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You can grow mint in pots at home. It is also an environmentally friendly pesticide and keeps ants, flies and even mosquitoes away. Mint is also a natural air freshener and keeps germs away Mrugank Deshmukh, Bhandup resident
A Correspondent
At a time when the world’s going gaga over nature and its ways of healing,
herbs are gaining in importance. And a lot of people certainly seem to be using
these to maintain good health and provide instant remedies for small health issues.
One such herb that’s handy and very effective in relaxing muscles, relieving
symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and indigestion, is peppermint. “There
are people who get a lot of relief through consumption of peppermint in cases
of asthma.
Mint extracts can also relieve the nasal symptoms of colds induced by allergy.
It is also a very good mouth freshener. Moreover, it is an excellent source of
manganese, Vitamin C and Vitamin A and a good concentration of carotenoids, including
beta-carotene,” explains Mulund-based dietician Nidhi Kantak. Besides, many
researches and case studies claim that Vitamin C and beta-carotene could decrease
the risk of cancer.
According to Bhandup resident Mrugank Deshmukh, the easiest way to healthy living
is growing herbs at home. “You can grow mint in pots at home. It is also
an environmentally friendly pesticide and keeps ants, flies and even mosquitoes
away. Mint is also a natural air freshener and keeps germs away,” he states.
For octogenarian Kalyani Purushottam from Kanjur Marg, consuming mint tea is the
secret to staying healthy. “My grandma would always ask us to have mint tea
in the mornings saying it would make us alert and help us stay fit.
It’s probably that and the segments of amla that we ate in the mornings when
we were kids that still keep me healthy. But today’s children only want to
feast on junk food that’s oily and unhealthy. My grandchildren think it’s
an oldies’ potion but youngsters must realise that these are the rich healthy
practices handed down generations,” she asserts.
Many studies claim that consumption of mint can also alleviate heartburn, nausea,
cramps and other disorders. No wonder then that homemakers decide to use mint
for garnishing salads, curries and even biryanis. “Apart from its medicinal
value, mint adds a different flavour to the food. Just like coriander mint adds
a special aroma and zing to food,” says Chandrika Pandey, a homemaker from
Powai.
If researches are to be believed, people around the world are now increasingly
using herbs like mint, basil and others in their daily diet. For instance, many
Italian dishes use mint. Many delicacies in Indian cuisine too use mint to a good
effect. So for your dose of good health, it’s time to go ‘mint’ing.
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