Is spearmint the next brain food?
Spearmint is a member of the Lamiaceae family along with others such as rosemary and lemon balm. Each of these plants have historically been found to have positive outcomes on cognition and reducing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep.
A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that 900mg/day of spearmint extract was used effectively in 198 healthy men and women between the ages of 50 and 70 with age-associated memory impairment.
The extract significantly increased cognitive function by 22%, improved sleep efficacy and overall mood over a 90-day period.
The rosmarinic and salvianolic acids are the key polyphenols that increase the effectiveness.
The study found that when taken daily, 900mg/day of spearmint extract with higher concentration of rosmarinic acid (≥14.5%) showed improvements in getting to sleep and staying asleep.
In conclusion, spearmint appears to improve sleep and memory therefore enhancing the mood.
For additional information please visit Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Questions: Would you recommend your patients to try spearmint for their sleep issues? Do you like minty flavors? Would you like to sharpen your sleep, memory and mood with this simple plant?
