Blog
Benefits of Mint for Gut Health
Mint: besides tasting good, and giving you fresh breath, mint has many benefits for gut health! Mint is high in nutrients and can manage some bothersome symptoms of the digestive system. More and more, science is showing the connection between our gut and our mind, so having a healthy gut may actually help mental health symptoms as well. Read on for the many benefits of mint to digestive and gut health!
Aiding digestion
Mint can aid with digestion. Whether you take a supplement, eat a mint chocolate treat, or boil a handful of leaves for mint tea, mint can help. Mint also helps combat indigestion as well as inflammation in the gut. In fact, mint activates digestion even before hitting your mouth! The smell of mint activates the salivary glands, which are the first step of the digestion process.
Quells nausea
As many a pregnant woman can attest, mint can help ease nausea. Whether you’re feeling queasy due to morning sickness, medication, a stomach bug, or other issues, mint can help. Again, a supplement will work fine as will fresh or dried mint leaves which can be eaten alone or made into tea.
Helps alleviate symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Have IBS, or symptoms associated with it like gas, constipation, bloating, and/or indigestion? Studies have shown that mint can help with these symptoms, as well as pain associated with these symptoms. Scientists are still not exactly certain how this works, but the theory is that menthol is the “active ingredient” that helps. It’s thought that it helps by dulling pain receptors, thus relieving pain, and also by acting as a muscle relaxer in the gut. Some studies even suggest it’s better at relieving IBS symptoms than fiber!
So if it’s not in there already, add mint to your diet today! Mint is incredibly easy to grow and can be very prolific, if you’re so inclined. You can also get it in supplement form for more concentrated help as well, or simply indulge in snacks with plenty of mint for good gut health!
Remember that any new or persistent symptoms can be a sign of an underlying health condition and should be discussed with your doctor or medical health professional.
