Spearmint – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com

Spearmint, which has the scientific name Mentha spicata and belongs to the family Lamiaceae, is used to add flavoring to food, beverages like iced tea, alcoholic drinks, and candy. Its smell usually makes people think about cleanliness; thus it is primarily used as the scent for various hygienic products such as bath scrubs, mouthwash, shaving creams, shampoos, soaps, and toothpaste.

They can also be used as additional flavoring in food items such as cocktails, dips, sauces, and even entire meals.

Insects appear to averse to their smell, so having spearmint-flavored products in the house is like hitting two birds with one stone. Not only does your house smell clean and disinfected, it also is free of pests.

Spearmint, a perennial, hailed from Europe and Asia, but now has become so popular that it has been naturalized in five continents. It has a square-shaped stem, broad leaves, and white or pink flowers. There are at least 20 species of spearmint, including corn mint, bergamot or horsemint, ginger mint, Japanese mint, peppermint, pineapple mint, and watermint.

Spearmint can be grown as a garden herb, in a pot, or massively as a field crop for the purpose of extraction of essential oils.

List of known nutrients

• Alpha-Pinene
• Beta-Pinene
• Carvone
• Caryophyllene
• Cineole
• Iron
• Limonene
• Linalool
• Myrcene
• Potassium
• Riboflavin
• Thiamin
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C

Medicinal uses for spearmint

The essential oils in spearmint contain essential chemical components such as alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, carvone, caryophyllene, cineole, limonene, and linalool, which contributes to addressing fatigue and stress. Whenever you feel stressed, drink a cup of spearmint tea to instantly ease your mind.

Women can reduce unwanted hair by regularly taking spearmint-flavored tea because it contains anti-androgenic properties. For pregnant women, spearmint also has lots of benefits for it can help them reduce morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting.

As was suggested earlier, spearmint is associated with cleanliness. The menthol in spearmint can protect your mouth, gums, and teeth from infection and bacteria that can cause dental and gum health such as cavities and gingivitis, respectively. Spearmint also protects you from having bad oral odor or halitosis.

Spearmint also brings relief to the respiratory system by de-clogging congested air passageways and soothing sore throats.

Spearmint can also address gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, cramping, and flatulence.

Spearmint contains more than 100 percent of the daily recommended amount of iron; this means that if you ingest it, you can be sure that the production of red blood cells in your body is at its optimum level, leading to improved energy levels and rapid wound healing.

Spearmint is an excellent source of potassium, which is the key to maintaining a healthy blood pressure. You can have a bigger chance of preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes if your blood pressure is well-regulated.

Body systems supported by spearmint

Spearmint contributes to improving digestion, restoring respiratory health, optimizing hormonal levels, increasing circulation, maintaining heart health, and strengthening the immune system.

Spearmint can be used to treat people, especially women, who are suffering from hormonal imbalance. It stimulates the endocrine system and inhibits the production of excessive testosterone levels in females.

Ways to use spearmint

Got no idea how to incorporate spearmint in your daily meals? Here are some suggestions.

Where to learn more

• Eat more spearmint for better health
• Natural & Chemical Free- 10 Home Remedies for Intestinal Parasites And Worms
• Five Homemade Bug Spray for Gardens That Works
• 7 Best Herbs for Boosting Metabolism and Helping You Lose Weight
• 10 Signs Our Body Has Parasites, Use These Foods To Kill Parasite Naturally

Summary

Spearmint is an excellent source of potassium, which is the key to maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

Spearmint contributes to improving digestion, restoring respiratory health, optimizing hormonal levels, increasing circulation, maintaining heart health, and strengthening the immune system.

Spearmint can be used to treat people, especially women, who are suffering from hormonal imbalance.

Sources include:

HerbWisdom.com

OrganicFacts.net

Nutrition-And-You.com

Cooks.com