Peppermint leaves are an incredibly refreshing addition to your diet. Not only do they add a hint of sweet and savory flavor to any dish, but they are also extremely healthy and packed with many essential nutrients. It is often used to add a refreshing touch to salads and cocktails, but they can also be used to make a delicious tea or even as a garnish on a variety of dishes. Leaves are rich in antioxidants, which help to fight off free radicals in the body. They are also packed with vitamin A, which is essential for healthy eyesight and skin. They are a great source of fiber, which helps keep you feeling full and can also aid in digestion. Additionally, peppermint contain several beneficial minerals, such as iron, calcium, and potassium.
Peppermint Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
Peppermint leaves are an excellent source of nutrition, providing a variety of important vitamins and minerals. They contain high amounts of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folic acid. These nutrients help promote good health and assist in disease prevention. They are also a rich source of antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage and reduce inflammation. In addition, peppermint leaves are rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals help support bone health and aid in muscle function. Nutritional value per 100 g peppermint leaves:
- Biotin: 0 mcg
- Calcium: 55 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 5 g
- Chloride: 21 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Choline: 4.7 mg
- Chromium: 0.9 mcg
- Copper: 0.1 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 2.8 g
- Energy (Calories): 40 kcal
- Fat: 0.6 g
- Iodine: 0.6 mcg
- Iron: 2.6 mg
- Magnesium: 25 mg
- Manganese: 0.2 mg
- Molybdenum: 6.1 mcg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.3 mg
- Phosphorus: 35 mg
- Potassium: 290 mg
- Protein: 2.7 g
- Saturated fat: 0.1 g
- Selenium: 0.2 mcg
- Sodium: 11 mg
- Sugars: 0.7 g
- Vitamin A: 765 IU
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 0.4 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 57 mcg
- Vitamin B12: 0 mcg
- Vitamin C: 22.5 mg
- Vitamin D: 0 IU
- Vitamin E: 0.5 mg
- Vitamin K: 28.1 mcg
- Water: 86.2 g
- Zinc: 0.3 mg
Peppermint in India
There are thought to be around 30 different species of mint, but peppermint is the variety most widely used in herbal medicine. Peppermint is the aromatic plant and ranks near the top of the world’s favorite flavorings.
- Scientific Binomial: Mentha piperita / Mentha longifolia
- common English: English Horse Mint
- Ayurvedic: Gamathi Phudra
- Unani: Pudinaa-Barri / Jangali Pudinaa
- Sanskrit: Phudina / Putiha
- Hindi / Urdu: Poudina / Pudina
- Bengali: Pudina Pata
- Marathi: Pudinah
- Telugu: Pudina
- Tamil: Puthina
- Gujarati
- Kannada: Kaadu pudina
- Malayalam: Putiyina
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
It helps to relieve indigestion, body odor, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colds and coughs, muscle aches, morning sickness, nausea, oily skin, snoring, sunburn, toothache, ulcers, tension headache, foot pain, insect / spider bites, and so on. List is really too long.
- Soothes Stomach: If cancer treatment is making you nauseated, drink peppermint tea to soothe your stomach. If your nausea is unpredictable, try carrying a vial of peppermint oil around with you; place the vial under your nose and inhale deeply as needed. You can also make a lotion or a cream with either oil and rub it into your skin. The scent will stay with you and reduce your chances of feeling ill.
- Reduces Nausea: Peppermint tea is also excellent tonic for Crohn’s sufferers as it reduces nausea, relieves abdominal pain, and has a calming effect. To reduce nausea and cramping due to food poisoning, try 1 ml of a tincture or 250 mg in capsule form or drink 1 cup of fresh tea every two hours.
- Motion Sickness: For motion sickness nausea – sip on a cup of peppermint tea, or take 500 mg of the capsule form or 2 ml of peppermint extract three to four times daily. Also rub peppermint cream onto skin before and during trip.
- Headaches: Peppermint cream applied to the temple area has been shown in studies to be helpful for tension headaches. Also add this oil to a cold compress.
