The Mint Effect
Human Health and Behavior- Grade:
- 2
- Teacher:
- Pamela Barrett
My project was how to test the effect of mint on the temperature of the mouth using different types of mint gum and one mint candy. It turns out that mint doesn’t actually change the temperature of your mouth, but instead it tricks your brain into thinking your mouth is colder through a chemical called menthol. Mint contains menthol, which binds to temperature receptors in the body, especially the mouth, which then send signals to the brain that colder temperatures have been detected even though no actual temperature change has taken place. My results showed that peppermint is the most effective mint at causing this reaction, with the peppermint gum being slightly better than the candy. Spearmint and wintermint gum were the next best at causing the cold sensation, which means those have slightly less menthol than the peppermint options. The next best was sweet mint gum. Bubblemint gum was the worst and did not cause any extra cold sensation. Thus, bubblemint gum must contain little to no menthol.
Great experiment! Nothing better on a hot day than a little mint in some cold water!
Great and innovative idea, well done
your ‘Mint Effect’ project was amazing! I loved the information about receptors! You collected your data very carefully, and your graphs made the results so easy to understand. You are a great scientist.
What a wonderful project! It was pretty cool to read about the experiment with the mint tricking our brains! When I drink water now with my mint or mint gum, I’ll be thinking of this! Way to go!