MINT has long been associated with fresh breath, soothing teas, and delicious frozen desserts.
It's the herb that adds a refreshing twist to just about anything.
However, when consumed in excess, could it have a chilling effect on male fertility?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Peppermint and spearmint, two well-known herbs from the mint family, have been shown to influence testosterone levels directly.
A study published in ScienceDirect examined the effects of peppermint on female reproductive hormones and testosterone.
The research found that peppermint consumption led to increased levels of luteinising hormone
(LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), both crucial for female reproductive health.
Concurrently, the study observed a reduction in testosterone levels, a key hormone for male fertility.
These findings suggest that peppermint may influence hormone levels in ways that could be beneficial for women with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) but potentially detrimental to male reproductive health.
Similarly, spearmint has been shown to elevate female reproductive hormones in women, with a corresponding decrease in testosterone, sperm count, and sperm motility.
A 2010 study published in the National Library of Medicine explored the effects of spearmint herbal tea on testosterone levels in women.
Conducted over 30 days with 42 female participants, the study found that drinking spearmint tea daily led to a significant reduction in testosterone levels.
This research highlights spearmint's potential impact on hormonal balance, particularly in reducing androgen levels in women.
The findings also suggest that spearmint could be beneficial for conditions like hirsutism in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), where elevated testosterone is a concern.
REFERENCES
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
