Can you eat peppermints while pregnant
Peppermint Tea in Pregnancy: Safety, Benefits, and More
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also feel like it comes with a lot of restrictions. While your morning cup o’ joe is probably just fine in moderation, if you’re a caffeine lover, you’re going to have to make some changes.
Many people turn to herbal teas to replace their favorite caffeinated latte or mid-morning espresso. And peppermint tea may be the perfect noncaffeinated pick-me-up when you’re pregnant. Here’s what you need to know.
Peppermint tea is considered an herbal tea. It’s made from the peppermint plant, which is native to Europe and Asia.
The peppermint plant is known as an aromatic herb that has a variety of uses as a flavoring agent for everything from mints and toothpaste to foods.
The plant leaves can also be used to create essential oils that include menthol, limonene, and menthone. Menthol oil is probably a smell most people recognize and associate with peppermint.
Peppermint tea is made by steeping the fresh or dried leaves of the plant. It’s naturally caffeine-free.
It’s important to note that research regarding herbal teas and their side effects on pregnancy isn’t robust. This is mostly because researchers don’t want to knowingly put pregnant people (or their babies) at risk for the sake of conducting a study.
But we do know that peppermint tea, in particular, is a popular choice during pregnancy — and to date, very few adverse effects have been recorded when consumed in typical amounts (1 to 2 cups per day).
In general, peppermint tea is considered to be safe, but there’s conflicting information on whether or not it should be consumed throughout all three trimesters.
If you’re concerned about side effects, it’s best to avoid peppermint tea until your second trimester. But note that there’s no documented evidence that peppermint has ever caused a miscarriage.
In fact, it’s considered a better choice over nonherbal teas such as black, oolong, and green teas that do contain caffeine. You should still avoid drinking peppermint tea in large amounts, however.
While herbal teas like peppermint typically don’t contain caffeine, they can upset your stomach or have other side effects when consumed in large doses.
According to a 2017 review that looked at the use of herbal medicines in pregnant women in Asian countries, oral consumption of peppermint in pregnancy is considered generally safe in lower doses.
Breastfeeding
Research regarding the safety of consuming peppermint tea while breastfeeding is also mostly anecdotal.
While one older study — with a very small sample size of 18 women — showed that menthol can pass into breast milk, it didn’t demonstrate any adverse effects on milk supply or on the babies. Also of note, the study looked at the consumption of capsules containing a variety of compounds, and not pure peppermint tea.
Meanwhile, some people recommend using peppermint oil or tea to aid in weaning or to provide relief from engorgement. While there’s a lack of solid evidence that this works, there are personal accounts of its effectiveness.
For that reason, you may want to hold off on the peppermint tea until you’re ready to wean.
Peppermint tea is often touted as a great solution for many common ailments associated with pregnancy. Specifically, it’s known as a natural remedy for:
- curbing nausea and vomiting
- easing heartburn
- soothing an upset stomach
- reducing headaches
However, research into these benefits is scarce and isn’t directly done on pregnant people — or done using tea. For example, one 2013 study on the positive effects of peppermint on nausea and vomiting was done on chemotherapy patients using peppermint oil.
While peppermint tea is widely viewed as safe, you should be mindful of how much you drink and where it was sourced.
Experts agree that most commercially produced peppermint tea is safe for consumption. In contrast, homemade teas that fail to confirm the total amount of herbs used in them can be dangerous, since it’s possible to consume too much or to ingest other herbs that aren’t considered safe in pregnancy.
While you’re pregnant, it’s probably wise to drink no more than 1 to 2 cups of peppermint tea per day. As with many herbal concoctions, if you drink it in larger quantities, you may experience unwanted side effects like stomach upset.
It’s also a good idea to keep your healthcare provider apprised of any herbs you’re ingesting, even if they’re generally considered safe during pregnancy.
Whether you don’t want to give up your daily hot beverage or are searching for a natural remedy for common pregnancy ailments, peppermint tea is a great option. It’s considered generally safe for those who are pregnant or lactating to consume regularly in normal doses.
