Cooking & Food Ideas Archives - Inspired Home Ideas

Eco Friendly Homemade Cleaning Products In Your Pantry

Did You Know There Are Some Very Eco-Friendly Homemade Cleaning Products Just Lurking In Your Pantry?

You may be surprised to find out that some of the greenest and yet most effective cleaning products in your home are found right in your very own pantry.

They’re also some of the most affordable as well.

Simple items that you have sitting around your kitchen can do a great job of cleaning every room in your house.

Basic Baking Soda

One of the most versatile cleaning products in any home is plain baking soda.

It is a natural deodorizer and also works as a gentle abrasive cleaner that can remove stuck-on dirt and stains.

You can use baking soda on your sinks, countertops, tub, and even toilet.

It works well on a variety of surfaces and can even be used to clean silver with a little water mixed in.

You can scrub stainless steel pots and pans with it, and even remove stains from porcelain sinks.

A box or small bowl of baking soda will absorb odors in the fridge or in any other small space.

If you are unfortunate to have a pet cat urinate on your carpet, by regularly spreading baking soda on the affected area, you can effectively neutralize the smell completely.

Versatile Vinegar

Vinegar is perhaps the most powerful natural cleaner in your pantry—and don’t be afraid of the smell!

It will dissipate shortly after you’re through using it.

Vinegar can be mixed with water and used to wash floors.

A vinegar and water solution can be used to replace your glass cleaner.

Vinegar can remove build-up from shower heads and faucets.

It is helpful in removing odors and can be used to clean wooden cutting boards to remove strong smells like onion and garlic.

Vinegar can also be added to your laundry to remove odors and help brighten your clothes.

Leave It To Lemon Juice

Another easy-to-use green cleaner is lemon juice.

Mix a little with baking soda to make a highly effective liquid abrasive that will remove stains from just about any surface.

Lemon juice can be used to remove rust from metal—simply rub half a lemon on the rust to take it off.

Lemons can also be used to remove odors from a garbage disposal—simply drop a half down and run the disposal.

Lemon juice will remove those food stains from your plastic storage containers as well.

These cleaners are not only earth-friendly, but they are also budget-friendly and safe for kids and pets.

You can replace almost every cleaner in your home with a combination of these three pantry cleaning products that you probably already have.

It can save you hundreds of dollars and prevent your family from being exposed to dangerous chemicals as well.

Return to Home Page

5 Secrets To A Healthy Home

Here are 5 Secrets To A Healthy Home To Keep You Healthy And Safe

Your home is your sanctuary.

It is a space that fills you with warmth and joy. It is your haven from the outside world, a respite from the hustle and bustle of work and stress.

Yet, what if your home isn’t as safe as you think?

From your furniture to your choice of cleaning agent, every small choice can have massive repercussions on the health of your home and sanctuary.

A healthy and happy home is one that is clean and free from health hazards.

Maintaining a healthy home requires more work than one would assume.

It requires research, careful decision making and simple techniques that must be implemented from the very beginning.

Otherwise, small things can snowball into a massive health hazard that will be difficult to deal with later on.

Here’s a simple guide to help you create a home that isn’t just beautiful but is healthy and safe for you and your entire family.

Choose Your Furniture With Care

A home without furniture is an empty space.

It is the furniture that gives it character and makes it comfortable, which is why when choosing furniture, most of us focus on aesthetics alone.

We forget that furniture is a dust magnet, a hotbed of germs and requires frequent and rigorous cleaning.

Bulky furniture that is difficult to move around will collect dirt and dust in the corners, which can affect the air you breathe.

Instead choose simple and light furniture that can be cleaned around with ease, ensuring that no dirt is trapped in small spaces and corners.

Choose durable materials that can be maintained such as tile, stone, and leather. Avoid fancy carved furniture, large drapes that attract dust and heavy rugs that require constant cleaning.

Additionally, a lot of materials used to make furniture is covered with harmful chemicals.

