Marvelously Minty, Spearmint has Many Health Benefits
Ah, the refreshing, lively scent of spearmint - it's good for mind and body. Whether you steep it for tea, add it to a salad or a stir-fry entrée, or diffuse it in a relaxing essential oil blend, spearmint (Mentha spicata) has some surprising health benefits. It has been used to alleviate symptoms of nausea, indigestion, headache, and sore throat. It has also been used in topical creams to reduce swelling caused by muscle injury. Many of these health effects are believed to be related to plant chemicals that promote muscle relaxation, including those in the digestive tract.
Spearmint has a pleasant aroma and flavor, and is much sweeter than its cousin, peppermint, because it contains less menthol. As the name implies, spearmint leaves are shaped like spears. A very sustainable plant, you can grow it indoors or outdoors in most climate zones. This makes spearmint easy to add to your daily menu or lifestyle, year-round.
Some of the many ways to use spearmint include chopping the leaves to sprinkle on to salad, yogurt, smoothies, or as a garnish. You can blend it into ice cream, smoothies, or to make a minty dip such as lemon-mint-bean dip. The most common use is to steep it for tea, best enjoyed after dinner to facilitate digestion and to simply relax.
Categories
All Categories 20/20/20 rule 2021 acne acupuncture adrenal adrenal health air quality allergy attack almond almond milk almonds aloe vera alternative treatments alzheimers amino acids anti-inflammatory antioxidant antioxidants anxiety aphradisiac apple apple butter apples apricot apricots arnica aromatherapy artichoke artichokes asparagus b vitamins balneology banana beans beets berberines bilberries black bean black current black mold blackstrap molasses blood orange blueberries blueberry bone broth bone health boron brain brain health brainwaves bread bromelein brownies bruising bugs burdock root cac calcium california poppy cannabis caraway carbs cardiovascular carrot cake carrots cashews catmint catnip celery cgas change cherries cherry chickpea children chili chinese medicine chiropractor chlorophyll chocolate cilantro circulation ciruit training clay coconut coenzyme-q10 cognition cold comfrey connective support connective tissue disease constipation cookies cooking oils coriander coronary covid-19 cucumbers curry cycling damiana dance dandelion date dementia dental healt dental health dental hygiene depression dessert detox devils claw diabeties diet digestive dill disease ear ear health eat healthy eating for health eating for heath eatingforhealth edmr eggs electrolytes energize energy enzyme equine therapy essential oils evoo exercise exfoliate extra virgin olive oil eye health eye strain family farro fascial work fasting fathead dough fatigue fats feng shui fenugreek fever feverfew first aid fish fish oil fit fitness food food supplements foot pain foraging foxglove fruit fruits fulvic acid gallbladder gardening gastric reflex gelatin ginseng gluten free glutenfree glycemic index glycosaminoglycans golden root gotu kola grain-free green coffee beans green curry green goddess dressing green tea grounding guggul gut gut health halotherapy headaches healing health healthy healthy food healthy lifestyle healthy weight heart burn heart health herb herbal herbal medicine herbal remedies herbal remedy herbalremedies herbals herbs hibiscus high protein diet himalayan sea salt holistic holy basil homeopathy honey hormones horses hydration hydrotherapy immune system immunity inflammation influenza insomnia internal clock intravenous therapy itching redness iv nutrients iv therapy journal kefir kelp keto kidney kidneys kids l-theanine lavender lecithin legume lemon lemon balm licorice lions mane lipids love luck lung health lyme lyme disease magnesium manganese medicinal herb men's health menopause mental health mentalization-based therapy methylation milk thistle mind body mineral minerals mint molasses mold mold toxicity mood morel mud muffin mushroom mushrooms natural cleaning natural health natural medicine natural sugar nature nausea nervous tension neuro therapy neurofeedback new year newsletter nhc best health tips no bake nutrient iv therapy nutrition nuts oatmeal oats obesity omega 3 fatty acids omega-3s oral health oral hygiene orange oregano organic osteoarthritis osteoporosis outdoor allergies ozone pain pain relief paleo palm pancake pandemic passionflower patchouli peas peat pecan pie pecans pepitas peppermint persimmon pets phosphatidylcholine phytonutrients picnic food pineapple pink salt pizza plant based plant based diet plant-based plantain portobello mushrooms potassium prebiotic probiotic probiotics prosperity prostate protecting your skin protein protein powder protein shake prunes pumpkin pumpkin seeds quiche raspberry raspberry leaf read recipe recipes reclaim normalcy rehmannia relax resveratrol rhodiola rhubarb rosemary rye sad sage salad salsa salt schisandra screentime seasonal affective disorder seasonal allergies seasonal depression sedative selenium self-awareness sexual health shadow journaling skin skin brushing skin care skin health skincare sleep snack bars sole soothing sound therapy soup special edition spinach spirulina spring cleaning sti stinging nettle stomach pain strawberry strontium sugar summer summer food sunshine vitamin superfood supplement supplements sustainable sweet potato tcm tea teenagers tens unit testicular exam testosterone therapy thyme thyroid tick tick prevention ticks tofu tomatoes tostones toxins trace minerals traditional chinese medicine traditional medicine trail mix truffles turkey turmeric vegan vegetables vegetarian vitamin a vitamin b vitamin c vitamin d vitamin e vitamins volunteer vs walnuts water water walking weight wellness whole food vs synthetic yarrow yeast yoga zinc