😉 Friends, I greet you on the pages of the site “Ladies-Gentlemen”! In the article “Basil: Benefits and Harm to Health” – basic information about an amazing vegetable garden. Here you will find out how basil is useful for the body, and for whom it is contraindicated. On the use of basil in medicine and cooking.
Basil is a very ancient plant, in ancient Egypt it was used for mummification. Fragrant basil is used both fresh and dry. There are 150 known varieties of this unique plant. The Indian people consider it the second sacred plant after the lotus.
Basil: chemical composition
In 100 grams of fresh leaves:
- calories – 23 (fresh), 230 kcal (dry);
- fats – 0,6;
- proteins – 3,2;
- carbohydrates – 2,7;
- water – 92 g;
- ash – 1,49;
- dietary fiber – 1,6 g;
- B vitamins, beta-carotene, lutein, choline, E, K, PP, C, A;
- essential oil, phytoncides;
- macronutrients: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus;
- trace elements: iron, copper, zinc, selenium, manganese.
Basil comes in white, green and purple colors and has a pleasant spicy aroma.
Benefits of basil
- has a beneficial effect on the general tone of the body;
- stimulates digestion;
- perfectly stimulates the appetite;
- reduces gas formation;
- normalizes intestinal motility;
- essential oil has bactericidal and antifungal properties;
- this spicy herb goes well with any dish of fish, meat and vegetables;
- it is widely used as a seasoning in almost all cuisines of the world;
- is a natural aphrodisiac;
- excellent antidepressant, improves mood;
- the presence of vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system;
- effective in the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity;
- freshens breath by removing harmful bacteria;
- diaphoretic: dry basil tea will help with high temperatures;
- makes it easier to breathe when coughing;
- lowers cholesterol;
- relieves headaches;
- effective antiemetic (helps with motion sickness);
- Placing a sprig of basil in your closet will scare away moths.
Basil: contraindications
- with myocardial infarction;
- with thrombosis, thrombophlebitis (venous disease);
- you can not take basil in large quantities;
- during pregnancy and lactation;
- contraindicated in hypertension;
- not recommended for children under the age of seven;
- with blood clotting disorders;
- patients with diabetes mellitus 1 and 2 degrees;
- the plant contains a compound of mercury, so it cannot be eaten in large quantities.
How to store basil
In the refrigerator, basil is stored in a plastic container for 5-7 days, provided there is no moisture. It can be dried for a long time. This is easy to do. Place the basil sprigs without a root in a suitable container, pour cold water for 3-4 minutes. Rinse, remove, shake.
Spread out on a paper or dishcloth to remove moisture from the leaves. Finely chop the dried leaves and stem (with a knife or scissors). Then spread the chopped basil in a thin layer to dry on a baking sheet or on a tray.
Dry it in the shade or in a ventilated area for three days. Place the dried basil in a glass jar or paper bag. Shelf life is 2 years.
Video
Learn more in this video “Basil: Benefits and Harmful to Health”
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