Healing herbs from the garden

by lisaguy on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Hello readers. This is my first blog so I would like to introduce myself. My name is Lisa Guy and I’m a naturopath/nutritionist and author of the children’s health and nutrition book My Goodness. I’m also a mum – to little, 2-year-old Lily. I’m extremely passionate about anything to do with children’s health so I’ll be sharing with you, in my blogs, lots of interesting and important information about kids health and nutrition.

I was doing some research on antioxidants today and found an interesting new study published in the Nutrition Journal. The study compared the antioxidant content of over 3000 different foods and beverages. Surprisingly blueberries weren’t on the top of the list. Culinary herbs and spices such as cloves, peppermint, cinnamon, oregano, thyme and rosemary were found to have the greatest antioxidant content of all foods. The average antioxidant activity of spices was 300% higher than that of berries, 2300% greater than that of other fruit, and 3600% higher than that of vegetables.

Doubtless there are some issues concerning the practicalities of eating large quantities of herbs and spices in order to consume high magnitudes of antioxidants by comparison to, for example, berries, however, the results of this recent study, at the very least, serve to remind of the important role herbs and spices play in a well-balanced healthy diet.

You can and should introduce your kids to the wonderful world of herbs and spices when they are babies. Around 7 to 8 months start including a little basil, thyme, cinnamon, rosemary, parsley or oregano to their meals.

These herbs and spices not only add delightful flavours to their meals but an array of immune boosting and health promoting nutrients and antioxidants.

Giving your kids a diet rich in a variety of plant based antioxidant-rich foods will help protect them against a number of diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Other foods rich in antioxidants include berries, and other fruits and vegetables, especially red, orange and green varieties.

Antioxidants are important disease-fighting compounds that help fight free radical damage in the body. Free radicals are produced from normal cell function, however larger amounts are produced from ingesting environmental pollutants, having a poor diet rich processed and fatty fast foods, and from physical stress.

Antioxidants help to strengthen the immune system and are particularly important during phases of rapid growth in children.

So start experimenting with different herbs (fresh and dried) in soups, salads, stir-fry’s and casserols, and add some spice to muffins, porridges and smoothies…..for your kids goodness sake.

Bye till next time.

1 COMMENT