We tend to eat WAY too much salt. This only increases our probability of dehydration. Replacing table salt with sea salt helps, but herbs are a wonderful way of helping you reduce your salt intake. These windowsill herbs - easy to grow inside or out, very fragrant, easy to harvest, easy to dry - should be standard in your daily cooking, menu planning.
Cilantro - Cilantro is now one of my most favorite herbs. For most you will either LOVE it, or HATE it. When I first tasted it, I was one of those that HATED it. We were in Hawaii, and I was being introduced to Vietnamese food (Yumm!!) and we ordered Cha Gio (tiny spring rolls) and received the full platter of herbs and vegetables. We also ordered Pho (soup) and this too came with lots of herbs and vegetables. I kept tasting this one STRONG flavor that I was unfamiliar with and started picking at the herbs until I found what it was that I kept tasting - Cilantro. We find Cilantro in lots of things - but it isn't as strong, if it isn't fresh. Salsa, Mexican foods, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.... It is a very versatile herb and once your palate is used to its strong flavor, you too may learn to love it in many things. I season my quesadillas and salads with lots of cilantro. As a medicinal, it helps to remove heavy metals and toxins from the body. It is an anti-inflammatory antiseptic, and an antifungal. The oils in Cilantro are beneficial to our digestive tract, aids in normalizing hormone levels, balances sugar levels, among others.
Recommended reading: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/cilantro.html
Oregano - Most of us are familiar with Oregano - heavily used in cooking Italian food. Oregano has a wonderful aroma and can be grown indoors or out. There are many varieties, you may find more to your liking than others. Oregano is an antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparacitic. Like Cilantro, it is very high in antioxidants - strengthening the immune system. The oil in Oregano also helps to strengthen and increase flexibility of muscles and joints. Fresh Oregano, like most of your green leafy vegetables / herbs are high in vitamins and minerals. Aids in digestion, stimulates menstrual flow, relieves muscle spasms when given as an infusion, may slow aging, and reduces cancer risk.
Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=73
Basil - Did you know there are MANY different types of Basil? And all of them have a very different taste? Thai Basil - spicy, Sweet Basil - obviously sweet, Lemon Basil - lemony, etc.... Basil is another "windowsill" herb. Many people grow it in their kitchens as it is frequently used in many dishes and is easy to grow. Basil has powerful flavonoids to help protect cell structure and growth - meaning it is a natural cancer fighter. it is an anti-inflammatory and an antibacterial. It has been shown to fight ecoli and staph infections successfully. It also fights heart disease, and helps to normalize cholesterol levels. Play around with the different types of Basil in your dishes for a variety of flavors.
Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=85
Dill - While not quite a windowsill herb... it is very fragrant and easy to grow. Dill is another of my favorites... I regularly get a mix of herbs and leaf lettuces and mix for a salad rather than traditional head lettuce. The more you mix your colors and types, the better flavor and better nutrition you gain from your salads. Dill has been long known for its digestive calming. The flavonoids in Dill also are cancer fighters. Dill also aids in normalizing menses and fights insomnia. It is a relaxant, antispasmodic, and a diuretic.
Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=71
This is just a short list.. the point I am trying to make is that your fresh herbs are very, very beneficial to day to day health and if you grow your own - fairly inexpensive. Keeping them in pots in your house will give your home a warm fragrant scent, and will provide you with lasting health! E
Cilantro - Cilantro is now one of my most favorite herbs. For most you will either LOVE it, or HATE it. When I first tasted it, I was one of those that HATED it. We were in Hawaii, and I was being introduced to Vietnamese food (Yumm!!) and we ordered Cha Gio (tiny spring rolls) and received the full platter of herbs and vegetables. We also ordered Pho (soup) and this too came with lots of herbs and vegetables. I kept tasting this one STRONG flavor that I was unfamiliar with and started picking at the herbs until I found what it was that I kept tasting - Cilantro. We find Cilantro in lots of things - but it isn't as strong, if it isn't fresh. Salsa, Mexican foods, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.... It is a very versatile herb and once your palate is used to its strong flavor, you too may learn to love it in many things. I season my quesadillas and salads with lots of cilantro. As a medicinal, it helps to remove heavy metals and toxins from the body. It is an anti-inflammatory antiseptic, and an antifungal. The oils in Cilantro are beneficial to our digestive tract, aids in normalizing hormone levels, balances sugar levels, among others.
Recommended reading: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/cilantro.html
Oregano - Most of us are familiar with Oregano - heavily used in cooking Italian food. Oregano has a wonderful aroma and can be grown indoors or out. There are many varieties, you may find more to your liking than others. Oregano is an antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparacitic. Like Cilantro, it is very high in antioxidants - strengthening the immune system. The oil in Oregano also helps to strengthen and increase flexibility of muscles and joints. Fresh Oregano, like most of your green leafy vegetables / herbs are high in vitamins and minerals. Aids in digestion, stimulates menstrual flow, relieves muscle spasms when given as an infusion, may slow aging, and reduces cancer risk.
Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=73
Basil - Did you know there are MANY different types of Basil? And all of them have a very different taste? Thai Basil - spicy, Sweet Basil - obviously sweet, Lemon Basil - lemony, etc.... Basil is another "windowsill" herb. Many people grow it in their kitchens as it is frequently used in many dishes and is easy to grow. Basil has powerful flavonoids to help protect cell structure and growth - meaning it is a natural cancer fighter. it is an anti-inflammatory and an antibacterial. It has been shown to fight ecoli and staph infections successfully. It also fights heart disease, and helps to normalize cholesterol levels. Play around with the different types of Basil in your dishes for a variety of flavors.
Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=85
Dill - While not quite a windowsill herb... it is very fragrant and easy to grow. Dill is another of my favorites... I regularly get a mix of herbs and leaf lettuces and mix for a salad rather than traditional head lettuce. The more you mix your colors and types, the better flavor and better nutrition you gain from your salads. Dill has been long known for its digestive calming. The flavonoids in Dill also are cancer fighters. Dill also aids in normalizing menses and fights insomnia. It is a relaxant, antispasmodic, and a diuretic.
Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=71
This is just a short list.. the point I am trying to make is that your fresh herbs are very, very beneficial to day to day health and if you grow your own - fairly inexpensive. Keeping them in pots in your house will give your home a warm fragrant scent, and will provide you with lasting health! E
Q: if I don't cook a lot should I buy herbs instead of windowsill growing them, will it be ok if I do grow them and don't use them that much?
ReplyDeleteA: if you get a book on harvesting - and FOLLOW it - I would recommend you always grow your own. My favorite meal is to take several different types of lettuce - radicchio, leaf, spinach, curly, kale - etc... all EXCEPT for head lettuce - you don't need a lot - and then take as many fresh herbs as you can find - cilantro, mint, basil, oregano, dill, etc.... and then mix in your favorite vegetables - as many different colors as you can find. For the salad dressing find something light - balsalmic vinegrette, asian sesame, asian ginger, straight vinegar... and eat slowly... savor the incredible textures and flavor explosions in your mouth... if you love it like I do... you will find a way to grow your own herbs because you will want it every day. There are some foods that just simply make you happy... this is one. If you purchase your herbs, you have no idea how old they are - how they were grown - if they are organic - what type of pesticides / herbicides were used.. If you learn to dry your own herbs you will save money and will enjoy the flavor better of the foods you do cook.