Mint! A popular name for an herb that has numerous health benefits, a herb known for its medicinal properties.
Mint leaves are truly remarkable for their nutritional content and medicinal properties and can be grown and used throughout the year. It is one of the oldest culinary herbs known to humans for a long time.
It has remarkable medicinal properties in it and is a rich source of polyphenols. Apart from that, It has carminative and antispasmodic properties.
Mint leaves are the low calories herb and contain very low amounts of proteins and fats. Along with that, It has an enormous amount of Vitamin A, C, and B-complex that enhance skin and boost immunity.
Apart from that, it has numerous other health benefits. So let’s dive into the article below and find out the 7 health benefits of mint.
Nutritional health benefits of mint
Helps to treat digestive problems
Mint is an effective herb for relieving various digestive problems such as upset stomach and indigestion.
When food sits in the stomach for too long a time before passing into the rest of the digestive tract, indigestion occurs and it upsets the stomach.
Multiple studies and research by scientists have shown that food passes through the stomach quicker when people take peppermint oil with meals, or add some mint to their food which could relieve the symptoms of this type of indigestion.
A clinical study in people with indigestion problems showed that a combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil taken as capsules had effects similar to medications used to treat indigestion. This helped improve and clear the stomach problems and other digestive symptoms.
As per various studies, mint leaves can relieve indigestion using peppermint oil rather than fresh or dried leaves. So if you have some issues with consuming mint leaves directly, you can have peppermint oil.
Could Improve Brain Function
Apart from curing digestive problems, some claim inhaling the aroma of essential oils from the mint could provide health benefits, including improved brain function.
One research involving 144 young adults tells that smelling the aroma of peppermint oil for five minutes before testing produced significant improvements in memory.
Another study also found that smelling these oils while driving increased alertness, and concentration and decreased levels of frustration, anxiety, and fatigue.
However, not all studies agree it affects brain function. One study also found that this herb and the aroma of its oil was invigorating and led to less fatigue; however, it had no effect on brain function.
More research is needed to help understand how it works, and to improve brain function.
Used to treat cold
Mint is also used as a herb to treat flu and cold. As you know many over-the-counter colds and flu treatments contain menthol, a primary compound in peppermint oil.
So people believe that menthol is an effective nasal decongestant that can get rid of congestion and improve airflow and breathing.
However, multiple studies and research show that menthol has no decongestant function. However, research also shows that menthol can subjectively improve nasal breathing and increase airflow.
It means that although menthol can’t work as a decongestant, it can make people feel like they are breathing through their nose easier and treat the flu.
This is likely to provide some relief to those people affected by a cold or the flu. So mint leaves are often used to make tea and given to the person having a cold.
Take care of the oral health and smell
Have you taken some non veg Or onion or garlic? What will you do next? You must have chewing gum to treat the smell.
But next time, have some mint leaves instead. it has some quality and strong smell that eradicates the smell and takes care of your oral health.
That’s why most of the toothpaste has mint base in it. That’s because of its antibacterial properties and strong odour.
It inhibits the growth of bacteria in your mouth and cleanses plague deposition in your teeth. Apart from that, it kills bacteria and beats bad breath, keeping the mouth and teeth naturally healthy.
Helps in skincare
Mint is a traditional remedy and the best option for treating acne and pimples. This herb has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which work wonders on acne-prone skin.
the leaves of this have a high content of salicylic acid, which is an excellent component in combating acne action too. So it is effective in treating acne and other skin problems.
The juice obtained from it can work as an effective skin cleanser. The high quantum contents of antioxidants also help prevent free radical activity, giving you clearers and youthful skin.
So you can use mint as a face cleanser, herbal face cream, etc. Besides, you can use it in the form of face masks as well.
If you want to use it as a face mask, Combine crushed mint leaves and honey. Apply the mask to your skin and leave it for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water.
Helps to beat tension and stress
Mint is an important herb and an essential part of aromatherapy. The strong and refreshing smell of it could help to beat stress and rejuvenate the mind.
It has some adaptogenic properties that regulate cortisol levels in the body and boost the body’s natural resilience to stress. Adaptogens help to balance the body in whatever way is needed.
So by breathing in the aroma of mint, your mind will be instantly calmed. According to various studies, it also helps to release small amounts of serotonin in the brain which may help to beat depression.
So if you want to get relief from stress and stay calm, you can add this herb to your tea, use its extract on a vaporizer or draw yourself a mint bath for immediate relief.
Promotes weight loss
The aromatic herb has another effect that makes it a must-have herb in your food that it could help you in weight loss.
As we discussed earlier, its essential oils of it stimulate digestive enzymes and increase the digestion, increase the bile flow and promotes digestion in an effective manner.
Improved digestion also helps in improved nutrient absorption from the food by the body. When our body is able to assimilate and absorb nutrients properly, the metabolism rate of the body increases. The increase in metabolism rate promotes weight loss.
Conclusion
As you read this article this far, you have got the idea of several health benefits of mint leaves.
So keeping these things in mind, add a mint leaf to your diet or make a tea of it and have it regularly.
It will surely solve some of your health problems naturally to a certain extent and lead to a healthy life.
You may also like to read
