Herbs - Much More Than Garnishes

For as long as I've been cooking, I've always thought a sprinkling of something green and fresh was the perfect way to finish off a dish. Whether it's parsley, cilantro, basil, or something else, that pop of freshness is always a wonderful way to finish off a dish. Herbs are extremely flavourful but did you guys know that they were extremely good for you as well?

I know I've promoted parsley to y'all before as much more than a garnish but the fact is, most herbs are nutritious and full of antioxidants and vitamins beneficial to our bodies. Here's a little breakdown of what you can expect from some of the more popular herbs used in everyday cooking.

PARSLEY

One of the most prominent and well known herbs, Parsley is a great finishing touch to everything from pasta, soups and sauces, to a topping on sandwiches and burgers. Parsley also happens to be loaded with vitamins and nutrients that have many body benefits. Some of these include;
High amounts of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate, calcium, and iron. Parsley also helps with blood cholesterol as well as protecting from free radicals.

BASIL

Basil is one of the most fragrant of herbs, used often in Italian dishes. It's fresh, robust, and flavourful. Basil contains extremely high amounts of vitamins A and K, essential for vision and healthy bones. Basil also contains a good amount of potassium, manganese, copper, and iron.  Basil also contains several compounds thought to help protect the liver from free radicals. 

CILANTRO

Love it or hate it, cilantro is a popular herb used in a variety of mexican and indian dishes. Not only is cilantro full of flavour, it's also high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  Cilantro is exceptionally high in vitamins A & K, essential for healthy vision and bones. Per serving, cilantro also offers over 10% of your daily value of folates, vitamin b6, vitamin c, iron, and manganese. 

OREGANO

Potent in fragrance and often used in stews, soups, and sauces, oregano is full of antioxidants and vitamins essential to our health. Oregano contains over 100% of your daily value of Vitamins A & K, manganese, and iron per serving. Vitamins in oregano help fight free radicals and protect against infections. Also, one compound in oregano is thought to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. 

As you can see, herbs are so much more than flavourful, pretty garnishes. They contain a variety of body benefitting vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients. Use as much herbage as you can in the kitchen to add additional nutritional value to your dishes and keep things fresh and flavourful.

Want to know more? Head to www.nutrition-and-you.com/healthy-herbs.html for all of the information on herbs and their benefits. 

HAPPY VEG