Beyond the Candy Cane: Peppermint Tricks

If you're trying to keep close tabs on added sugars and calories, it's time to rethink a daily peppermint mocha or candy cane habit. The good news is you can help your waistline (and your wallet) and still enjoy the holiday scent and flavor regularly, just with a new tradition. Swapping out your peppermint treat for a cup of hot peppermint tea or even a piece of mint gum keeps you in the spirit of the season while supporting your healthy goals.

Mint's strong scent has been shown to help control appetite and suppress cravings, and multiple studies have shown that peppermint tea can calm down the gastrointestinal tract and allow for healthy bowel movements to keep things moving and flowing naturally in your body.

Beyond weight loss and digestion, peppermint can also keep you sane during this sometimes stressful season! In a NASA-funded study, researchers found that during a stressful commute, subjects who smelled peppermint decreased their anxiety and fatigue levels by 20 percent and decreased frustration by 25 percent.