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Basil is a green leafy plants, mainly used for cooking Thai dishes, and native to India.
Holy Basil or tulsi is similar to sweet Basil.
Interestingly, it is a member of mint and lavender family and as well known as Ocimum sanctum L.
However, the leaves, stems and seeds are applied in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogene to eliminate disorder.
The green leaf is highly revered by the Hindu owing to it’s healing capacities. It is used to cure various disease such as bronchitis, malaria, diarrhoea, stomach ulcer and eye disease.
It contain vitamin A , calcium, zinc, iron, chlorophyll and among others.
Health benefits include; help reduce stress, anxiety, source of antioxidant, promote wound healing, lower blood sugar, lower cholesterol levels, ease joint pain, arthritis, and promote healthy stomach.
7 Proven Health Benefits of Holy Basil
1. Reduce Stress & anxiety
Consuming 500mg of holy basil extract daily can help relieves stress, anxiety and depression owing to their antidepressants, antianxiety and adaptogenic properties. The adaptogen assist your body adapt to stress and enhance mental optimization. Moreover, drinking holy basil as tea using the leaves are thought to facilitate calmness, relaxation of the mind, reduce, anxiety, stress and overall well-being
2. Rich source Of Antioxidant
One of the disease causing-factors in the body is free radicals, which causes oxidative damage. Such as cancer, be inhibiting growth of cancerous cells, skin disorder, inflammation and among many others. Being a rich source of antioxidant helps prevent and neutralize free radicals, thereby combating disease linked to oxidative damage. The Ayurvedic practitioners recommend it to be taking daily as tea.
3. Promote Wound Healing
Extract of holy Basil leaves have long been used to fasten wound healing process, because of the antiviral, antifungal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. They destroy growth of bacterial, fungal once applied on the wound, bruises, cut and burn (1). Most people use the leaves after surgery to relieves pains. It is not just reduce inflammation but speed up skin rejuvenation as well decrease appearance of scars.
4. Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Scientific research have shown that holy Basil can prevent symptoms associated to type 11 diabetes. Interestedly, using leaves, stems and seeds of holy Basil helps maintain your blood sugar levels, prevent further complications. Though more research are needed to justify this claim.
5. Lower Blood Cholesterol
Cholesterol can be harmful if increase above normal range, to keep at healthy state, opt for holy Basil as it stimulate metabolism. Metabolism foster breaking down of fat deposits in the body, which in turn decrease synthesis of cholesterol in the liver. According to researchers, that consumption of holy Basil reduce bad cholesterol and rise good cholesterol.
6. Ease joint pain & arthritis
As an antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, properties, holy Basil ease inflammation, main causes of joint pain, swelling, redness and muscles pains. Taking a break fast with a cup of tea made from Basil leaves provide all these benefits.
7. Protect Your Stomach
Persistent use of conventional medication may lead to side effect to some person, holy Basil is a natural products and can be a best options to protect your stomach. They are believed to lower secretion of stomach acids, raise mucus secretion, and elongate mucus cells life. These functions of holy Basil, keeps you away from stomach ulcer. So, if you experience stomach problems, try it.
Conclusion
If you are pregnant, lactating or trying to conceive speak to your doctor to before consumption. Avoid self medication.
