Can peppermint really improve performance and encourage weight loss?
The University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in Iran demonstrated that, because of its antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and vasoconstricting effects, peppermint oil helps reduce muscle pain and fatigue, which then may lead to improved exercise performances.
Their 10-day study involved 12 healthy students who were supplemented daily with a bottle of mineral water containing 0.05 ml of peppermint oil while also undergoing treadmill exercises on a daily basis.
At the end of the trial, the results showed improvements in respiratory efficiency and energy expenditure during the exercises.
In general, the students seemed to suffer less quickly from exhaustion and were able to reach longer distances by the same token.
Systolic blood pressure as well as resting and exercising heart rates decreased.
Based on the fact that carbohydrate metabolism rose by the end of the 10 days, scientists came to the conclusion that, by enhancing muscular energy metabolism, peppermint may then encourage weight loss.
The Chicago Tribune reported a study from 2011 in which participants were asked to simply smell peppermint oil every two hours.
Apparently, the ones who inhaled the peppermint felt less hungry and consumed on average 2800 fewer calories over a week than the ones who didn’t smell the peppermint throughout.
Finally, research coming from the Wheeling Jesuit University has led scientists to believe that smelling peppermint may also be useful to increase alertness, motivation and possibly performance.