Healthy Herb: 10 Benefits of Mint

  Healthy Herb: The Mint

Mint is a perennial or rarely annual herb belonging to the family Lamiaceae. Mints are aromatic fast growing herbs having an estimated 13 to 18 species in the genus Mentha. Besides its hundreds of medicinal value mint widely used as a mouth freshener in stuff such as breathe fresheners, toothpaste, chewing gums and mint candies. Mints are indeterminately growing short stature bushes with heights reaching 10 to 120 cm. The plants have stolen type branching habit. It prefers moist soil. Due its air freshening effect, many plant lovers prefer to grow on the window sill as house plants. Let us see the marvels of this healthy herb in maintaining health.

Some Common Mints

Some common mints are spearmint, peppermint, ginger mint, apple mint, horsemint, Corsican mint and many more.

Why is mint cool?

The chemical in mint is ‘menthol’ a waxy crystalline ingredient contained in mint leaves. But haven’t you felt that products having menthol feels cool and tastes cold? This is because the skin of our body has cold receptors that are cold-sensitive which bind with menthol and produces a cold sensation. It is due to menthol in mint extracts that gives it the minty cold sensational taste to foods without affecting the temperature. However it is solid at room temperature, but melts a little above room temperature. The extract of mint containing menthol is used to flavor many processed foods, candies, chewing gum, chocolates, and mouth fresheners.

Why is mint herb healthy?

Mint…. a healthy herb supplies 3 major nutrients such as manganese, copper and vitamin C in 5, 3 and 3 percent respectively. It also provides 5 calories in 7.60 g of leaves on a fresh weight basis. Having a very low Glycemic Index (GI) value; that measures a low carbohydrate absorption that in turn has an impact on our blood sugar, mint is considered one of the worlds’ healthiest foods.

Health Benefits of Mint Leaves

The menthol in mint makes it a high-value herbal medication. Of the many health benefits let us see a major of them that just works wonders for your health.

1. Healthy Herb-Mint for Digestion

Mint helps in digestion, cleans the stomach and builds an appetite. This healthy herb relieves one from indigestion, nauseating and mostly motion sickness. Tea with the mint leaf is a great reliever of stomach inflammation and gastric disorder. The flavor in mint activates the salivary glands to produces enzymes that help in digestion. As a palate cleanser, mint is taken before a main meal.

2. Mint in respiratory functioning

Mint is a reliever of a sore throat, cold and even asthma. It relieves spells of asthma removing the congestion of the throat and lung. As it clears the bronchi and lungs it gives respite to breathing problems in when attacked with irritating colds. For colds and cough peppermint and spearmint are used for hot or cold tea. The mint containing menthol is also used in making balm, creams, inhalers and ointments that are recommended for external use for relief of a sore throat. Inhalers produced with mint as a source are also eco-friendly healthy herb and free of health hazards.

3. Mint: A reliever of Migraine Headache

Health benefit of mint is incredible in removing nausea during migraine headaches. The flavor of the crushed leaves, when applied to the forehead, soothes and relaxes the muscles. Menthol oil extracted from mint is often used in chronic migraine headaches.

4. Mint- an anti-depressant

The aroma of mint stimulates your brain and releases fatigue and depression. Mint oils or vapor of balms releases tension, frees one from anxiety as the ‘icy effect’ is a muscle relaxer. A good relaxing practice is to add a few drops of mint oil to the pillow. Mint, therefore, acts as an aromatherapy and puts one to sleep. Having a mood swing? A minted chewing gum will bring you back to a lively mood!

5. Menthol oil for Breastfeeders

Breastfeeding a healthy way of raising a child can cause cracks in the nipples. Studies show that menthol oil reduces nipple pain and cracks and make breastfeeding comfortable.

6. Healthy Herb for Memory Retention

Mint is known to stimulate the mental alertness and sharpening the memory. Chewing gum containing mint flavor stimulates cognitive functioning and mental awareness. What a wonderful way of having a healthy herb in chewing gum.

7.Mint- a Skin Cleanser

Mint as an inflammatory agent, removes itches, insect bites and even acts as an anti-allergic agent. The mint juice is used to remove pimples, skin rashes and sunburns. The cooling sensation of mint is the reason for removing the irritation of the skin and prevents an infective condition.

8. Mint for Oral Hygiene

The popularity of mint is most prominent in oral hygiene. Not only in herbal cosmetics, many pharmaceuticals manufacture mint flavored toothpaste, minted mouthwash, and mouth cleansers. Mint leaves as a healthy herb may be directly applied to the mouth to clean the bacteria accumulation in the mouth.

9.Mint- a Healthy Herb to lose Weight

As an enzyme stimulating agent, mint absorbs extra fat and changes it into usable energy. Fresh whole mint leaves give flavor to food and used in garnishing and decorations to add to its fat reducing effect. Fruit juices blended with mint leaves cuts down the effect of fatty food. The fat is consumed instead of being accumulated as extra weight. What a minty way of reducing obesity!

10. Environmental Benefits of Mint

Mint along with its industrial benefits in the food and cosmetic industry, is used as an ingredient of a low-dose pesticide. It helps in maintaining a healthy environment. It is an insect repellent and especially effective in killing mosquitoes. A mint bush around the house repels the mosquitoes and insects and produces a refreshing air. Accept the wonders of this healthy herb of nature and keep yourself cool!