For example, foam that is used in mattresses and couches is often covered in dangerous flame retardant chemicals.

Combat this by using cotton or wool where possible or ensuring the foam is covered in thick material preventing exposure to the chemicals used.

Take care when choosing paints and varnishes as well to ensure that no toxic chemicals are present.

Waterproofing Solutions

Based on the type of home you have, an apartment or a house, it is important to ensure that you choose the right type of waterproofing solutions.

Inadequate waterproofing can lead to a wide range of health concerns for those living in the home.

Leakage and seepage can cause mold, mildew, and fungus to grow on the walls and ceiling, leading to breathing problems and fungal infections to say the least.

This makes it imperative to tackle the problem right from the root with sound waterproofing on the structure.

While waterproofing begins with smart drainage that diverts all water away from the foundation of your home, you might also need additional waterproofing for extra protection.

Choose bituminous or polyurethane based waterproofing for roofs and cement based waterproofing solutions for kitchens and bathrooms.

Consult with a waterproofing expert to choose the right materials for your home, because there is no one-size-fits-all waterproofing solution.

Each option has its own characteristics and pros and cons which necessitate an informed decision.

Be Careful With Wiring

Wiring and electrics are something we rarely pay attention to unless we run out charging ports for our precious gadgets.

This overlooked aspect of home maintenance is incredibly important especially when moving into a new home or renovating.

Incorrect wiring and sloppy work can lead to a fire hazard in the house.

Which is why you need to ensure that you have certified electrician do all the wiring in the home.

Moreover, once your home is complete, don’t forget to call an electrician for bi-annual checks to ensure that everything is working as it should.

After all, when it comes to wiring and electricity, one small mistake can have dangerous and potentially lethal repercussions.

Simple Ventilation Techniques

Stale air can be a massive concern in today’s day, with indoor air pollution often higher than levels seen outdoors.

It is important to counter this with a few simple measures that will air out your home and keep the air clean and fresh.

The most important thing is to make sure that your windows are easily accessible and can be opened every few days to air out your home.

Make sure you use fans including exhausts in the bathrooms and kitchen to circulate the air effectively.

You might also want to consider an indoor air purifier to ensure that the air inside your home is clean and dust free.

Pair it with a humidifier for air that is easier to breathe.

Lastly, it is important to avoid using aerosol air fresheners. These are full of chemicals that should not be inhaled.

Instead, use natural scented oils and diffusers for a home that is both healthy and aromatic.

Practice Regular Effective Kitchen Care

Your health begins in the kitchen.

But these days kitchen health is more than just choosing organic produce and mercury-free fish.

A toxic material can make its way into your kitchen through the cookware you choose and the cleaning products you use.

For optimal kitchen health, it is important to pay attention to the details.

Cookware is essential to a kitchen and utensils must be chosen with care.

Non-stick cookware is known to release toxic fumes when heated to high temperatures so consider swapping to cast iron, steel, and aluminum.

Similarly heating up plastic in the microwave can be harmful to your health. Use glass or ceramic utensils to store food and for use in the microwave.

When choosing bottles, stick to BPA free plastic or switch to glass where possible.

Likewise, the cleaning products you use are often full of dangerous chemicals that you can do without.

Wherever possible, swap these out for healthy and organic cleaners that incorporate household products like vinegar, lime juice, and baking soda.

You don’t necessarily need an army of products to keep a clean kitchen and home, a few simple all natural products will do the trick with ease.

Return to Home Page

Smarter Kitchens For A Convenient Life

A kitchen is a room dedicated in the house that is used for storing all food items and used primarily for cooking. It comprises a work surface, cabinets, cooking appliances and utensils. Furthermore, the kitchen can be divided into either a residential or a commercial kitchen.

When you decorate your kitchen, you need to consider several factors such as the look and style and construction of the cabinets, washing basin, plumbing systems, kitchen top, electric wiring and storage location for your appliances. Firstly, you should decide on your purpose, whether you need a commercial kitchen or a residential kitchen. Then you should make your own list of which electronic appliances need to be installed in your kitchen. Lastly you need to call the kitchen designers who will give you some templates of various kitchen designs. You can choose any of their designs, or you could go for the customized design kitchen as per your requirement.

