These Herbs For Better Health Will Bring Bliss to Your Life!
Food is medicine. Mother nature actually has everything we need to heal our body. Often we look to a bottle to alleviate health symptoms and suffering, when all we really need to do is go to the garden. Below are 10 of my favorite herbs that you that can be easily added to any meal to immediately improve your health and protect your body.
1) Turmeric
Curcumin is the secret agent found in turmeric and has been shown to help with everything from neurological disorders, nervous disorders, liver disease, and cancer. It is a potent anti-inflammatory, detoxifies the liver, and aids in fat metabolism and weight management. It also helps with depression. Try to get it in the root form rather than in a powder, and add it to soups and other baked dishes. You can also juice it for a powerful kick.
2) Ginger
One of the most healing herbs we have access to, ginger helps reduce inflammation and it’s a powerful antioxidant. It increases the absorption of nutrients and fires up digestive juices. It helps with muscle soreness, joint pain, nausea, and it can tackle harmful bacteria in the system. Ginger is a great addition to anything you eat, shredding it on a salad, chopping into a veggie dish, simmering for tea… You cannot go wrong.
3) Cilantro
Cilantro spruces up any and every meal and it protects your body. Not only is it high in vitamin K, iron, and fiber, it also binds with heavy metals to pull them through the system. Add it to a salad, blend into any soup or dressing, or put it in a cooked dish.
4) Fennel
Fennel helps with bloating and indigestion, reducing inflammation in the stomach and the intestines. It increases the absorption of nutrients and supports a healthy bowel. Add it to a salad or grill it.
5) Parsley
Parsley is great for your blood, packing a ton of vitamin A, C, and K. It also helps balance hormones. Add it to salads or top your cooked meals. You can also blended into a homemade salad dressing or add it to a juicer smoothie.
6) Dill
A powerful source of antioxidants, iron, and calcium. It helps prevent bacteria overgrowth, and is even said to cure hiccups. It loses some of its medicinal magic once cooked, so aim to use it in salads and in dips.
7) Mint
Mint is wonderful for digestion, nausea, headaches, asthma, and more. It is filled with vitamin A, leaves you with fresh breath, and can even help to curb a sugar craving. Add to a salad, crush the leaves and make tea, use it in dips, or make a dessert with it. The options are endless. You can also make your own home essential oils and toothpastes.
8) Rosemary
A potent anti-inflammatory that has been shown to fight cancer cells and alleviate arthritis, it is also an antioxidant and has antibacterial properties. It’s even been said to be anti-aging due to stimulation of cell rejuvenation. Rosemary goes great in soups, with meats, and with veggies.
9) Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory and filled with antioxidants. Some studies have shown that it lowers blood sugar levels and reduces cholesterol. It is also a really great way to satisfy a sweet craving without spiking blood sugar levels and staying on the sugar addiction. Add it to everything – smoothies, desserts, cooked veggies, meals, stews, soups… the list goes on.
10) Basil
Basil is another wonderful anti-inflammatory with anti-viral properties. It has been used to aid in digestive challenges and may even have anti-cancer properties. Try adding fresh leaves to a salad, any home-made dressing or sauce, soups, stir frys…. You can not go wrong as it adds a ton of flavor and makes any meal more interesting.
The wonderful thing about all of these 10 herbs is they are accessible and we can find them locally at our farmers markets and grocers. Dried herbs on the spice rack have often been sitting on the shelf long enough to lose their medicinal properties. The fresher you can find your herbs, the better. When we get back to nature, we will find that all our health needs can be met. Not only will our body thank us, but our palate will too.
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