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NATURE’S BEAUTY:
Basil Basics
&
35
You can add it
to soups and
sauces and
even brew it
into a tea.
PRESTO! – PESTO INGREDIENT HAS PLENTY OF HEALTH BENEFITS
By Tanya J. Tyler,
Staff Writer
One of the easiest
herbs to grow is also
one of the tastiest.
Basil thrives in your
back yard after getting a good start
in a sunny spot on a window sill. You
can add it to soups and sauces and
even brew it into a tea. Pesto, which
also includes pine nuts and parmesan
cheese, is another popular way to use
basil.
Basil is related to the mint plant.
Native to India, it is a staple in cuisine
as diverse as Italian, Mediterranean,
and Asian. It has been cultivated for
more than 5,000 years and comes
in more than 60 varieties, including
lemon basil and cinnamon basil. Most
of us know and use sweet basil.
Basil has many healthful properties. Flavonoids in basil protect cells
from radiation, but it’s the essential
oils in basil that make it even more
beneficial. The compounds in basil
oil have been shown to possess powerful antioxidants and also to slow
bacterial growth, even in some bacteria, including staphylococcus, that
have developed an alarming level of
resistance to antibiotic drugs. These
oils can give a boost to the immune
system.
Another component of those compounds, eugenol, has been studied
because it can help ease inflammation
by blocking a certain enzyme (cyclooxygenase) in much the same way
non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or
acetaminophen do. There are indications that basil can help people who
have rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel syndrome.
Basil has vitamins A, C and K and
potassium and beta carotene; the latter keeps free radicals from oxidizing
blood cholesterol. When cholesterol
has been oxidized, it builds up in
the blood vessel walls. This can lead
to atherosclerosis, which can result
in a stroke or a heart attack. Basil
is a good source for other healthpromoting minerals such as magnesium, which is good for the heart, as
well as iron and calcium. Medical
News Today cites research from
the British Pharmaceutical
Conference claiming basil has
properties that can help prevent the harmful effects of
aging.
Like its cousin mint,
basil can help ease digestive
complaints (try adding half
a teaspoon of fresh basil to
a glass of water), and some
herbalists recommend using it
to relieve headaches. Chewing
fresh (clean) basil leaves can calm a
cough. Water boiled with basil leaves
can be used as a gargle when you have
a sore throat. Off the Grid News says
many naturopathic doctors prescribe
basil to treat diabetes, respiratory
disorders, allergies, impotence, and
infertility. This may be because basil
contains cinnamanic acid, which has
been found to enhance circulation,
stabilize blood sugar, and improve
breathing in people with respiratory
disorders. You are advised to
check with your primary care physician before
embarking on a basil-centric regime.
The word basil comes from a
Greek word meaning “royal” (in fact,
the French call it “l’herbe royale”).
Crown yourself the monarch of
health and wellness by using some
fresh basil in your dishes. You can
preserve homegrown basil by freezing
it in ice cubes. But remember to add
it at the last minute – if incorporated
too early in the cooking process, it
might lose some of its essence and flavor. And you certainly don’t want to
miss out on either.