Peppermints may boost alertness in people with colds, though they don’t improve thinking skills, a Cardiff University study found.

A Cardiff University study found that sucking on peppermints may boost alertness in people with a common cold, though it does not significantly improve cognitive performance. Researchers tracked 81 students over 10 weeks, including 17 with mild respiratory infections. Those who sucked peppermints—whether sick or healthy—reported increased alertness compared to those given butterscotch or no sweets. Cold symptoms were linked to slower reaction times and reduced alertness, but peppermints appeared to ease malaise, possibly due to mint’s aroma soothing signals from the body to the brain. The findings, published in the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, suggest simple, accessible remedies like peppermints may help improve wellbeing during illness.