What Are The Different Types Of Kitchens Designs?

Kitchens have taken over the family room spot these days. It has become a space where families and friends gather around to share meals or chat and even do office or school home work. The style of the room should be spacious and well lit enough to accommodate the family. With the increase in styles and designs of kitchens as mentioned below, there are the few popular ones used by families across the world:

Farmhouse kitchen: They are classic looking huge kitchens with big work surfaces and storage capacity. They also have a big enough space to accommodate a big family sized dining table. The big tables, shelves and classic flooring make it easy to work and move around.

Rustic kitchens: They have a worn, distressed and rough look. These kitchens took a back seat a few years ago but are now coming back in vogue again as a sturdy and handy area to work. Their look is displayed by the use of stones, timber, brick, vintage appliances and fireplaces etc.

Modern kitchens: They are sleek in design with optimum utilization of space, frameless neatly stacked cabinets, sleek and simple hardware, strong horizontal lines and the use of materials that are shining through.

Traditional kitchens: These kitchens are quite detailed and include decorative moldings, arches, corbels, raised-panel cabinets, antique finishes etc. These kitchens are usually based around an owner’s personal styles and can be designed using a combination of different types of woods and paneling.

How Do You Decorate Your Own Kitchen In A Contemporary Style?

Contemporary kitchens are very sleek and purely modern layouts with varied structures, designs and grids. These kitchens are often playful and innovative in design and finishes.
Transitional kitchens are a combination of warmth of traditional design coupled with clean and simple lines similar to the contemporary style. They project the kitchen space with complete balance, harmony and flexibility in styling.
Craftsman kitchen styles came into existence in the early 20th century displaying the Victorian era comprising rich woods, handcrafted tiles and detailed work etc.

Cottage kitchens are cozy and simple. They display design minimalism and ease combined with the use of soft colors displaying the cottage comfort.
Classic kitchens comprise simple architectural details and minimalistic work allowing the owner to personalise between contemporary and traditional style.
Mediterranean-style kitchens have flared hoods, hand-painted tiles, wood cabinets etc, glowing with features of Spanish kitchens.

So now you need to decide about the designs which need to be installed in your kitchen, and you can even incorporate multiple designs in one kitchen area also if you wish. In this regard you can search online and find several kitchen designs and their utility details.

How To Organize Your Kitchen On A Tiny Budget

The kitchen is the heart of the home, don’t you think? It can be the busiest place during mornings everyday and even more so on the holidays. As such, kitchens tend to be one of the most disorganized places in the home, and perhaps the dirtiest. Well, maybe next to the garage, that is. So, keep reading as here you will learn the best tips to organize your kitchen on a tiny budget.

In this article, let me show you how to get your kitchen back to the same state it was on move-in day; clean and without clutter. But fear not: in this list of tips for kitchen organization, I’m going to show you how to do just that without spending more than $10-20. Who said organization had to be expensive?

Cheap Organizing Tips & Tricks

Clean Out Your Cupboards

This step will literally cost you nothing. In any de-cluttering project, the first thing you need to do is clear out all the things you deem unnecessary; all the things that only clutter your space more and won’t serve useful anymore (hint: stuff that are gathering dust in your cupboards). This includes kitchen appliances and equipment that have been outdated or unused for a long time (12 months or more), along with all the plastic storage boxes you don’t use anymore (but are saving “just in case”).

Either throw all of these things away or donate them. When clearing out your cupboards and kitchen cabinets, have two boxes at the ready: one designated for disposable stuff and another for donations, or things you can sell.

Use As Much Vertical Space As Possible

See those walls underneath your kitchen cupboards? Use them. A good space-saver is the use of available wall space to hang your most frequently used kitchen equipment. What you can do is install rows of hooks to hang your spatulas, ladles, graters, etc. as well as wall-mounted spice racks for all your herbs and spices.

