There are three drinks packed with health benefits that you can choose from
Doctors recommend incorporating a cup of tea into your daily routine – but not just any kind. Experts suggest that choosing the right type could significantly lower blood pressure and promote overall health due to its anti-inflammatory benefits.
According to a recent scientific review by the Tea Advisory Panel (TAP), the key lies in mint tea. The panel highlights that drinking just one to two cups per day may offer impressive health benefits, supporting everything from brain function to joint health.
The study co-author and tea expert, Dr Tim Bond, said: “The list of health areas regular mint tea (peppermint or spearmint variants) consumption could help support includes brain health, heart health and digestive health.” It may also help to reduce arthritic pain and improve sleep, so it really has potential as a simple health hack.
“The benefits of mint tea are, thanks to its polyphenol, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and blood pressure lowering effects, making it an easily achievable action to put on our list of health-focused objectives for 2025,” adds study co-author and fellow TAP expert, Dr Emma Derbyshire. In their study, healthy young adults were given 200 ml, about one large cup, of peppermint tea which they drank over a 10 minute period.
Doctor Bond revealed: “We found scientific evidence to back up the brain health benefits of drinking mint tea” adding that “peppermint tea significantly enhances the speed of memory, long-term memory and alertness.” Dr Derbyshire points out one UK study highlighting the potential heart-protective properties of mint, explaining: “In one clinical trial, participants were asked to drink 50 μL of peppermint infusions diluted in 100 ml of water twice a day for 20 days, while the control group received a peppermint flavoured placebo.
“The group who received the peppermint drink experienced significantly greater reductions in blood pressure and triglycerides – both important markers of a healthy heart – than the group who received the peppermint flavoured placebo.” In another study, participants drank two 300ml cups of spearmint tea daily for 16 weeks.
Results showed that those in the trial experienced a notable decrease in knee arthritis pain compared to the control group. Thanks to the key studies which show its benefits, Dr Derbyshire, said: “It may be worth drinking a few cups a day to ease your joints into your fitness plans for spring.”
It may even help if you have an upset stomach with the doctor adding “peppermint tea has a relaxing effect on the tissue of the gastrointestinal tract.” The new TAP study also highlighted additional benefits of mint tea, including support for women’s hormonal health, improved oral health, relief from acute respiratory tract infections, and a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Dr Tim Bond concludes: “Including mint tea – peppermint or spearmint – in our daily diet could help get our body and brain into mint condition, by supporting our gut health, brain health, joint health, and sleep – among a myriad of other health benefits. Having these basics in place could be the support we need to stay on track with our wider list of healthy habits we want to start or stick to as we spring into spring.”