women are advised to limit the consumption of coffee, black and green teas due to their strong tonic effect, as well as the ability to remove large amounts of water from the body. In order to maintain the optimal water balance necessary for proper metabolism, it is recommended to switch to herbal teas. Mint tea is among the undoubted favorites of expectant mothers, since mint does not adversely affect the health and development of the embryo.

tea with mint
Mint tea has a low concentration of menthol and is not contraindicated for pregnant women in the amount of 1-2 cups per day

The easiest way to consume mint is to brew it like you would any herbal tea. You should take 2-3 teaspoons of crushed dry leaves and pour 500 ml of hot water over them.

Since boiling water, as a rule, destroys vitamins and beneficial trace elements, you should not use too hot water.

The drink should be infused for 20-30 minutes. Mint tea is often advised to drink chilled, preferably before meals. Mint can be added to various drinks, both hot and cold.

You can add a little dried mint to weak black or green tea.

As prescribed by the doctor - infusion and decoction

Настой и отвар — гораздо более концентрированные жидкости, чем tea. It is permissible to drink them during pregnancy only for specific indications and according to the regimen that your doctor will prescribe for you.

Medicinal plants, like tablets, have contraindications and side effects. It is best to buy mint leaves at a pharmacy, since the herbs that are on sale undergo high quality control. Instructions for the medical use of peppermint leaves indicate the following method of preparing the infusion:

3 filter bags (4.5 g) are placed in a glass or enamel bowl;
pour 200 ml of boiling water;
cover and insist for 15 minutes, periodically pressing on the bags with a spoon;
sachets are squeezed;
the volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml.
From dry unpackaged raw materials, the infusion is prepared a little differently: a tablespoon of raw materials (about 5 g) in an enameled container is poured with a glass of hot boiled water and simmered in a boiling water bath under a lid, stirring for 15 minutes, then cooled to room temperature and filtered. The volume of infusion with boiled water is adjusted to an amount of 200 ml.

Mint infusion is taken orally in a small amount one or more times a day, usually the doctor prescribes it before meals. Shake the liquid before use.

In folk medicine, recipes for mint decoction are often found. It is worth noting that only the infusion is considered scientifically approved. The broth due to long boiling, digestion, has a different chemical composition. Therefore, check with the doctor what exactly he prescribes and for what purpose.

Essential oil and mints

It is important to know that eating peppermint essential oil during pregnancy is strictly contraindicated. If the content of essential oils in mint leaves, flowers and stems ranges from 3 to 7%, then the essential oil is a pure product, and, therefore, its effect is enhanced many times over. For this reason, in no case should it be added to tea or pastries, or eaten in any other way. Peppermint essential oil, as mentioned above, can be used within reasonable limits for baths, inhalations and compresses.

mint oil
Even the cosmetic use of essential oils during pregnancy should be agreed with the doctor.

It should be noted that not all modern mint-smelling and tasting foods and medicines do contain mint. The chemical industry has long learned how to synthesize the taste and aroma of mint, therefore, not a natural extract of the plant, but synthetically obtained menthol is often added to food products. Naturally, such products do not have a therapeutic effect. In addition, artificial menthol can also cause allergies.

mint candy
Most mints contain artificial menthol

A pregnant woman should especially carefully study the labels of consumed products for the substances that make up them.