Mint: benefit and harm
Peppermint is a plant with a pleasant taste and amazing properties, which is known to mankind for a very long time.It is actively used not only in cooking and medicine, but also in the perfume industry - it is the merit of the essential oils contained in it.
25 species of this plant grow in nature, but the most famous and popular are water, long-leaved, flea, field and apple mint.They grow in forests, in fields and meadows - in the wild.But pepper and curly mint are cultivated - the first is actively used in the preparation of medicines, and curly mint is intended to improve the taste of culinary dishes.
Peppermint chemical composition
Nutritional value of 100 g:
- Caloric content: 70 kcal Protein
- :
- 3.75 g Fat: 0.94 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.89c
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- Dietary fiber: 8 g
- Ash: 1.76 g
- Water: 78.65 grams
- saturated fatty acids: 0,246 g
Vitamins:
- Vitamin A( RE): 212 μg
- Vitamin B1( thiamine): 0.082 mg
- Vitamin B2( riboflavin): 0.266 mg
- Vitamyn B3( pantothenic): 0.338 mg
- Vitamin B6( pyridoxine): 0.129 mg
- Vitamin B9( folic): 114. mu.g
- Vitamin C: 31,8 mg
- Vitamin PP( niacin equivalent): 1,706 mg
Macronutrients:
- Calcium: 243 mg
- Magnesium 80 mg
- Sodium: 31 mg
- Potassium: 569 mg
- Phosphorus 73 mg
Microelements:
- Iron: 5,08
- mg Zinc 1.11 mg
- Copper 329 mcg
- Manganese: 1.176 mg
Use mint - exaggerationOr the validity of
Thanks to its unique composition, the benefits of peppermint are undeniable - its properties are actively used to treat a variety of diseases and restore / improve the functioning of almost all systems and organs. The most known useful properties of the described plant are:
- anti-inflammatory;
- is a vasodilator;
- is an analgesic.
Peppermint acts effectively on the gastrointestinal tract, removing intestinal colic, normalizing motility, eliminating the diarrhea( diarrhea) and bloating( flatulence), the usual nausea and heartburn.
Peppermint has a powerful soothing effect - it normalizes night sleep, stabilizes the nervous system, restores a positive psycho-emotional background.
Menthol contained in the described plant is actively used in dentistry and treatment of respiratory diseases - mint is able to relieve toothache, freshen breath, to calm even a strong cough and relieve of sore throat with angina.
The analgesic properties of peppermint have found application in the treatment of diseases of joints and muscles, with stenocardia attacks, headaches.
This plant is used not only in medicine, but also in cooking - peppermint significantly improves the taste of desserts, meat dishes, puddings and cereals, it is added to jam and jelly.Mint emphasizes the heavy taste of fried and baked meat, makes fresh and light even a rich dessert, provides a unique flavor of tea.
The use of mint lies in the ability to gently apply to the delicate skin - it can be safely used to cleanse hypersensitive facial skin.And even fungal diseases of the skin of the feet can be treated with mint - it will relieve pain, relieve the itching and accelerate the healing of affected areas of the skin.
Peppermint damage and contraindications
Peppermint seems quite harmless seasoning, but if it is used in large quantities, you can cause real harm to health - an overdose will occur.This condition is characterized by nausea, rare vomiting, dizziness, severe weakness.
Peppermint can also cause allergy - if you want to use the seasoning for the first time, then it is necessary to perform the simplest allergotest: eat a small leaf of the plant and wait for the reaction of the body for 30 minutes: if dryness appears in the mouth, itching of the face and hands, suffocating cough, lachrymation, mint is contraindicatedUse in any form.
It is undesirable to get involved in mint and men - it can affect the level of potency, reduce sexual desire and lead to complete indifference towards sexual life.
It is strictly forbidden to use mint as a seasoning and medicine for the following diseases:
- varicose veins of the lower limbs;
- steady low pressure;Obesity of the 2-3 degree
- .
It is not advisable to consume peppermint to pregnant women and during the feeding of a child, as well as for those who follow a diet and struggle with excess weight - this spicy herb is able to activate the secretion of gastric juice and to arouse appetite.
Application of mint
Peppermint can be used in the preparation of meat dishes - it perfectly shades the taste of fried, baked pork and beef.This same seasoning perfectly harmonizes with the sweet taste - you can safely add leaves of grass to desserts, punch and puddings.From mint cooked jam and prepare tea, it is dried and frozen and at the same time the useful properties of the plant are kept at 80%.
Peppermint is recognized as a curative herb and official medicine - the pharmacological industry adds the extract of this plant to both painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, it sells both as an independent medicinal plant and as part of multicomponent herbal preparations.
Perfumers have fallen in love with mint for its fresh fragrance - it makes light "heavy" powder, sandal odors.
Peppermint is a weed plant that grows in almost all climatic zones and does not require any special care in the growing process, but it does not become less useful.
