What are the benefits of peppermint and does it help you lose weight? Nutriciologist named useful properties

Allena Denisova

“Everyone is familiar with the pleasant, refreshing aroma of mint: some add it to tea, some are more familiar with it from cosmetic preparations, some associate it with oral care products. The range of its uses is very diverse, and the list of useful properties is impressive enough to get to know this herb a little better, and perhaps start using it”.

What is peppermint?

Peppermint is a plant that is a hybrid of water mint and spike mint, originally used in cooking and food production, but it has also been used for its medicinal properties.

Peppermint has an oil component that is medicinal. It has a very high menthol content, which is considered a biologically active ingredient. This menthol is non-toxic in the recommended dose, but it should not be confused with the peppermint itself.

Menthol is a compound synthetically derived or extracted from peppermint or its other plants. It is widely used in pharmaceuticals, confectionery, oral hygiene products, cosmetics and as a flavoring agent.

Peppermint is also known as:

  • menthol;
  • piperita mint;
  • balsam mint.

But peppermint should not be confused with spearmint or water mint, plants of which it is a hybrid.

What is it useful for?

The main therapeutic role of mint is due to its positive effect in various problems with the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). For example, it can relax the muscles of the stomach and intestinal tract, and internal application of the herb accelerates the early phase of digestion in the stomach, while reducing peristalsis of the colon.

It is also known as a carminative: peppermint is believed to help with flatulence. In addition, there is a lot of evidence in favor of its use to reduce abdominal pain in people with irritable bowel syndrome.

But, of course, it has other benefits as well:

1. Peppermint has the ability to relieve headaches. This is due to the application of a 10% solution of peppermint to the scalp at the onset of tension followed by repetition after 15 and 30 min.

2 There is evidence regarding the ability of peppermint to reduce nausea when used as an aromatherapy. This method does not require a specific dosage. The extract of the herb should be used either as an oil or in a distiller until the pleasant aroma spreads around.

Any form of peppermint oil should be effective, although for people who suffer from heartburn and wish to take peppermint oil for the intestines, enterosolubil coated capsules will be helpful.

An enterosolubilized coating is a polymer barrier applied to oral medications that prevents them from dissolving or disintegrating in the gastric environment

3- Peppermint oil aromatherapy improves anxiety in adults with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Many people who develop ACS, a condition in which too little blood can reach the heart, often experience high levels of anxiety, especially in the early stages of the disease.

A study of this issue has shown that aromatherapy with peppermint oil can have a beneficial effect on reducing anxiety in patients.

4- The use of essential oil of herbs, flowers and other plants is a popular method in dealing with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Two herbs are usually used for this purpose: not only mint, but also lemon.

This effect is achieved by applying three drops of a therapeutic solution of five percent essential oil of lemon and five percent essential oil of peppermint on a cotton swab and bringing it to the nose at a distance of no more than 3 cm. After that, you should take a few deep breaths through your nose.

How can peppermint help with weight loss?

Of course, in the breakdown of fats, mint can not help, but with its help you can achieve good results in weight loss. The fact is that many people consume a large number of sweet drinks that greatly increase the caloric content of the diet.

Their danger lies not only in the presence of sugar, but also in the fact that not everyone considers them as a source of calories, consuming juices, carbonated drinks, sweet tea and coffee in large quantities.

Here too, peppermint drinks are a good substitute. Their peculiarity is in the refreshing flavor, the absence of added sugar and attractive appearance: in addition to the herb itself, you can add any fruits and berries to them. Such drinks can be taken with you to work, drink them in the process of training and experiment with the filling every time.

Contraindications

You can use mint only after consulting a doctor, because it has contraindications. Among them:

  • low blood pressure;
  • varicose veins;
  • age under two years;
  • predisposition to allergic reactions;
  • pregnancy;
  • gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Recipes for drinks with mint

Water with mint and blueberries

Ingredients:

  • Kiwi – 2 pcs;
  • blueberries – 1 handful;
  • lemon – 0,5 pcs;
  • mint – 1 bundle;
  • water – 1.5 liters.

Recipe:

  1. Put in the bowl of a blender peeled kiwi and mint leaves, prepare a puree.
  2. Send it to a pitcher, pour the juice of half a lemon, add blueberries, pour water.
  3. Stir, you can strain before serving.
  4. Serve the drink with ice.

Water with mint and ginger

Ingredients:

  • mint – 1 bundle;
  • lime – 2 pcs;
  • ginger – 45 g;
  • plain or carbonated water – 2 liters.

Recipe:

  1. Cut ginger into thin slices, put it in a saucepan, add mint leaves, pour in a glass of water, cook for three minutes.
  2. Squeeze juice from limes.
  3. Strain and cool the mint-ginger broth.
  4. Put ice in a large pitcher, pour in the cold broth, lime juice and water.
  5. Stir the drink with a long cocktail spoon or bamboo stick before serving.

Green tea with mint and lime

Ingredients:

  • mint – 30 g;
  • green leaf tea – 1 tsp;
  • cinnamon – 1 stick;
  • badian – 1 star;
  • lime – 0.5 pcs;
  • water – 1.5 liters.

Recipe:

  1. Separate the mint leaves from the sprigs, put them in a small saucepan, add the tea and pour water. Infuse for two or three minutes.
  2. Cover the teapot with boiling water, put in it cinnamon, badian and lime, cut into slices, pour the infused tea. Brew for two minutes.

You can drink it hot or take it with you when chilled.

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