Health Benefits Of Mint Leaves
Mint is a herb that has wide spread usage. It’s used in many products and is used widely at home too. I think everybody knows about peppermint, which is a plant of the mint family. Mint family includes various other plants like orangemint, applemint, pineapple mint, horsemint, spearmint etc. A type of mint known as Pennyroyal is used as a mosquito repellent by many people. They simply rub it on the skin. This wards off mosquitoes and prevents them from biting. Pennyroyal should however not be eaten as it affects the liver adversely and is poisonous for body in general.
Mint is a natural source of various vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, manganese, iron, copper, potassium etc. It can be consumed orally and has been used since times immemorial to cure indigestion. Irritable bowl syndrome is also well treated by mint as it relaxes the intestinal muscles. The compound menthol, which is present in peppermint in adequate quantities, is highly beneficial for coughs, chest congestion and other respiratory diseases.
It also acts as an antioxidant and helps ward off free radicals, which are linked to various kinds of cancers. It acts as a sedative and is capable of relieving you from cramps and other minor pains. It cleans the blood and is often used to treat problems of the skin such as acne, irritation etc. Similarly, it can be used in case of minor burns as it provides a cooling feeling to the skin.
It helps alleviate symptoms of cold, flu and is also effective in case of allergies that especially affect the nose. It reduces the growth of various kinds of bacteria, fungus and other allergy causing microbes. For using at home, fresh mint is the best option. If you don’t have it at home, you can buy it from a nearby store and should store it in the refrigerator for best results.
Some critics opine that excessive use of mint can cause sterility in females. Similarly, men who smoke cigarettes containing menthol are said to face the risk of impotency. It’s true that mint has insecticidal and germicidal properties, but whether it can kill ova or sperms is a highly debatable issue. The tobacco may be the real culprit in the instances of impotency in men who are chain smokers. Herbalists on the other hand say that mint has immense potential in curing sterility in females. You need not bother about such things (even if true) as they are related to excessive and prolonged use of this herb.
It’s better you store mint in a bowl of water with its stems fully dipped in water. Cover the leaves with a plastic wrap. The covering should not be tight. Change water after every two days and you can have supply of fresh mint up to 7-10 days. It can also be made easily into sauce that can be eaten with various dishes. Dry mint also has many benefits but the flavor is very minimal and some of the active compounds may not work as in the case of fresh mint.