Using fresh herbs and spices can transform your cooking and your health. They have so many amazing health benefits. Having fresh herbs on hand all the time can get expensive but it is so easy to have your own small herb garden you can buy an organic herb plant for about the same price as a bunch of herbs. I live in an apartment and still am able to grow fresh herbs on my deck. I always have fresh, basil, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, oregano and mint whenever I think a recipe needs that extra burst of flavor and of course all the added health benefits.
It is so easy to transform healthy food recipes into delicious meals with the help of some fresh herbs and spices. No food should ever be bland as far as I’m concerned. Here are a few of the many health benefits of some of my favorite herbs.
ROSEMARY
Rosemary is available year round and is good with meat, in soups and in casseroles. It has a strong flavor and I often add a whole sprig of it into my dish and remove once its done cooking to add flavor. Rosemary is full of antioxidants especially the cancer fighter, carnosol. It can aid in digestion and lowering cholesterol, is a good source of iron and can add fiber if you eat it in dishes and don’t remove after cooking. Try a couple of my favorite dishes with fresh rosemary: Paleo Garlic Rosemary Lamb Chops, Paleo Whole30 Sweet Potato Hash, or Homemade Gluten Free Green Bean Mushroom Casserole
GINGER
Ginger is a versatile age-old remedy. Different cultures have used it medicinally for centuries. Some of the most common ailments it has been known to treat are: nausea, common cold/flu, indigestion, heart conditions and many more. It is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and has been shown to protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease. I add fresh ginger to my smoothies, tea, many of my Indian or Asian inspired dishes and much more. Whenever I feel any little bit of illness coming on I throw some fresh ginger in the juicer with some fruit and greens and drink as much as I can manage. Check out my Asian Kale Quinoa Salad with fresh garlic in the dressing.
GARLIC
I add fresh garlic to almost everything! Garlic can be found and stored easily. I get a big bag of the already peeled organic garlic cloves throw them in my mincer and add as much as I can to most dishes. Garlic has long been deemed a medicinal plant for its disease fighting abilities and has been said to be a cancer and heart disease fighter. Garlic contains manganese, selenium, vitamins B6 and C just to name a few. The sulfur compounds in garlic are also known to dilate red blood cells to help keep blood pressure under control. My Paleo Garlic Rosemary Lamb Chops are loaded with garlic.
MINT
Mint promotes digestion by stimulating our digestive enzymes. It is helpful with nausea, headache and respiratory issues. It is also full of antioxidants and did I forget to mention it tastes great!! I add mint to my lemon water, salads, smoothies and my favorite cocktails (look for my Mint Moscow Mule Recipe coming soon). One of my favorite quick and easy recipes Gluten Free Quinoa Salad calls for fresh mint and it makes all the difference.
CILANTRO
Cilantro is one of the best herbs for cleansing our bodies of toxins and full of antioxidants. It provides Vitamins C, K and A. You can also get the benefits of cilantro in its seed form as coriander which is used in many Indian dishes and is used medicinally as an anti-inflammatory. I add cilantro into any Mexican-inspired dishes including Gluten Free Chicken Fajitas with Homemade Guacamole and it is my favorite part of my Cilantro Lime Corn Salad.
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