4 Health Benefits of Basil | Ayurveda

Basil

Basil its botanical name is Ocimum basilicum. It is considered as a holy plant by Hindus. Basil is one of the oldest herb known to humans. Basil is also called the “great herb” by people who follow Ayurveda because of its multi-dial heal benefits and Zero side-effects. It is also considered as a good luck plant by many. Also, it is super easy to grow.

Nutritional value of basil

• Basil is a high source of vitamin K which helps in increasing bone density, wound healing, it is also required for normal blood clotting.
• It contains many other vitamins like vitamin C, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B6, beta-carotene, vitamin A Equiv.
• Apart from this it also contains a good amount of manganese, copper, iron, calcium, and magnesium.
• It also contains some dietary fibers, proteins, carbohydrates and 92 gm of water per 100 gm. It helps to cure many problems like a common cold, flu, aids digestion, sore throat and many more.

Health benefits of basil

Good for digestion

Eugenol present in the leaves of basil acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that soothes our digestive tract and releases good amount of digestive juices that digest our food in the stomach.

Glands in our stomach release stomach acid and enzymes that break down the food. Digestive juices that are released by our pancreas, breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins which helps to digest our food.

Anti-inflammatory

As mentioned above eugenol present in basil leaves acts as an anti-inflammatory agent which is the key factor to reduce stomach inflammation, which could be a major cause of acidity and gas.

Consuming basil can be a boon for those who suffer from high acidity. Acidity is a condition in which due to high heat, our stomach starts making acid more than required and eventually it gets sour.

This can lead to headaches, stomach aches, improper diet, vomiting of sour to bitter water and constipation. If this condition increases, it can also damage our stomach inner lining.

This happens when we eat some food with high heat capacity like eggs in summers or drinking less water and in some cases eating too much lemon or sour food products. Cure for acidity is eating food that can absorb excess acid and neutralizes the pH of our stomach.

There are many methods in Ayurveda that are proved to reduce acidity without having heavy medicines. We will be writing about those ways very soon.

Fights free radical

Free radicals are the same that we read in chemistry and for those who haven’t, let me explain to you what free radicals are? You can call them atoms, molecules or small particles that revolve around to make a bond with another particle to get stronger and take energy.

When it comes to our body free radicals are like goons which are bad substances that break bonds in our body where ever they enter. If any free radical is released in our bone it will break calcium bones and hence making our bones weak and fragile. The same goes for blood also.

To avoid free radical activity in our body we need to increase our consumption of a diet that is rich in anti-oxidants, oxidants remove all the free radicals from our body hand making our chemical bonds present inside our body much stronger and firm.

Therefore, in Ayurveda, we suggest everyone drink basil tea so that no free radicals are formed inside our body. It also removes all the toxins from our blood and purifies it. This is just one of the many benefits of consuming basil.

Beneficial for skin

We mentioned above about the richness of vitamin K and vitamin E in basil. Other than this it also contains a good amount of flavonoids which is necessary for skin growth and removal of dead skin cells.

In today’s generation where people aren’t getting time to even eat properly, how will they get time to take care of their skin. In today’s time, there are many salons and parlors which guarantee healthy-looking skin, which might work if you are healthy from inside.

Healthy skin reflects a healthy body which is why eating healthy is a big essential part of getting healthy and glowing skin.

Skin problems can occur due to many reasons like improper sleep, stomach problems, impure blood, clogged pores, and an unhealthy diet. Before taking any measures for improving skin health you need to know what is the reason.

If you consume basil in the form of green tea it de-toxify our body and makes our digestion better, not only this it also results in blood purification. Basil also makes our blood consistency good i.e. nor thick neither thin and stops from blood clotting. Because of the presence of E and K vitamins, it brings a glow to the skin.

Precautions

There are no such records as of now which can tell about any of the side-effects of consuming basil. Basil is a very efficient herb that blends in with everything. Some people might not like its taste but it is remarkable effecting in treating many diseases and health problems.

But yes, some people might have an allergic problem from basil, other than this there is no research which can state about basil ill- effects.

Also Read: How to grow Basil

Conclusion

Drinking green basil tea regularly in the morning helps to clean our stomach and removes all the toxins which give us energy and boosts our immunity.

Here at gardeninfograph we try to bring in front of you many relatable topics that are can add up to a healthy diet in your homes to keep your family and friends healthy. Some topics that we have covered are Neem, edible flowers, cardamom, black pepper, Coriander, Oregano, garlic, curry leaves, Fennel, Spinach and you will find many more