Another nifty idea is to install a long piece of magnet near your work area for all your knives; an easier and more convenient way to store them rather than using a knife block.

As for pots and pans, you can use a hanging pots and pans rack instead of storing these bulky things in the cupboards.

The general rule is: if you can hang it, hang it!

Clear Your Refrigerator

In a regular family home, the refrigerator also tends to become quite cluttered. What you can do to avoid this clutter, as well as prevent contamination of your food, is clearing out all your shelves.

Throw out all food that you haven’t touched for months but have been opened, as well as food that is showing signs of decay. Bottles, condiments, half-eaten bars, opened soda cans, rotting heads of lettuce—all inside the trash bin. You’ll find yourself very satisfied right afterwards.

And while you’re at it, why not give the refrigerator a good wipe down to get rid of bacteria?

Tip: For food items with strong odors, make sure to wrap them up well or store them in individual plastic boxes to avoid having other foods absorb their odor/taste. Furthermore, for stubborn gunk that has accumulated in your refrigerator (which can pose a dangerous health risk), you can use an air hose to power-clean it out.Organize Your Pantry

Same principle: throw out any food items that you haven’t touched for months or years (except for the non-perishables and emergency food, of course). Group all like items together and place them near each other. For example: gather all canned goods and put them on one shelf, while doing the same for breads and grains, pastas, snacks, condiments, and others.

After you do this, you’ll find an easier time looking for what you need when cooking.

Buy Cheap Organizers For Your Kitchen Cabinets

Another place for headache-inducing clutter is your kitchen cabinet. Kitchen utensils can get pretty out of hand when you don’t organize them, and the next thing you know, you can’t find that one-half measuring teaspoon you need.

Inexpensive solutions to your problem are cabinet organizers. These can come in the form of plastic trays that fit into your cabinets, dividing your space into sections for better organization. Put all your baking utensils in one box, and have another box for scissors, paring knives, and other cutting tools. See? Easy as pie.

You can also make your own cabinet organizers! To do this, carefully measure the length and width of your cabinet and install two pieces of 2×2 wood to make four sections. These sections will allow easier grouping of miscellaneous utensils.

Make Use Of Recycled Jars

If you have lots of used jars lying around, why not turn them into tools for organization?

Instead of having boxes and packages of flours and rice cluttering up your cupboards, pour their contents into jars for easy storage and access while cooking. Not only can you find them easier, you also save space for your cupboards and reduce the risk of contamination.

Use Things That Don’t Belong In The Kitchen

For easy access and even easier drying, use a cheap magazine holder to store your cookie sheets as well as chopping boards.

To have your frequently used recipes at hand, why not use a corkboard to pin them all in one place. Similarly, a small whiteboard can also come in handy for reminders and short recipes.

Moreover, you can use a desk organizer that was meant for pens and pencils to store straws, skewers, chopsticks, and the like.

And as for reusable paper bags and grocery bags, you can use a file organizer or file holder to store them easily. Hang it by the wall using adhesives and voila! You have you own paper bag organizer.

Conclusion

This article consists of just some of the tips you can do to organize your kitchen, but they are by far generally the easiest and cheapest to do. So, just follow these tips for a better organized kitchen and you’re good to go.

Did you like this article? If you did, let us know your thoughts below. Got a lot of friends with cluttered kitchens? Why not share them this article, too? Thanks for reading!

Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Emma Clark from The Art of Home Renovations, an interior designer with one true passion: home improvement. With my experience and skill, I want to help you make your home into a revolutionary & magical work of art through easy, inexpensive, and innovative ideas that you can DIY!

Growing Herbs Indoors For Beginners

Growing Herbs indoors or beginners -Three pots of herbs in a kitchen window Marjoram, Rosemary, and Lemon Balm.