- Stuffy Nose: A steamy cup of an aromatic peppermint leaves tea can help clear a stuffy nose.
- Fever Reducer: Hot peppermint leaf tea encourages sweating and cools fever.
- Migraine: Drink tea or apply 1 – 2 drops of peppermint oil to forehead to relieve headache and migraine.
- IBS: Take 1 to 2 enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules twice daily between meals. This herb reduces gas and cramping, and studies show that it is effective for IBS. Peppermint is a long-standing digestive herbal remedy. This aromatic herb calms the muscles of the digestive tract and improves the flow of bile from the gallbladder, thus helping the body to digest fats. It is for these reasons that peppermint alleviates intestinal gas, reduces abdominal cramping, and can settle an upset stomach.
- Itchy Skin: Peppermint is soothing for itchy skin. Apply at 2% dilution pepper mint oil with a carrier oil to affected areas. The infusion can be applied as a lotion to relieve nettle rash and eczema.
- Insect Bite: For insect bites, apply a drop or two of peppermint oil. It has a cooling effect, and also increases circulation to the bite, speeding the healing process. Alternatively, if you have toothpaste that contains peppermint oil, apply a dab.
- Skin Care: Peppermint fight bacteria and also smell nice. Try it for body odor. Just apply it to problem are if your skin is not sensitive for peppermint oil.
- Snoring: To get good night sleep and to avoid snoring try gargle with a peppermint mouthwash to shrink the lining of your nose and throat. This is especially effective if your snoring is a temporary condition caused by a head cold or an allergy. To mix up the herbal gargle, add one drop of peppermint oil to a glass of cold water. Do not swallow.
- Bronchial Congestion: An essential oil distilled from the leaves is antiseptic and mildly anesthetic. A massage with peppermint oil warm up muscles and dissolve cramps. It can be used in stimulating rubs for rheumatism and bronchial congestion; put 5 drops in 1 tablespoon of almond oil and massage into aching muscles or the chest; 2 or 3 drops of peppermint oil in the bath can be especially restorative. To relieve nasal congestion put a couple of drops on a handkerchief and sniff it frequently.
- Tooth Pain: A drop on a cotton swab applied to the gum can also relieve toothache in neighboring teeth.
- Candida: Peppermint oil has antifungal properties and relieves intestinal cramping often associated with candida. Take 1 to 2 enteric-coated capsules or 0.2 ml of peppermint oil two to three times daily.
In addition to providing a variety of health benefits, mint leaves can also be used to add a unique flavor to dishes. For example, adding a few mint leaves to your favorite smoothie can provide a refreshing twist. You can also use mint leaves to make a delicious pesto or use them as a garnish for desserts. Using mint leaves in your cooking is a great way to add a refreshing flavor to any dish. Whether you’re adding them to salads, cocktails, or desserts, mint leaves are sure to bring a unique and flavorful twist to your meal. So why not give them a try today?
Side Effects and Warnings
Peppermint should not be given to babies or toddlers in any form; excess of the oil can irritate the stomach lining, and misuse may lead to ulceration. The herb can also cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. Use the herb cautiously if you are prone to acid reflux. Peppermint oil may cause heartburn; if so, try coated capsules, available in health food stores.
FAQs.
Q. How to make peppermint tea? And what are it’s benefits?
This tea is warming and decongestant in colds and catarrh. This tea is also effective against some parasites. Use as per requirement to treat all stomach problems. Cold tea can work as a highly effective mouthwash. While working with overeating habits, if you feel hungry, here is one way to find out whether it is an emotional craving or a real biological need. Drink mint tea. If it was emotional hunger, the warm soothing tea will take care of it, and you will feel better. If you are really hungry and need some food, the tea won’t diminish your appetite. To make a tea:
- Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves, or 6 to 8 fresh leaves.
- Steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain and cool.
- Enjoy 2 to 3 times per day after meals.