Nutrition facts of Peppermint.
Peppermint has been one
of the popular herbs known since antiquity for its distinctive aroma and
medicinal value. The herb has a characteristic refreshing cool breeze sensation
on taste buds, palate and throat when eaten; and on nasal olfaction glands when
inhaled. This unique quality of mint is due to the presence of menthol, an
essential oil in its fresh leaves, and stem.
Botanically, the herb
belongs to the Lamiaceae family, in the genus; Mentha, and botanically named as
Mentha piperita.
Mint herb is originally
native to Europe, and now-a-days cultivated in almost all the regions of the
world. It grows well under shady conditions and feature lance-shaped
purple-veined, dark-green leaves with serrated margins and purple color
whirly-flowers.
In general, the mint
plant is sterile, producing no seeds. However, its growth happens through
vegetative reproduction, spreading laterally all along its underground
rhizomes. There exist more than 20 varieties of mint herbs with a wide range of
color, fragrance, and flavor.
Health benefits of peppermint:
Mint composes numerous plant derived
chemical compounds that are known to have been anti-oxidant, disease-preventing
and health promoting properties. Total antioxidant strength (ORAC) of fresh
peppermint herb is 13,978 µmol TE/100 g.
The mint herb contains no cholesterol;
however, it is rich in essential oils, vitamins and dietary fiber, which helps
to control blood cholesterol and blood pressure inside the human body.
The herb parts contain many essential
volatile oils like menthol, menthone, menthol acetate. These compounds effect
on cold-sensitive receptors in the skin, mouth and throat, the property which
is responsible for the natural cooling-sensation that it initiates when
inhaled, eaten, or applied on the skin.
The essential oil, menthol also has been
analgesic (painkiller), local anesthetic and counter-irritant properties.
Research studies have also been suggested
that the compounds in the peppermint relax intestinal wall and sphincter smooth
muscles through blocking calcium channels at cell receptor levels. This
property of mint has been applied as an anti-spasmodic agent in the treatment
of "irritable bowel syndrome" (IBS) and other colic pain disorders.
Peppermint-herb is an excellent source of
minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium. 100 g fresh
herb provides 569 mg of potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell
and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and
copper works as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide-dismutase.
Further, it is rich in many antioxidant
vitamins, including vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin-C and vitamin E. The
leaves of mint also contain many important B-complex vitamins like folates,
riboflavin and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6); and the herb is an excellent source of
vitamin-K.
Dr.S.Senthil Karunakaran,
M.D(Siddha)
AVIZTHAM SIDDHA HOSPITAL
No 6, Mounasamy Mutt Street,
Ambattur O.T, Chennai – 53
Contact no: 9444403023
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