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Most of us can name a few herbs off the top of our heads considering we use them in a lot of different recipes, and we can even see them clearly in some ready-made foods. Basil, ginger, garlic, cumin… all amazing, delicious herbs to put in a meal. What you might not know is that all these herbs are also amazing for your immune system, but how?
“Basil is a powerful germicide. Because of its phytochemicals and antioxidants, it can help locate germs, viruses and bacteria the moment they enter your body and destroy them.” [2] Basil is perfectly fine to eat on its own, but if you don’t think you’re up for that, you could always add it into foods like pasta, baked chicken or pizza.
Ginger “contains gingerol – an antioxidant that can power up our immune system and kill viruses. Ginger is particularly good in preventing respiratory tract infections.” [2] To consume ginger, you can boil it in some tea and drink it that way, or you could make some delicious meals that use ginger such as different soups or marinated meats.
Garlic “contains allicin- a plant compound that acts as a germicide,” similar to basil. [2] However, unlike basil and ginger, it is recommended to consume garlic raw or barely cooked in order to benefit from its immune-boosting properties.
Lastly, black cumin “seeds and oil act as antioxidants and help flush out free radicals that weaken your immunity.” [2] You can add black cumin seeds onto some vegetables or meats to add some extra flavor and health benefits to your favorite meals.
There are many other herbs out there that are helpful in strengthening and maintaining a healthy immune system, but these are just a few of the powerful immune-boosting herbs that you can enjoy knowing they taste good and are good for you.
References:
1. 9 immunity boosting herbs to beat covid-19! PharmEasy Blog. (2021, December 8). https://pharmeasy.in/blog/9-immunity-boosting-herbs-to-beat-covid-19/.
Contributors:
Author: Lauryn Agron
Editor: Anum Khan
Health scientist: Jonnea Williams