Growing an Indoor Herb Garden with your own indoor growing systems at home can be a real convenience, especially of you’re an avid cook. Nothing comes close to having a selection of fresh (organic) home grown herbs at your finger tips to add to your latest cooking masterpieces.

Growing herbs indoors doesn’t require a lot of space, despite what you may think. You can grow a selection of your favorite herbs indoors in an apartment or a mansion. It makes no real difference.

Typically most people will create a herb garden in tiny little pots that they will sit atop a windowsill in their kitchen. This usually means the plant or plants will get the required daily attention it needs to prosper and grow. It also makes it simple and easy when cooking, to just snip a piece or two from the plant without causing it any undue stress, meaning that there will be plenty more to use at a later date. Herbs are usually quite forgiving when you snip a piece or two here or there. They usually bounce back (as long as you aren’t too greedy and brutal) well.

Even if you aren’t fortunate enough to have a sunny spot in your kitchen, all you need is an another room to grow these indoor herbs provided it has regular warmth and sunlight.

Young lettuce in ecological home garden. Eco-friendly backyard garden, vegetable garden.

Finding The Best Spot For Growing Your Indoor Herb Garden?

When it comes to growing herbs indoors, you should find the sunniest spot in your home because herbs require as much natural light as possible. It’s the old story; give a plant sun and plenty of regulated water, and you’ll end up with a decent crop.

From seeds, you need to plant them in a decent pot of soil and then place them in a sunny spot, ideally near a window so that they are likely to receive at least 4 hours of daily sunshine. Depending on which hemisphere you live in, you’ll want to ensure your windows are south facing (for northern hemisphere people) or north facing (if you live in the southern hemisphere). This will ensure that the plants receive the fullest amount of daylight sunshine possible.

Herbs grow indoors, fresh aromatic herbs in pots on window.

One way to test the amount of sunlight a room (or spot) receives is to turn off all lights in the room and then monitor just how much natural sunlight the room receives during the day. It doesn’t have to be direct sunlight such as full sun rays, however it needs to be light and bright in order to benefit the plant.

Photosynthesis which is the process by which plants turn Carbon Dioxide and sunlight into green foliage is akin to providing any living being with the right energy needs. even us humans require oxygen and food in order to function. On the same note plants need CO2 and sunlight. It is possible to provide plants with plenty of artificial light and this will still result in good quality growth, however, for the best flavorsome end result, you want to provide as close to a natural environment as possible.

Decoration in the garden and plants in the frame

Its exceptionally important that you keep your herbal plants well watered, but at the same time, they must also be well drained. Keeping the little pots sitting on a base, or a saucer, will mean that any drain through won’t damage whatever surface you have them sitting on. It’s important that your herb’s roots don’t sit in ‘undrained’ water as this will rot them, and end up killing your plants.

Be careful and pay particular attention to your plants depending on your own home environment. If you are growing herbs indoors and its winter, then be aware, that the internal heating that you use to keep your home warm can also cause your plants to become dry and stressed. keep them well watered, but not overly so. the should should be damp to the touch but not saturated.

You’ll come to realize that most indoor herbs like the internal climate (assuming you take good care of them). Compared to the outdoors, most homes offer a fairly consistent temperature year round, and for this reason, you can comfortably grow herbs inside most of the year. If you can maintain your inside temperature between about 65 and 70 degrees (F), throughout the year, then you’ll achieve the optimum growth temperature for your indoor plants.

Spring in formal eco home garden. Organic cultivation of herbs and vegetables

During winter, (depending of course on where you live) be aware, that the air next to the window can be considerably cooler and also hotter in summer than your ambient inside temperatures, so be careful with their watering and ensure they aren’t in direct contact with the windows as this can cause temperature shock.

You’ll probably find that indoor herbs aren’t quite as generous as their outdoor counterparts when it comes to the way they grow, nevertheless, you should still be able to get a decent volume of clippings during their life. If you do end up harvesting some of their leaves on a regular basis, a little bit of fertilization once a month can assist in maintaining a good crop.

