Herbs tend to be overlooked, thought of as optional flavorants or garnishes. However, in addition to enhancing your favorite dish, herbs are packed with nutrients and antioxidants. These seemingly inconsequential little plants actually offer incredible health benefits!
As I wandered through the “Herb and Food Fair” held in Seattle yesterday afternoon, I took note of all the ways herbs can be incorporated into not only recipes, but health and beauty products as well. There were beautiful skin care lines complete with face masks, scrubs, and moisturizers that blended together garden herbs and spices to target certain skin conditions. Simple yet potent herbal remedies were being promoted for their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. After witnessing the many healing uses of culinary herbs, I was inspired to begin incorporating a variety of herbs into my daily routine.
Here is a list of some of my favorites:
- Parsley – great source of vitamins A, C and K (also…used to crown athletic winners in ancient Rome)
- Cilantro (aka Coriander) – acts as a chelating agent to bind toxic metals and remove them from the body
- Mint – used to aid digestion and ease nausea, studies have shown it can help alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
- Basil – has anti-inflammatory activity, historically used to decrease pain and swelling
- Thyme – has antiseptic properties (contains the compound thymol, which is an ingredient in Listerine), historically used to treat respiratory issues
- Sage – has antiseptic and antioxidant properties, historically used for soreness in mouth and throat, used in anti-aging beauty products
- Rosemary – studies show it stimulates production of acetylcholine to help improve memory and learning, contains antioxidant compound rosmarinic acid to help fight inflammation
- Oregano – member of the mint family, used by Hippocrates as an antiseptic to treat stomach and respiratory ailments
- Dandelion – the greens were used in eastern and Native American medicine for their powerful liver detoxifying ability
- Ashwaganda – used in Ayurveda to calm anxiety, lower blood pressure and inflammation, and strengthen the immune system
The next time you pluck a sprig of parsley or cilantro to garnish a salad, include rosemary or basil in your dinner recipe, or add mint to a summer cocktail – don’t overlook their healing powers! Herbs are an important component of a rich, balanced diet.
How about growing your own? A small herb garden on your kitchen windowsill is as useful as it is beautiful! The more time that passes from when a plant is harvested to when it is eaten, the more nutrients are lost. All you need to get started is a small potting tray and some soil – many farmers’ markets even sell already-sprouted started plants for around $5.