Mint juice may sound like a funny thing to drink although we’re all very familiar with the herb itself. After all, mint is possibly the most popular herb there is. It goes in our toothpaste and our gum. It’s so popular, it’s even the name of those tiny candies we pop into our mouths when we want fresher breath – you know, the breath mint.
And the mere scent of it brings up so many memories, from the familiar feeling of home associated with the all-pervasive cooling freshness of toothpaste. Or maybe reminiscences of Christmas and the sweet spiciness of those candy canes you got in your stocking as a child. Even thoughts of getting some relief from a recent cold with the almost overwhelming ‘hotness’ of Vicks.
There’s no doubt about it – we’re all in love with mint. But did you know that this humble herb is a powerful storehouse of healing properties? You might almost consider it a mini-pharmacy. Just wait ’til you find out how it tastes in your juices and the ample health benefits that come with using this freshening herb in your juice recipes. You just might fall even deeper in love with this multifaceted herb.
Meet Mint: A Quick Bio
Mint is an aromatic herb that has over 30 different varieties, with spearmint and peppermint being the two most well-known types. It’s believed to have originated in the regions of the Mediterranean, while some accounts say that it first proliferated in Western Asia.
But we don’t care where it’s from – as long as we have it. After all, so many recipes from so many cultures around the world rely on this flavorful, fresh herb.
Mint is considered as a kitchen staple in various cultures around the world for hundreds of years already. Historic records even show that ancient Egyptians used mint to concoct refreshing summer drinks and early Greeks made wet rubs from it to prepare lamb for grilling.
Not to mention, mint is a key ingredient of one of the most popular cocktails ever made, the mojito. It is usually comprised of a splash of club soda or sparkling water, ice, sugar, the juice of a lime or lemon, white rum and lots of muddled mint. You can, of course, always make your own healthy smoothie version of this delicious drink (alcohol optional :)). See below for a tasty, healthy mojito recipe you can juice!
7 Marvelous Mint Juice Benefits
So why should you sneak mint into your juice recipes? For the taste, of course…as well as these awesome health (and beauty) perks!
Alleviates Allergies
Got seasonal allergies? Join the club. Oh, and get some mint for that. Mint contains the antioxidant rosemarinic acid, a natural anti-inflammatory agent which has been shown to work in several ways to reduce allergic reactions.
That’s because rosmarinic acid suppresses allergy-causing COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, helping the body to become more resilient against allergies. Aside from helping boost the body’s immune system, rosmarinic acid also eases the effects of allergies like swollen nasal passages, puffy eyes and sore throat.
Through the same mechanisms, it can be used as an effective asthma treatment.
Improves Blood Circulation
Rosemarinic acid also encourages the production of prostacyclins, a prostaglandin that works as both a anticoagulant and a vasodilator. What does that mean? That it widens your blood vessels, allowing that magic red liquid to flow freely in your body, improving circulation and reducing hypertension.
Protects Against Cancer
If that isn’t enough for you, the leaves of the mint plant contain very high amounts of perillyl alcohol, a compound that’s been shown in animal studies to protect against skin, colon, and lung cancer growth, and to stop the growth of pancreatic, mammary, and liver tumors. It does so through its ability to prevent the growth and development of cancer cells by directly attacking their DNA structure.
More clinical studies on this important anti-cancer substance are being conducted now. A French study revealed that perillyl alcohol is currently considered as one of the key ingredients of experimental preventive medicines that are aimed at suppressing the spread of prostate cancer cells.
Fights the Common Cold
Mint is also effective against another more everyday ailment: the common cold. The menthol it contains is a powerful decongestant, which breaks up the mucus and phlegm that keeps your head stuffed up and leads to coughing and clogged noses.
And there’s more good news on the cold and flu front – apart from clearing the airways, the phytochemicals in mint also have anti-bacterial properties that keep harmful microbes at bay, especially the ones that cause itchiness and soreness of the throat.
Great for the Gut
You may already have suspected that mint is great for soothing indigestion – and you’re right. The essential oils in mint have properties that help soothe irritations in the gastrointestinal tract that can cause stomach aches, abdominal spasms and indigestion.
