Power of Pudina: 6 Health Benefits of Mint Leaves

Posted on: Apr 24, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Power of Pudina: 6 Health Benefits of Mint Leaves

Pudina Leaves: The Secret to Health and Vitality

Mint or mentha is a member of the Lamiaceae family, which includes 15–20 species of plants, including peppermint and spearmint. It is a common herb that people use fresh or dried in many dishes and infusions. Manufacturers of toothpaste, chewing gum, candy, and cosmetic products often use mint oil.

This article will provide a nutritional breakdown of mint and discuss the potential health benefits that are related to it.

Mint Leaves Nutritional Profile

Mint has a decent amount of nutrients. In 1/3 cup or almost 14 grams, the mint leaves nutrition is as follows:

• Calories: 6

• Vitamin A: 12% of the RDI

• Fibre: 1 gram

• Iron: 9% of the RDI

• Folate: 4% of the RDI

• Manganese: 8% of the RDI

Since mint can have a strong flavour, including 1/3 cup of mint leaves in your recipes can be difficult. Yet, you can have this amount by including this in salads, drinks, or any other recipes that you can enjoy mint.

When compared to other herbs, mint leaves generally have a higher amount of antioxidants. So, in general, mint can be a great source of antioxidants and vitamin A.

Now, let's go through the power of Pudina or mint leaves.

Benefits Of Mint Leaves For Health

1. Good Oral Health & Fresh Breath

When we consume something that has a strong odour, like garlic or onion, we immediately use mint chewing gums or mint mouth fresheners. This could help eliminate that strong odour. But instead of this, try consuming some raw mint leaves.

Mint is a natural antibacterial, and it contains menthol, which helps in removing bad odour. It can help to remove the bacteria from the mouth, which causes dental issues such as tooth decay and tartar formation. Chewing mint leaves is a safe and natural way to promote oral health. This is one of the important health benefits of mint leaves.

2. Improves Digestive Health

One of the mint leaves benefits is its power to improve digestive health. Mint may help in treating digestive issues like stomach upsets and indigestion. Indigestion may result from food remaining in the stomach for too long before passing into the other parts of the digestive tract.

When one consumes mint leaves, it helps the digestive system to stimulate the production of digestive enzymes. Besides that mint oil contains antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help in digestion, stomach infections, etc. It acts as an anti-spasmodic remedy due to methanol.

3. Helps with Relieving Nausea

One of the mint leaves uses is that it may help with relieving nausea. Peppermint can relieve nausea due to its muscle-relaxing effect, relaxed nerves, and digestion improvement. This popular herbal remedy might help alleviate or prevent nausea during pregnancy when travelling (because of motion sickness) or after eating.

4. Has Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties

One of the reasons for including mint leaves daily is because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Mint is rich in vitamins and antioxidants to support your immunity. These vitamins serve as cell protectors against damage. Moreover, mint leaves have the potential to stop tumour formation by blocking some enzymes.

Because of such properties of mint leaves, mint leaf extracts can help treat and prevent acne. The combination of menthol and natural antioxidants in mint leaves results in a great cleanser, toner, astringent and moisturiser for the skin. Mentha provides a natural tonic for the skin and also relieves dry and itchy skin.

5. Helps With Respiratory Health

The most important power of Pudina is its ability to deal with respiratory issues. It provides relief from cough, cold, asthma, and other respiratory problems. The menthol present in mint functions as a decongestant that relieves chest congestion. It also aids in clearing phlegm and mucus secretions.

Menthol consumption daily can be a good alternative for asthmatic patients, as it is soothing. Mint helps to open up the stuffy nose, and menthol can help you breathe much more easily.

6. Helps With Weight Management

Mint leaves play an important role in losing weight more healthily, which is one of the great mint leaves benefits. Mint is rich in antioxidants, and these antioxidants are responsible for faster metabolism, which is essential for weight management. It also reduces appetite. Also, mint is a great, calorie-free ingredient you can add to juice, salad, yoghurt or smoothie.

How To Add Mint Leaves In Your Diet?

Here are some easy ways to start reaping the many health benefits of mint leaves:

- Add a handful of leaves to your fruit salads or lemonade.

-Use it as a garnish in raitas and chutneys.

- Make mint tea by steeping the leaves in hot water.

- Add to smoothies or yoghurt shakes.

- Saute the leaves in olive oil and drizzle over soups.

- Mix with lemon juice as a salad dressing or marinade.

Precautions and Consumption Guidelines Of Mint Leaves

While mint is very beneficial, there are some precautions about using it:

• Avoid giving it to infants and young children due to possible choking hazards.

• Pregnant women should exercise caution regarding dosage.

• Those with GERD or gallbladder issues may experience worsening symptoms.

Conclusion

Mint is a great and healthy ingredient for many foods and drinks. Mint’s health benefits cover a vast array of problems such as headaches, nausea, indigestion, pain after breastfeeding, bad cold and even bad breath. If you are looking for something that will boost your health, you should consider adding mint leaves daily to your diet. Besides taking precaution for your health, having a health insurance is mandatory due to the increasing cost of medical expenses.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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