The Health Benefits of Basil

One of our favorite things to grow in our garden is basil. It doesn’t get any better than adding fresh basil to a summer salad or hearty dinner recipe. Basil has a history as a token of love, an icon of hospitality and a passport to help the deceased enter paradise. It has long been appreciated for it’s medicinal qualities and cherished as a tasty addition to meals. There are many varieties of basil including Sweet Basil, Sweet Thai Basil, Holy Basil, Cinnamon Basil, and Lime Basil. Here are some of the health benefits of basil.

•  Basil contains powerful antioxidant protection because it contains two flavonoids that have been found to protect cell structures from radiation and oxygen-based damage.
• 2 teaspoons of fresh basil only containing 8 calories.
• This plant has been shown in lab studies to have powerful antimicrobial properties. It has been shown to be effective in restricting the growth of numerous harmful bacteria and even some bacterial strains are found to be resistant to commonly used antibiotic drugs.
• Basil is considered to be an anti-inflammatory food. It is also a good source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and fiber.
• The free-radical busting vitamin A and vitamin C are found in basil.

References

Mateljan, G. (2007). The Worlds Healthiest Foods. Seattle, WA: George Mateljan Foundation.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.