Divine Coolness: Benefits of Mint + 4 Refreshing Recipes

Peppermint is primarily associated with a feeling of freshness, as we find its pleasant taste in chewing gums, lozenges and toothpastes that freshen our breath. However, the freshness – this is not all that mint is useful for. This fragrant plant is used to maintain the beauty of the skin, treat diseases and even lose weight. Thanks to the availability of mint – now it can be bought on the market, grown in the country or directly in the apartment – you can enjoy all the beneficial properties of this plant with maximum benefits for health and beauty.

What types of mint exist and who should not use it?

There are many types of mint, the most common of which are:

• pepper;
• long-leaved;
• meadow;
• curly;
• Japanese.

All these species are edible and are widely used in medicine, cosmetics and cooking due to their beneficial properties.

Attention! Peppermint is contraindicated in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), individual intolerance. Hypotensive patients and pregnant women should consult a doctor before using this plant.

Next we will look at:

• how mint is useful for health and beauty;
• refreshing recipes with mint.

How is mint useful for health and beauty?

Mint is included in the list of plants that have the strongest antioxidant properties – protect cells from the effects of free radicals that damage cells and lead to premature aging.

Mint has powerful antioxidant properties.

Due to the content of menthol, as well as vitamins A, C, iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium, mint is an extremely useful plant. Why is mint useful?

• Helps relieve nasal congestion.
• Helps relieve nausea.
• Helps prevent acne and clear skin.
• Helps fight bacteria in the mouth and freshens breath.
• It is a source of powerful antioxidants.
• Improves digestion by activating the salivary glands.
• Helps you lose weight by boosting your metabolism.
• Helps activate the brain and fight depression.
• Calms the nerves and helps to sleep.
• Helps relieve bloating and flatulence.
• Helps with irritable bowel syndrome.
• Soothes irritated skin, helps relieve inflammation and itching, for example after insect bites.
• Strengthens the immune system and helps prevent cancer.
• Helps relieve headache.

Refreshing recipes with mint (H3)

Now that we have found out how mint is useful, here are some recipes that will help not only benefit the body, but also refresh on a hot summer day.

1. Mint tea

Mint leaves can be used to make a drink on their own, or added to various teas and herbal preparations for a refreshing touch. To prepare mint tea, it is enough to pour boiling water over a sprig of mint, let the drink brew for 10-15 minutes, add honey or sugar to taste. You can also add a couple of mint leaves when brewing green or any other tea.

2. Drink with ginger, lemon and mint

This drink can be prepared by grating fresh ginger root (about 3 cm), adding it to a liter container with washed mint leaves (about 10-12 pieces) and pouring the juice of half a medium lemon. After mixing all the ingredients, pour them with a liter of boiling water and let it brew for 20 minutes, after which we add the lemon sliced ​​\u200b\u200band send it to cool in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Thinly sliced ​​fresh cucumber can also be added to this drink. You can add honey or sugar for sweetness.

3. Watermelon Mojito

Very tasty, refreshing and truly summer drink will not leave you indifferent. To prepare you will need a large glass, the pulp of a ripe watermelon, fresh mint leaves, lime, sugar and ice. Cut half a lime (the number of parts does not matter), put in a glass, add mint leaves (the amount varies from a few leaves to a sprig – it depends on taste preferences and the intensity of the taste of the plant) and sugar (also to taste – from a tearoom to a dining room spoons). Crush the ingredients well with a masher so that the lime and mint let the juice flow. Add about 100 g of fresh watermelon pulp to the crushed ingredients and crush it. Add ice (crushed or whole) to a glass, fill with water (with or without gas).

Instead of watermelon, you can use your favorite berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, etc.) to indulge in a summer variety of mint fruit drinks.

4. Infusion and ice with mint for the face

This recipe with mint is used for skin care – it tones, refreshes, relieves fatigue and mattifies the skin.

Preparation: pour a tablespoon of fresh or dried mint leaves with a quarter liter of boiling water and let it brew for 20 minutes. After that, we filter the infusion. You can use this infusion immediately by wetting a cotton pad in it and wiping your face. You can also pour the infusion into ice molds to get mint ice, which can also be used to wipe the face.

Read also: Mint self care: 3 recipes

Now you not only know how mint is useful, but you can also use the recipes described above to refresh your skin and the whole body on a hot summer day. There are a lot of recipes for mint drinks, estet-portal.com described their simplest and most common options. Share your favorite cold drink recipes in the comments!