6 Surprising Health Benefits of Spearmint Tea
Tea is a popular healthy drink that is easy on the stomach and relaxing for the mind. There are different kinds of tea from different herbaceous plants.
Now you may or may not have heard of spearmint tea before.
Either way, what’s important is that in this article, you will get to know what spearmint tea is and how it can benefit your health. Let’s dive in!
What is spearmint tea?
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and southern temperate Asia.
It is consumed as herbal tea and used as flavoring to food like chewing gums and candy. The aromatic spearmint oil is also extracted and used as a scent and flavoring for products such as toothpaste and mouthwash.
In case you’re wondering, this herb got its name from the shape of its spear-like leaves.
Spearmint tea is a kind of herbal tea that is often confused with peppermint tea. But unlike peppermint, spearmint contains lesser menthol, the agent which gives these two herbs their cool, minty flavor.
To prepare spearmint tea, just add shredded spearmint leaves to hot water and steep for five minutes. After draining the leaves, you can now enjoy your healthy spearmint tea.
We are aware that herbal teas are good for the body and mind. To support this point further, let’s discuss the following health benefits of spearmint tea.
Health benefits of spearmint tea
1. Good for digestive problems
Having a bad tummy day? Don’t worry, spearmint tea is here to save the day. Spearmint is known for its helpful digestive benefits.
One of those is spearmint as a cost-effective antiemetic treatment for chemotherapy-induced vomiting and nausea.
Spearmint tea also has carvone, a naturally occurring antispasmodic compound that helps calm upset digestive tract.
Furthermore, herbal medicine made of spearmint extract, lemon balm, and coriander is shown to reduce abdominal pain and bloating in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
This is made possible because of these herbs’ antispasmodic, sedative, and flatulence-relieving properties.
2. May help with hormonal imbalance in women
Do you experience troublesome hormone imbalance? Sipping a cup of spearmint tea just might help you with that.
Several studies have shown the potential of spearmint tea to combat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal imbalance disorder in women of reproductive age.
Spearmint herbal tea makes this possible through its anti-androgen effect. This effect inhibits the abnormal surge of testosterone. And it restores follicular development in ovarian tissues.
Although further studies are needed to establish spearmint as a standard treatment for hormonal imbalance, current researches offer significant results that highlight spearmint tea’s capabilities.
3. Possess helpful antioxidants and bioactive compounds
Like most herbal teas, spearmint tea is also rich in antioxidants.
A study even showed that the antioxidant activity of S-carvone isolated from spearmint is higher compared to that of α‐tocopherol, a standard antioxidant.
Spearmint also has loads of phytochemicals such as rosmarinic acid and other phenolics which act as antioxidants in the body.
Looking for vitamins and minerals? Spearmint tea also has them. Two tablespoons of spearmint extract contain the following nutrients:
| Vitamins & Minerals | Amount | Percent Daily Values (%DV) |
| Vitamin A | 456 IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 1.5 mg | 2% |
| Folate | 11.8 mcg | 3% |
| Calcium | 22.4 mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1.3 mg | 7% |
| Magnesium | 7.1 mg | 2% |
| Manganese | 0.1 mg | 6% |
4. May improve arthritis pain
One surprising benefit of drinking spearmint tea is its positive effect on arthritis pain.
Its high rosmarinic acid content is specifically associated with improved stiffness. It is also linked to decreased pain in individuals with knee osteoarthritis as stated in a study.
The analgesic property of spearmint was also studied and attributed to its carvone, limonene, and menthol contents.
So, if you or your folks are already experiencing arthritis pains, preparing spearmint is surely a practical remedy for that.
5. May support cognitive health
A study in 2015 investigated the effect of spearmint on cognition. The results showed improvements in reasoning and attention/concentration after 30 days of 900 mg/day spearmint extract consumption.
A separate study in 2018 also noted the positive effect of spearmint on memory and the ability to fall asleep in subjects.
These studies suggest significant cognitive health benefits of spearmint extract and tea.
What are you waiting for? Steep those spearmint leaves and make your cognitive abilities as sharp as a spear!
6. Fights microbial infections
Spearmint tea has antimicrobial effects. In a research published in the Journal of Essential Oil Research, spearmint extract was shown to have strong antimicrobial impacts on certain bacteria.
For example, the infamous Escherichia coli and some pathogenic fungi, one of which is Aspergillus niger, a common food contaminant.
Another research paper also had similar results. Researchers found that spearmint exhibited antibacterial effects on familiar food-borne pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium.
Takeaway
Spearmint tea is certainly an amazing addition to your diet. It’s very easy to prepare and its refreshing and bright flavor is something you can’t miss out on!
Most especially, having a cup of spearmint tea regularly can give you wonderful health benefits, you’ll body will thank you for it.
