In this day and age, high stress levels seem to be an recurring conversation topic. Whether you worry about making ends meat, picking your child up from school on time, losing weight, eating clean, your social media presence, or making your flight, stress does not discriminate against age or gender. As a result of all this stress, people become overburdened, overworked, and begin consuming unhealthy foods or medications to counteract stress/anxiety in order to cope with life. So what do you do keep the body healthy?
It’s About Thyme
Thyme is a Mediterranean herb with medicinal, ornamental, and dietary properties. It is rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron, and thyme acts as an antioxidant in the body. Thyme is an herb from the mint family that has been used for thousands of years to help remedy a variety of symptoms and complaints. For instance, the Ancient Egyptians used it in embalming practices and the Greeks used to burn it as a natural incense.
Fast Facts About Thyme
- Thyme can be used in its fresh or dried form, but one can also use thyme essential oil.
- Thyme is praised for its antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. People have used thyme to repel tiger mosquito larvae in tropical areas of Southeast Asia.
- Thyme is a vitamin bomb, containing A, B, C, E, & K vitamins, folate, and beta-carotene.
Thyme To Boost Immunity
Thyme is loaded with vitamin A and vitamin C, which can help to boost the immune system. In general, thyme works to support immune and respiratory healthy, helping to fight sore throats with its natural antimicrobial properties. The carvacrol content is one of the primary reasons that thyme is beneficial for sore throats. It is also a great natural remedy for bronchitis.
Thyme For Deliciousness
Thyme is used in a variety of dishes from various cuisines. It is commonly used in French, Mediterranean, and Italian cooking, but it isn’t specifically reserved to these culinary avenues. You can add it to some homemade pesto, or you can sauté some fresh thyme sprigs with mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and garlic.
Thyme To Lower Blood Pressure
If you suffer from high blood pressure, thyme is a beneficial herb to ingest because it helps produce antihypertensive properties in the body. A recent animal study has shown that thyme extract has the ability to reduce heart rate, and it may even work to lower cholesterol levels. One of the best things you can do is to start using fresh herbs like thyme to season food instead of a lot of salt.
Thyme To Boost Your Mood
A 2013 study analyzed the carvacrol that naturally occurs in thyme, and results showed that it had positive mood-boosting properties. When administered to animals for seven consecutive days, thyme was able to increase serotonin and dopamine levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These are two essential neurotransmitters that influence your mood. This study may have revealed that carvacrol is a molecule that can influence brain activity vita neurotransmitters.
Thyme has many health benefits, including the ability to help the formation of red blood cells. It can also help relieve symptoms of lupus, fibromyalgia, arthritis, Hashimoto’s disease, and vertigo. Make the following drink every day to help fight the aforementioned illnesses.
Ingredients:
- A handful of fresh thyme
- 1 cup water
- Agave or stevia to sweeten it (optional)
Instructions:
- Wash the thyme and place it in a bowl or large mug. Boil the water and pour it over the thyme. Let it steep for about 5 minutes and then strain the liquid through a mesh strainer. You can sweeten the tea with agave or stevia.
