Health Benefits of Herbs

by | Updated: December 3rd, 2016 | Read time: 2 minutes

What exactly is an herb? An herb is a plant or a part extracted from a plant, which can include leaves, berries, roots and flowers. Herbs have been used for thousands of years as natural therapies to promote health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 80 percent of the global population utilizes herbal remedies in some way, shape or form today.

 

 

Some of the most well-known herbs are ones you might find in the kitchen, such as garlic, basil and rosemary. Each of these herbs, however, also has natural properties that may help support normal health.

 

 

Garlic has long been considered an invaluable herb to promote and support normal heart health. In addition to eating garlic in food, some people take a daily garlic supplement to support normal blood pressure levels already in the normal range, and to soothe occasional stomach discomfort.

 

 

Another important herb is basil, which contains nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin K and iron. In an extract or oil state, basil is full of antioxidants, which may protect your body’s cells from harmful free radicals.

 

 

Rosemary is an herb that has been used for hundreds of years due to its beneficial high antioxidant content. It is loaded with vitamin E, which helps protect against damage caused by free radicals. For this reason, rosemary extract is found in many skin-care products.

 

 

There are hundreds of other herbs that are utilized for the properties of their natural ingredients, such as ginger, fennel, psyllium, ginkgo biloba and stevia.