If you aren’t using mint in your daily life, it might be time to start.
Mint derives its name from the ancient Greek mythical character Minthe. According to Greek myth, Minthe was a river nymph. Hades, the God of the Underworld, fell in love with Minthe and when Persephone, Hades’s wife, found out, she turned Minthe into a plant, so that everyone would walk all over her and crush her. Unable to undo the spell, Hades gave Minthe a magnificent aroma so that he could smell her and be near her when people trod on her.
I always loved Greek myths and legends, but man, these people were spiteful.
My mint plant is growing like a weed, and they usually do with a lot of water. Mint is easy to grow and abundant in nutrition. Tip: Grow it in a large pot, or it will take over your garden!
My top reasons for adding mint into your diet.
Mint contains several vitamins and minerals, which are vital to maintaining good health. Rich in Vitamins A and C, it also contains smaller amounts of Vitamin B2 and minerals, including calcium, zinc, copper, and magnesium.
Mint may improve digestion by reducing pain, stomach upset, and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) primarily because of the anti-spasmodic effects of methanol found in the stuff.
It’s anti-inflammatory. Mint contains phytonutrients with antioxidant-like properties, which may reduce cellular damage caused by oxidative stress. The primary anti-inflammatory compounds of mint may limit the initiation of chronic inflammation.
Mint has immune-boosting benefits as it’s high in antioxidants. A 1/4 cup of spearmint provides nearly half of your daily needs of vitamin A. Vitamin A helps protect your cells from damage by scavenging free radicals that can cause damage to organ tissue.
It can improve brain function. Often when I want to focus on something or improve my mood, I will diffuse peppermint essential oil. I also add essential oil right on my neck if I am experiencing pain. By the way, not all essential oils are created equal, so please do some research before buying any at your local grocers. I have a couple of friends who are teaching me about them, as I am relatively new to using them.
Try adding a few fresh mint leaves to your water during the day, and you won’t be disappointed. I add it to both ice water and hot water.
Here are a couple of my favorite recipes with mint.
Tabbouleh is a beautiful nutrient-dense salad. I make a paleo (gluten-free) recipe.
https://www.karakeels.com/recipe/tabbouleh/
Watermelon & Mint Salad (it’s more like dessert) is Rob’s favorite thing to eat in the summer. I like to add lime, but it’s optional.
https://www.karakeels.com/recipe/watermelon-with-mint-salad/
While these two recipes have nothing to do with mint, making salad dressing is one of my biggest joys, and I promised my friend Gena the recipe.
https://www.karakeels.com/recipe/basil-lemon-vinaigrette/
https://www.karakeels.com/recipe/raspberry-vinaigrette/