BASIL BASICS
A Natural Pharmacy
The list of basil’s beneficial properties is exciting to
put it mildly, and is seemingly endless. There is no way we
could cover them all here! Researchers are still studying
and discovering how this small aromatic herb protects us at
the cellular level. For example, studies conducted on white
blood cells showed that two water-based flavonoids found
in basil protected those cells from radiation and from cellular damage during oxidation.
The antibacterial
properties found in
basil are cause for
excitement in the science
of microbiology.”
Furthermore, the antibacterial properties found in basil
are cause for excitement in the science of microbiology.
In lab tests, the essential oil extract showed a remarkable
capacity for restricting the growth of numerous bacteria,
including some pretty nasty strains practically resistant to
conventional antibiotics. Basil’s antibacterial properties
effectively fight Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus,
Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli and more.
These are some heavy hitters in the bacteria world and
the promise basil shows in helping to fight these dangerous
organisms may give rise to more natural and effective
treatments against them.
To bring it from the lab and into the kitchen, check this out.
Studies proved that washing produce in the essential oil of
basil, even in a mere 1% solution in water, dropped the levels
of Shigella, a nasty and infectious bacteria that can cause severe
intestinal damage, to undetect