If you’re concerned about any adverse effects, wait until after your first trimester to indulge in a cup of peppermint tea. Meanwhile, if you’re breastfeeding, you may want to wait to enjoy a cup until you’re ready to wean.
Is It Safe to Drink Mint Tea or Eat Mints During Pregnancy?
Last Updated on December 4, 2021
Mint, and in particular peppermint, can have benefits for common pregnancy complaints, so it’s understandable if you reach for a soothing cup of peppermint tea.
Drinking mint tea or eating mints is safe during pregnancy. It’s a good idea to check if there are other herbs or additional ingredients in mint tea blends.
There are some periods in pregnancy where mint can be particularly helpful, too.
Covered in this Article:
Is Mint Tea Safe to Drink When Pregnant?
Generally speaking, it is safe to drink mint tea when pregnant, as mint is not on the list of herbs that are considered unsafe to consume while pregnant (Source: UTEP).
When choosing herbal teas, check the label to make sure the ingredients are all safe to consume. Many herbal teas have blends of more than one herb. Also, choose organic where possible, as you can avoid the pesticides that have been used in growing the tea plants.
Here are some specific types of mint tea that you are likely to come across, along with specific recommendations.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is one of the most popular herbal teas for expecting mothers as it is safe to drink when pregnant.
Peppermint leaf can be helpful for morning sickness and for problems with flatulence (Source: APO).
It’s the most common type of mint made into tea, but it’s also safe to drink spearmint or water mint too.
Jade Citrus Mint Tea
Popular at Starbucks, this tea contains green tea, lemon verbena, lemongrass and spearmint.
Lemon verbena is classified as having insufficient evidence to know for sure whether it is safe to consume during pregnancy (Source: IJPR).
Lemongrass didn’t show any toxic properties when administered to pregnant rats in one study, but there is not enough evidence on human subjects to say for sure if it is safe to consume or not (Source: ScienceDirect).
In the absence of any further information, it’s probably fine to drink Jade Citrus Mint in moderation.
Mint Majesty
Another popular Starbucks tea, Mint Majesty has spearmint, peppermint, and lemon verbena.
As with the Jade Citrus tea above, you may want to stick to small amounts of this tea, as there is not enough evidence to know for sure if lemon verbena is safe when pregnant (Source: IJPR).
Honey Citrus Mint Tea
Honey Citrus Mint Tea contains Jade Citrus Mint Tea along with a touch of honey and Peach Tranquility herbal tea. Because of the Jade Citrus, the same caution applies because of the lemon verbena.
Moroccan Mint Tea
This tea is made by steeping fresh mint leaves in hot water, and is safe to drink when pregnant.
Mint is the umbrella term for peppermint, spearmint, orange mint and more, and peppermint has been shown to be safe to drink while pregnant (Source: FP).
The mint leaves should be washed thoroughly before steeping, to remove traces of bacteria.
Can I Eat Mints or Mint Leaves During Pregnancy?
Mint comes in several forms besides tea, most of which are fine to consume while pregnant.
- Eating mint leaves. Eating fresh mint leaves is fine provided you are not eating excessive amounts. Small amounts of mint sprinkled on salads or put into drinks is fine – just make sure they’re thoroughly washed!
- Mint sauce.
Mint sauce is fine to eat during pregnancy, but be aware of sugar levels and other additives. Check the label before consuming.
- Eating mints. Mints are considered safe to eat during pregnancy, but as with mint sauce, consider the sugar levels and any other additives.
- Packets of Mints: Popular brands are Polo mints, Life Savers, Mentos, Altoids and Tic Tacs, all of which are fine when pregnant.
- Peppermint candy. Peppermint candy is safe to eat when pregnant, but be aware that any candy is likely to be high in sugar.
- Mint chocolate, including mint hot chocolate. Mint chocolate is also safe to eat in pregnancy, so you can enjoy your chocolate treats guilt-free!
Once again, anything high in sugar, though, is best consumed in moderation. You should also check the caffeine content of chocolate as it might count towards your daily total.
Is It OK to Have Mint Gum When Pregnant?
