Health benefits of mint leaves
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MINT LEAVES |
Pudina is packed with antioxidants and
phytonurients that do wonders for your stomach. The menthol present
in pudina helps the enzymes necessary for digestion and helps
the process along, by acting on the smooth muscles of the stomach. These
muscles when activated work more efficiently relieving indigestion.
Mint
as Minta Spacata is a plant that has been long used in diverse cultures, such
as India, Middle East and Europe. Mint has a sweet flavour, with a cooling
after-sensation. Both, fresh and dried mint are used in preparing a large
number of recipes, including curries, soups, chutneys, salads, juices, and ice
creams.
A number of
pain balms use mint extracts as the main ingredient in their products. That is
because when the mint extract is used on an area that is hurting, it
immediately provides a cooling effect that partially numbs the area. This helps
in lessening the pain. Another method is to inhale the fumes of mint extract.
This soothes the nerves and gives a calming feeling to the entire body. It
indirectly soothes aches and pains as well as nausea associated with a
headache.
Gives you glowing and acne free skin
Mint has a
unique property that soothes and calms itchy and infected skin. It has potent
anti- inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which work wonders on acne
prone skin, and is often used in a number of cleansers, toners and in some lip
balms as well.
The strong
antioxidants present in mint leaves leaves the skin with a natural glow and
rehydrate dull and dry skin. Mint has a high content of salicylic acid
which helps prevent pimples, blemishes and even helps get rid of blackheads.
The compounds present in mint helps in faster shedding of dull and dry skin
which in turn helps avoid clogging of pores resulting in pimple free skin.
Helps relieve cough and asthma:
Mint has a
very strong odour which helps open up the airways and allows relaxed breathing.
It is also an expectorant and helps the expulsion of phlegm, allowing the
patient recover faster. Its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
help relieve inflammation along the respiratory tract.
If you are suffering from a cough, drop one
drop of mint extract in warm water and inhale the fumes through the mouth and
push out the steam through your nose. This way mint extract passes through your
throat and nose relieving both the areas. In the case of asthmatic patients the
same principle can be followed. According to Ayurvedic doctors, simply planting
a mint plant outside the window of an asthma patient will help keep the
diseases at bay.
Mint has a
potent phytochemical that can prevent various types of cancers. Called perillyl
alcohol, the phytonutrient has shown the capability of preventing skin cancer,
colon cancer and lung cancer in animal studies. Its benefits in this particular
area are still under the scanner when it comes to humans.
