It’s time to cultivate new interests as you plant and prune your way to a healthier life.
What better way to stimulate your senses, invigorate your meals and have access to mankind’s first medicines than to grow herbs in the luxury of your own home? Aside from bringing out the chef in you, there are ten motivational wisdoms as to why you should include these fragrant, healthful gems in your garden.
1. You don’t need a degree in botany to grow herbs – it’s super easy!
2. You don’t need a backyard as herbs can thrive beautifully in pots and do not need the traditional “in ground” planting. All you need is sunlight, water and a little bit of love.
3. Herbs can be made into teas which can help ease common everyday ailments such as diarrhea, constipation, indigestion and many other symptoms.
4. Saves you money and time by not having to run to the supermarket every time you need a pinch of herbs.
5. Herbs are tastier when sniped off directly from the plant when you need them, versus pre-cut herbs which tend to wilt quickly, bruise easily and have shorter shelf lives.
6. It’s better for the environment and is the greener way to go (doesn’t use up car gas and plastic bags at the grocery store).
7. Gardening is a mood-lifter, not to mention, the aroma of herbs will soothe the soul and their striking presence is music to the eyes.
8. They can slim you down by forcing you to eat more vegetables, salads and overall healthier foods (let’s be honest here, who adds parsley on a cheeseburger?).
9. Fresh herbs are more nutritious than the dried, sitting-in-the-shaker for who knows how long herbs (add them at the very end when preparing your meals – the less cooked, the healthier).
10. Helps you cut down on salt use as herbs can be consumed as a salt substitute to enhance the flavor of food.
Thyme: Aids digestion, cures menstrual cramps, food preservative (helps increase the longevity of foods); high in flavonoid anti-oxidants and vitamin B6 (stress buster).
Mint: Settles a nervous stomach and helps ease digestive symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome; excellent mouth freshener; rich in vitamins A and C.
Parsley: Weight loss benefit because it’s an excellent diuretic; immune booster; rich in vitamin A, vitamin B12, folate, chlorophyll, calcium, iron and vitamin C.
Basil: Cardiovascular health benefits; rich in vitamin K, vitamin A, flavonoids and magnesium.
Sage: Memory enhancer ; reduces gas; helps with excessive perspiration, diarrhea and colds as it has a cooling and drying action; can even be used to dry breast milk flow when weaning; good source of vitamin A, calcium, iron and potassium.
Oregano: Anti-bacterial properties; powerful antioxidant; good source of iron and manganese, as well as calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A; high in fiber and vitamin K and even has omega-3 fatty acids.
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