Basil: A Multi-Sensory & Multi-Therapeutic Affair
This is a guest post by David Metz, Clinical Herbalist. Read more about him here: http://ellenkittredge.com/evolutionary-healing-class
What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the word basil? Pesto? Italian food? Or maybe bruschetta? Are you salivating yet? Is it the smell or the taste or both that so entices? Well, it is actually both. The smell of fresh basil can be intoxicating to say the least and there is a very good reason for this. Smells affect how we taste a food, and also enhance digestion. Smells also trigger salivation, which begins the digestive process in the mouth.
The smell of Basil is used in Aromatherapy as a brain booster and mood elevator, and it strongly helps with focus and concentration. Basil has also been used in love potions. No wonder the smell is so attractive. Do you think “Mi Amore” may have been written after eating some pesto primavera? Crush up a bit of fresh basil in your fingers, inhale slowly, and see what comes to mind. You can also try basil in a bath. Crush up the fresh leaves or roll the dried in your fingers to activate the smell, and place in bath water.
On July 24th, 2012, when my journey to see the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers began, I was still in the early stages of grieving the loss of my own grandmother, Barbara Rawson, (pictured with me in 2009) the last of my grandparents, who had passed away just 10 days earlier on July 14th.
To my way of thinking, the best kind of sweetness is that which you come upon naturally, in a hug from a dear friend, or a kind word from a loved one. That’s the type of sweetness that resonates, goes deep, and nourishes you for the long haul. The same is true for food. The best type of sweetness comes from nature’s abundant natural “sweets.” And one of my favorite “sweets” has its nourishing intention written right into its name – the sweet potato.
day and age, it is my personal opinion that there is one category of "food" (if you can even call it that) that you must remove from your diet. This "food" was first created in a lab back in the 80's, and has been available on super-market shelves since the mid-90's, in ever increasing amounts each year. It is not labeled, and it has never been tested for human safety.
I must admit. I was surprised. I kind of just assumed that the ubiquitous summer squash, a clear herald of summer’s abundance, and a bane to many small gardeners and farmers because of said abundance, was kind of a “filler” vegetable. It wasn’t until I began researching the nutritional profile that I realized that this ever-reliable yet under-appreciated summer veggie deserves a formal apology from me, and a lot more respect.
It comes in red, orange, yellow, green, and purple, with twice the vitamin C of an orange. What could this magical vegetable be? That all favorite crunchy, sweet vegetable that is so prevalent in the later summer and early fall months, the bell pepper, is coming into its full ripeness and best taste right now. Whether green, red, yellow or any other color, this veggie has impressive health benefits.
Did you know that shifting your diet to follow the "fruits of harvest" in the different seasons of the year can actually cause your cravings to work for you? And that eating with the seasons can also balance appetite and satiety? And did you know as well, that certain organs and aspects of the body/mind are especially important to nourish and pay attention to in each season?
Ask yourself….what are the most nutritious vegetables on the planet? My first thoughts might be kale, broccoli, garlic, tomatoes, and other such lauded veggies. The humble green bean would probably not come to mind initially. However, since green beans (also known as string beans) are such a common summer vegetable, I wanted to share a healthy way to prepare them, and I decided to look into their nutritional content as well. I must say I was pleasantly surprised!
A few years ago I attended a lecture given by a research scientist who literally got his PhD in blueberries. After many years of study, he concluded that blueberries (and other berries too, like raspberries, blackberries and strawberries) are some of the healthiest foods on the planet. They have extremely high levels of all sorts of beneficial components with scientific names such as: anthocyanins, flavanols, catechins, phenolics, and proanthocyanidins.