Peppermint

Peppermint leaves have a beautiful greenish purple shade and a lance shape.



There are more than 25 different species of mint out of which peppermint is a natural hybrid plant of water mint and spearmint. Although peppermint leaves are available all round the year, its flavor and crispy cool taste is enjoyed the most in warm weather in a salad or a beverage. The main active ingredients of peppermint are menthol and methyl salicylate.



They have soothing and calming effects on the muscles internally when taken orally. It’s used historically for number of health conditions like headache, indigestion, common cold, joint pain and nausea. The leaf of peppermint and peppermint bark is used to treat gallbladder problems and stomach or intestinal disorders.

Nutritional profile of peppermint –

Peppermint has an impressive range of traditional nutrients. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and manganese; it is also a very good source of iron, calcium, magnesium, folate, riboflavin, omega 3 fatty acids, potassium, copper and dietary fiber.

1. The vitamin A and vitamin C both act as antioxidants and play a role in decreasing the risk of colorectal cancer. Vitamin C is an important water soluble antioxidant that helps to scavenge the free radicals from the body and decrease the oxidative stress. It also plays an important role in regeneration of vitamin E which is another protective antioxidant and works synergistically with other antioxidants in the body. Some studies even show that vitamin C intake reduces the risk of colorectal cancer as high as 40% along with decreasing the incidence of colon tumors too. Beta carotene like vitamin C has been shown to protect the body cells against carcinogenic chemicals that can damage the DNA, by increasing cell differentiation.
2. Various studies show that peppermint oil helps to relieve gastrointestinal cramps and it has anti-bacterial properties and is helpful to improve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome which include indigestion, colonic muscle spasm, gas, nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, dyspepsia and increases gastric juices. These gastrointestinal healing properties are attributed to its ability to relax the smooth muscles.
   
   
   
   Once this task is done the chances of indigestion and other symptoms are minimized. Moreover the methanol present in peppermint also has bowel soothing effects.
3. Monoterpene a phytonutrient in peppermint oil has been helpful to stop the growing tumor in the pancreas, mammary gland and liver. It also has anti cancer properties and thus protects against colon, skin and lung cancer.
4. Peppermint oil is also considered to have anti-microbial properties and helps the growth of many bacteria including Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
5. Rosmarinic acid from peppermint is proved to have beneficial effects in asthma. Besides having antioxidant properties, it also blocks the production of leukotrienes which are pro inflammatory chemicals.