If you’re anything like us, you'll eat WAY too much delicious holiday food this Thanksgiving (no regrets). Going back for seconds (and thirds) definitely leaves us feeling a little on the heavy side, but luckily we have a simple natural solution: peppermint tea!
Peppermint tea is absolutely amazing for relieving gas and bloating caused by overeating. It’s even pretty powerful when it comes to alleviating more serious symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). So after a big meal, it makes sense to skip the espresso and opt for a fresh, soothing cup of herbal peppermint tea.
WHY IT WORKS
Peppermint leaves contain menthol, which supports digestion by relaxing your stomach muscles and opening up your digestive tract, allowing food to flow more smoothly through your body. So when your body can’t keep up with all the mashed potatoes and stuffing, peppermint tea will help get things moving again.
The strong aroma of peppermint has also been shown to reduce cravings. So sipping on a cup of tea could prevent you from going for another piece of pie. And unlike coffee, it will help freshen your breath and relax you before bedtime.
HOW TO DRINK IT
You can buy peppermint tea bags at just about every grocery or health food store on the planet. Loose tea is even better because it uses the whole leaf (bags tend to use trimmed leaves and tea dust), it’s generally of higher quality and stored in airtight packaging. This allows for a fresher, more flavorful cup.
If you’re purchasing pre-bagged tea out of convenience (we get it), do a little research first. Many brands treat their bags with epichlorohydrin, a chemical substance that prevents breakage but can also cause health complications if consumed on the reg. No thanks! Clean Plates has some great toxin-free tea recommendations to help you shop smart.
Or, because we're such DIY-ers, you could just make your own! For the freshest possible cup of mint tea, soak several organic mint leaves directly in a mug of boiling water and let stand for about 10 minutes. Easy peasy! The number of leaves you use will depend on your preference, but we recommend starting with four or five to start and adjusting from there.
Image courtesy of huffingtonpost.com
