When people talk about Peppermint, they usually think of holiday candies, or breath freshener mints, or those little bits of chocolate they hand out at the Olive Garden while you’re waiting for your food to arrive.

But did you know that peppermint is more than just a love-it-or-hate-it flavoring?

Here’s what The Fast Metabolism Diet Community blog found out!

WHAT IS IT, ANYWAY?

Peppermint goes by the scientific name Mentha piperita, and is a perennial plant with distinct light purple flowers, native throughout East Asia, Central Europe, and North America. It’s one of the 25 or so species of mint plants that are cultivated worldwide for commercial purposes.

A natural hybrid (peppermint is the offshoot of spearmint and watermint), it was used as a remedy for indigestion in Egypt, where dried peppermint leaves were found among recovered artifacts from the pyramids. Likewise, neighboring Greece and Italy used peppermint for similar purposes. It was also used as a remedy for nausea and respiratory pains in 1700s England, even featuring in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia in 1721. (Speaking of which – England is purported to have been the first to cultivate peppermint for trading.)

Today, peppermint is used all over the world for mint candies and confections, baked goods, flavoring ingredients, and aromatic oils and scents.

IS IT HEALTHY?

Generally speaking: yes.

2 tablespoons of fresh peppermint contains 2.52 calories, 0.12 grams of protein, 0.38 grams of carbohydrates, 0.26 grams of fiber, and zero sugars – that last bit is definitely good news for people looking to add flavor to foods without resorting to the addictive sugars.

Peppermint is also a good source of calcium, folates, potassium, vitamins A and C, and antioxidants known as flavonoids, which help keep your cells healthy.

That being said, too much peppermint can upset the stomach, and some people may find themselves reacting negatively to large amounts of peppermint in their food or drinks. Always use moderate doses or amounts in your food or drink when taking peppermint!

THE VERDICT

Peppermint isn’t just for sweets and toothpaste – it’s a pretty healthy food item all on its own, and it deserves its place in any kitchen as an alternative flavoring for food. Don’t hesitate to include the zesty peppermint to your fast metabolism diet meal plan today!

The post A Dash of Peppermint to Brighten Your Day appeared first on The Fast Metabolism Diet Community.