Mint water for weight loss. The best recipes with mint for weight loss

Mint is a product that can be effectively used for weight loss. Thanks to its properties, you will reduce your appetite, dull the feeling of hunger and more easily cope with stress, which causes the desire to overeat. There are different types of mint drinks for weight loss that will take a few minutes to prepare.

What are the benefits of mint tea for weight loss?

Everyone says that when losing weight, regardless of diet, you can and should drink mint. Why should you brew this particular herb to lose extra pounds? So, mint tea has the main advantage, thanks to which weight loss goes more smoothly and as effectively as possible - it reduces appetite .

That is, if you want to eat something forbidden or high-calorie, for example, a cake, then just drink a cup of tea to reduce cravings. This will be both a liquid and a small snack at the same time, so you can easily last until your next meal. Maybe at first the effect will be minimal, but you will definitely eat less than you planned, and this will happen thanks to mint.

In order for mint tea to have the desired effect in losing weight, be sure to drink it warm, or even slightly hot. Drink in small portions to enjoy and at the same time benefit from the drink.

Mint tea has a direct effect on weight loss with its minimal amount of calories (49 kcal) and calming effect . This is incredibly important, because if you, for example, replace a mint drink with coffee or black tea, you will excite the nervous system, speed up the absorption of substances, and aggravate potential diseases of the digestive tract. All this is extremely undesirable for a person losing weight.

Peppermint, in turn, will have the opposite effect:

• calms and relaxes the nervous system;
• dulls the feeling of hunger;
• will calm the stomach.

By the way, about relaxing the nerves. For many, a peaceful state does not seem like a prerogative, but we must not forget that it is important for a person losing weight to minimize stress. The fact is that when experiencing constant stress, the body intensively produces cortisol, and this entails a constant desire to snack. That's why you want to eat a stressful state so much. In such an affect, you can not only quit your diet, but also abuse prohibited foods, which entails weight gain.

Since the properties of peppermint include stress relief, cortisol is reduced in the body, which means there is a greater chance of speeding up metabolic processes and thereby getting closer to your ideal weight.

Mechanism of weight loss

Peppermint is actively used in dietary nutrition, as it has a number of beneficial properties for weight loss:

• activates metabolism;
• enhances gastric peristalsis, suppresses the processes of fermentation and putrefaction, acts as an antispasmodic on the smooth muscles of the intestine;
• promotes the outflow of bile, which is involved in lipolysis;
• has a mild laxative effect;
• calms down, reducing cortisol levels (of all hormones, this is one of the worst enemies of weight loss);
• has low calorie content: 49 kcal per 100 g of fresh raw materials.

Mint smoothies, drunk shortly before training, increase its effectiveness, as they add vigor, increase performance and relieve fatigue.

However, everyone losing weight should take into account the fact that when consumed orally, it increases appetite, activating the functioning of the digestive glands. Therefore, in dietetics it should not be eaten before meals, so as not to exceed the permissible serving size later.

This is interesting! In 2009, the New York Times published an article by B. Raudenbush, a professor of psychology from West Virginia, with the results of the experiment. In a study, he proved that the smell of peppermint reduces appetite. 40 subjects inhaled its aroma every 2 hours for a week. As a result, the daily calorie content of their diet decreased significantly.

Lemon water with mint for weight control

It is recommended to drink lemon juice with mint for the following reasons:

• Increases metabolism;
• Saturates with vitamins, which is so lacking in strict diets;
• Cleanses the body of accumulations of toxins, which is highly desirable when losing weight;
• Accelerates the production of bile, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, provided that there is no gastritis;
• Removes stagnant fluid in the body, which helps the kidneys work.

Despite these positive qualities of the combination of lemon and mint, it is worth understanding the myths that the drink has acquired:

• Lemon is not an alkaline product, as many people believe. Its acidity is very high, which means you will increase the acidity balance in your body. Therefore, if you have problems with this, then lemon juice is contraindicated for you. It is not necessary to buy acid-base balance tests. Just try lemon juice. If an unpleasant reaction occurs - it is too acidic, and then terribly uncomfortable conditions arise in the stomach, which may indicate gastritis, then you should not drink this juice. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s with mint or without.
• Lemon contains pectin, which can quench or dull the feeling of hunger. This is true. But if you have gastritis or have been treated for this disease in the past, then you should not drink lemon-mint juice, especially on an empty stomach.
• Another mythical plus is that lemon water quenches thirst. This is not entirely true. Regular water quenches your thirst, but lemon water is almost food. Therefore, regardless of the number of drops of lemon in the water, you will cause a little digestive tract, and this is not advisable between meals.

In the next article we will talk in more detail about the benefits of lemon for weight loss.

Lemon-mint juice will only be beneficial if it is natural. Store-bought juices and water contain too many chemicals to be used for weight loss.