Mint gum is fine to chew when pregnant, but be aware of the sweeteners and additives used.
Do check the label before purchasing.
Sweeteners that are considered safe to consume in pregnancy are aspartame, stevia, xylitol, mannitol, and sorbitol (Source: AP).
There are no studies that show any particular benefits of chewing mint gum while pregnant, although gum chewing has been shown to potentially reduce stress (Source: Hindawi).
We have a dedicated article on gum during pregnancy, as well as information on accidentally swallowing it.
Is Mint Good for Morning Sickness or Nausea?
The smell of peppermint – such as smelling the essential oil – has been shown to be effective in reducing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (Source: JFMPC).
You may want to give this a go to see if it helps you. In the study, women smelled four drops of peppermint oil on a piece of cotton wool twice a day for seven days.
The cotton was placed in a glass vial (you could use a jar) and women breathed in the aroma for 20 minutes. Definitely worth a try!
The only contraindications were if women noticed anything unusual, such as a runny nose, headache, burning eyes or a skin rash.
This is rare, but if you experience any unusual symptoms, then ask your healthcare provider.
If you’re suffering from nausea often, you should check out our article on foods that can fight pregnancy nausea, too.
Overall, mint is not only safe during pregnancy, but can also help with digestion issues and pregnancy nausea. It’s also a soothing, caffeine-free hot drink to enjoy at any time of day.
This article has been reviewed and approved for publication in line with our editorial policy.
90,000 is it possible to drink mint tea during pregnancy 9000 a woman is forced to completely reconsider her lifestyle, diet and drinking regimen. Expectant mothers worry about whether some of the mother's habits and foods consumed will harm the baby. So, an important question arises that is relevant for women: is it possible for pregnant women to have mint tea? It is far from news that the essential oil of this plant has a powerful effect, so you need to use it carefully.
Let's figure out what properties mint has during pregnancy and how it affects the body of the expectant mother and fetus. Peppermint Tea Features
Peppermint essential oil is very concentrated. It has a high content of various organic acids, menthol, tannins. The exact composition will depend on the weather conditions in which the mint was grown, how it was harvested, how it was stored, and how the essential oil was extracted.
One way or another, doctors agree that mint essential oil concentrate is prohibited for pregnant women. In some cases, only local use of oil, slightly diluted with water, is allowed (for example, to relieve inflammation on the skin). But as for whether it is possible for pregnant women to drink tea with mint, then medicine cannot unequivocally prohibit this drink from being consumed.
This is because this tea is prepared with the addition of a small amount of leaves, stems and flowers. In total, they contain not so much essential oil, so he will not be able to harm mom and baby.
The main thing is not to overdo it. Peppermint tea or decoction is not such a harmless drink that can be consumed uncontrollably and in unlimited quantities. 1-2 cups of mint tea are allowed per day. This volume is the most optimal.
So, we figured out that pregnant women can have mint tea. But now you need to figure out in which cases this drink will help, and in which it can do more harm than good.
Benefits of mint tea during pregnancy
We have already determined what features mint tea has, how to drink it and in what concentration. Drinking it solely for the sake of pleasure is not worth it. The intake of this drink is indicated in special cases, as it helps to cope with a number of problems that arise during pregnancy: . To help cope with symptoms of toxicosis, such as nausea and dizziness, you can gradually drink weakly brewed green tea with mint. Lemon is also believed to help some women with nausea (in small amounts, in the absence of bowel disease or allergic reactions to citrus fruits).
In this case, you can combine the two methods into one and use tea with lemon and mint.
With antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action, it will reduce pain and irritation in the throat. Mint for tea should not contain harmful substances and chemical additives. To buy a natural product that has passed a thorough radiological control, you need to buy a phyto-drug in trusted pharmacies. This is the only way to be sure of the safety of the purchased mint.
Can mint tea harm pregnant women?
The use of mint is far from safe in all cases, despite the fact that many claim the unconditional benefits of this plant.
Then the question arises as to whether it is always possible to drink such tea or are there any contraindications for use? It is amazing, but those components that are very useful in one case, in another they can greatly harm the body of the baby and mother.
