This article provides information on whether it is safe to consume mint tea during pregnancy. General health benefits of the tea are also described here. Read on, to know about other herbal teas that are beneficial and safe for pregnant women.
Peppermint tea or in short, mint tea, can even be labeled as ‘Pregnancy Tea’, as it is considered to be good for pregnant women. It has many medicinal and culinary uses, and it is commonly used by people all over the world. The popular herbs of the mint family are spearmint, basil, peppermint, lavender, apple mint, and thyme. You can either use the dried mint along with the regular tea leaves, or you can use fresh leaves while preparing the tea. Fresh tea can be made by pouring hot (but not boiling) water over fresh leaves of mint.
A hot or cold mint tea can prove refreshing, as wonderful aroma and great taste are the main factors that attract people towards this tea. Pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness can make most women feel tired or irritated. A cup of this herbal tea can offer them the required energy, and thus they can be fresh and active throughout the day.
Benefits
- Mint has the ability to settle a nervous stomach. It helps relieve nausea (morning sickness) and flatulence.
- It can soothe the digestive tract.
- The tea can relieve cramping that most pregnant women experience.
- The tea has a calming effect, and helps relieve irritability, insomnia, and anxiety.
- It boosts the immune system. As you want to have a healthy baby, it is necessary to keep all the diseases away.
- Through this tea, you get the necessary antioxidants that can help strengthen your muscles.
- It helps reduce the symptoms of breathing problems or allergic reactions.
- It helps improve the digestive health, which helps avoid various health problems. Heartburn can be avoided with the help of this tea.
- As the tea contains caffeine, you can avail all the caffeine benefits. Many times, pregnancy leaves the woman depressed. The tea can help fight stress and depression.
- It can ease the discomfort associated with irritable bowel syndrome, and it can slow the growth of many harmful bacteria and fungi. Thus, it keeps away the bacterial or fungal infections which might affect the baby.
The tea can offer so many other benefits like
- Reducing unwanted hair growth
- Maintaining oral health
- Controlling blood clot formation (a major cause for thrombosis)
- Reducing blood cholesterol levels
- Lowering the symptoms of asthma and allergies
- Enhancing metabolism (which helps lose weight fast)
- Preventing hardening of arteries, thereby reducing the incidence of strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular diseases
Mint plant belongs to the family Mentha. You must have heard about its use in toothpastes, ice creams, chocolates, candies, etc. Green mint tea is as popular as ginger root tea and lemon balm tea. Red raspberry leaf tea which is rich in iron helps improve the uterine health, increases milk production, decreases nausea, and eases labor pains. But as your doctor knows well about your health, it is always better to consult him/her before opting for any home remedies.
Disclaimer: This HerHaleness article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
