Tis the season of the holiday flavors. We all love them. But it always ends up making us feel guilty when we get that second hot chocolate. Or drink too much eggnog. Or when they came out with that new gingerbread flavor at your local coffee shop, they know your weakness. But there's one flavor that stands above all, not just because of its taste, but its health benefits--peppermint.

Peppermint is like the OG of holiday flavors. Maybe it started with the candy cane in your stocking, or that breath mint they give you on your way out of a restaurant. Either way, peppermint is nostalgic because of its strong mint flavor, reminding us of holiday times. And because of the popularity of winter flavors, many have incorporated these festive flavors into drinks and the like. But unlike all the other decadent flavors, peppermint is one you can indulge all you like, or on a daily basis actually. Read on to find out how and why.

When you think of tea, the first flavors that come to mind is probably oolong tea, green tea, or black tea. But peppermint has also made its way into the world of tea. And it also has some very beneficial properties to it as well. According to Nutritionist Dr. Simran Saini from Fortis Hospital (Reference 1), peppermint tea helps in aiding weight loss, reduces heartburn, makes your skin glow, induces sleep and provides satiety, further helping you to lose weight. There is barely any side effect of peppermint tea; so you can drink it any time you want to.” That's quite a bunch of different benefits packed in a tea. But did you know of all the ways peppermint can help you? We're here with this post to enlighten you of all the 5 known benefits of this wonderful, winter holiday flavor so you don't have to feel guilty having it.

If you have been a diligent reader of Vorda blogs, you probably already know that peppermint tea can you help you get a good night's rest. The tea is naturally caffeine free, so you can enjoy it during late evenings. Dr. Simran recommends a cup of peppermint tea a night for those night owls. Peppermint tea also acts as a muscle relaxant which will help you sleep soundly. This also has led people to drink the tea as a home remedy for menstrual cramping.

Peppermint, as you all might know, is a very aromatic herb in the mint family. It is a cross between watermint and spearmint. The active oil present in the tea, menthol, promotes fresh breath, so peppermint flavor is found often in mouth fresheners. It also has antibacterial properties to help wash off plaque. This tea can beat your mouthwash, maybe. But the menthol not only refreshes but helps soothe the stomach and relieve the digestion process. According to the book Healing Foods by DK Publishing (Reference 2), menthol has antiseptic and antibacterial properties to improve digestion. Its adaptogenic properties is ideal if for a balanced body. So if you have any constipation problems, or even motion sickness, try having some peppermint tea. The menthol will help calm the upper digestive tract and relax your mind as well.

Since it is does such an important job in the stomach area, it is no surprise that it has connections to your metabolism as well. Nutritionist and Macrobiotic Health Coach Shilpa Arora states, “It is a great concoction for metabolism, relieves excessive acidity... People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) should have the tea at least 3-4 times to heal the gut.” And Dr. Simran also included (Reference 1), a cup of peppermint tea can leave you feeling full for a longer period, so you don’t feel hungry through the day. This way you will avoid adding extra calories to your day and resultant lose weight.”

The antibacterial properties found in peppermint also help fight off disease causing illnesses and improves the immunity system. The potassium, vitamin B, and various antioxidants help in all kinds of positive ways for your body. Menthol, know for its cooling features, can also help by cooling your body internally. And while drinking hot tea, it will cause some external sweating and can essentially lead to a break in fever and reduce inflammation.

Because of its awakening, minty scent, peppermint tea may also help improve your ability to concentrate and focus. In one study, people who drank peppermint tea performed significantly better on cognitive tests. In another study, just smelling peppermint was found to improve memory and alertness. You might want to keep some extra bags on hand!

Did you know of all these amazing benefits of peppermint? It seemed like any regular old holiday flavor, but who knew how beneficial it could be to one's body. Vorda Peppermint Herbal Tea is a wonderful choice for happy healthy holidays after big meals or before bedtime. We promote and would like to enlighten our readers on a healthy, plant-based lifestyle.

Let us know what you think of peppermint now in the comments below. We'll have a new post coming out in no time.

References:

1. Rana, Sarika. (2018, July 19). 8 Benefits of Peppermint Tea: From Inducing sleep to Aiding Weight Loss and More! Retrieved from https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/8-benefits-of-peppermint-tea-from-inducing-sleep-to-aiding-weight-loss-and-more-1748790
2. Healing Foods. Canada: DK Publishing, 2013.
3. Featured image by Marius Matuschzik from unsplash