Certain dietary supplements are well known for their pleasing taste. According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and other products. Perhaps the most flavorful type of dietary supplement, however, are herbs and botanicals. Meet with your doctor to discuss possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions before taking dietary supplements, including dietary supplements reputed to have a pleasing taste.
Peppermint
Peppermint, also known as Mentha piperita, is an herbal supplement with a pleasing taste. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, peppermint oil has been used to help treat numerous ailments, including acid reflux, colds, nausea, headaches, nerve and muscle pain and gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, author of the book "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth" and a naturopathic doctor, states that peppermint has a sweet, spicy and cool taste and is known for its cooling and drying tendencies. Peppermint is a plant indigenous to Europe, although it is now cultivated throughout the world. Peppermint belongs to the mint family. The leaf of the peppermint plant is used for medicinal purposes. Tilgner states that peppermint is an antispasmodic, analgesic, cholagogue, choleretic, carminative, diaphoretic and mild disinfectant.
Cinnamon
Herbalist Ed Smith, author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that cinnamon has a pleasant, aromatic taste. Tilgner notes that cinnamon's taste is spicy, aromatic and sweet. Cinnamon is an herbal supplement that has been used for centuries in both sweet and savory foods. Cinnamon --- the spice and the herbal supplement --- is derived from the inner bark of cinnamon trees, which are indigenous to South East Asia, although cinnamon trees now grow in India, China, Brazil, Madagascar and certain Caribbean countries. Cinnamon is an astringent, diaphoretic, carminative, antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and gastrointestinal tonic. According to Smith, cinnamon helps warm your stomach and intestinal tract and stimulate your appetite. Cinnamon may be consumed in many forms, including oil, powder or sticks of bark. Tilgner notes that cinnamon should be avoided if you are pregnant, due to its capability to stimulate menstruation.
Licorice
Licorice is a plant that belongs to the legume family, is indigenous to southern Europe and certain regions of Asia and is known for its flavorful taste. Tilgner states that licorice has a sweet and nutritious taste and possesses moistening tendencies. According to Dr. Michael Murray, author of the book "The Healing Power of Herbs" and a naturopathic doctor, licorice is commonly used as a sweetening agent because it contains a substance called glycyrrhizin that is 50 to 100 times sweeter than conventional table sugar. Despite the sweetness of this herbal supplement, it has minimal effects on your blood sugar levels, which makes it an effective sugar substitute for diabetics and other individuals. Murray states that, because of its pleasant taste, licorice is also commonly used to mask the bitter taste of certain medications. As a dietary supplement, licorice is not appropriate for everyone, however. If you have elevated blood pressure, you should avoid taking this herbal supplement.
References
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements --- What You Need to Know
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Peppermint Oil
- "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
- "The Healing Power of Herbs"; Michael T. Murray, N.D.; 1995
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