Spicy chili colorful planting in the garden.

Health Benefits of Common Everyday Herbs That Grow Well Indoors

So what types are easy to grow herbs? When it comes to planting herbs inside, what are the best herbs to grow indoors? This isn’t an exhaustive list and whatever herbs you decide try growing indoors, just give anything a go, experiment, and before long, you’ll know what types of herbs thrive best in your home environment, but here are a few to start you off

Marjoram

Also known as Sweet Marjoram, or knotted marjoram, it is a part of the Mint family. It is also one of the most common and popular herbs used in the Mediterranean. Grown and used for both its medicinal properties as well as its culinary taste, it is commonly used to flavor soups, sauces, salads, and meat dishes.

It has a delicate sweet flavor, along with a subtle slightly spicy pungent taste. It is used as a herbal health remedy for cardiovascular health as well as an anti-inflammatory and also supposedly having neurological and emotional benefits

Spices and Herbs

Rosemary

Native to the Mediterranaean, Rosemary is a charmingly fragrant herb that is the perfect pot herb to have in your kitchen garden. It is one of the few herbs recognized for its health benefiting properties as well as its nutritional value, being a good source of iron, calcium and Vitamin B6.

Also a member of the Mint family, its botanical name is Rosmarinus officinalis, and it was traditionally used as a health giving herb to help alleviate muscle pain, boost the immune and circulatory system, supposedly to improve memory, and also to promote hair growth.

Known as a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, Rosemary has numerous health benefits, and one of the more recent developments concerning Rosemary is that food scientists have discovered that rosemary, oregano and marjoram contain compounds that may have the benefits to potentially manage type 2 diabetes much in the same way as some of the currently prescribed diabetes drugs.

Rosemary, mint, lavender and other herbs in the pot.

Mint

There are many types of mint within the Mint family. Such as spearmint, peppermint, wild mint, along with a number of others. Mint,also known as mentha has one of the highest antioxidant capacities of any food so its no wonder that Mint oil is often used in toothpaste, gum, candy and beauty products while the leaves are used either fresh or dried for teas and in food.

Mint has been studied for its effectiveness in relieving seasonal allergy symptoms, and is proving promising as a possible natural treatment. Mint also contains menthol, which is why it is shown to have positive impacts on colds and because it also a calming and soothing herb it is often used for people with upset stomachs or indigestion, and is a potential preventative for gastric ulcers in susceptible people.

Rosemary in white pot with other white pot herb as background.

Coriander or Cilantro

To avoid the ongoing confusion around the naming of this herb, in the United States, the leaves of the plant are referred to as cilantro (the Spanish translation) and the seeds which are often used in Asian cooking, are referred to as coriander.

A lot of recent studies have suggested that the consumption of herbal plants like cilantro decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular illness, whilst also promoting healthy skin and hair and increased energy levels.

Cilantro has an high antioxidant content. The oil extracted from the leaves has been shown to inhibit the oxidation process when added to other foods, effectively delaying or even preventing spoilage. The leaves of Cilantro are commonly used in many Asian (and Oriental) dishes. The flavor of the leaves is distinct and very appealing, adding significant flavor benefits to many of these dishes, either during the cooking process or as a garnish whilst serving.

Rosemary bound on a wooden board

Mix of herbs in colored buckets in garden.

Kitchen window garden view plants

Grow Basil pot -Italian Basil growing small plants planted in a garden pot

Basil

This can be a tricky herb to grow. It seems it either loves its environment or not, and that will determine whether or not you end up with a bumper crop or not. Most ‘kitchen gardeners’ yearn for basil in their indoor crop. If you have plenty of sun and the right temperatures indoors, it should thrive, but we would suggest that you don’t keep it on a cool windowsill. Basil leaves don’t like cool air. This will cause the leaves to droop and fade after a short time. It prefers a consistent indoor temperature in the 70s both day and night.

The health benefits of Basil include the reduction of inflammation and swelling with studies Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s annual event showing reductions in swelling of up to 73% within 24 hours following treatment.

