Posted on by Martin

Mints and sneezing

Am I the only person who sneezes when he eats mints? The mint has to be reasonably strong–an After Eight chocolate mint doesn’t set me off–but my sinuses behave pretty consistently: I pop a mint, and I sneeze. I used to think that this was just what noses do, but I mentioned the mint reflex to a few people recently and they all stared at me like I had grown a second head.

I’m not a freak, am I?

9 Replies to “Mints and sneezing”

  1. Don’t know about the mints, but dried apricots induce coughing in a lot of people. Weird food science. I think it’s a reaction to the sulphur. Maybe there’s a secret society of peppermint sneezers out there.

  4. I also sneeze with strong mints – especially when I pop one and walk into the sunlight! Yes, everyone thinks I am strange. Certain chocolates will also do this to me. And with 2 of my brothers this happens – so I know it runs in the family. They need a word for it, huh?

  6. ADCHOO? Groan….

    I do tend to sneeze when I look at the sun or bright lights, too, so it sounds like I’m definitely a sufferer.

  7. Oh my God…all these years I thought I was a sneezing freak…any kind of mints or a ray of sunshine sets me off and people think I’m nuts. Anyway, I nearly crashed my car this morning due to a lethal combination of Wrigleys gum and bright sunshine hitting me round a corner…I sneezed about 10 times in a row.

    So, I thought I’d look this up on the internet and, phew, I’m not the only one.
    Thank-you.

  8. I don’t know anything about the mints, but several members of my family sneeze at the sun or bright lights. I have done it all my life, and two of my children do it, as well. My wife thought I was nuts when I said something about it, but she has gotten used to it

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