16 Complete Protein Pairings with Mint

Summary:

• Mint contains a moderate amount of protein - about 1 grams per cup.
• However, mint provides only 7 of the 9 essential amino acids sufficiently - it is a little low on lysine and methionine.^[1]
• Mint pairs well with carrots, crimini mushroom, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds or hedge mustard seeds to create a complete protein profile. ^[2] More mint pairings and detailed analysis below.

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• Summary
• Protein
• Amino Acid Profile
• Pairings with Mint (16)

A complete protein is a protein source that "contains adequate proportions of the nine essential amino acids" that our body can not produce on its own.

A decent source of supplementary protein, a single cup of mint contains 1 grams of protein, or about 2% of recommended daily values. ^[1]

To get the adequate amount of protein with mint alone, you will need 52 cups of mint (1330 grams) for an average female, or 63 cups of mint for males. ^[4] That's about 933 calories, and a lot of mint! Supplementing mint with food higher in protein is a good idea.

Full nutritional profile for mint
USDA Source: Peppermint, fresh

Macronutrients in 1 cup (25.6g) of mint:

Proportionally, mint does contain abundant amounts of 7 out of the nine essential amino acids. However, mint is a little short on lysine and methionine.^[1]

To have adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids with mint alone, you will have to eat 63 cups of mint (1623 grams) for an average person. ^[2]

That's about 22% more mint to compensate for the lack of lysine and methionine, compared to the protein requirement alone.

The amount of each essential amino acid in 1 cup (25.6g) of mint:

1. Carrots
2. Crimini Mushroom
3. Pumpkin Seeds
4. Chia Seeds
5. Hedge Mustard Seeds
6. Yellow Mustard
7. Dijon Mustard
8. Avocado
9. Wheat Germ
10. Chestnut
11. Lotus Seeds

1. Sour Cream
2. Caramel
3. Yogurt
4. Mayonnaise

Low in protein, carrot is high in lysine and methionine, which is complementary to mint.

A ratio of 3.3 cups of mint (85g) and 1.6 carrots (118g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 1.4:1 of carrot to mint will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for carrots
USDA Source: Carrots, raw

Crimini mushroom is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and methionine, complementing the profile of mint.

For example, 3.3 cups of mint (85g) and 0.9 cup of crimini mushroom (75g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.9:1 of crimini mushroom to mint will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for crimini mushroom
USDA Source: Mushrooms, brown, italian, or crimini, raw

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, pumpkin seed is high in lysine and methionine, which is complementary to mint.

A ratio of 5 cups of mint (128g) and 1.9 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds (8g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.06 to 1:12 for mint to pumpkin seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for pumpkin seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, pumpkin and squash seeds, whole, roasted, without salt

Chia seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and methionine, complementing the profile of mint.

For example, 5 cups of mint (128g) and 0.2 ounce of chia seeds (4g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.03 to 1:7 for mint to chia seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for chia seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, chia seeds, dried

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, hedge mustard seed is high in lysine and methionine, which is complementary to mint.

A ratio of 5 cups of mint (128g) and 1.7 tablespoons of hedge mustard seeds (8g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.06 to 1:12 for mint to hedge mustard seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for hedge mustard seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, sisymbrium sp. seeds, whole, dried

Yellow mustard is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and methionine, complementing the profile of mint.

For example, 5 cups of mint (128g) and 3.8 tablespoons of yellow mustard (56g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.44 to 1:0.4 for mint to yellow mustard by weight.

Full nutritional profile for yellow mustard
USDA Source: Mustard, prepared, yellow

A great source of protein, dijon mustard is high in lysine and methionine, which is complementary to mint.

A ratio of 5 cups of mint (128g) and 2.3 tablespoons of dijon mustard (14g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.11 to 1:22 for mint to dijon mustard by weight.

Full nutritional profile for dijon mustard
USDA Source: Spices, mustard seed, ground

Avocado is low in protein, and is high in lysine and methionine, complementing the profile of mint.

For example, 5 cups of mint (128g) and 1.2 avocado (159g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 1.2:1 of avocado to mint will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for avocado
USDA Source: Avocados, raw, California

A great source of protein, wheat germ is high in lysine and methionine, which is complementary to mint.

A ratio of 5 cups of mint (128g) and 1.5 tablespoons of wheat germ (11g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.08 to 1:16 for mint to wheat germ by weight.

Full nutritional profile for wheat germ
USDA Source: Wheat germ, crude

Chestnut is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and methionine, complementing the profile of mint.

For example, 5 cups of mint (128g) and 0.3 cup of chestnut (37g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.29:1 of chestnut to mint will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for chestnut
USDA Source: Nuts, chestnuts, european, roasted

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, lotus seed is high in lysine and methionine, which is complementary to mint.

A ratio of 3.3 cups of mint (85g) and 0.9 cup of lotus seeds (30g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.35:1 of lotus seed to mint will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for lotus seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, lotus seeds, dried

Sour cream is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and methionine, complementing the profile of mint.

For example, 5 cups of mint (128g) and 1.9 tablespoons of sour cream (23g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.18 to 1:36 for mint to sour cream by weight.

Full nutritional profile for sour cream
USDA Source: Cream, sour, cultured

Low in protein, caramel is high in lysine and methionine, which is complementary to mint.

A ratio of 5 cups of mint (128g) and 2.5 tablespoons of caramel (51g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.4 to 1:0.03 for mint to caramel by weight.

Full nutritional profile for caramel
USDA Source: Toppings, butterscotch or caramel

Yogurt is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and methionine, complementing the profile of mint.

For example, 5 cups of mint (128g) and 1.3 tablespoons of yogurt (19g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.15 to 1:0.16 for mint to yogurt by weight.

Full nutritional profile for yogurt
USDA Source: Yogurt, plain, whole milk

Low in protein, mayonnaise is high in lysine and methionine, which is complementary to mint.

A ratio of 5 cups of mint (128g) and 3.3 tablespoons of mayonnaise (46g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.36:1 of mayonnaise to mint will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for mayonnaise
USDA Source: Salad dressing, mayonnaise, regular