“As for the garden mint, the very smell of it alone recovers and refreshes our spirits, as the taste stirs up our appetite for meat.â€Â            -Pliny the Elder
Oh, the sweet aroma of fresh mint! This herb is particularly versatile in the kitchen, but also is surprisingly healthy. Not only is mint pleasant to our nostrils and taste buds, read on to discover just a few of the many benefits of incorporating fresh mint into your daily lifestyle.
Mint has been credited through the ages for several uses. It is notably effective as a powerful antioxidant, as it contains significant amounts of vitamins A and C, with a smaller dosage of vitamin B2 along with a myriad of minerals; manganese, copper, iron, potassium, and calcium.
With a keen ability to aide in digestion, mint may help in relieving indigestion, heartburn, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and calms the hiccups. The early American settlers discovered mint tea to effectively ease the pain of a toothache. If consumed 30 minutes before a meal, mint has proven to be an appetite stimulant. All the while it acts as a mild sedative, easing minor aches, pains, and muscle cramps. Mint could combat the symptoms of colds/flu/nasal allergies (great news for the intense allergy season). Not to mention, this delectable and fragrant herb battles bad breath!
So, by all means, go ahead and toss those sprigs of fresh mint into your fruit salad. And don’t forget to kick back and enjoy a cup of fresh-brewed mint tea. For a tantalizing treat, try this minty twist on ice cream below, sure to be a relaxing finish to any summer meal.
Berry Mint Ice Cream
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 cup fresh raspberries (washed)
4 tablespoons fresh mint (chopped)
4 small sprigs fresh mint (for garnish)
lemon zest
Grab 4 of your favorite ice cream dishes, scoop ½ cup of ice cream into each dish. Add ¼ cup fresh raspberries to each dish, top each with 1 Tablespoon freshly chopped mint. Add an extra zing by finishing with a zest of fresh lemon, and garnishing with a small sprig of fresh mint.
