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Juicing mint for fresh breath and digestion can go a long way towards helping you naturally resolve stinky close-ups and keep a happy stomach. Mint also makes the best tasting juices.
Mint is an
ingredient in pretty much every toothpaste and mouthwash brand you can think
of. To be honest I’ve never really
questioned this fact, other than assuming that this is due to mint’s natural
ability to make my breath smell fresh and minty. But there’s so much more to
mint!
Mint has
germicidal qualities that prevent bacterial growth inside the mouth and clean
the teeth and tongue. This is why our ancestors rubbed fresh mint on their teeth
and gums before the invention of toothpaste and toothbrushes. Now here’s a fun
fact: The first bristle toothbrushes were invented by the ancient Chinese who
made them with the bristles from the necks of cold climate pigs!
Thankfully
we’ve moved away from that, but that doesn’t mean our ancestors didn’t know
what they were doing. Mint has traditionally been used for abdominal cramps,
sore throats and bad breath, while it also helps sooth the stomach and promote
digestion.
Mint is also really good for nausea
and motion sickness and can help alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness. It
is used for respiratory disorders and coughs (which is why it’s found in most
cough syrups), and clearing up congestion that results from asthma and colds. It
can even inhibit the release of histamines, which cause hay fever and allergies.
Of course, the easiest way to get
your daily mint is to add it to morning or midday juice. A fresh dose of the
powerful herb is believed to have cancer-fighting powers, no doubt due to the
numerous enzymes it contains. It’s great for acne and reducing wrinkles (you
can even rub mint juice directly on your face for younger looking skin).
Though you can chew mint for many
of the same effects, the only way to really bring the true deliciousness of
mint to life is to juice it. Combine it with lemon and cucumber or perhaps
ginger and apple, for example – there’s an incredible array of wonderfully
delicious mint juice combinations out there – to add a spring to your step as
well as that wonderful, confident feeling of
fresh smelling breath!
Why not just chew gum?
This brings me to the obvious
question, why not just chew gum? If you’re been juicing for a while now, you’re
probably aware that gum isn’t the most environmentally friendly substance out
there. Apart from the fact that it’s the second most common form of litter and
has to be physically removed because it doesn’t biodegrade, gum is pretty bad
for you in general.
Though it’s popularly believed to
help you eat less, a study published in the journal Eating Behaviors found that chewing mint-flavored gum reduced the overall intake of health food
(fruit and veg) and increased the likelihood of eating junk food. Researchers
believe this is because the minty flavour of the gum makes fruit and vegetables
taste bitter!
Chewing gum can lead to jaw pain,
and even contribute to IBS, as you swallow extra air when chewing, which
contributes to abdominal pain and bloating. Gums is also chock full of sugar (unless
you buy sugar-free) and artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol and mannitol (unless you buy gum with
xylitol) which can cause diarrhea
and tooth decay! Chewing gum also contains Lanolin, a waxy ingredient which
makes chewing gum soft and is derived from sheep wool (vegans beware). If
you’ve got fillings, chewing gum can release the mercury from them into your
system – a known neurotoxin. Eek. So rather go the natural route and juice some
fresh mint, you’ll love the taste and your body will thank you for it.
The Fresh Breath Juice Recipe
Because
often if you have bad breath, it could be a sign your are having
digestive troubles. This juice recipe is a great digestive juice remedy
great to drink after a meal.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 celery stalks
- 3 kale leaves
- 1 small fennel bulb,
trimmed - 2 lemons, peel ok
- 1 small handful of mint
- 2 ounces aloe vera juice
METHOD
Juice the celery, kale, fennel, lemons and mint together. Add aloe vera juice and mix. Serve immediately.
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