The Health Benefits of Mint

There are many great uses for mint, whether it be for freshening your breath or adding some flavor to recipes, including your Turkish and Mediterranean dishes. Mint is also good for your body as well. Here are some of the health benefits of mint.

• Respiratory Disorders: Mint helps open up your breathing passageways in your nose, throat, bronchi, and lungs. Mint also soothes the throat and gives relief to those suffering from cough, colds, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders. Many balms also incorporate the use of mint. To find out ways in which you can use mint and other foods for helping others lead healthy lives, as well as information on educational opportunities for a career in nutrition, click here.

• Digestion: Mint contains compounds that activate saliva glands in the mouth and glands in the stomach and intestines that secrete digestive enzymes, all of which are important in the process of digesting foods. It is good as an appetizer, in a main course, and also after a meal with some mints or mint tea. Many great chefs will incorporate mint into meals knowing full well about its digestive benefits.

• Nausea and Headache: The aroma that is produced from mint can be a great antidote to nausea. Sometimes taking in the aroma of some freshly crushed mint leaves or smelling some mint oil is enough to do the trick. Mint is also a great remedy for headaches. Simply rub some mint balm or oil on the forehead and around your nostrils.

• Immunity: Mint contains compounds with antiseptic properties. This helps inhibits the growth of bacteria that contribute to viral infections and other illnesses.

• Oral care: This is probably the most well known health benefit of mint. With its germicidal and breath freshening properties, mint is utilized in many oral care products, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, and breath fresheners.

• Skin care: Mint’s antiseptic and purifying properties make it great for getting rid of pimples, rashes, and skin infections. It can also be used for treating bites from such insects as mosquitoes, wasps, bees, and hornets.

• Cancer: Some research has suggested that mint contains anti-carcinogenic properties that help prevent the development of cancer. Also, the digestive aiding properties of mint help flush any existing carcinogenic material out of the body more rapidly and efficiently.

• Burns: By applying mint balm, oil, and juice to burns, you can help heal and soothe the skin.

• Body heat: Mint can help reduce body heat. Drink a cold glass of mint juice on a hot summer to day to reduce your body temperature and lessen your risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

• Stomach ache: Primarily due to its digestive aiding properties, mint helps get rid of stomach aches and reduce abdominal pain.

Sources:

http://rajanjolly.hubpages.com

http://www.organicfacts.net