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The 10 Best Herbs You Should Add to Your Diet Now!

When looking to improve your health, many options are available, from improved and increased exercise to making necessary changes to your diet. One of the most popular is turning to herbs to increase your body's strength in ways from a boosted immune system to fighting heart disease.

Herbs come in a wide variety of forms too. Some, like peppermint, are most effective as an extracted oil. Ginger can be consumed whole or in a powder. Garlic is even available in every conceivable form. A great many herbs retain their benefits when used for culinary purposes. However, as a top herb shop in Australia, you need your herbs, and we've got what you need.

The Benefits of Going Organic

The phrase organic gets used frequently, but what does it actually mean? Organic foods are foods produced without harmful chemicals. Without the chemicals in the production, there's less of a chance of the chemicals making it to your table, with studies showing a reduction in levels in organic food. Organic herbs have a fresher taste due to the absence of preservatives, which also keeps these foods richer in nutrients. With these benefits in mind, it only makes sense to opt for organic herbs, available readily from this online herb shop.

The ten herbs described below are some of the most thoroughly studied on the Australian herbs market. With a vast number of options for whatever purposes you need, these organic herbs will strengthen your body and leave you in a better place physically and mentally.

Chamomile

A flowering plant similar to a daisy, chamomile is grown in a wide variety of forms though the most common is Matricaria Chamomilla. That plant is native to southern and eastern Europe, with worldwide growth today. The primary use of chamomile is the leaves in teas though the full plant is also used in beers for its bitter flavor.

Chamomile has long been thought to carry several medicinal properties. The tea is legendary for its properties in easing sleep, with studies backing it up. Chamomile tea is a traditional remedy for digestive problems, likely due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The herb might even have cancer-fighting properties as it has apigenin, an antioxidant that test tube studies show fights cancer. The anti-inflammatory effects may also lower blood sugar as well.

Cumin

Few plants possess as broad an array of health benefits as the simple cumin seed. The herb is most heavily grown in India, which handles 70% of its production. It can be found whole or in powdered form. It's a highly popular food additive with its warm flavor, making it a key ingredient in soups and spicy foods like curry and chili powder. It's easy to find from any high-quality herb shop.

One of the earliest uses of the herb was a treatment for diarrhea. Similarly, the organic herb is highly effective against irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. Cumin has also been found in multiple studies to lower blood sugar. Cumin has a long history as a preservative, with research suggesting that the oil in the seeds fights harmful bacteria, including in the body. Finally, studies suggest cumin is an effective weight loss supplement though further research is needed. With qualities to match its flavor, cumin is one of the best organic herbs to strengthen the body.

Garlic

The garlic clove is one of the most common organic herbs on the market. It's also one of the most effective. The simple herb has been cultivated for over 3000 years, even appearing in the Bible. Garlic is shared worldwide but is most frequently grown in China today. Garlic comes in forms from raw cloves to granules to powder. It is one of the most popular culinary ingredients in any use, appearing in many cuisines for a vast array of cultures across the globe. You can find it at any herb shop or local grocery store.

Garlic is one of the world's most researched and studied herbs, especially regarding its potential as a cardiovascular treatment. The herb has been found to produce a modest reduction in blood pressure. Allicin, a component of fresh garlic produced when crushed, has been found to be a highly effective antibiotic agent. As a common ingredient, garlic has mighty power.

Ginger

With a long history of cultivation and a wider variety of uses, ginger has long been one of the most popular organic herbs. The herb's history dates to the dawn of man, with documented uses worldwide. Ginger is particularly popular in India, where it is a common component in drinks like spiced masala chai. It's used in the west primarily in sweets.

Ginger's best-known medicinal value comes from stopping nausea. Gingerol, a component of ginger root, encourages gastrointestinal motility or the movement of food along the digestive process. For this reason, the herb is particularly popular with chemotherapy patients. Ginger is also a source of antioxidants, which reduce cell damage. Studies indicate ginger might also be an anti-inflammatory agent, beneficial to arthritis patients. With its many uses and potent flavor, ginger is a fantastic herb to improve your health.

Juniper Berries

Juniper berries appear on evergreen shrubbery across Asia, Europe, and North America. The name juniper berry is a bit of a lie. Juniper berries aren't berries but rather seed cones whose fleshy merged scales look like a berry. Matured berries appear in European cuisine as spices with a tart flavor similar to pine on foods like blackbird, boar, and sauerkraut. Unripe but fully grown berries flavor gin, whose name comes from the berries. Juniper berries, particularly a less resinous variant, are used in teas.

