Peppermint, a delightful species of mint born from the union of watermint and spearmint, has been gracing our winters with its festive charm. It infuses our drinks, from comforting teas to indulgent hot chocolates, and even inspires some of the most creative Christmas-themed cocktails. The iconic red and white striped candy canes, a symbol of the season, adorn our Christmas trees and decorate our gingerbread houses, adding a touch of joy to our holiday traditions.
Many legends exist involving the origin of candy canes. One story tells the story of the candy cane first being used to keep choirboys quiet during a long living nativity ceremony. Legend has it that in 1670, the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral bent sugar sticks into a shape that resembled a shepherd’s crook—according to the story, giving the tasty treats a slightly religious theme justified providing candy to children during solemn services. Other stories imply that confectioners later added the hook to the sugar stick to facilitate hanging it from a Christmas tree.
Historians believe candy canes made their American debut around 1847 when a German immigrant named August Imgard decorated a tree in Wooster, Ohio, with paper ornaments and candy canes.
Candy canes didn’t always look, or taste how we know them today. For the first 200 years of their existence, candy canes were all white! Around 1900, the classic red stripes that we see today came about, along with the iconic peppermint flavoring.
Peppermint has many known health benefits, including improving sleep, soothing gastrointestinal issues, and even providing natural insect repellent. We will explore some fundamental links between peppermint and cancer prevention to pay homage to the iconic holiday indulgence.
One study found that peppermint extract protected mice from radiation damage. The findings suggest that the flavonoids found in peppermint could have antioxidant properties that prevent damage that can lead to abnormal cells that can turn into cancer.
Menthol, a compound derived from peppermint oil, has anticancer properties. Two studies (2009 and 2012) have shown that menthol induces cell death in prostate cancer cells treated in a laboratory setting. A similar study showed that menthol impairs the invasive abilities of oral squamous carcinoma cells. Further, the viability of melanoma cells declined following application of menthol. cells declined following the application of menthol.
While the data investigating the correlations between peppermint and cancer remain minimal, some evidence points to cancer-preventive properties of the cool mint. According to the National Confectioners Association, the highest candy cane sales occur in the second week in December, so there’s a good chance you will encounter the festive treats in the coming days, and you will be well informed on the anticancer properties of peppermint.
Sources: Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol, Food Rev Int, Front Pharmcol, Int J Mol Sci, Biochim Biophys Acta, Path Oncol Res, Int J Oncol, Am J Physiol Cell Physiol