Health Benefits Of Herbs You Never Knew Of
Summary
- Culinary herbs are herbaceous plants that are used to add flavour and colour to all types of meals.
- Herbs have been used for thousands of years to add flavour to meals, as medicine and as a preservative.
- If you find that low-fat or low-salt foods taste bland, use herbs to enhance the flavour of virtually any dish, including desserts.
- Fresh herbs are generally delicately flavoured, so add them to your cooking in the last few minutes.
Health benefits of herbs
Consuming herbs may help to prevent and manage heart disease, cancer and diabetes. It may also help to reduce blood clots and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties. Research is ongoing but studies have shown that:
- Garlic, linseed, fenugreek and lemongrass may help lower cholesterol.
- Garlic is useful for people with mildly elevated blood pressure.
- Fenugreek can help control blood sugar and insulin activity (as can linseed, flaxseed and cinnamon).
- Garlic, onions, chives, leeks, mint, basil, oregano, sage and many other herbs can help protect against cancer.
- Herbs are rich in antioxidants, especially cloves, cinnamon, sage, oregano and thyme, by helping to reduce low-density lipoproteins (‘bad’ cholesterol).
Fresh herbs often contain higher antioxidant levels compared to processed or dried herbs. If you are using herbs in order to harness their health-promoting aspects first and foremost, aim to add your fresh herbs at the end of cooking or as you serve to preserve these properties.
Cooking with herbs
You are only limited by your imagination with it comes to using herbs in the kitchen – they can be added to virtually any recipe. Try adding herbs to:
- stews and casseroles
- soups
- breads
- mustards
- marinades
- butters
- sauces
- salad dressings
- stocks
- vinegars
- vinaigrettes
- yoghurts
- custards
- desserts
- drinks.
They don’t always have to be added into a dish either – herbs added once a dish has been served is another great way of enhancing the flavour, smell and visual appeal of your dish. For example, spaghetti Bolognese with some fresh basil leaves on top or a pumpkin or chicken dish with fresh sage leaves.
Be adventurous with herbs
Herbs can be used in an unlimited number of ways. The more you use herbs, the more adventurous you will become.
Not sure where to start?
- Follow a recipe that calls for one or 2 herbs you haven’t used before.
- Experiment with using other herbs in place of herbs called for in a recipe to see how the dish turns out.
- Make your own bouquet garni.
- Grow some herbs in pots on your windowsill or in the garden for use in your cooking.
- Visit an Asian market (for example) to try experimenting with some new flavours.
Besides boosting the flavours, smells, looks and textures in your meals, the more herbs you try, the wider the variety of potential health benefits you are likely to receive.
