Thanks to their ability to enhance flavors and make dishes more personal, herbs have become a staple in many kitchens. A lot of people even exert time and effort to grow their very own gardens filled with herbs. In this way, they can easily pick herbs whenever a recipe requires some.
But do you know that fresh herbs provide several health benefits? Herbs might look small, but they are very powerful in maintaining or improving your overall health.
Here are five benefits you can get from fresh herbs:
1. May Prevent Breast Cancer
Breast cancer can cause significant changes in the body. Aside from the lump or mass in your breast, this type of cancer can also trigger skin irritation, weakness and fatigue, and unintentional weight loss. This disease can also cause a long-term financial burden even after the patient has passed.
On top of being physically active and sticking to a healthy diet, eating more fresh herbs may reduce your risk of breast cancer. Parsley is packed with apigenin, a natural compound known to trigger breast cancer cell death. Apigenin may also prevent the creation of new blood vessels required for the cancerous tumors to multiply and grow.
If you still don’t have your herb garden, it might be best to buy fresh ones from the store and have a peek here to learn how to store them properly. Following specific herb hacks will ensure that you get the most benefits from fresh herbs!
2. May Boost Brainpower
Undeniably, the brain is the most important organ in the body because it’s responsible for coordinating actions and reactions. The brain also allows you to think, feel, and have memories. All of the things that make you human beings are because of the brain.
To keep your brain healthy as you age, eat more fresh herbs as these may significantly enhance the quality of your memories and increase mental alertness. Some fresh herbs are also believed to delay the onset and minimize the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Rosemary, in particular, contains compounds that may boost the speed and accuracy of your cognitive performance. The higher the level of the compound in your blood, the better brainpower you’ll have.
3. May Provide Antioxidants
Aging can cause numerous changes to your body. As you age, you’ll lose elasticity on your skin, resulting in more visible fine lines and wrinkles. Aging can also weaken your body and prevent you from doing strenuous activities.
Although you can never stop your body from aging, there are many ways to conceal the signs of aging, and eating more fresh herbs is one. Thyme and sage contain good antioxidants that may improve your skin as you age and prevent disease-causing free radicals in the body. Having high levels of free radicals may cause premature aging and increase your risk of many diseases, namely heart diseases, inflammatory diseases, cancer, and cataract.
4. May Soothe Your Colon
Also known as the large intestine, your colon works by absorbing water from your digested food. Once the bacteria break down, your colon transports leftover material into your rectum. As you can see, your colon is important in completing your body’s digestive process.
One of the ways to keep your colon healthy is by consuming more fresh herbs, especially peppermint. Peppermint may help relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or IBS as it activates the ‘anti-pain’ channel naturally found in the colon. Once activated, the body will soothe the inflammatory pain in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in almost instant comfort.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a cause for concern because it may lead to anxiety and depression when left untreated. These mental health problems can cause other symptoms, such as social isolation, body aches, and lack of motivation.
5. May Fight Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response whenever your body detects invaders. Once your body senses harmful stimuli, namely toxic compounds, damaged cells, and pathogens, chemicals from the white blood cells will immediately enter your tissues and blood to create a protective layer.
However, when your body is inflamed all the time, painful symptoms can occur. Chronic inflammation can cause fatigue, abnormal weight fluctuations, gastrointestinal problems, and body pains.
Fresh herbs, especially oregano, may help reduce inflammation in the body. This herb contains compounds known to have anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce the swelling in different parts of your body.
Start Your Herb Garden Today
Now that you know how beneficial fresh herbs are, start growing your garden at home. Planting an herb garden is easy as you’ll only need seeds, planters, fertilizers, and a watering can. As long as you exert effort in giving sufficient sunlight and water to your herbs, it won’t be long before you can use them and enjoy their health benefits!
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