Medicinal properties of the plant

Preparations based on mint are used internally or externally in the treatment of the following conditions:

• Diseases of the digestive system: to reduce the acidity of gastric juice, reduce intestinal spasms, flatulence, normalize gastrointestinal motility, as an antiemetic and choleretic agent.
• Colds: to facilitate nasal breathing, reduce cough, remove mucus from the bronchi, reduce temperature.
• Anxiety disorders, depression, nervous tension, difficulty falling asleep and maintaining sleep.
• Pain syndrome of various localizations: headaches, pain in the stomach, spine and joints, pain from insect bites, burns, skin injuries.
• Cardiovascular problems: rapid heartbeat, arrhythmias, angina pectoris, vascular spasm, high blood pressure.
• Motion sickness in transport (sea sickness and other kinetoses).
• Vegetative-vascular dystonia and diseases of the nervous system, manifested by a decrease in memory, attention, thinking and other higher brain functions (in particular, dyscirculatory and hypertensive encephalopathy, Alzheimer's disease).

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Mint with milk for weight loss

Another great combination of a mint drink for getting rid of excess fat is with milk. Of course, the drink is not for everyone, but it is easy to get used to it if you cleanse your body of toxins.

While mint has a calming effect on the body, milk acts as a building material because it is a high-quality protein. Given this combination, a drink automatically becomes a snack, albeit a liquid one. Therefore, try to drink mint with milk only during meals, and not between them. In addition, after milk you may feel a feeling of heaviness, which means that by the next meal you will be full, which is also not very good - the rhythm will be lost.

Try to drink milk with mint in the afternoon and preferably when you do not need to drive or perform complex mental work. The fact is that the drink should be warm when consumed, and in combination with mint, drowsiness will increase. Therefore, it is good to drink milk with mint before bed - an excellent natural sleeping pill.

Remember that if you experience bloating, stomach discomfort or problems with bowel movements after drinking mint with milk, it is better to avoid this drink.

Possible harm

Contraindications:

• bronchial asthma;
• tendency to allergies;
• low blood pressure, varicose veins;
• individual intolerance;
• drowsiness;
• epilepsy;
• liver pathologies: colic, cirrhosis, hepatitis;
• pregnancy (complications are possible), lactation (milk quantity decreases);
• low acidity, gastric achlorhydria, gastroesophageal reflux disease;
• hiatal hernia;
• gallstones;
• age up to 12 years.

If you have diseases of the respiratory system and concurrent use of medications, you should consult your doctor before “mint” weight loss.

It is also not recommended for those who spend a lot of time driving, as it may reduce concentration or make you sleepy.

Side effects:

• strong feeling of nausea up to vomiting;
• heartburn;
• exacerbation of varicose veins;
• drowsiness, decreased concentration;
• headache;
• bronchospasms;
• decreased male libido, infertility;
• rashes on the body, itching.

Be careful! Menthol contained in mint can cause a reflex cessation of breathing in a child. Therefore, it is strongly not recommended to use it for weight loss in children under at least 12 years of age.

Green tea with mint

Considering the relaxing effects of mint, the combination of green tea and mint herb is not the best. Green tea is an activating drink that tones digestion and has a slight stimulating effect on the nervous system. Thus, at best, you may not achieve any effect at all. At worst, it can upset your digestion.

Such a drink will give a positive result only in one case: green tea should be weakly brewed. The weaker the green tea, the less stimulating effect it will have, but its positive qualities will not deteriorate - metabolism will speed up and kidney function will improve, while mint will calm the nervous system and dull the urge to eat something tasty.

This drink can be drunk in the first half of the day, but then the concentration of mint should be reduced. By the way, this is the advantage of the drink - you can vary the ratio of ingredients depending on the desired effect.

When is mint dangerous to use?

Mint is contraindicated for use in case of hypersensitivity to it, as the risk of developing an allergic reaction increases, and with low blood pressure. Also, it should not be given to children under 3 years of age, since menthol when used in inhalation can cause a sharp narrowing of the bronchi and respiratory depression in a child.

People suffering from varicose veins and cholelithiasis, pregnant and lactating women should take mint with caution. Peppermint tea can cause the cervical muscles to relax and increase the risk of miscarriage. In all of the above cases, it is better to consult a doctor first.

When using menthol-based drugs under the tongue, side effects may occur in the form of watery eyes, dizziness, and nausea. When used externally, skin redness, irritation, burning sensation is possible, and sometimes a rash appears. Such drugs should not be applied to areas of damaged skin; they should not be allowed to come into contact with the mucous membrane of the eyes. In case of an overdose of mint, there is a risk of developing the following symptoms: drowsiness, decreased pulse, diarrhea, leg cramps, muscle pain.