Rich in antioxidants, Basil has been shown in other studies to be helpful in preventing some of the effects of aging, by preventing damage to the liver, heart and brain caused by some free radicals.

Herbs on window.

Chives

Chives come from the allium family of vegetables and herbs. (These include the likes of garlic, scallions, onions and leeks) Allium vegetables have been cultivated for centuries, not only their characteristic, pungent flavors but also for their medicinal properties. Chives make a great addition to many culinary foods, such as egg and cheese dishes, potato salads, sauces and as toppings for many soups.

The stiff, hollow, tubular leaves of chives are similar to that of spring onions, but significantly smaller in diameter.

Chives are a nutrient-dense food. They are low in calories but are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Interestingly, One tablespoon of chopped chives contains only 1 calorie, whilst providing 3% of the daily value of both vitamins A and C. A single serving of chives also contains a small amount other essential vitamins and minerals.

Allium vegetables have been studied extensively in recent times in relation to cancer. Allium vegetables showed some potential to inhibit cancer cell growth in stomach and colorectal cancers, and also in regards to prostate cancers, en with high intakes of allium vegetables appeared to have the lowest risk for prostate cancer.

Herbs in plant pots growing on a windowsill.

Thyme

Thyme herb is packed with numerous health benefiting phyto-nutrients (plant derived compounds), minerals and vitamins that are essential for overall wellness. One of the most popular among the culinary herb plants.

The essential oil of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – usually referred to as “oil of thyme” – contains 20-54% thymol. Thymol belongs to a naturally-occurring class of compounds known as “biocides” (substances that can destroy harmful organisms). When thymus is used alongside other biocides, it has strong antimicrobial attributes.

Acne, High Blood Pressure, and some cancers have been shown to be beneficially treated with thyme and its oils. One particular study in Turkey on the effects of Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) on breast cancer activity and reported in the journal Nutrition and Cancer indicated that Wild Thyme induced cell death in the breast cancer cells. The study authors consequently concluded that Wild Thyme “may be a promising candidate in the development of novel therapeutic drugs for breast cancer treatment.”

The flowers, leaves and oil of the thyme herb are also often used by in the treatment of bedwetting, diarrhea, stomach ache, arthritis, colic, sore throat, bronchitis, flatulence and also as a diuretic.

Herbs growing on window.

Peppermint

Peppermint has a long history of use in herbal medicine and aromatherapy. It is also used for adding flavor or fragrance to several foods, cosmetics, soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other products.

Peppermint oil is a concentrated oil made from the peppermint plant which is extracted by steam distillation from the whole fresh or partly dried plant before it starts to flower. As with many herbs, it is the oily that contains the agents responsible for the health effects.

Many studies have shown that peppermint oil can improve pain management in irritable bowel syndrome. It appears to work by relaxing the smooth muscles in the colon, which relieves pain experienced during bowel movements. It also well renown for helping to reduce abdominal bloating, or indigestion.

There are also some studies that indicate when peppermint is used in aromatherapy, it can help fight nausea. In a study of over 1,100 women during labor, peppermint aromatherapy caused significant reductions in nausea.

Peppermint has also been indicated to show benefits with the following conditions; car sickness, treating colds and flu, relieving tension headaches and migraines, and calming skin irritations and itchiness.

Green grass plant decorating.

Dill

Dill is a unique perennial herb with a pleasant anise-like flavor. Its sprigs (leaves) as well as seeds are employed as seasoning in many cuisines around the world. A member in the Umbelliferae family, a large group of flowering herbs and spices that also include caraway, parsley, cumin, and fennel.

Dill contains many plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have anti-oxidant, disease preventative, and health promoting properties. It is rich in vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, niacin, and pyridoxine as well as also being high in dietary fibre and many minerals like copper, potassium, manganese, iron and magnesium.

Dill leaves and seeds contain a number of essential oils that have shown potential health benefits; such as possibly reducing blood sugar levels in diabetics and antioxidant and antiseptic properties.

