Does mint water for weight loss work?

Losing weight is not exactly a cake walk! It takes effort, perseverance and a lot of determination to get the desired results. You must have heard that your diet plays an important role in weight loss. If you’re someone trying to lose weight, you should try including mint or pudina water in your diet. My mom believes that drinking mint water is an excellent way to get rid of the extra kilos. While it is approved by my mother, it needs some validation from a doctor as well, so let’s check out if mint water for weight loss is a good idea or not.

Mint water for weight loss: Does it work?

Mint, which is known as pudina in Hindi, adds a dash of flavour to your dishes. The lesser-known fact about mint is its role as an excellent detox herb. It is loaded with nutrition and rich in iron. Available abundantly in summer, mint offers a refreshing and effortless way to harness its benefits through infused mint water. It is believed to be a good drink for people trying to lose weight.

“Mint water will help you lose weight, but it won’t make you magically lose weight because it initiates the body’s detoxification process. While efforts toward weight loss require a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise, starting with mint water can kickstart the journey effectively,” says nutritionist Eti Jain.

Also Read: Weight loss: 5 drinks to increase slow metabolism

How to make mint water?

Ingredients:

Process:

1. Pour 4 cups of fresh water into a jar or a small water bottle.
2. Rinse around 4 fresh mint sprigs, or about 25–30 leaves. You can take as many mint leaves as you like.
3. Crush the leaves gently.
4. Put the mint sprigs in the water to soak them.
5. Give the water and mint a few hours to steep so the mint may infuse the flavour into the water.

This allows the nutrients from the pudina to infuse into the water, enhancing its benefits. The infused water can be consumed throughout the day, and the remaining mint can be reused in dishes like raita or chaach.

Also Read: Did you know good old mint leaves come with these 8 powerful health benefits?

The best time to drink mint water to lose weight

If you’re trying to lose weight, you should drink mint water in the morning. It can be consumed on an empty stomach to let its detoxifying properties work. While morning is the ideal time, you can drink it throughout the day as it offers several benefits for weight loss.

More health benefits of mint water

Weight loss is not the only benefit of drinking mint water. Here are the other benefits of mint water you should know:

1. Rich in iron source

Mint is rich in iron and drinking mint water can help you meet your iron requirements, making it particularly beneficial for individuals with iron deficiencies or anaemia.

2. Balances your hormones

Mint acts as a superfood when it comes to addressing hormonal imbalances like PCOS, thyroid issues, and menopause, thanks to its natural properties, found a study published in the Journal of Ovarian Research.

3. Provides digestive relief

The menthol in pudina water provides relief from acidity and aids digestion, reducing the discomfort associated with digestive issues, found a study published in Research Gate Journal.

4. Helps avoid nausea during pregnancy

Pregnant women can benefit from pudina or mint water as it helps prevent nausea and reflux, providing much-needed relief during pregnancy.

5. Provides hydration

Besides its health benefits, mint water also serves as a refreshing and hydrating beverage, helping you meet your daily amount of water intake.

Are there any side effects of drinking mint water?

While generally safe for consumption, mint water may not be good for people with chronic kidney diseases or diabetic kidney disease. Patients with GERD may also experience heartburn, nausea, and headaches from consuming mint water. Otherwise, mint water is safe for everyone, with no restrictions on its consumption.