With so many herbs to keep in mind during pregnancy, it makes sense that peppermint tea is a popular beverage of concern to pregnant women.
Overall, peppermint tea is a safe herbal tea to consume during pregnancy. While sticking with one or two cups per day of this comforting caffeine-free beverage, just make sure you check the ingredients list to be aware of other herbs or spices in your tea.
Let’s dive into more details about drinking peppermint tea during your pregnancy, especially various tea blends.
Is Peppermint Tea Safe When Pregnant?
Peppermint tea, made from steeped dried peppermint leaves, is safe during pregnancy in normal amounts (Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine). Furthermore, studies show that peppermint tea may even have health benefits that ease symptoms commonly faced by pregnant women.
Many well-known brands of peppermint tea, such as Celestial Seasonings and Twinings, only contain the ingredient peppermint. Look for a brand of tea that says “Pure Peppermint” to ensure that there are no other herbs or spices present in your tea.
However, some blends of peppermint tea may have other ingredients with their own considerations — more on this below!
Can I Drink Peppermint Tea in Early Pregnancy?
Research shows that excessive use of peppermint tea is not recommended in early pregnancy (source: Medeniyet Medical Journal). However, the term “excessive” is not clearly defined in the literature.
Therefore, avoiding more than a cup or so of peppermint tea daily in the first trimester of pregnancy is best.
The Benefits of Peppermint Tea During Pregnancy
Traditionally, peppermint has been used to manage symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, bloating, and nausea (Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine).
Some research does support these uses, but studies specific to pregnant women are limited. However, research does show that peppermint tea may act as a treatment for morning sickness during pregnancy (source: Medeniyet Medical Journal).
Additionally, peppermint tea has been studied in animal models. Research shows that peppermint tea can relax the gastrointestinal tract and may help with painful symptoms (source: Phytotherapy Research).
As mentioned above, very few studies have focused on peppermint tea, specifically in pregnant women, as it is difficult to ethically experiment with pregnant participants.
Regardless, peppermint tea is a tasty way to consume more fluids, which is also essential during pregnancy.
How Much Peppermint Tea Can Pregnant Women Drink?
While peppermint tea is naturally caffeine-free, the amount you consume still matters during pregnancy. As mentioned above, pregnant women should avoid excessive amounts of peppermint tea or any peppermint product, as it can potentially cause menstruation (source: Medeniyet Medical Journal).
Therefore, to be on the safe side, consume just one to two cups of peppermint tea each day. If you like strongly brewed peppermint tea, only drink about one cup daily.
What About Blends like Spearmint When Pregnant?
As it is commonly found in peppermint tea blends, spearmint is also safe to consume in average amounts during pregnancy, such as that found in tea. Though consuming very large amounts of spearmint can damage the uterus (source: MedlinePlus).
Like peppermint tea, consuming one to two cups a day of tea containing spearmint is likely safe.
Peppermint tea blends can have a wide variety of other herbs and spices, including ginger.
Ginger in tea is not only safe to consume, but it can also help relieve nausea (which pregnant women often experience) and acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant in the body (source: Herbal Medicine).
A popular peppermint tea blend is the Twinings Superblends Probiotics tea which contains peppermint and fennel. It is recommended to avoid consuming fennel tea during pregnancy, and therefore you should avoid this peppermint tea blend.
For more information regarding fennel consumption and fennel tea during pregnancy, check out this article here.
It is essential to read the nutrition facts labels on your tea packages to ensure you are aware of any other ingredients, especially in tea blends. If you are unsure about an herb or spice your tea contains, it would be best to stick with pure peppermint tea or check with your physician before drinking the tea.
I hope this article was helpful in breaking down the information regarding peppermint tea and how to consume it during pregnancy safely!
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