Mint tea during pregnancy has a number of restrictions:
If a pregnant woman has diseases or disorders in the liver or kidneys, mint is not recommended.
Excessive consumption of mint tea can cause miscarriage or preterm labor due to the high content of estrogens in mint.
In the presence of hypotension, that is, low blood pressure, the amount of mint tea consumed should also be controlled.
Naturally, if you have an allergy to mint or a predisposition to allergic reactions, it is strictly forbidden to consume any drinks or products containing this plant.
There is one more important question: can a nursing mother have tea with mint? It is known that milk production is inhibited under the influence of substances that make up mint. It is necessary to limit the use of mint tea not only after the birth of the baby, but also in the third trimester of pregnancy so that in the future there will be no difficulties in establishing full lactation.
So, we figured out that mint tea during pregnancy can both benefit and harm, if you do not follow the recommendations for taking. Having a powerful effect, mint for pregnant women in some cases can be a real salvation for the expectant mother.
In addition, this fragrant drink will be able to both perfectly refresh in hot weather and warm in cold weather.
Source : https://prochaj.ru
Is it possible to drink mint tea during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a woman is forced to completely reconsider her lifestyle, diet and drinking regimen. Expectant mothers worry about whether some of the mother's habits and foods consumed will harm the baby. So, an important question arises that is relevant for women: is it possible for pregnant women to have mint tea?
It is not news that the essential oil of this plant has a powerful effect, so you need to use it carefully . Let's figure out what properties mint has during pregnancy and how it affects the body of the expectant mother and fetus.
Peppermint essential oil is very concentrated. It has a high content of various organic acids, menthol, tannins . The exact composition will depend on the weather conditions in which the mint was grown, how it was harvested, how it was stored, and how the essential oil was extracted.
One way or another, doctors agree that the mint essential oil concentrate for pregnant women should not be used . In some cases, only topical use of oil slightly diluted with water (for example, to relieve inflammation on the skin) is allowed. And as for whether it is possible for pregnant women to drink tea with mint, then medicine cannot unambiguously prohibit this drink from being consumed.
Peppermint tea
This is because this tea is prepared with the addition of a small amount of leaves, stems and flowers. In total, they contain not so much essential oil, so he will not be able to harm mom and baby. The main thing is not to overdo it. Peppermint tea or decoction is not such a harmless drink that can be consumed uncontrollably and in unlimited quantities . 1-2 cups of mint tea are allowed per day. This volume is the most optimal.
So, we figured out that pregnant women can have mint tea.
But now you need to figure out in which cases this drink will help, and in which it can do more harm than good.
Benefits of mint tea during pregnancy
We have already decided on the characteristics of mint tea, how to drink it and in what concentration. Drinking it solely for the sake of pleasure is not worth it. The intake of this drink is indicated in special cases, as it helps to cope with a number of problems that arise during pregnancy: . To help cope with symptoms of toxicosis, such as nausea and dizziness, you can gradually drink weakly brewed green tea with mint. Lemon is also believed to help some women with nausea (in small amounts, in the absence of bowel disease or allergic reactions to citrus fruits). In this case, you can combine the two methods into one and use tea with lemon and mint.
Mint for tea should not contain harmful substances and chemical additives.
To buy a natural product that has passed a thorough radiological control, you need to buy a phyto-drug in trusted pharmacies. This is the only way to be sure of the safety of the purchased mint.
Can mint tea harm pregnant women?
The use of mint is far from safe in all cases, despite the fact that many claim the unconditional benefits of this plant.
Then the question arises as to whether it is always possible to drink such tea or are there any contraindications for use? It is amazing, but those components that are very useful in one case, in another they can greatly harm the body of the baby and mother.
Mint tea during pregnancy has a number of restrictions:
- If a pregnant woman has diseases or disorders in the liver or kidneys, mint is not recommended.
- Excessive consumption of mint tea can provoke spontaneous abortion or cause premature birth due to the fact that mint has a high content of estrogens.
