Peppermint Perks For Diabetes Care, And A Minty No Bake Recipe

Maybe the popularity of candy canes made peppermint a characteristic scent and flavor of the Christmas season, or perhaps peppermint is responsible for the longevity of candy canes.

Either way, long before December’s ubiquitous red and white striped candy decorated holiday trees, peppermint was harvested for its taste, and medicinal properties.

A member of the mint family, peppermint is a naturally occurring blend of water mint and spearmint. Its primary active components are menthol and menthone, substances that smell good, energize, diminish pain, and limit the growth of harmful bacteria. Ancient text references indicate peppermint has been used by cooks and healers since 1500 B.C.

Peppermint and Diabetes

Like many herbs, peppermint has properties that aid diabetes management, reminding us that nature’s diverse plant life supports human health and well being.


For instance, people with diabetes often have trouble digesting fats, and peppermint is known to help the liver process fatty substances by stimulating the flow of bile. Peppermint can also alleviate the bloating associated with gastroparesis, or slow digestion—and everyone who’s every lived appreciates timely gas relief.

Numerous animal studies suggest that peppermint influences glucose levels, and in some investigations it lowered blood sugar substantially, which makes one wonder why no human peppermint-glucose studies have been done. Fortunately, there is a wealth of anecdotal evidence that in topical oils, creams, and ointments peppermint can dampen the discomfort of diabetic neuropathy.

Despite its benefits, some people are allergic to peppermint, and the herb may interact with certain drugs (e.g., simvastatin, cyclosporine, felodipine). People with gall stones, stomach ulcers, or gastroesophageal reflux should check with a doctor before ingesting peppermint.


Carob Mint Holiday Bites

While recipes containing a couple drops of peppermint extract will have little to no effect on our gas or glucose levels, here’s an adventurous no-bake minty and chocolatey recipe to enjoy any time of year.

You will need:

  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 6 to 8 medjool dates, pitted
  • 3 tablespoons coconut butter
  • 2 teaspoons spirulina powder (find spirulina in the vitamin section of health food stores, or online; it adds rich color, and nutrients to this recipe)
  • 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon carob powder
  • 1 tablespoon water, plus 1 more teaspoon if necessary
  • 2 drops peppermint extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup dried coconut flakes

Preparation:

  1. Put sunflower seeds in a food processor; pulse until finely ground. Add dates; pulse until well integrated.
  2. Add coconut butter, spirulina, and carob power until combined. Add water, a bit at a time, until reaching desired consistency. To test, roll some of the mixture into a ball—it should stick together when pressed, but not be wet.
  3. Add peppermint extract and salt; start with one drop of extract and add a second if desired.
  4. Pinch off pieces of the mixture and roll into balls about the size of a quarter. Roll the balls in coconut flakes, and place on a serving platter.

Recipe makes 12 servings. One serving has approximately: 117 calories, 6.4 g total fat, 15 g total carbs, 2.4 g fiber, 1.7 g protein.


Sources: Chopra; New Directions Aromatics; Wikipedia; Total Diabetes Supply; Live Strong
Photo credit: liz west


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...