Top 4 Healing Herbs to Cook With

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Herbs have really come into their own in recent years. Sure, people have long valued them for the flavors and scents they add to favorite dishes. But nowadays, as researchers continue to investigate the active compounds in these aromatic plants, more and more people are becoming aware of the amazing health benefits that can be had from consuming fresh herbs regularly.

Fortunately, growing many of these herbs right in the kitchen – or on the back porch or in an herb garden – is incredibly easy. And the health benefits that can be gathered from these herbs are pretty amazing. Read on to find out more about the healthiest herbs that anyone can raise right in their own home.

Basil

Whether you prefer the Italian or Thai variety, basil is a wonderfully tasty – and wonderfully healthy – choice for the home garden. It’s warm, sweet taste makes it a great choice for a variety of summer dishes and one of its active ingredients, called eugenol, is a powerful anti-inflammatory, making it a great choice for those who suffer from arthritis. (1)

Cilantro

Warm-weather dishes like guacamole would be impossible to imagine without the cilantro! And the great news is that this herb is also incredibly easy to grow, though it needs to be in an area where it will get lots of sunlight. Cilantro carries with it some powerful health benefits with it as well: for one thing, it is a strong natural detoxifier and helps to remove all sort of unwanted substances from the body. (2)

Dill

Most people associate this herb with the making of pickles, but dill’s uses go far beyond just condiments! It is a great flavoring for fish or for summer dishes like egg salad and again, it is easy to grow in a pot. Among its other benefits, dill is a gentle, natural diuretic which helps to get rid of water weight gain and keeps the bladder and kidneys in good shape. It also helps to remove unwanted toxins from the body, so it is great for a summer cleanse. (3)

Mint

Mint of all kinds is a great choice for a summer herb garden – apart from a variety of jams, jellies and desserts, mint also is an essential ingredients for well-loved summer drinks like juleps and mojitos! It has great healing properties as well, being an age-old tonic for digestive problems and soothing down an upset stomach. It likes to grow in an area that has plenty of sunlight and can be cut back often for use as needed. (4)

So when planning a summer herb garden, consider the use of the herbs above. They are not only easy to grow — even if a windowsill is the only thing available — but they bring in some incredible health benefits as well!

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Rosalina
Rosalina is a topic that Tracy particularly enjoys covering. Rosalina loves studying the latest trends in cosmetics and skin care, but her experience extends further than that. Rosalina writes on all aspects of beauty - hair and skin care, makeup, tips and tricks and product reviews.