Table of Contents The benefits of drinking mint before bed. Mother Nature can be the cause of our illness due to the action of bacteria, germs and viruses that are present everywhere, but at the same time she is the cause of our health and the source of our natural treatments that God created for us, and the natural substances that she gives us are included in the components of chemical medicines. Which we use for various diseases, and most of them are an ideal treatment in themselves and do not require other additives, as is the case with mint and its types. In our article today on the reference website, we will learn about mint, the active ingredients in it, the benefits of drinking it before bed, and the other benefits of this natural ingredient. We will also learn about On some of its potential harms and how to prepare it, in addition to mentioning everything related to this topic.

Mint

Mint belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which is a large family that includes all types of herbs that have the same characteristics, such as rosemary, basil, marjoram, and thyme. Mint itself includes more than 20 different species that live in different environments, and many of these species possess health and medicinal qualities to varying degrees. In general, We use mint on a large scale, directly or indirectly, such as in cooking, in toothpaste, chewing gum, or in medical drugs, in addition to the fact that mint is a natural remedy in itself, and is used in herbal medicine, whether fresh or dried.[1]

Active ingredients in mint

Mint is widely used in all kitchens, frequently in refreshing food or drink dishes, and it is preferred by many people because of its good taste and unique smell. Mint contains several active substances that give it these properties that we mentioned, the most important of which is menthol, which gives mint its cooling properties and unique mint smell. In addition to other essential oils such as menthone and limonene. See also: Benefits of mint water for hair. Details of my experience with mint

Benefits of drinking mint before bed

When it comes to lack of sleep, we must know the problems that prevent relaxation and sleep and how to treat them. Below we learn what problems mint treats regarding sleep thanks to menthol:[1]

Menthol in mint acts as a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic in nature, which helps with relaxation.

The menthol substance in mint works to relieve tension and anxiety that commonly occur before sleep for most people as a result of daily psychological stress.

In addition to being a muscle relaxant, peppermint does not contain caffeine, which gives it the advantage of fighting common nighttime insomnia.

The combination of peppermint oils works to relieve chronic symptoms that prevent sleep, such as chronic cough, indigestion, softening the stomach, and others.

General benefits of drinking mint before bed

From a scientific standpoint, peppermint drink or oil is considered a safe substance to use and has many properties that make it a natural treatment or sedative for many diseases. However, not all treatments are scientifically proven, as some of them are the result of personal experiences, clinical experiments, or scientific experiments. Below we review these benefits, mentioning their extent from a scientific and medical standpoint.[2]

Controlling irritable bowel disorders

This is done by using peppermint oil in particular, which comes in the form of regular oil or capsules containing a high concentration of peppermint oil. This result came after several studies conducted on several people, and the study showed that 40% of those who used peppermint obtained a better result than using specialized medications. .

Treatment of digestive disorders

Peppermint tea works to treat digestive symptoms such as gas, bloating, etc. It also prevents smooth muscles from contracting, which will relieve spasms in the intestines.

Treating stomach disorders and indigestion

This is due to the menthol oil found in mint, which works to soothe the stomach and treat constipation. It also facilitates the digestion process due to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which restores balance to internal metabolism during the digestion process.

Benefits of mint for the liver

In the liver, drinking mint increases the production and secretion of bile, which is the main substance that the liver secretes into the duodenum during the process of digesting food. It also works to protect and ensure the integrity of the plasma membrane of liver cells and improve their work and regeneration.

Benefits of mint to relieve headaches

Since peppermint tea has proven its effectiveness as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever, it reduces the symptoms of headaches and migraines, as the menthol oil present in peppermint oil increases blood flow and this provides a high feeling of coolness, which relieves pain. Inhaling the scent of peppermint tea also relieves these pains. .

Fight bacterial infections

According to the studies presented, peppermint oil, especially menthol oil, works to kill and prevent the growth of common food-borne bacteria, including listeria, coliform bacteria, and salmonella. It also kills several types of harmful bacteria that cause several diseases, such as staphylococcus and bacteria that cause pneumonia, in addition to… Bacteria deposited in the mouth.

Reducing nasal congestion and colds

This is for several reasons, including its anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory composition, in addition to the presence of menthol, which improves the perception of air flow in the nasal cavity. Warm liquids also improve the symptoms of sinus congestion due to their rising vapors.

Benefits of drinking mint before bed for weight loss

Medically, peppermint tea is a beverage that has a good taste in addition to being free of calories. Therefore, it is a safe drink that does not cause weight gain. On the other hand, the composition of peppermint tea is one of the substances that make a person lose appetite, and this is what keeps him away from weight gain. As for its burning of calories, this has not been scientifically proven yet.

Strengthening the immune system

This is due to two reasons: its antibacterial composition and its help in fighting diseases, which enhances the functioning of the immune system. The second reason is the effects of potassium, vitamin B, and various antioxidants present in it, which help the body carry out its functions in the correct way.

Increase concentration and mental functions

The fragrant and strong smell of mint stimulates the nervous system and improves concentration. It also fights headaches and migraines, and this will restore the brain to its normal state. On the other hand, it fights insomnia and anxiety, and this is enough to purify the mind and allow the mind to perform its functions normally.

Relieve seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction that occurs in certain seasons, especially in the season of the transmission of pollen or pollen that flowers shed in the spring, and this is what causes several manifestations such as nasal congestion, cough, headache, tears in the eyes, heartburn, etc., and it is usually treated either naturally by drinking aromatic herbs. Such as mint, or using antihistamines.

