healthy bowel movement. The tea has been known to ease constipation and improve digestion, and acts as perfect detox tea for better bowel movement. People suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and dyspepsiaⁱ  Another word for indigestion, it is characterized by a burning sensation, flatulence, bloating, and nausea. have found relief by having peppermint tea or peppermint oil capsules (2). Menthol, the active component of mint, exhibits antibacterial and antiseptic properties that make it a good option for improving digestion. An exercise and nutrition focused blogger shared how drinking peppermint tea has improved their health. They write, “I drink mint tea on a daily basis because it is GREAT for IBS. It is incredibly soothing for sore, bloated colons, stomach cramps, and diarrhea (i).”

Trivia

The digestive process from start to finish requires calorie expenditure, which is one of the primary reasons it is linked with weight loss.

3. Relieves Stress

NASA researchers have determined that stress can be reduced by the scent of peppermint. According to the study, subjects who smelled peppermint were able to decrease their anxiety and fatigue levels by 20% and frustration levels by 25%. When you are losing weight, the levels of cortisol increase and can cause stress, which leads to improper digestion. Peppermint tea, with its soothing aroma and calming effect, can help you relax and fight stress (3).

4. Burns More Calories

To lose weight, you must burn calories. If the number of calories you burn is more than the number of calories you ingest, you lose weight. The peppermint herbal tea contains trace amounts of caffeine and catechins. These chemicals increase the temperature and, in turn, speed up metabolism. This property helps peppermint tea aficionados stay in shape and be healthier than others.

5. Improves Workouts

The anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictorⁱ  A type of pressor medication that is used to help improve low blood pressure and reduce the amount of blood flow to a particular area. , and anti-spasmodic qualitiesⁱ  The property of a compound that helps reduce the excessive smooth muscle contraction, which causes abdominal cramps and pain. of peppermint make it a keen subject for many exercise endurance studies.

Exercise is critical for people who wish to lose weight. The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition conducted a study, which concluded that peppermint oil might have facilitated enhanced air ventilation and an increase in brain oxygen concentration, without the irritating effects of lactate build-up. Most of these effects can help you increase strength and endurance (4).

6. Beats Bloating

Peppermint can prevent bloating; it also helps treat other conditions of the stomach. It relaxes your abdominal muscles and increases the flow of bile, in turn improving fat digestion. This healthy beverage relaxes the gastrointestinal tract and helps ease flatulence. It has been used to treat IBS symptoms, including belly pain, flatulence, diarrhea, and bloating.

Indigestion has been known to cause fatigue or discomfort sometimes. Improving your digestive health can help you burn calories as you go about your daily activities (5).

7. Regulates Cholesterol And Blood Pressure Levels

According to a study, the antioxidants present in peppermint leaves help lower cholesterol levels and decrease toxicity. The leaves also provide sustenance to digestion and intestinal health, and help lower or control cholesterol levels. Thus, peppermint tea aids weight loss and helps maintain intestinal health when you are on a diet (6).

Clearly, these peppermint tea benefits improve health by targeting the root causes of weight gain and helps to initiate and accelerate weight loss. Now, let’s find out how to prepare this antioxidant-rich peppermint tea and what else we can add to it to augment weight management.

How To Prepare Peppermint Tea

Preparing mint tea is very easy. Here are the different ways to do so.

1. Peppermint Tea Using Fresh Mint Leaves

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves or 10 whole mint leaves
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Toss the chopped or whole mint leaves in a saucepan.
2. Add water and let it boil for 5 minutes.
3. Strain it into a cup.

2. Peppermint Tea Using Dried Mint Leaves

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon dried mint leaves
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Bring a cup of water to a boil.
2. Remove from the flame and add a teaspoon of dried mint leaves. Let it steep for 10 minutes.
3. Strain and drink.  

3. Peppermint Tea Using Peppermint Oil

Ingredients

• 2-3 drops peppermint oil
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Heat a cup of water and add 2-3 drops of peppermint oil.
2. Stir well before drinking.

