The thyme herb is packed with many healthy phytonutrients (compounds derived from plants), minerals and vitamins that are essential for overall well-being. One of the most popular among the plants of culinary plants, thyme originally comes from southern Europe and the Mediterranean regions. Keep on reading about Thyme herb health Benefits
Botanically, it belongs to the family Lamiaceae, in the genus of the thymus, which includes many subspecies of which the most popular variety is Thymus vulgaris or French thyme.
The thyme plant is a perennial shrub with a fine woody base and square stems. It reaches about 15 to 30 cm in length, with very small, light green with paler below, leaves slightly curved aromatic. Thin, fragrant, rich, lilac or white flowers appear in summer.
Other varieties commonly cultivated with thyme are lemon thyme (T.x citriodora), cumin thyme (T. barons herbal) and wild thyme (T. septum). Either leaf as well as flowering tips; Fresh or dried for culinary purposes.
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Health benefits of thyme herb
Thyme contains many active ingredients known to have properties that promote disease prevention and promote health.
1. Antiseptic and antifungal
Thyme herb contains thymol, one of the important essential oils. It has been scientifically found that thymol has antiseptic and antifungal properties. Other volatile oils in thyme include carvacrol, borneol, and geraniol.
2. Antioxidants
Thyme contains many flavonoid phenolic antioxidants such as zeaxanthin, lutein, apigenin, naringenin, luteolin, and thymosin. The fresh thyme herb has one of the highest antioxidant levels among herbs, a total ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of 27.426 μmol TE / 100 g.
3. Stop coughing
Thyme essential oil, which has gained from its leaves, is frequently used as the natural cure remedy. In one study, a combination of thyme leaves and ivy helped alleviate a cough and other symptoms of acute bronchitis.
The next time you are faced with a cough or a sore throat, try to drink thyme tea.
4. Increase your immunity
Getting all the vitamins your body needs every day can be difficult. Fortunately, thyme is filled with vitamin C and is also a good source of vitamin A. If you feel a cold coming, thyme can help you regain healthily.
Another health benefit of thyme: It is a good source of copper, fiber, iron and manganese.
5. Controlling blood pressure
Thyme is filled with minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimal health. Its leaves are the strongest sources of potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, and selenium. Potassium is an important component of cellular and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor of the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is necessary for the formation of red blood cells.
6. Complex vitamins
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.
7. Bust of constraint
Thyme provides 0.35 mg of vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine; Providing approximately 27% of the recommended daily intake. Pyridoxine maintains GABA (beneficial neurotransmitter in the brain) levels in the brain that has a role as the stress buster.
8. Resistance
Vitamin C helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and eliminate harmful pro-inflammatory free radicals.
9. Good vision
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that is needed to maintain healthy membranes and skin of mucus and is also essential for vision. The consumption of natural foods rich in flavonoids such as vitamin A and beta-carotene helps to protect lung and oral cavity cancers.
10. Improve your mood
The essential oil of thyme is often used for aromatic and therapeutic purposes because of its active substance carvacrol.
In a study of 2013, carvacrol was shown to affect the activity of neurons so as to stimulate the subjects’ feeling of well-being.
So if you use thyme or thyme oil regularly, it could have a positive effect on your feelings and mood.