Digital creator Shubh Hamirwasia recently shared his three hacks for weight loss, one of which includes snacking on mints to curb hunger pangs. His reasoning? The act of chewing tricks the brain into believing you are eating.
Is this a sustainable or healthy approach to weight loss? Indianexpress.com spoke to Meenu Balaji, chief nutritionist at Pragmatic Nutrition, Chennai, to find out whether this method is effective.
“No, snacking on mint cannot help you lose weight. It can act as a mere distraction to munch something on, if you are habituated to snacking at certain times of the day. I would rather recommend options like air-popped popcorn, or roasted makhanas,” said Balaji.
According to her, snacking on mint is definitely not a healthy way to lose weight. “You might think mints are low in calories and a better alternative. But many of their ingredients, like carnauba wax and gum arabic, could negatively affect people with digestive issues or food sensitivities,” she said.
Are mints a healthy snacking option? (Source: Freepik)
Are there any health benefits at all?
“Not really. Other than being a mouth freshener, mints offer no real health benefits,” Balaji said.
She also pointed out that mints contain hidden sugars, even if the amount per piece is too small to be listed on the label. “A single mint may not harm you, but since we don’t know how much sugar and dextrose a whole box contains, regular consumption could add up. These additives might also cause bloating if eaten in excess,” she said.