The forgotten Power of herbs and spices!
Herbs and spices are no strangers to the kitchen as they are commonly used to enhance the flavours of every dish. It is because of them that a happy marriage exists between classic combinations like lamb and rosemary, or ham and mustard! However, what we often don’t realise is the powerful healing properties that herbs and spices contain. There is actually a pharmacy of preventative medicine right under our noses if we take a closer look!
Culinary herbs and spices have been used for thousands of years, not only for seasoning but also for medicinal treatment and as preservatives. The ancient Greek and Romans were experts on this topic with many books written on their numerous benefits where they cleverly used raw materials from their gardens to simply treat common health conditions. Microbiologists also ran tests on herbs such as oregano, basil, and coriander, and discovered that there were strong antimicrobial actions against strains such as Listeria, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. So again, a pharmacy of preventative medicine right in front of us!
So, here are three of my all-time favourites.
Basil:
The ancient Greeks worshipped basil so much they believed it to be the ‘king of the herbs’. This 'royal' herb contains a high dose of vitamin-k and decent amounts of iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, and vitamin-c. Basil also has antibacterial properties that kill many of the strains that cause various health problems. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to include this magnificent herb in your uncooked salads to protect you against harmful bacteria.
On top of that, basil also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, with some even considering it an antidepressant. Basil can positively impact brain function within the adrenal cortex, which helps stimulate neurotransmitters that regulate the hormones responsible for making us happy and energetic.
Cinnamon:
In 500BC Hippocrates wrote about the important medicinal properties that cinnamon contains as it provides a good source of manganese, as well as some iron and calcium. Traditionally cinnamon has been known to treat a multitude of disorders, such as arthritis, insomnia, peptic ulcers, diarrhea, and menstrual problems. However, its most important function today is the role it plays in blood sugar regulation by slowing down gastric emptying and reducing our blood sugar levels.
So, if you find yourself overweight, or with Type 2 Diabetes, or struggling in general to manage your blood sugar levels then try adding half a teaspoon of cinnamon to your diet per day. This will help reduce and stabilise your blood sugar levels. On top of that, cinnamon also has anti-inflammatory properties that have been proven as an effective treatment for arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. So why not add some cinnamon to your next smoothie, cereal, meat marinade or that delicious bit of baking? It is such a versatile spice!
Coriander or Cilantro:
Coriander is considered both a spice and a herb as its seeds produce the spice and its leaves produce the herb. It's also one of those herbs (or spices) that you either love or hate and can often divide people at dinner parties. Coriander is rich in pro-vitamin A, potassium and also has sufficient amounts of vitamin-c, vitamin-k, folate, calcium, and magnesium. It also has antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is most famous for its ability to work as a chelator for removing heavy metals from the body. Coriander has been shown as being effective for extracting and eliminating arsenic, antinomy, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
With spring just around the corner, it is nearly time for me to get the gardening gloves on and start planting some delicious herbs. I absolutely love stepping out into the garden and picking some fresh herbs for tasty summer salads and dips.
Check out this Pesto Dip recipe, it is absolutely delicious! Dip some carrot and celery sticks into it or serve with your roast vegetables for a flavour hit.
Pesto Dip Recipe
• 2 cups packed green herbs – basil/parsley/coriander
• 1/3 cup brazil nuts (soaked)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds (soaked)
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds (soaked)
• 1/3 – ½ cup olive oil
• 4 tablespoons lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons kelp granules
• May need water to thin for dipping
Pan fry nuts and seeds lightly in a pan and remove from the heat before they turn brown. Place green herbs and oil in the blender. Add garlic, nuts, salt, kelp, lemon juice and blend together.
This is a tasty way of getting raw garlic into your diet. Garlic supports detoxification pathways, heart health, immune, and respiratory health. The brazil nuts, coriander, garlic, and seeds, aid in the removal of heavy metals. The brazil nuts support liver and thyroid function, the olive oil reduces your bad cholesterol and improves your good cholesterol whilst the pumpkin and sunflower seeds are packed full of vitamins and minerals.
Research Articles
Elgayyar, M., Draughon FA., Golden. DA., & Mount, JR. (2001). Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils from Plants against Selected Pathogenic and Saprophytic Microorganisms. Journal of Food Protection.
Georgious, G., (2005). The Discovery of a Unique Natural Heavy Metal Chelator. Explore.
Hlebowicz, J., Darwiche, G., Bjorgell, O., & Almer, O. (2007). Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects. Am J Clinical Nutrition.