Other Peppermint Tea Recipes

4. Peppermint And Ginger Tea

Adding peppermint leaves to ginger tea for weight loss can give you amazing results. Ginger stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes and increases gastric motility (7). Here is how you can prepare this tea.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves
• ½ inch ginger root
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Crush the ginger root using a mortar and pestle.
2. Bring a cup of water to a boil and add the ginger. Let it boil for 1-2 minutes.
3. Remove from flame and add the dried peppermint leaves. Let it steep for 5 minutes.
4. Strain it and drink.

5. Peppermint And Lemon Tea

Lemon is not only a great source of vitamin C, but it also aids weight loss by regulating the enzymes involved in the beta-oxidation of fatty acidsⁱ  The multi-step metabolic process in mitochondria that involves breaking down fatty acid molecules to release energy. . This means it helps to convert the fat into usable energy (8). Here’s how to prepare this tea.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
• ⅙ th wedge of a lemon
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Toss the chopped mint leaves into a saucepan.
2. Add water and let it boil for 1 minute. Strain it into a cup.
3. Squeeze the juice of the lemon wedge.
4. Stir well before drinking.

6. Peppermint And Cinnamon Tea

Ceylon cinnamon aids weight loss by increasing insulin sensitivity and lowering blood glucose levels (9). Here is how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon dried mint leaves
• 1 ½ inch Ceylon cinnamon stick
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Pour a cup of water into a saucepan.
2. Put the Ceylon cinnamon and boil the water for 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove from flame and add the dried mint leaves. Let it steep for 5 minutes.
4. Strain the leaves and cinnamon stick before drinking.

Quick Tip

You can also add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder instead of the sticks while boiling the water.

7. Peppermint And Black Pepper Tea

Black pepper contains piperine, a phytonutrient that aids weight loss by preventing fat cell proliferation and acts as a fat burner (10). Here is how you can make this delicious tea.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped mint leaves
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Toss the freshly chopped mint leaves into a saucepan.
2. Add water to it.
3. Boil for 5-7 minutes.
4. Remove from the flame and strain into a cup.
5. Add the black pepper powder and stir well before drinking.

8. Peppermint And Honey Tea

Honey is an excellent natural sweetener and a potential antidiabetic agent (11). It also possesses antibacterial properties (12). Follow these steps to make this tea.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon organic honey
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Add the mint leaves to a cup of water.
2. Pour the water into a saucepan and boil it for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from flame and strain into a cup.
4. Add honey and stir well before drinking.
5. Enjoy the organic tea

9. Peppermint And Fenugreek Seed Tea

Fenugreek seeds inhibit fat accumulation and aid fat metabolism. Therefore, these seeds are a potential natural ingredient for weight loss ( 13). Here is how to prepare the tea.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon dried mint leaves
• 2 teaspoons fenugreek seeds
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Soak the fenugreek seeds in a cup of water overnight.
2. Strain the water in the morning and bring it to a boil.
3. Remove from the flame and add the dried mint leaves.
4. Let it steep for 5 minutes.
5. Strain before drinking.

10. Peppermint And Turmeric Tea

Turmeric is a natural weight loss agent. Curcumin, a potent phytonutrient found in turmeric, is anti-inflammatory in nature and helps to prevent inflammation-induced obesity (14). Turmeric is also antidiabetic in nature ( 15). Here is how to prepare this tea.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon dried mint leaves
• ½ inch turmeric root
• 1 cup water

How To Prepare

1. Use a mortar and pestle to crush the turmeric root.
2. Add it to a cup of water and boil the water for 7 minutes.
3. Remove from the flame and add the dried mint leaves. Let it steep for 5 minutes.
4. Strain and drink.

These are the best 10 peppermint teas that you can prepare quickly, and they will surely help you lose weight. But what is the best time to consume these? Let’s find out!

Best Time To Consume Peppermint Tea For Weight Loss

You can consume peppermint tea during breakfast, mid-morning or evening snack time, or 30 minutes before dinner. It will help suppress your appetite, increase the metabolic rate, and improve fat mobilization.

Now, the next big question – is peppermint tea safe to consume for weight loss? Here’s your answer.

Is It Safe To Consume Peppermint Tea For Weight Loss?

It is safe to consume peppermint tea, but consult your doctor if you want to take it for weight loss. One also needs to follow other precautions with respect to peppermint tea.

The tea must not be given to children or infants as it may cause breathing difficulties and a burning sensation in the mouth.

