Juicing mint for fresh breath and digestion

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.