Improve body energy

Although there are no accurate tests for this, clinical trials have shown that peppermint tea improves energy levels, reduces daytime fatigue, and reduces feelings of sleepiness during routine daily activities during the day.

Getting rid of bad breath

Peppermint is an aromatic herb due to its concentrated oil composition, which is why it is commonly used in toothpastes, mouthwash, and chewing gum. In addition, it has antibacterial properties, which helps kill the germs that cause dental plaque.

Benefits of drinking mint for women before bed

The benefits of drinking mint before bed include several benefits for women, including its benefits for the menstrual cycle, allergies, breastfeeding, and others. Below we present the most important of them:[3]

Peppermint formula helps relieve symptoms of painful menstrual cramps.

Some studies, which are not actually proven, link a decrease in the number of menstrual days to drinking mint, and it also helps in preventing its occurrence.

In other studies, doctors link it to regulating menstrual days, and this treatment to regulate menstruation has been used since ancient times before modern medicine.

Since peppermint tea is a sedative, as we mentioned previously, it is useful for improving mood and depression associated with menstruation.

For pregnant women, inhaling mint leaves or swallowing some green leaves helps relieve the symptoms of morning sickness.

For breastfeeding women, mint helps relieve cracked and sore nipples during breastfeeding.

Mint also helps relieve hirsutism in women in several areas, such as the abdomen, chest, and face.

Types of mint

The original homeland of mint is Asia and Europe. However, it lives in various environments, which is why it is spread widely around the world. We mentioned previously that it consists of about 20 species, the most famous of which around the world are:[3]

Peppermint: It is characterized by the presence of pink flowers at the top of the herbaceous plant, while its leaves are round in shape, but its tip is like a spear.

Pointed mint: It is one of the most common types of mint that we use in the Arab world, Turkey, Spain, and Greece.

Wild mint: It is often used either in the manufacture of medicines or in the manufacture of pesticides. It is not used, like regular mint, in cooking and drinking.

Indigo mint: It is known historically. The Pharaohs used it and mentioned it in their writings, and it is still used today. It is used in Egypt for food and drink.

Corsican mint: It is native to Corsica, and is characterized by small, bright green oval leaves. It has purple flowers.

Flavored mint: These are types with a pleasant, strange, and varied scent. Some of them emit a scent resembling chocolate, banana, apple, or strawberry.

African mint: It is a type of perennial herbaceous plant that lives in Africa and some regions of Asia.

Japanese mint: It is a concentrated mint that is used in the manufacture of medicines in particular, in addition to its use in toothpaste and mouthwash.

Nutritional value of mint

Mint contains all the important nutrients for every person, and below we mention the most important ones per 100 grams of mint:[3]

Calories: Mint is considered low in calories and fat, and contains only 48 calories from various carbohydrate sources, 0.6 grams of fat, and 2 grams of dietary fiber, which is important for the heart and blood vessels.

Vitamins: Mint provides 1620 micrograms of beta-carotene, which is beneficial for eye and heart health, and 27 milligrams of vitamin C, vitamin A and B.

Minerals: Mint provides 60 milligrams of magnesium and 200 milligrams of calcium, in addition to 15.6 milligrams of iron and phosphorus.

Prepare mint tea

When preparing mint tea, be careful not to boil mint with water, as this will make the mint lose its nutritional value. To ensure the nutritional value, the following must be done:[4]

Boil two or more cups of water as desired.

We wash fresh mint leaves and filter them.

We drop mint into hot water as desired, as some people prefer a higher concentration of active ingredients.

Leave the tea for a period of time until the water absorbs the goodness of the mint.

Strain the mint tea after the steeping period, and some sugar or honey can be added to sweeten it.

Ways to use mint

The most common use of mint is fresh leaves that can be used as tea or put in food, but there are other uses, which are:[4]

Eat fresh or dried leaves in addition to mint tea.

Inhaling essential oils.

Apply it to the skin, especially for breastfeeding mothers.

Take capsules prepared from peppermint oil.

See also: How to make lemonade with green and dried mint with three different recipes

The harms of drinking mint before bed

In general, mint is a natural herbal plant that is safe to use. However, it is not without some harms related to how and how to use mint, the most important of which are:[4]

Heartburn: Although peppermint helps with digestion and gets rid of stomach pain, it worsens acid reflux if the person suffers from indigestion resulting from gastroesophageal reflux disease or esophageal reflux disease.

Drug interactions: It should not be used with cyclosporine, which is taken by organ transplant patients, as it reduces the effect of medications that are metabolized in the liver or used to reduce stomach acidity. In addition, it reduces blood sugar and blood pressure as well, and therefore it should not be taken in conjunction with Medications for diabetes and blood pressure problems.

Kidney stone patients: Although mint helps enhance kidney function, it should not be taken by people who suffer from kidney stones.

Regarding pregnancy: Scientifically, there are no harmful effects from pregnant women drinking it, but studies are not sufficient on this subject, and therefore a doctor must be consulted, especially since there is likely to be a drug conflict with pregnancy medications.

With this, we reach the end of our article, which was entitled The Benefits of Drinking Mint Before Sleep, through which we learned about mint, its active ingredients, the benefits of drinking it before sleep, and the other benefits of this natural ingredient. We also learned more about some of its potential harms, how to prepare it, its forms of use, its nutritional value, and its other types.