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The study uncovered the benefits of the herb, which may come in handy this weekend (Image: Getty)
A recent scientific study has discovered that consuming or smelling a particular type of food can help you feel more alert, which could be beneficial for many this weekend. On Sunday (October 26), the clocks will revert an hour at 2am, signalling the conclusion of British Summer Time.
A groundbreaking study has unveiled that certain foods, whether eaten or merely smelled, can enhance alertness—potentially a boon for many as the weekend approaches. On Sunday, October 26, the transition from British Summer Time will occur as clocks roll back an hour at 2 a.m.
When this shift happens at 2 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), digital clocks will automatically reset to 1 a.m., granting an extra hour of rest. However, manual adjustments will be necessary for analogue devices like oven timers and traditional clocks.
This practice, which dates back to World War I, aims to optimize daylight usage and conserve energy. The mnemonic “spring forward, fall back” helps people remember how to adjust their clocks with the changing seasons.
While many cherish the added hour of sleep, others may find themselves more fatigued and sluggish due to the disruption in their natural sleep patterns. This feeling of tiredness, as some individuals’ circadian rhythms struggle to adapt to the time shift, can be quite common.
Although the extra hour might seem advantageous at first, it can lead to a few days of drowsiness and disorientation until your body clocks back in sync. To ease this transition, experts recommend cultivating a soothing bedtime routine to cue your body for sleep, and maximizing daylight exposure to help balance your internal clock, according to the Mirror.
Explore further: Spain is advocating for a significant change in the clock-setting tradition as it seeks support from the EU.
What is a quick fix to feel more alert?
For those seeking an immediate solution, there’s another option: indulging in a packet of peppermint sweets. A recent study suggests that consuming or inhaling peppermint can boost alertness, particularly for those battling a cold or mental fatigue.
Peppermint can be enjoyed in various forms, from sweets and tea to desserts and salads. It’s readily available at most supermarkets and health stores.
For example, Tesco is offering a packet of Trebor Extra Strong Peppermint Mints for just 80p, with approximately 17 sweets per roll, equating to about 5p per sweet.
Research shows that peppermint can enhance psychomotor speed and reaction times, while its aroma may also improve memory and focus. A team of experts at Cardiff University conducted a mission to determine whether consuming peppermints could enhance mood and alertness, especially when feeling under the weather.
The herb can help ill and healthy people feel more alert (Image: Getty)
What did the research find?
Scientists tracked 81 students over a ten-week period, with 17 falling ill with a cold during that time.Six poorly students were handed peppermints, six received butterscotch sweets, and five got nothing at all.
Meanwhile, healthy students who dodged the cold were also given peppermint. Of these, 21 received no sweets whatsoever, whilst a further 22 were given a placebo, essentially a dummy treatment.
Both groups underwent testing to measure their mood, performance levels, and how quickly they could react. Results demonstrated that catching a cold genuinely hampered participants’ abilities.
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Their eye movements and reactions became sluggish, and they felt considerably less alert. The research also uncovered that peppermint provided an alertness boost to people, whether they were poorly or in good health. However, despite heightened alertness, there was no concrete proof that it actually improved their work output.
Dr Andy Smith, who led the research team, explained that suffering from a cold can harm someone’s performance and diminish their alertness levels.
He continued: “Vapours are known to have therapeutic benefits – and aromatics, such as mint, have been shown in previous research to have an impact on our wellbeing when ill and in perfect health.
“We thought it was plausible that peppermints might help… These results show that, with the right understanding, simple things can be done to improve our wellbeing when unwell – and that includes eating a peppermint to help with a cold.”
Peppermint sweets were found to boost alertness (Image: Getty)
What else is peppermint good for?
The humble mint is brilliant for soothing tummy troubles, including bloating, indigestion and stomach cramps. It can also tackle feelings of sickness and banish headaches.
The NHS says: “Peppermint oil is a type of medicine called an antispasmodic. It helps relieve stomach cramps, bloating and farting (flatulence), particularly if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Peppermint oil comes as capsules. It’s available on prescription or to buy from a pharmacy or a shop.”
Peppermint can also help unblock stuffy airways, freshen breath and could sharpen your concentration and mental performance.
The plant also boasts germ-fighting properties and proves useful around the home for tasks like cleaning and deterring rodents.
