Culinary Antioxidants – Healing in Your Food!

March 29th, 2012 · 2 Comments · Antioxidant

We’ve shared with you what antioxidants are, how they can benefit your body by sweeping away free-radicals and reversing the damage those free-radicals cause to your system when taken daily in a capsule but, did you know you can get their benefits from culinary herbs as well? Read on to learn how the antioxidant herbs you add to your dinner add health to your life.

Culinary Herbs = Culinary Antioxidants

Just as free-radicals are found everywhere, their nemesis the antioxidant is as well! From berries to herbal supplements to culinary herbs you can provide protection and healing for your body from the damage caused to tissues and cells. Free-radicals have a connection to many aging-related ailments like dementia, cataracts, macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, and arthritis, among others. Here’s a list of 4 herbs to add to your spice rack to help scavenge the free-radicals from your system and also help prevent spoilage in your foods!

Oregano is a culinary antioxidant.

Learn more about culinary antioxidants!

  • Oregano: The most powerful of culinary antioxidants! The potency of oregano lies in its flavonoids and phenolic acids, used by the plant to protect itself from the damage of light. Greek oregano is the most aromatic of the group and has shown great promise in testing as a beneficial addition to your meal to keep your cells and tissues happy!
  • Basil: This herb is most effective at sweeping away free-radicals when it is enjoyed fresh and, with so many varieties to choose from, that shouldn’t be hard! Purple, Green, Dark Opal, and Thai basils are some of the most popular types available. Purple basils get their antioxidant action from the anthocyanins and green basil from other flavonoids, both effective in protecting the skin from thedamages of the sun. Because basil is best when used fresh, add it at the end of cooking or sprinkle it on your food as a healthy and flavorful garnish.
  • Parsley: Not just a garnish! Hanna believed in the healing powers of chlorophyll herbs and instructed those who came to see her to use if for everything from body odor to repelling insects to assisting with the woes of breastfeeding. Today we can add to Hanna’s list the healing powers parsley provides because of the list of antioxidants it contains (apiol, myristicin, Vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin). Both flat and curly types have similar nutritional profiles and do the most good work when enjoyed uncooked.
  • Rosemary: There’s a reason this herb makes it into Kroeger’s Resveratrol Six! Rosemary contains antioxidant phenolics, including carnosic acid. This acid may protect against brain cell damage by penetrating the blood-brain barrier to promote healthy circulation and act as a therapeutic agent for neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Unlike the herbs listed above, rosemary retains its potent properties even when cooked.

Other Culinary Antioxidants

Fresh turmeric root

Turmeric is a culinary wonder and provides support to inflamed areas of the body, the heart, skin, and the entire system as a potent antioxidant.

Other herbs and spices to consider in your foods (as well as in capsule form!) are sage, cloves, cinnamon, thyme, and turmeric. We’ve written posts about the power of a couple of these and hope you’ll take a look! Turmeric has enjoyed popularity for thousands of years worldwide and is gaining momentum in natural healing, find out why here! Or get tips on how turmeric can assist in clearing your skin in this popular post. Cinnamon also enjoyed the spotlight in an employee favorite post! Take a look to learn how cinnamon capsule and cinnamon oils help to make mood, life, and ailments better!

Antioxidants, whether taken in capsule form or as an addition to your food, can provide healing and treatment naturally to your body. Free-radicals wreak havoc on our systems but the damage can be reversed and treated with our foods and herbal supplements. Use the healing power of antioxidants to get yourself back to good health!

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