Dill herb has all the characteristics to consider it as a very valuable food component. 100 g of dill weed provides only 43 calories, but its phyto-nutrients profile is no less than any other high-calorie food source; be it nuts, pulses, cereals, or even a meat group.

Green dill plants growing on bed.

Parsley

Parsley is a popular culinary and medicinal herb. Parsley is often used to enhance the flavor or presentation of a dish, commonly used as a garnish or as an afterthought. It is quite unique in that it contains antioxidants, and disease preventing properties.

A very leafy herb that grows prolifically, it is a small plant featuring dark-green leaves that resemble coriander (cilantro) leaves, especially in the flat-leaf variety. However, its leaves are larger by size and milder in flavor than that of leaf-coriander.

Parsley has been linked to a number of health benefits. A flavanol found in parsley and known as Myricetin has displayed chemo-preventative effects on skin cancers. Parsley is one of a few foods to contain the highest levels of Myricetin. Parsley has also been linked to having positive effects on other cancer tumors. Myricetin has also been evaluated as a possible treatment or preventative for diabetes due to in vitro studies indicating it may possibly lower blood sugar levels

Parsley and other green herbs and vegetables that contain high amounts of chlorophyll have been shown to be effective at blocking the carcinogenic effects of grilling foods at a high temperatures, so it makes sense to include parsley on your plate when enjoying barbecued foods.

Freshly clipped herbs on wooden background.

Oregano

Oregano is a wonderful perennial culinary and medicinal herb. Long recognized as one of the “functional foods” due to its nutritional, anti-oxidants and disease preventing properties. The herb, whose name means “delight of the mountains” in Greek, is native to the Mediterranean region.

Oregano has been used to treat respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual cramps, and urinary tract disorders. Being rich in dietary fiber, manganese, Vitamin K, iron, vitamin E, calcium, omega fatty acids, and tryptophan, it is an amazing herb that can aid in bone growth, and maintaining bone density.

It has also been shown to provide antimicrobial properties due to an ingredient called carvacol. Some researchers have even indicated that the essential oil within Oregano can kill hospital superbugs. Professor Vyv Salisbury, who was part of the research, said “We have done a few preliminary tests and have found that the essential oil from the oregano kills MRSA at a dilution 1 to 1,000. The tests show that the oil kills MRSA both as a liquid and as a vapor and its antimicrobial activity is not diminished by heating in boiling water.”

Aside from this, Oregano also displays anti-inflammatory properties, cancer protective properties along with a whole raft of other health benefits. This is certainly one herb, you’ll want to include in your diet.

Freshly clipped herbs on wooden background.

Sage

The sage plant has gray-green edible leaves and flowers. Sage has a long history of medicinal use for a wide variety of ailments ranging from mental disorders to gastrointestinal discomfort. Due to its high antioxidant capacity, sage has been shown to help protect the body from cell damage caused by free radicals.

Sage is one of the more popular herbs. It holds numerous virtues and has long been recognized as the guardian of herbs. It has been used in both European and Chinese herbal medicines for its health promoting and disease preventing properties for centuries.

One particular benefit relates to a study published in Complimentary Theories in Medicine, whereby 40 patients with diabetes and high cholesterol were given a sage leaf extract for 3 months. At the end of the trial, the participants showed a lower fasting glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL (the bad cholesterol levels), but high HDL (good cholesterol).

Another study of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease who were given either a sage extract or a placebo for 4 months, revealed that those given the sage extract showed an improvement in cognition as well as less agitation compared to the placebo group.

Fresh herbs in the kitchen on a wooden table

Top view on a big bunch of fresh healthy green parsley in an organic vegetable and herb garden.

Please note: Many of the health benefits stated in this article many be subject to further studies and testing. We are not suggesting that any of these herbs are able to treat, prevent or cure any ailment, disease or condition, merely that they have potential positive benefits to overall health.

References: Medical News Today