Weight-management kitchen
After-Dinner Peppermint Tea
Please read: These are everyday recipes and drinks that fit a balanced eating pattern. No food, drink or supplement here causes weight loss on its own, and we make no promise of any result. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, take medicine (such as diabetes or blood-pressure medicine) or have a medical condition.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp fresh peppermint leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
- 8 fl oz (240 ml) just-boiled water
Step by step
- Bruise the fresh leaves gently between your fingers.
- Pour just-boiled water over them.
- Cover and steep 5–7 minutes; strain.
Traditional and historical use
Mint has been an after-meal herb since Roman times and is named in Matthew 23:23.
“Used in the treatment of gastrodynia, flatulent colic, hysteria, spasms or cramps of the stomach, to allay the griping of cathartics, to check nausea and vomiting”
What modern research says
There is no good evidence that peppermint tea affects weight. Many people simply enjoy a caffeine-free cup after dinner instead of dessert.
Safety notes
- May worsen heartburn or reflux.
- Peppermint oil is far stronger than the tea; never give it to infants.