Juniper berries have a number of benefits to strengthening your body. Juniper berries are high in nutrients such as vitamin C and antioxidants, promoting reduced cellular damage. One of their most exciting emerging uses is as a treatment for diabetes. Experimental studies in rodents show signs of reduced blood sugar through supplements. Studies in rats also showed a reduction in cholesterol with juniper berry extract. Finally, in animal and test tube studies, juniper berries have been shown to possess powerful antifungal and antibacterial qualities. These seed pods have much to add to your health.

Milk Thistle

Known by a wide variety of names, marian thistle, scotch thistle, and variegated thistle, the plant commonly known as milk thistle has a scientific name of Silybum Marianum. The plant draws its name from the milky white veins running across its leaves. It appears natively in a region including Afghanistan, Greece, and Iran though it appears worldwide. Milk thistle is consumed in an extract from the seeds or as a powder.

Milk thistle's most traditional use has been for treating the liver and the gallbladder for their maladies. There is evidence that milk thistle may benefit the liver by preventing cirrhosis. Milk thistle is thought to benefit those with type 2 diabetes through increased insulin resistance and decreased blood sugar. Milk thistle is an herb rising in study, but it has many benefits to consider.

Paprika

Paprika, the brilliantly colored spice derived from dried varieties of peppers such as cayenne, chili, and poblano peppers, is most often thought of in culinary terms. After all, it appears in everything from stews to garnish. But the herb, grown worldwide but most closely associated with Hungary, has great value for those seeking an herbal remedy.

Paprika has many potential health benefits. Nutrients found in this spice, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, are linked to increased eye health. The herb also contains a strong amount of capsaicin, a well-researched anti-inflammatory agent. Paprika even contains carotenoids linked to lowered cholesterol levels.

Peppermint

Often associated with the Christmas holiday, peppermint is one of the most soothing herbs available. The herb, grown in Morocco primarily, is indigenous to the middle east and Europe. Peppermint was once considered an independent species but is now known to be a hybrid of spearmint and watermint. Peppermint is used for culinary purposes and as a highly effective pesticide.

Peppermint has many benefits for the body, particularly in oil form. Peppermint oil is highly beneficial for people with digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, as studies have shown a reduction in symptoms significantly better than a placebo. The oil also benefits nausea sufferers. Migraine sufferers in a study saw a significant improvement in symptoms when they used the oil topically. Peppermint oil has been found in select studies to be a remarkably effective method for reducing fatigue, either in aromatherapy or capsule form. The oil works as an antibacterial agent, as proven by multiple studies. All in all, peppermint is a beneficial herb with countless benefits.

Turmeric

Increasingly popular in shot form when mixed with honey and pepper, turmeric is one of the most effective herbs to improve your health. The yellow herb grows most prominently in India, where it's a vital ingredient in curry and chili powder. The herb's brilliant yellow color actually made it a highly regarded dye.

Today, turmeric has many benefits for your health. These benefits are largely from curcumin, the compound found within turmeric. Animal studies suggest curcumin may increase production levels of the brain hormone BDNF or brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Studies have also shown that curcumin improves the function of the lining of blood vessels or the endothelium. This matters as failure often comes from the endothelial lining failing to do its job. Curcumin has also been found in at least one study to be a highly effective antidepressant. Turmeric is truly one of the most versatile herbs for treating a wide range of conditions.

Valerian

Growing to the height of a full-grown man, valerian has a long history as an herbal remedy. Grown native in Asia and Europe, the plant's use dates back to ancient Greece, where it was cited by early medical practitioners Galen and Hippocrates. The plant continued popularity as a remedy with a notable citation in Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes by John Gerard, who suggested it for croup, an upper airway infection.

Valerian serves most effectively to aid the mind. The earliest use of valerian was as an insomnia treatment, which remains one of the most common uses for the plant. The herb has also frequently been used as an anti-anxiety treatment, with studies showing evidence for its effectiveness. When seeking peace of mind, valerian is an ideal option.

With so many options available online at The Herbal Connection, we're here to provide you with what you need. We have nearly 40 years of providing Australia with the best herbs possible. Check us out today!