Women, during their pregnancy, are always on the lookout for things that would help them, comfort them, and make them feel better. Having peppermint tea during pregnancy does just that. Women have vouched for the benefits that peppermint tea has provided to them, as it soothes and calms them during this laborious journey.
Etymology
Peppermint is the name of a leafy plant that is grown and consumed all around the globe. Being an indigenous plant to Europe and the Middle East, it has fostered fame in every corner of the world. Peppermint is known for its unique minty and cooling flavor with a little hint of minty spiciness.
A lot of people confuse peppermint with mint. The major difference between the two is that mint is a generic term for all the different species that come under the mint plant such as peppermint, spearmint, watermint, apple mint, etc. Most of these have different classifications and characteristics.
The element that makes peppermint unique and significant is the quantity of menthol in it. Menthol is an organic compound that naturally occurs in plants or can be artificially created in laboratories. It has a cooling effect on your taste buds and that is what makes peppermint different from mint.
If you taste a mint leaf, you will get a refreshing feel but if you taste peppermint, it will be ‘minty’ as well as create an effect that will run down your throat. That is because peppermint has a 40% menthol level whereas mint has around 1%.
Peppermint is one of the main ingredients in beverages, ice creams, chewing gums, palate cleansers, mouth fresheners, and candies, and is even known for its medicinal properties that help with gut health and help combat acidity and heartburn issues. That is why most antacids have peppermint as a basic ingredient.
Another famous way peppermint is consumed is in peppermint tea.
What Is Peppermint Tea?
Peppermint tea is one of the many variants that come under the category of organic pregnancy tea. The reason why it is called organic is because it is naturally caffeine-free and safe to consume during pregnancy.
Peppermint tea is tea made from peppermint leaves, either fresh or dried, and is a natural supplement for people who suffer from heartburn and acidity issues. It is refreshing and the minty coolness replenishes your tired body and mind. Yes, even a warm cup of peppermint tea cools your insides.
Significance of Peppermint Tea in Pregnancy
Peppermint tea is not just a beverage but has many medicinal benefits and that is why it is a favorite of many women during pregnancy, as there are no additives, and is anecdotal to so many pregnancy problems, all without any side effects.
Benefits
- Helps against nausea and vomiting
- Combats heartburn and acidity
- Helps with indigestion and stomach problems
- Provides an internal cooling effect
- Unclogs sinuses
- Relieves headaches
Is It Safe to Drink Peppermint Tea During Pregnancy?
There is no such scientific evidence to prove that peppermint tea is harmful in pregnancy. On the contrary, most people recommend peppermint tea during pregnancy as it is a safe herbal tea and does not pose any complications.
However, overdosage of anything can be harmful and so peppermint tea should be consumed in moderation, 1-2 cups a day would suffice. There are a few risks involved in having peppermint tea during pregnancy.
Risks
- Stimulates menstruation – it is a stimulant and should be avoided early in the pregnancy, such as the first trimester, in order to avoid spotting and bleeding
- It could cause miscarriages – Even though there is not enough evidence to support this claim but because it aids menstruation, people believe it could lead to miscarriage.
- Worsens Acid Reflux – People who suffer from GERD, whether they are pregnant or not, should always avoid peppermint tea as worsens acid reflux.
When to Drink Peppermint Tea in Pregnancy?
Even though peppermint tea is considered relatively safe to consume for pregnant women, the best time to have peppermint tea in pregnancy would most probably be the second trimester or the 4th to 6th month of pregnancy.
There only reason why it makes sense to have peppermint tea during this time is that the second trimester is usually the time when women start to feel heartburn and intense acidity. Your organs are usually pushed up to make space for your growing baby which gives you heartburn after you eat and peppermint tea is best for combating heartburn.
You could have peppermint tea in the first trimester as well but peppermint tea is known to stimulate menstruation and you don’t want to end up with bleeding or spotting. Another reason is that the first trimester is when you usually have smell and taste repulsion and not everyone would like the smell and taste of peppermint, which would aggravate their nausea.
There are many other organic teas that you could have during your first trimester instead, like ginger tea, rooibos tea, or lemon tea.
You could have peppermint tea in the third trimester, there is no harm in that but it doesn’t really do much for you in that time, apart from giving you a soothing taste down your throat. A better alternative would be to have raspberry leaf tea in the third trimester as that is a labor stimulant.
How to Make Peppermint Tea
Organic tea is usually very easy and quick to make, and peppermint tea is no different. Of course, there are multiple ways to prepare it and you can add other condiments to your tea along with peppermint, such as ginger root, honey, orange, and many others to balance the flavors.
Here are some of the more conventional ways of preparing peppermint tea.
Fresh Peppermint Tea
Fresh peppermint tea might not be possible for everyone to make as fresh peppermint is usually not available everywhere unless it is a native plant of your country. If you do get your hands on it though, there is nothing like it.
All you have to do is:
- Bring a cup of water to a boil.
- Once it has reached boiling point, turn off the heat and after a minute, add your fresh peppermint tea leaves. Let it steep for around 3-4 minutes, then you can strain the tea leaves and enjoy your tea. You can also add a drizzle of honey.
Alternatively, if you are in a hurry, you can:
- Boil a cup of water.
- When it comes to boiling point, turn down the head.
- Add your peppermint tea leaves and let it boil for around 30-40 seconds. Make sure you don’t boil it for too long or your tea will turn bitter.
- Strain and enjoy.
Dried Peppermint Tea or Tea Bags
If you do not have access to fresh peppermint, don’t worry, peppermint tea bag blends taste just as good. All you have to do is:
- Bring a cup of water to a boil.
- Once boiled, turn off the heat and pour the water into a cup.
- Add your tea bag or dried tea, and let it steep for 2-3 minutes.
- Strain (or take the tea bag out) and enjoy.
Peppermint Chai Tea
Those who are bored of the mundane old ways of having tea and would like to add a bit of spunk to their everyday tea regimen can go for peppermint chai tea which is a good experiment for your everyday chai tea latte. And yes, chai tea is safe to have during pregnancy.
You will prepare your chai tea like you normally would, and just add a few peppermint leaves when you add your black tea powder or tea bag to the water. Continue making tea the way you normally would, then strain and sweeten with sugar or jaggery and there you have it, your own peppermint chai tea.
Peppermint Iced Tea
Iced peppermint tea is like having a snowball down your body, and I don’t mean this in a bad way. Sometimes, when the weather is hot or during pregnancy when your heartburn is at an all-time high, and you feel like there is a volcano erupting inside your chest, peppermint iced tea will feel like a savior to you.
To make peppermint iced tea, just make a cup of peppermint tea, using the two methods above, allow the tea to cool, and then add ice cubes OR chill the tea in the fridge and then drink it up.
Conclusion
All in all, peppermint tea is one of the most beneficial and least harmful teas that you can consume during pregnancy. It has many benefits and almost no side effects.
You don’t even have to make tea using fresh peppermint as there are so many amazing peppermint tea blends available online such as Traditional Medicinals Organic Peppermint Tea, Heather’s Tummy Teas Organic Peppermint Tea, Herb Lore Pregnancy Tea, and Bigelow Peppermint Tea.
Just try to avoid peppermint tea in the first trimester to be on the safe side. Otherwise, you’re good to go.
