Healthy Herbs to Eat : 6 Herbs for Better Health

Healthy herbs to eat is an overlooked aspect of personal health. Everybody wants to be healthier, and there’s many simple ways to give yourself a boost. Exercise, proper sleep cycles, and eating healthier are the most common ways to reach these goals. Yet many people forget that many of the spices and seasonings we use as flavoring were historically used as medicines by our ancestors. Many herbs, spices, and other plants have many holistic properties and you can easily grow them at home, saving yourself any chemical residue from the process of growing and shipping. Dehydrating your own herbs allows a longer shelf life, but you can also preserve them in different ways ensuring you have them for use throughout the year. Peppermint, Ginger, Rosemary, Oregano all are easily grown and preserved even easier.

Ginger Root

Ginger is an ideal plant for a warmer climate as they require 8 to 10 months to reach maturity. They prefer a humid and warm climate with partial shade. Only needing 2 to 5 hours of sunlight a day makes them an ideal candidate to make use of those shady zones. Ginger is sensitive to poorly drained soil and thrive when allowed to dry out between waterings. Loaded with antioxidants ginger is known to calm nausea while soothing your muscles and has even been shown to curb cancer growth.

Peppermint

Peppermint is one of the simplest on the list as well as being the most invasive. I recommend placing your peppermint alone away from any other garden beds as it is very invasive and can take over a section quite easily. Peppermint thrives in a most to full sun environment, they will survive in a shaded plot however the flavor is reduced. Peppermint has been shown to aid in digestion, as well as having antibacterial properties. It has also been shown to improve allergy symptoms, headaches and clogged airways. Dehydrating your leaves for tea. Peppermint is easily propagated by cutting placed in water or directly into sandy soil.

Rosemary

Rosemary is thought to boost our immune systems and blood circulation due to being a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Making it’s oil beneficial for arthritic inflammation. As a stimulant rosemary can help improve memory quality and performance. Rosemary is one of the easiest to grow as it only needs 6-8 hours of sunlight and a well draining sandy soil to thrive. Rosemary can be propagated easily from a cutting.

Oregano

Oregano is by far my favorite herb as it’s medicinal properties are unquestionably beneficial to everyone. Being an antibacterial agent this herb helps your immune system with the help of the phytonutrients, carvacol and thymol as well as antioxidants that help prevent cellular damage. Luckily Oregano is an easy to grow herb that likes full sun in well drained soil. It’s so easy all you need to do is sprinkle the seeds and water, no cover soil needed. Dehydrate your leaves and enjoy eating healthier herbs.

Tumeric

Tumeric requires 8 to 10 months of a frost free growing season. Unfortunately for me, this is the only herb I haven’t personally grown due to my climate zone. Tumeric is known as a potent antioxidant as well as anti inflammatory. Tumeric may be the last of this list, but its far from least important. Scientifically proven health benefits shown to improve heart health, prevent cancers and even aides in Alzheimers. Tumeric is a must have for everyone’s diet. Luckily we found an amazing American supplier farming Tumeric in Costa Rica! Sourcing your herbs ethically when you cant grow them keeps everyone eating healthier herbs.

Basil

Not only does Basil smell amazing, but it is a powerful antioxidant and has rich antimicrobial and antiviral properties. A spectacular companion plant to tomatoes , basil has also been associated as an aide to manage anxiety and stress. It has even been shown to help reduce the effects of arthritis, even with your dogs.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have shown it to counter act the effects of diabetes. Cinnamon is also known to help reduce alfa toxins, a fungi found on crops. It is also used as a rooting compound in gardening, encouraging root growth and protecting from disease. You can even use cinnamon to improve bad breath.