Peppermint Power: Study Suggests Sweets Can Boost Alertness During a Cold
Cardiff, UK – A new study from Cardiff University suggests a simple remedy for combating the sluggishness of a common cold: sucking on a peppermint.Researchers found that consuming peppermints can increase alertness in individuals experiencing mild illness, and even provide a boost to those who are healthy.
The research, published in the World Journal Of Pharmacy And Pharmaceutical Sciences, involved monitoring 81 students over a 10-week period. During the study, 17 participants developed a mild upper respiratory illness.Of those, six were given peppermints, six received butterscotch sweets, and five were given no sweets at all. A control group of 64 healthy students were also observed, with 21 sucking on peppermints, 22 given placebo sweets, and 21 consuming nothing.
Participants were assessed for mood,performance,and reaction times. As expected, those with a cold exhibited slower reaction times and reduced alertness. Though, researchers observed that peppermint consumption increased alertness in both sick and healthy individuals.
dr. Andy Smith, who led the research, explained the potential mechanism: “When people are sick with a mild upper respiratory tract illness, they will likely experience malaise – a general discomfort and a lack of wellbeing. This can impact performance and reduce our alertness.” He added that vapours are known to have therapeutic benefits, and aromatics like mint have previously been shown to positively impact wellbeing, both when ill and in good health.
“We thought it was plausible that peppermints might help reduce the malaise associated with the common cold and its symptoms,” Dr. Smith stated. The study’s results support this hypothesis, demonstrating that “with the right understanding, simple things can be done to improve our wellbeing when unwell – and that includes eating a peppermint to help with a cold.”
