Mover Over Pumpkin Spice, Here Comes Peppermint

Peppermint is a popular flavor during the holidays

The fresh taste of peppermint offsets many of the indulgent choices people make over the holidays. Peppermint not only tastes good, but it has health benefits too.

Peppermint Invokes Nostalgia

Peppermint is a flavor that brings back feelings of childhood. We all want to return to a simple time where enjoying a candy cane with your friends afterschool was the most pressing thing that needed to be done! 

Peppermint Has Health Benefits

Ancient cultures have used mint as a digestive aid to reduce gastric distress. That tradition has been passed along and is still prevalent today. When you see peppermint choices everywhere you look this holiday season, consider giving in to the temptation once-and-a-while. It might just be good for you!

Peppermint Reduces Daytime Fatigue

Studies have shown that adults consuming a peppermint oil capsule had less cognitive fatigue than their counterparts that did not have the capsule. Studies have also shown that people who are in a room with peppermint oil being diffused are less sleepy than those in an odorless room.

Peppermint Oil Reduces Menstrual Cramps

Peppermint is a proven muscle relaxant. Women who took peppermint extract capsules and those that took NSAIDs both experienced a reduction in menstrual cramps. Peppermint is a natural remedy that caused less nausea and diarrhea than pharmaceutical drugs.

Peppermint Unclogs The Sinus Cavity

Menthol, an active component in peppermint, improves the perception of airflow in the nasal cavity. Due to its antiviral properties, menthol is known to also reduce infection-induced sinus clogging.

Peppermint Calms an Upset Stomach

Studies on people with gastrointestinal disorders have found that peppermint reduces frequency, duration, and severity of abdominal paint. 

Peppermint Decreases Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Rosmarinic acid is a compound found in peppermint, as well as rosemary and other plants in the mint family. Studies have shown that people and animals who took a supplement experienced fewer allergic symptoms.

Peppermint … All Year

Peppermint flavor can be found 365 days of the year because it not only tastes good but has health benefits. This aromatic herb in the mint family is most often used as a flavoring in breath mints and candies as well as brewed as a caffeine-free tea. The leaves of peppermint contain several essential oils, including menthol, menthone, and limonene. Menthol is the extract that provides the recognizable minty scent and cooling effect on taste buds.

Disclaimer: “This post (or portions of this post) was provided by New Hope Network. I am a member of the New Hope Influencer Co-op, a network of health and wellness bloggers committed to spreading more health to more people.”