It should be borne in mind that peppermint-based products, when taken orally, enhance the effect of drugs that suppress the activity of the nervous system and centrally acting antihypertensive drugs, which sometimes requires changing the dosage regimen.

It is also important where exactly you get the mint. Large-scale pollution of the atmosphere and soil with toxic chemicals also affects the plants growing in this area. Mint can accumulate heavy metal salts, which, when consumed orally, enter the human body and cause various diseases. According to domestic studies, the excess of the content of manganese, zinc and copper in daily doses of infusions of peppermint leaves can reach 60% of the permissible levels. That is why it is better to purchase the plant dried in its original packaging, and fresh - in large supermarkets that sell plants grown under artificial conditions. Or cultivate mint yourself if you live in an environmentally friendly area. It is dangerous to consume a plant bought secondhand in markets where the products do not undergo proper quality control.

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Mint leaves are used for general health improvement and weight loss.

They are harvested in dry weather in July-August - during the flowering period, when some of the flowers have already opened, and some still remain in the form of buds. The entire above-ground part is cut off and dried. Then the leaves are picked and stored in paper bags for 2 years.

How to prepare mint drinks to lose weight?

Losing extra pounds will not stop if you prepare a mint drink according to the correct recipe.

Classic recipe

1. Take fresh or dried mint leaves. A tablespoon per cup is enough;
2. Pour boiling water over the grass;
3. Cover the cup with a lid and wait 5 minutes.

To ensure that it does not lose its valuable properties, mint tea should only be drunk freshly brewed.

Green tea with mint

1. Prepare weak green tea in the usual way;
2. For 1 liter of green tea add a tablespoon of mint leaves;
3. Add mint to already brewed green tea;
4. Wait 5 minutes and you are ready to drink.

Lemon water, mint and thyme in one drink

1. Take thyme and mint one teaspoon each;
2. Add portions of the herb to a cup of boiling water;
3. Brew for 5 minutes;
4. When the tea starts to cool, add a few teaspoons of lemon water and you are ready to drink.

Mint drink with milk and wild apples

1. Take a teaspoon of wild apples and the same amount of dry mint leaves;
2. Pour boiling water over apples and mint - 0.5 l;
3. Heat 4 tablespoons milk;
4. Drain the apples and mint leaves, combine the liquid with milk and drink.

Restrictions and prohibitions on the use of mint

Despite the huge list of benefits of mint for weight loss, this herb should be drunk carefully. It is not recommended to use mint in the following cases:

• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding;
• menthol intolerance.

But even if you do not have limiting factors, you should not abuse the drink, otherwise you may encounter problems:

• excessive sleepiness (which is dangerous while driving);
• diarrhea;
• muscle pain;
• convulsions;
• heart problems.

As an aid in the process of losing weight, mint is ideal, but it is not a means for weight loss, so you cannot use mint drinks as a product for fasting days.

It is impossible to lose weight on peppermint alone; moreover, you can harm yourself, because mint is still a medicine.

Benefit

Regularly drinking mint drinks while losing weight can improve your health as a pleasant bonus. This herb has been used since ancient times to treat and eliminate:

• pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiectasis;
• headache and toothache;
• neuralgia;
• hoarseness, hoarseness;
• gastrointestinal and hepatic colic, nausea, heartburn, flatulence, constipation, intestinal catarrh;
• itching, neurodermatitis, eczema, mycosis;
• nervous excitement (especially during menopause), insomnia, neurotic conditions;
• angina pectoris, hypertension;
• liver diseases: cholecystitis, jaundice, cholangitis;
• runny nose.

Tea, drops and tincture based on this plant are prescribed as medicines with a wide spectrum of action:

• gastric;
• carminative;
• astringents, antitussives;
• sedatives;
• choleretic;
• antiseptic;
• antispasmodic;
• painkillers, anesthetics;
• vasodilators.

Mint is used to produce inexpensive but effective medications: validol, valocordin, ingafen, olimethin, Zelenin drops, used for spasms of coronary vessels.

Origin of name. Goes back to the Greek name Mentha. That was the name of the nymph, who was the personification of reason. Hades himself, the ancient Greek god of the underworld, fell in love with her. Upon learning of this, his wife Persephone became angry and turned the girl into grass.

Mint owes its beneficial properties to its chemical composition, which includes:

• essential oil, which contains menthol;
• tannins and resins;
• acids: ascorbic, chlorogenic, caffeic, ursolic, oleanolic;
• carotene, rutin, betaine, arginine, hesperidin, phytosterol;
• glucose, rhamnose;
• neutral saponins;
• fatty oil.

Most of the healing properties are dictated by the bioactivity of menthol.

Through the pages of history. Previously, students always carried a few mint leaves in their pockets, as they knew its ability to activate the brain and increase mental abilities.