There's a reason that basil looks like a peppermint plant; the two herbs are related and, while both are highly fragrant, basil is the quintessential summer herb infusing its aroma and health benefits into everything from pesto, pasta sauces and caprese salads as well as a condiment for Thai and Vietnamese dishes.
Basil is known for mainly two health benefits- its flavonoids and its volatile oils (which is the reason fresh leaves should be consumed raw or added to hot foods near the end of the cooking process to preserve the oil rather than break it down). These two properties are powerful protectors for our bodies.
Flavonoids provide protection at the cellular level and basil's most prominent ones, orientin and vicenin, have been shown through studies on human white blood cells to protect cell structures as well as chromosomes from radiation and oxygen-based damage.
It's volitile oils, estragole, linalool, cineole, eugenol, sabinene,myrcene, and limonene, are effective in restricting growth of numerous bacteria, including : Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli O:157:H7, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The essential oils of basil have demonstrated the ability to inhibit several species of pathogenic bacteria that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotic drugs.
The eugenol component of basil's volatile oils has been the subject of extensive study, since this substance can block the activity of an enzyme in the body called cyclooxygenase(COX). Many non-steriodal over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS), including aspirin and ibuprofen, work by inhibiting this same enzyme. This volatile oil found in basil can provide similar symptomatic relief for individuals with inflammatory health problems like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel conditions.
Basil is a very good source of vitamin A (through its concentration of carotenoids such as beta-carotene), magnesium, vitamin K and manganese, a very good source of copper and vitamin C, and a good source of calcium, iron, folate and omega-3 fatty acids. All of these vitamins and minerals are great protection for maintaining good cardiovascular health.
Basil's fragrance really shines in fresh preparations making it a must-have herb during the warmer months of the year.
Here are a few of my favorite summertime basil recipes from The Whole Meal:
Goi Ga (Vietnamese Chicken and Cabbage Salad)
Pesto Barley Summer Salad
Ravioli with Summer Squash Cream Sauce