Peppermint tea may also lead to allergic reactions like headaches, nasal congestion, cough, wheeze, and swelling (16). If you experience these signs, refrain from consuming the tea and seek immediate medical advice.

People who experience acid reflux should also avoid peppermint tea. Anecdotal evidence suggests it might aggravate acid reflux and cause bloating in some individuals.

The tea may also interfere with certain medications. In a study, intake of herbal tea containing peppermint, along with cyclosporin (an immunosuppressive agent), caused side effects in renal transplant patients (17). Thus, consult your doctor to determine if consuming peppermint tea is suitable for you.

But is peppermint tea better than green tea? Let’s find out in the next section.

Is Peppermint Tea Better Than Green Tea For Weight Loss?

Well, peppermint tea and green tea are both scientifically proven to have anti-obesity properties. But, if you are considering drinking green tea for weight loss, the problem is that it is not palatable for many women who want to lose weight. They lose interest in green tea soon and get back to coffee, sugar, and creme. Also, flavored green teas do not yield as many results as the organic ones do. So, flavorwise, peppermint tea is the winner. It has a fresh and natural aroma that kills hunger and helps reduce the ever-growing girth of your waist. You will not get bored of it, and these recipes will inspire you to find out what else you can add to make your slimming tea more interesting and palatable. This health and wellness drink has other health benefits as well, and we will find out about them in the next section.

Other Health Benefits Of Peppermint Tea

• It helps improve concentration and brain function
• It reduces bad breath
• It has antimicrobial properties
• Helps to reduce skin rashes and breakouts
• It is one of the best herbal medicines for sinusitis
• Drinking peppermint tea before you go to bed can help you sleep better
• It can also be used to treat flu, cold, nausea, and vomiting
• Peppermint tea helps boost your immunity and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Now, let me put forward a few precautions you need to keep in mind.

Precautions

• Consult your doctor before using peppermint tea for weight loss.
• Do not use it if you are allergic to it or any of the ingredients mentioned in the tea recipes.
• Consuming too much of it can cause heartburn. So, stick to the recommended dosage.

Infographic: Top 5 Ways Peppermint Tea Helps Manage Weight

Peppermint tea offers a range of health benefits. It helps increase metabolism, promote satiety, and reduce appetite. Many peppermint tea recipes can keep you healthy while promoting weight loss. The menthol in peppermint has a cooling effect, which can reduce cravings for high-calorie foods. The following infographic lists the top 5 ways peppermint tea can manage weight and support your weight loss journey. Check it out!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you mix peppermint and green tea?

Yes. Green tea is packed with beneficial antioxidants, polyphenols, and other compounds that may act as metabolism boosters (18).

Is peppermint tea a laxative?

Yes, it is a mild laxative. Peppermint tea helps ease congestion and improves bowel movements.

Can I mix peppermint tea and coffee for weight loss?

Possibly. Caffeine present in coffee may help reduce weight and overall body fat (19).

Can I mix peppermint and chamomile tea for weight loss?

Yes. Chamomile contains beneficial compounds such as apigenin, luteolin, and essential oils that may help reduce weight (20).

Illustration: Peppermint Tea For Weight Loss – Health Benefits And Recipes

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Sip your way to better health with peppermint and ginger tea. Discover the anti-inflammatory benefits and how it can help you lose weight. Watch the video now.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Merlin Annie RajRegistered Dietitian Nutritionist

   

Merlin Annie Raj is a Registered Dietitian based out of Hyderabad, India. She has 14 years of experience in Clinical Nutrition as well as teaching Nutrition and Dietetics to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She was awarded the ‘President’s Award’ at the 47th Annual National Conference of the Indian Dietetic Association, 2014.

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Charushila BiswasHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Charushila is an ISSA certified Fitness Nutritionist and a Physical Exercise Therapist. Over a span of 6 years, she has authored more than 400 articles on diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and fitness equipment. She strives to inform, educate, and motivate her readers via authentic, straightforward, and fact-checked information.

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Ravi Teja TadimallaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Aparna MallampalliHealth & Wellness Writer

Aparna is a professor-turned-content writer with over 5 years of experience in life sciences. Her passion for writing and interest in the healthcare and wellness industry pushed her toward a career in content writing. She has a master’s degree in microbiology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a diploma in nutrition from Fab Academy.

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