NaturalSociety July 26 2013
It doesn’t matter if you’ve eaten basil in a creamy pesto drizzled over pasta at your favorite Italian restaurant, or devoured the herb in a delicious Vietnamese Pho – you’ll be experiencing amazingly tasteful health benefits either way. Used for centuries and having its own mythology and folklore due to its numerous royal qualities, sweet basil is a must-have in any kitchen.
Basil means ‘king’ in the Greek language, and it is often used in Holy water since it was considered to grow in the same spot that St. Constantine and Helen founded the Holy Cross. In Mexico it is kept in the pocket to entice a long-lost lover back home after an extended journey. In Romania, basil is given to a fiancé to declare love and start an engagement. The plant’s history may just be more interesting than the benefits it provides.
Health Benefits of Basil
Here are 7 awesome health benefits of basil:
1. Basil offers 60% of your daily recommended dose of vitamin K, which helps bones and the heart to be strong. Vitamin K is also essential for the proper formation and full activation of the Gla proteins. The Gla protein osteocalcin, when fully carboxylated by vitamin K, allows for the binding of calcium to the bone matrix. Continue reading