From digestive aid to stress reliever, mint leaves can be a powerful addition to your daily routine
Packed with essential nutrients and compounds, these leaves have been valued for centuries for their medicinal properties.
Mint leaves, or pudina, are more than just an aromatic and delicious garnishing ingredient found in every Indian kitchen. It is one of the oldest herbs, grown all around the world, and used in a wide range of dishes — be it chutney, fruit salads or raita. But are you aware that beyond their delightful aroma and taste, mint leaves offer a surprising array of health benefits? Packed with essential nutrients and compounds, these leaves have been valued for centuries for their medicinal properties.
From digestive aid to stress reliever, mint leaves can be a powerful addition to your daily routine. Let’s dive into some health benefits of consuming mint leaves:
Helps In Digestion:
Mint leaves soothe the stomach instantly and are helpful in meal digestion.Rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients and menthol, mint is a natural cure for treating various stomach problems like bloating, indigestion or an upset stomach. You just need to add mint leaves to your tea and sip the piping hot beverage either before or after meals. Simmering a few fresh mint leaves in boiling water for five to ten minutes and drinking it can also help to aid your stomach-related issues.
Help Lose Weight:
Are you trying to lose weight? Then, mint leaves are your much-needed solution. It is low in calories but high in fibre and can help you feel fuller for longer, reducing the chances of overeating. As the herb aids digestion and improves the metabolism of fat, it ultimately supports weight loss efforts. Wondering how? Pair mint with your daily meals by adding it to salads, smoothies, or detox drinks.
Relieves Stress:
The aroma of mint is very calming in nature, and thus, it plays a major role in reducing stress.The aromatic leaves relax our brains by calming our minds, as the herb has adaptogenic properties that regulate cortisol levels and provide relief from stress. Mint has always been used as an ayurvedic remedy, like aromatherapy, to fight stress and make people feel calm. It also has cooling effects that relax the system and alleviate stress.
Improves Skin Health:
Tired of acne or irritated skin? Crush mint leaves into a thick paste and apply it to the affected region. Rinse it off with cool water after 15 to 20 minutes, and you will feel the calming effect. Rich in anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, mint helps to soothe and calm the skin. Moreover, the salicylic acid present in mint leaves unclogs pores, lessens acne and blemishes, naturally reduces inflammation, and soothes redness and itching skin.
Common Cold:
Almost every person faces a cold, cough, or blocked sinuses, especially during seasonal change. To treat these problems, mint can become the go-to ingredient. It can help breathing become easier and the nasal passages, detoxing from congestion and other cold symptoms quickly by inhaling steam from mint leaves. Sipping a cup of menthol-rich mint tea also helps in relieving a sore throat and acts as a decongestant.
Boosts Immunity:
Mint contains a lot of vitamin C, which is a type of antioxidant that helps protect the body from many diseases. Consuming mint water or tea every day can help boost the immunity of the body and provide many benefits to the body.