What is peppermint?

peppermint

It is a plant of seed-breeding lipid order and a hybrid of two species of mint: The water mint, the striped mint, and its scientific name are “Mentha x Piperita, “Because peppermint breeds with seeds, it produces purple flowers, which bloom between July and August, but it usually does so to prevent flowers. Its leaf production has increased, and this mint species grows in humid areas of Europe and northern America. It is believed to originate in the Mediterranean region. Its legs contain volatile oils that give the plant its jet smell and distinctive flavor, and these oils contain the menthol that is responsible for feeling relaxed, and it is the characteristic. One characteristic of peppermint.

peppermint products

Peppermint is available in several forms and is used to produce many oils. It is available in the form of dried or fresh leaves used for cooking and tea preparation, or in the form of capsules taken orally to bring peppermint extract directly to the stomach, in addition to the possibility of using its oils to make tinctures or ointments. Which is applied to the chest or creams, and it is worth noting that peppermint oil is extracted by steam distillation; Where mint leaves and stems are exposed to steam and high temperatures, which leads to the evaporation of the oil from the plant, then the resulting steam condenses and the pure oil is separated after it cools. As for the chemical components of the concentrated peppermint oil extract, they are summarized as follows: Menthol, Menthone, Menthyl acetate, and 1,8-cineol.Like olive oil – when applying it to the body.

Nutritional value of peppermint

The following table represents the nutrients available in 100 grams of peppermint:

nutritional element	Nutritional value
Water	78.65 ml
Calories	70 calories
Protein	3.75 grams
Fats	0.94 g
carbohydrates	14.89 grams
Calcium	243 milligrams
Iron	5.08 milligrams
magnesium	80 milligrams
phosphorous	73 milligrams
potassium	569 milligrams
Sodium	31 milligrams
zinc	1.11 milligrams
vitamin C	31.8 milligrams
Vitamin B1	0.082 milligrams
Vitamin B2	0.266 milligrams
Vitamin B3	1.706 milligrams
Vitamin B6	0.129 milligrams
folate	114 micrograms
Vitamin A	4248 IU

Benefits of peppermint according to the degree of effectiveness

Peppermint and its products provide many health benefits to the body, but their effectiveness varies from one benefit to another, and the following is a detail of that:

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Likely Effective

• Alleviate irritable bowel syndrome often used peppermint to improve cases of indigestion and gas, but the olive oil has the best effect for the treatment of colon syndrome nervous, as the capsules of this oil eases the pain of irritable bowel syndrome and bulges induced helps to regularly output, This is due It contains menthol, which has antispasmodic properties that help relax the intestinal muscles.

Possibly Effective

• Calm the stomach: People usually resort to eating peppermint candy or drinking tea made from it to get rid of stomach disorders and calm them, although these practices may help calm some digestive disorders; such as indigestion and gas, it may negatively affect some other cases; People who suffer from heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease are not advised to use peppermint, as it may worsen their condition.
• Reducing breast pain when breastfeeding: One research indicated that breastfeeding women who put peppermint oil, an ointment containing it, or peppermint water on the skin suffer less from cracks and pain in the area around the nipple as a result of breastfeeding.
• Reducing cramps caused by endoscopic procedures: People who undergo enteroscopy suffer from some cramps and pain, and using peppermint oil may help them relieve these symptoms.
• Reduce tension headache; Some studies indicate that peppermint may contribute to regulating blood flow in the body, and therefore it helps to open the sinuses in a way that allows the flow of a greater proportion of oxygen, and therefore many people have found a noticeable positive effect when they use this oil in order to relieve head pain. and headache, as indicated by a review published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine in 2015.

Insufficient Evidence

• Reducing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: Many pregnant women suffer from nausea during the periods of this period, and their consumption of peppermint in all its forms may help to get rid of this feeling, but some specialists warned against taking it because it stimulates menstruation, and another study conducted by Babol University of Medical Sciences in 2012 AD indicated that this mint has no effect on nausea and vomiting resulting from pregnancy, and therefore a pregnant woman should consult her doctor first before consuming peppermint for any reason.
• Reducing menstrual pain: As we mentioned earlier, this plant has properties that help relax muscles, and therefore this property is good for relieving menstrual pain, and one of the studies conducted by Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2016 indicated that The women who took peppermint extract capsules had the same effect as the anti-pain drugs in reducing the intensity and duration of menstrual pain.
• Possibility of fighting bacterial infection: Although there are no studies to prove the antibacterial properties of peppermint tea, its oil has an effective effect in killing bacteria, and it has been found to kill and reduce the stimulation of the growth of food-borne bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Listeria, And salmonella in mango and pineapple juice, and this oil can eliminate many types of disease-causing bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and bacteria that cause pneumonia. Moreover, peppermint contributes to reducing the numbers of many other types of bacteria, and many of these types are found in the mouth.
• Improving colds and flu: where menthol is a substance with a strong decongestant effect, which reduces inflation in the membranes lining the nose, facilitating the breathing process, and in addition to this, menthol acts as an expectorant that reduces mucus and helps to remove it from the lungs for people who suffer from flatulence. From coughing,  therefore, peppermint has many properties that make it of therapeutic benefit, as it contains antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory substances that make it an effective treatment to combat sinus obstruction that occurs due to infection, colds, and allergies, and the steam of peppermint tea can be inhaled. To open the airways.
• Getting rid of bad breath: The peppermint flavor is one of the commonly used flavors because of its pure smell and taste, so consuming a drink of this plant helps to improve the smell of the mouth, and reduce the bad smell in it, in addition to that peppermint oil has antibacterial properties that can It helps reduce bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease.

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Studies conducted on the benefits of peppermint

There are many studies that have been conducted to determine the benefits of peppermint, and we mention from these studies the following:

• According to a study conducted at Northumbria University in 2018, and included 24 people, it was noted that taking peppermint oil capsules significantly improved cognition and memory, which may increase the ability to focus.
• A small study conducted at the University of Louvain in 2013, and included 13 people, indicated that peppermint oil capsules may contribute to reducing appetite, and peppermint drink is one of the healthy, calorie-free, and delicious options, which may be suitable for weight loss, but there are no studies enough to support this effect, On the other hand, another study conducted on rats and published in 2015 in the journal (Neurogastroenterology & Motility) found that eating this oil may increase weight, and therefore this effect needs more studies to prove or refute it

The degree of safety and precautions of using peppermint

There are some groups that may need to be careful when using peppermint, of which we mention the following:

• Pregnant and lactating women: It is safe for pregnant and lactating women to take mint in the quantities present in food, but there are not yet sufficient studies that confirm the safety of consuming it in large quantities during pregnancy and lactation, so it is better for pregnant and lactating women to avoid eating it in therapeutic quantities.
• Children and infants: Peppermint is mostly safe when consumed in the normal quantities found in food, in addition to taking its oil in capsules coated to prevent its components from reaching the stomach lining is likely to be safe for children 8 years and over.
• Diseases that prevent the stomach from secreting hydrochloric acid: Some people suffer from a condition called achlorhydria.
• Diarrhea: Eating enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules may cause burning in the anus if the person suffers from diarrhea.

Other types of mint and their benefits

There are several different types of mint available in nature, as the number of its types reaches about 600 types, and some of these types may vary in their flavor, [21] and both peppermint and pointed mint (scientific name: Mentha spicata) are among the most famous types of mint that were known since thousands of years.