We all wish to eat a little bit healthier, but often, we believe that nutrition is gross.
However, we are here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be like that and that some medicinal herbs taste great.
So, whether you are preparing soup, meat, or salads, you can make your dishes even healthier with these amazing culinary herbs.
Not only that they will taste fantastic, but they will support your health as well.
So, without further ado, let’s look at some of the healthiest herbs that taste great!
Medicinal Herbs That Taste Great
1. Bay Laurel
Bay Laurel is a plant with a strong aroma, perfect for any dish. Many know it under the names of sweet laurel or true laurel.
Many herbalists believe that bay laurel is one of the oldest cultivated trees.
It is evergreen, and not only that it looks great and tastes great, but it is also pretty healthy.
What is It Good for?
Several new studies show how oils extracted from the bay leaf can help beat breast cancer. More studies are yet to be done, but scientists believe that bay leaf can be a natural help in beating cancer.
Another study shows that taking bay leaf capsules daily can help people with diabetes to keep their cholesterol levels normal.
Regular intake of bay leaf extract or capsules can help prevent and even cure some heart diseases.
It doesn’t end here because another study showed that bay leaf could reduce kidney stones.
Best Culinary Uses
If you say you love French cuisine, you can’t know about bouquet garni!
It is a bouquet of herbs traditionally put in soups, sauces, and other dishes.
Of course, bay leaf is one of the herbs typically found in bouquet garni.
Apart from that, numerous dishes with fish and meat use the bay leaf in marinades, and it is also often added to the water in which shrimp are cooking.
It is also used in desserts like rice pudding. It gives a pleasant herbal aroma to this delicacy.
2. Parsley
You have probably been putting parsley in your soups and stews all your life, but you didn’t know it is also healthy.
This fantastic herb of fresh, citrusy flavor is much more than just an addition to your soup.
What is It Good for?
Parsley is rich in vitamins (A, C, and K) and antioxidants, so it will help clean your body from harmful components that you intake daily with other foods and drinks.
Besides, vitamin K from parsley can make your bones denser and stronger.
As for vitamin C from parsley, it can protect your body from viruses during this flu season and keep the cold away.
One more benefit of parsley is that it can prevent and treat urinary infections.
Best Culinary Uses
As parsley goes very nicely with tomatoes, it is often one of the main ingredients of salsa.
You can also make a green sauce, salsa verde, with pureed parsley and some lemon or lime juice and garlic.
Besides, as previously mentioned, you can add parsley to any soup and stew, which will be delicious.
3. Basil
Basil comes in wide varieties, but no matter which one you like the most, you will significantly benefit from it.
This herb is known for its fresh taste and soft, radiant green leaves commonly found in pasta and pesto sauces.
What is It Good for?
Besides the excellent flavor, basil comes with many benefits.
Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties will help clean your body and protect it from unwanted and unhealthy intruders.
In traditional medicine, basil has been used to promote appetite, especially in children who are picky eaters or never seem to have any appetite.
Additionally, basil is good for the kidneys and protects them from the stone formation.
Best Culinary Uses
Basil is mainly used in Mediterranean dishes, including sauces, salads, and curries.
It also pairs great with chicken and seafood.
4. Tarragon
Tarragon has been known as a healthy herb for centuries – even Romans used it to boost strength and vitality.
Nowadays, it is a common guest of fish dishes, but what health benefits does it have?
What is It Good for?
Not only Romans have been using tarragon. In ancient China, tarragon was famous for aiding with inflammations, and in France, tarragon tea has been used to promote sleep.
The benefits of tarragon don’t lie in tradition only. Science says that regular tarragon or tarragon extract intake can help regulate blood sugar.
It can also help your bones and muscles relax – especially if you have arthritis.
Best Culinary Uses
As for culinary use, tarragon pairs very well with red meat, like lamb and veal, but it can also be an excellent addition to seafood dishes.
Tarragon is also valuable in traditional European dishes, like the Armenian Tarkhuna drink or Slovenian potica.
5. Lavender
We all know lavender for its fantastic scent and beautiful purple flowers.
However, lavender is not just a pretty-looking plant. It has a lot of health benefits, and it also tastes great.
What is It Good for?
Lavender is often used to help regulate appetite. Unlike basil, which is used to promote it, lavender is there to help with appetite loss.
It also treats circulation problems, and lavender tea can help with insomnia.
Lavender tea can also relieve cramps and headaches.
Best Culinary Uses
Lavender is used in deserts for its flowery aroma.
Additionally, lavender can be used in different types of pastry and bread.
As it pairs well with rosemary, lavender can be a valuable ingredient in meat marinades.
But remember that lavender’s taste strengthens when dried, so use it moderately. If you use too much, it might become bitter.
6. Dill
Dill is a gorgeous bushy vibrant green herb with a fresh citrusy flavor and is often part of refreshing summer salads.
What is It Good for?
Dill has been used in traditional medicine forever.
At first, it has been used to freshen up your breath and, later, to help with digestive problems and stomach pain.
As dill is safe to use, even for babies, many doctors advise parents to give a pinch of dill to their youngest to treat colic.
Best Culinary Uses
As dill has a pretty strong taste, many dishes have just a pinch because even the smallest amount can take over the dish – especially those light ones.
As heat can reduce the taste of this herb, dill is often used in cold dishes – salads, dressings, vegetables, and fish.
7. Oregano
We all know that no pizza night can go without oregano.
This bushy herb is native to Greece and primarily used in Mediterranean dishes.
But it has some health benefits as well.
What is It Good for?
Oregano is full of healthy compounds like vitamins, fibers, and minerals.
Oregano tea can help treat cough and stuffy nose, which you need in this flu season.
As it has antimicrobial properties, it will prevent illnesses and fight free radicals associated with premature aging.
Best Culinary Uses
Oregano is in many pasta sauces and pizzas, pairing well with tomatoes.
But oregano is a lovely addition to meat-based dishes and sits perfectly in lamb and beef marinades.
8. Rosemary
Rosemary is an evergreen herb with an amazingly fresh scent.
Only touching it can leave your hand smelling for hours.
What is It Good for?
Rosemary is often used to treat stomach problems and relieve pain and menstrual cramps.
It is also a helpful combatant of headaches and migraines.
It can also help in stabilizing blood pressure and aiding in digestive problems.
As for external use, a rosemary paste can help the wounds heal faster and relieve the itching from eczema.
Best Culinary Uses
Rosemary is a valuable addition to any meaty dish – lamb, beef, chicken, or anything else.
It is also often found in fish marinades with some lemon juice.
Also, no baked potato can be the same without rosemary.
In other words, if you like the fresh flavor of this fantastic herb, you can put it in anything you want.
Final Word
Eating healthy has never been this delicious before.
Many herbs we use in our daily diet are pretty healthy.
Well, now you know the health benefits of some of the most delicious herbs, and we hope you got the ideas for today’s lunch!
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2613499/#__abstractid549508title
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3977070/#__ffn_sectitle
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