When it comes to beauty, many people focus on eating foods high in antioxidants or using top-of-the-line anti-aging creams and serums. While these are all great options, there’s another common product that can help maintain your skin’s health and well-being—mint water! With its sweet taste and cooling sensation, mint water can be an incredibly satisfying alternative to soda or juice, especially on hot summer days. However, there are also some serious health benefits associated with drinking mint water that you may not have known about before!
It clears your stomach
Drinking mint water can soothe an upset stomach, reduce acidity and cleanse your digestive tract. If you have heartburn or indigestion, feel free to try a warm glass before bedtime. And if you’re looking for a quick and easy detox, pair mint with other herbs like peppermint, lemon balm and spearmint. Just be sure to use fresh mint leaves—and not candied ones!—to reap its full health benefits.
It’s a great detox drink
In addition to lowering our calorie intake and purging our systems of impurities, drinking mint water can also help our bodies detox. The essential oils found in mint leaves help your body release extra sodium and excess water. This can be especially useful if you have a salt-heavy diet or tend to store a lot of fluids in your lower extremities, causing puffiness. By removing excess sodium from your body, you give yourself an opportunity to start fresh with new minerals and an improved hydration status. In addition to lowering our calorie intake and purging our systems of impurities, drinking mint water can also help our bodies detox. The essential oils found in mint leaves help your body release extra sodium and excess water.
It helps with headaches
The active ingredient in peppermint, menthol, has a cooling sensation that can help reduce headaches. Peppermint essential oil can also be massaged directly into your temples and neck to help alleviate aches and pains. Once you’ve massaged it in, leave it there—the menthol will continue to provide relief even after you wash your hands. Drinking peppermint tea with honey is another way to ease a headache naturally. Do be aware that mints and candies made with artificial flavors are typically not linked to reduction in headache pain or frequency. In fact, one large study showed that kids who eat candy actually end up having more headaches than those who don’t! Stick with all-natural mint products for relief from headache pain.
It calms you down
A 2012 study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that people who chewed fresh mint leaves for five minutes every day for two weeks felt less stressed. Researchers aren’t sure exactly why—but they think it may have something to do with mint’s ability to reduce your heart rate and lower blood pressure. It improves digestion: Mint relaxes smooth muscles in your gastrointestinal tract, which can relieve symptoms of indigestion, including stomach pains and cramping. It’s also a mild antispasmodic—meaning it helps shrink swollen tissue in your GI tract. This action makes mint useful for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or nausea after surgery or chemotherapy.
Soothes an upset stomach
For mild heartburn or indigestion, mint water might be all you need. Pregnant women also drink mint water to ease nausea in early pregnancy. Like peppermint tea, drinking water with fresh mint in it can help settle your stomach when you’re feeling queasy. You can also try adding a few sprigs of fresh mint to boiling water and letting it steep for 10 minutes before straining it into another glass and drinking it hot. Because ginger is known for its anti-nausea properties, you can use peppermint alongside ginger root to maximize their potency.
Boosts metabolism
Packed with antioxidants and nutrients, mint water is a metabolism booster that can help fight off those extra pounds. While drinking mint water by itself won’t have an immediate effect on your weight, it can be a useful component of your weight loss strategy. Drinking more water every day helps prevent snacking in between meals and increases your overall calorie intake. This means you end up eating fewer calories than you need to maintain your body mass index (BMI). When combined with exercise and healthy food choices, mint water can be part of a successful weight loss plan.
Drinking mint water boosts metabolism, speeds up weight loss and flushes out harmful toxins in your body. When you drink mint water, it gives a boost to your digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer periods of time. It is also believed that by drinking mint water regularly, it helps control hunger pangs. You will notice that in just few days; drinking mint water can help you shed pounds without causing any side effects on your skin or hair.
Enhances your immune system
Research suggests that mint essential oil can enhance your immune system to protect you from germs. It has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which stop colds and flu dead in their tracks, so it’s a good idea to keep mint essential oil on hand for when you feel one coming on. Its cooling aroma helps clear up congestion as well, making it a natural decongestant. Simply add two drops of peppermint essential oil to four cups of boiling water, cover your head with a towel, and inhale steam for five minutes (make sure to keep children away as steam may cause serious injury). You can also try an extra-strength brew by steeping dried peppermint leaves into warm water or making a tea with fresh leaves!
Removes heavy metals from your body
Did you know that your skin absorbs more heavy metals than any other organ in your body? Heavy metals, like lead and mercury, can be found in everything from household cleaners to chewing gum. These pollutants can build up inside your body, causing serious issues with digestion and mood. A great way to rid yourself of these pollutants is by washing with mint water, as mint is known for its cleansing properties. You can also drink two cups of mint tea each day to help remove harmful metals from your system. Enjoying some mint tea regularly will work wonders for your health! Not only does it help purify and detoxify your body, but it’s a natural mouthwash that keeps bad breath at bay. It’s a flavorful treat that can do you wonders!
