There is a plant that’s doing well in my garden and coincidentally it’s also my favorite herb.
Basil is the key ingredient in pesto, a popular condiment made of olive oil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and fresh basil. But basil is also a key topping for a traditional margarita pizza and you can’t have a proper Caprese salad without the stuff. (A Caprese salad is basil stacked with fresh mozzarella and a slice of tomato. The red white and green resemble the Italian flag!)
Basil seems to be almost synonymous with Italian cooking but did you know that it was first grown in India, Africa, and Asia? In India basil has traditionally been an icon for hospitality. And in Italy, basil is a symbol of *aw* love.
And there sure is lots to love about this fragrant and flavorful herb.
Basil is an extremely powerful plant for the following reasons:
Flavonoids. Basil provides two important flavonoids which protect cells from damage and from bacterial growth.
Anti-inflammatory properties. Basil has been known to reduce inflammation in the body thanks to some of its extremely volatile oils.
Vitamin A. Basil contains a great deal of Vitamin A which can help prevent heart attack or stroke.
Basil is also high in Vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron, and a ton of trace minerals.
What’s not to love with this healing herb?
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