Regular consumption of mint in the diet can even strengthen the walls of the stomach, significantly lowering the risk of ulcer. It’s also been used as an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), thanks to its soothing effect on the intestinal system.
Mint is also a very handy herb when it comes to nausea. Teas infused with mint leaves have since long been used to alleviate the effects of nausea and motion sickness. Interestingly, early sailors from China used to bring mint oil extracts during long trading voyages to prevent dizziness while manning the helm and to keep their sense of direction optimal.
Just keep in mind, though, that mint can also be irritating to the stomach in larger doses, especially if you suffer from stomach conditions like ulcer or gastritis. So juice sparingly!
Naturally Freshens Breath
There’s good reason why mint is the most popular flavor for toothpaste and breath mints: this stuff really freshens your breath. Simply chewing on a mint leaf or two stimulates the salivary glands to work more efficiently, flushing out bits of food and other foreign particles in the mouth that can cause bad breath.
Plus, the essential oils in mint also help cleanse the palate in the process.
Uplifts the Mood
The phytochemicals in the essential oils of mint leaves are capable of stimulating the brain to produce and give off happy hormones called endorphins. These phytochemicals are also found in extracted mint oil that is used in aromatherapy sessions for its soothing effects.
Not bad for such a tiny, yummy herb, eh?
5 Magnificent Mint Juice Recipes
Want some yummy turmeric juice recipes you can try today?
Minty Morning Breakfast Green Juice Recipe
A wonderfully gentle green juice to power you through your mornings! It’s smooth, it’s green and it gets your digestive juices flowing – drink before a hearty breakfast!
Cucumber Lime Mint Juice
Here’s one of the best mint juice recipe ever created – a super simple, bare bones and ridiculously refreshing juice recipe crafted by the clever minds at the Juicing Collection:
- 1 cucumber
- 5 to 6 mint leaves
- 1/2 lime (peeled)
- 1 apple
If you want to cut down on the sugar, use just half or even a quarter of an apple!
Fat Flush Metabolism Booster
I love this super simple juice recipe – it’s delicious, perfect for weight loss and chock full of goodness! Add a little extra lettuce if the citrus is too much 🙂
Minty Pink Lady Tonic
Here’s a lovely juice recipe that is high in lycopene, a phytonutrient essential for both cardiac and bone health. It’s a slight twist on a classic lemonade-style drink that’s really good for you, with a minty freshness that will bring you back to mountain meadows in springtime.
Watermelon also contains vitamin C, pantothenic acid, and copper, as well as smaller quantities of biotin, potassium and vitamin A. The mint is more than just a flavoring; it is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that can help you overcome summertime allergies. Lemon aids digestion, flushes out toxins, and helps reduce buildups of uric acid in your joints.
Skin Rejuvenator Juice Recipe
Here’s a gloriously nourishing skin care juice that’s chock full of skin goodness and complex flavor. Sure, it takes a bunch of ingredients to make but it is oh, so worth it.
If you find yourself grumbling as you wash and prep each of the veggies, just remember what each one is going to do for your skin. Like watercress, these peppery greens are chock full of antioxidants and are one of the best cleansing greens around. As for kale, you already know this is the Queen of Greens, hailed for its high nutrition content.
And the tiny, delicate herbs like mint? Great for your digestive system – just like the licorice-flavored fennel. And we all know that skin care (and health) begins in the gut.
So grab your ingredients and whip up a glass of this super skin saving juice! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup blackberries
- 4 sprigs mint
- ½ fennel bulb with greens
- 2 stalks kale
- 2 small green apples
- 1 cup broccoli
- 1 handful watercress
- 1 small cucumber
- 1 lemon, peeled
This juice recipe is wonderful to sip on throughout the day since it’s pretty low in sugar so feel free to replace your coffee or herbal tea with it!
Minty Melon Cleansing Lemonade
This juice recipe is just…delicious. It’s super refreshing, thanks to the watermelon and mint mix and the combination of savory cilantro, spicy ginger, and zesty lemon give this juice recipe an intense flavor profile that’s as addicting as the way it’ll make you feel 🙂
Want some more wonderfully nutritious herbs you can juice?
