Benefits of thyme
Thyme is packed with numerous health benefiting phyto-nutrients (plant derived compounds), minerals and vitamins that are essential for well-being. One of the popular among the plants culinary herbs, thyme is native from southern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Botanically, it belongs to the family of the kind limiaceae thymus, which includes several subspecies which is the most popular variety of thyme Thymus vulgaris or French.
The thyme plant is a perennial shrub with slender stems woody base and square. It reaches about 15 to 30 cm long, with very small, light green color paler below, aromatic leaves, slightly curved. Small, fragrant rich, lilac or white flowers appear in summer.
The other varieties are commonly grown lemon thyme thyme (Tx citriodora), caraway thyme (T. herba barona) and wild thyme (T. septyllum). Or leaves and flowers advice, used fresh or dried for culinary purposes.
Health benefits of thyme
Thyme contains many active ingredients that are found to have the disease prevention and health promotion properties.
Thyme contains thymol, one of the essential oils, which are important scientifically proven to have antiseptic, anti-fungal characteristics. Other volatile oils include carvacolo in thyme, borneol and geraniol.
Thyme contains many flavonoids phenolic antioxidants such as zeaxanthin, lutein, pigenin, naringenin, luteolin, and thymonin. Fresh thyme has one of the highest levels of antioxidants from herbs, a total ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of 27 426 umol-g TE/100.
Thyme is packed with vitamins and minerals that are essential for optimal health. Its leaves are one of the richest sources of potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium and selenium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is necessary for red blood cell formation.
The herb is also a rich source of many important vitamins such as B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin C and folic acid.
Thyme provides 0.35 mg of vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine, furnishing about 27% of the recommended daily intake. Pyridoxine is GABA (beneficial in the brain) levels in the brain, which has the function stress buster.
Vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and retrieval harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin and antioxidant that is necessary to maintain the mucous membranes and skin healthy and it is also essential for vision. Consumption of foods rich in natural flavonoids such as vitamin A and beta-carotene helps protect against cancers of the lung and oral cavity.
Thyme leaves provide high levels of quality phyto-nutrients profile. 100 g of fresh leaves provides (% of recommended daily intake)
38% of dietary fiber,
27% of the vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine),
266% of vitamin C,
158% of vitamin A,
218% iron,
40% calcium,
40% magnesium and
75% manganese
but no cholesterol.
Culinary Uses
Thyme gives an intense flavor to recipes and should be added sparingly. To keep the fragrance and flavor intact, thyme is generally added at the last moment in the recipes. This is because prolonged cooking results in evaporation of essential oils.
Here are some methods used:
Thyme is used to marinate chicken recipes and vegetables.
Photo courtesy: lizadaly
Thyme tea is a popular drink health.
Thyme has been used in the preparation of soup season, and sauces.
Grass is one of the ingredients in the bouquet garni and bay leaf, parsley and celery.
Thyme, along with other spices, was used for marinating and stuffing recipes for chicken, fish and meat.
Medicinal uses
Thyme contains important essential oils, which are found to have applications antiseptic and anti-fungal.
Throat gargle with warm water thyme or drink a few sips of thyme tea can help relieve coughs, sore throats, and bronchitis symptoms.
Formulations of thyme has been used as an antiseptic mouthwash in the treatment of caries and gingivitis.
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