Tag: Menthol cooling effect

According to the National Institutes of Health, the sensation of coolness from mint is a sensory perception, not a change in actual body temperature. So, is mint cool for the body, or is it an elaborate physiological trick? The answer involves the fascinating science of menthol and its interaction with our nervous system.

Menthol, the primary compound in mint, activates the same cold-sensitive nerve receptors in your mouth that are triggered by icy temperatures. This sensory illusion makes many wonder: is mint cooling or heaty, and how does it truly affect the body's internal temperature and energy?