Mint

Mint is an herb with fresh-tasting leaves. Mint is name for many plants which use as spicy herb but mainly we use two plants one is peppermint and other one is spearmint that belong to the genus Mentha. In India we consume it as fresh and dried both ways. Both forms of the mint have cooling sensation.

The leaf is possibly safe when taken in amounts used for medicine short-term (up to 8 weeks). The safety of using peppermint leaf long-term is unknown.Peppermint can cause some side effects including heartburn and allergic reaction including flushing, headache and mouth sores. Mint is rich in nutrients. Mint contains Vitamin A, iron, Fiber, and manganese.

Mint has strong antibacterial properties and contains salicylic acid – both of which effectively prevent acne. It also contains vitamin A, which controls the secretion of oil in people who have oily and acne-prone skin. Vitamin A is also critical for eye health and night vision. The application of this ingredient dries up and eliminates acne while cleaning your pores.

Mint is a calming and soothing herb that has been used for thousands of years to aid with upset stomach or indigestion. Mint is thought to increase bile secretion and encourage bile flow, which helps to speed and ease digestion. Peppermint oil capsules improved the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) patients. IBS is a common digestive disorder. IBS symptoms like stomach pain, gas, bloating and changes in bowel habits.

IBS mostly treated by dietary changes and taking medications but taking peppermint oil as a home remedy may also helpful. Menthol relaxes muscles of the digestive tract. Consuming peppermint oil capsules are better than raw mint leaves for IBS, which may also support healthy cholesterol levels. Peppermint oil and caraway oil combination used to treat indigestion. This may help to improve stomach pain, which may occur due to indigestion, mint speed up digestive system.

Mint long heralded for its ability to calm stomach upsets; mint is now earning a reputation as an anti-cancer agent, thanks to an abundance of antioxidant limonene. Mint inhabits a key protein that facilitates the growth of cancer cell. Mint has shown particular value in preventing breast, liver and lung cancer. Mint protects your body from oxidative stress.

Mint can reduce bad breath. Bad breaths main reason is upset stomach and bacteria to treat this drink peppermint tea and chewing on fresh leaves may be helpful for upset stomach and bacteria.

Mint content menthol and menthol helps to control cold and flu. Menthol is a nasal decongestant and helps to improve airflow and breathing in flu or other nasal decongestant complaints.

Applying mint to the skin can help relieve pain associated with acne or breast-feeding. Most of the time while feeding babies, mom’s nipple get cracked and that condition is really a painful condition for a breast feeding moms. To find relief from this condition breast feeding mothers can apply direct mint oil or various form of mint (like mix with any gel or cream) surrounding area of nipple, after every feeding. To reduce acne we can use mint face pack for flawless skin.

Inhaling the aroma of mint essential oil could improve the memory. It improves brain alertness and reduces level of fatigue, anxiety and frustration.

How to Consume:

Mint is a cooling agent. You can add this with some sour and cooling agents like green mango, lime / lemon, curd etc…this sour items can better complement each other. It can be a good combination with coriander to add in foods for an interesting edge. Mint cannot be possible to consume in large amount at a time but we can do one thing and that is, we can add this in our daily salad, to take a sufficient amount of nutrients. Try it for flavoring yoghurt, fruit salad, salad with carrots and peas, using mint in tea, alcoholic drinks, sauces, salsa and desserts.

Summer drinks:

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Cucumber shake: Take medium size half Cucumber, 2 tsp of curd, ¼ tsp cumin powder, salt as per taste, 4 to 5 mints leaves mix in grinder, add some ice as per choice. This drink also will give you an icy feeling for small hunger in summer days.

Mint Tea: Good for digestion while boiling green tea add some mint leaves. After boiling keep cover for some time now filter and consume it.

Mattha: Indian butter milk this is also good for digestion, after lunch have it. It is so soothing in summer. To make 1 glass of mattha we need to add 2 tsp of curd, black salt for flavour, cumin power, table salt as per taste. 2 to 3 mint leaves, ½ cm Ginger slices. Grind all well in grinder serve with fresh coriander leaves.

Jaljira: Jaljira good for digestion and dehydration in summer. Make some lime water and add 1 tsp of jaljira masala consume it with ice and garnish with mint leaves.

Aam Panna: You can make with fresh green mangos or you can have aam panna mix powder with lot of ice. It is good in sunstroke and dehydration condition in summer or you can also have this drink in summer just like that.

Mojito: Considered Cuba’s national drink, Rum, lime, mint and sugar (derived from cane juice) are mixed with soda water to create a refreshing classic cocktail. The Mojito is traditionally served over ice in a highball glass and often associated with summer. There are many types of mojitos strawberry mojito, Cuban mojito, mojito perfecto, Asian mojito etc…

After all this drinks we can use mint in Indian famous street food Pani Puri. In 1 glass of water just adds 2 tsp of panipuri masala and just enjoy with panipuri. Yes! It is so tasty but don’t have too much may can have any reaction also like loose motion or any skin problem.

How to Store:

Cline all leaves and save in an air tight still container, keep in refrigerator.  This leaves will be fresh for couple of weeks. You can also save this dried leaves for long time, to make it dry keep in shed for long, after completely dry make powder and store in air tight box and refrigerate to keep mint fragrance fresh for long time.

Other Names:

Mint, Padina, Pudina, Pudinhara, Podina, Pudhina, Phudino, Takasaal, Naenae, Putina, Menta, Myatnyy, Minteu, Daun Mint.