All About Basil

“A man taking basil from a woman will love her always." 
-  Sir Thomas Moore

Basil is a delightful herb with many uses. Ground into a pesto, it can be added to pasta or even in lieu of tomato sauce on pizza. Its leaves are added to some pizzas, and chopped, it can be included into a number of recipes to infuse distinct flavor.

Five Fun Facts

• Ancient herbalists believed basil leaves could draw out the poison of insect bites and stings.
• Basil is cultivated worldwide. Egypt is the principal source, followed by the United States.
• Basil adds flavor to tomato sauce, pesto, and vinegars used in Italian dishes and tastes great sprinkled on salads and sliced tomatoes.
• Many Asian dishes benefit from the usage of basil in meat and vegetable dishes as well as Asian salads.
• Basil is an annual, which means it has to be re-planted every year.

Nutrition Info

Two tablespoons of chopped, fresh basil contain:

• Vitamin K (27 percent DV)
• Vitamin A (6 percent DV)
• Manganese (3 percent DV)
• Vitamin C (2 percent DV)

Benefits

Basil may be beneficial in the following ways:

• Supporting a healthy brain
• Managing arthritis and stress
• Supporting bone health
• Aiding metabolism
• Supporting eye health

Cautions

Basil is known to have anti-fertility effects, so avoid consuming large amounts if you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breast-feeding.

Suggested Recipes

For the Kids and Kids-at-Heart

Download this activity sheet to have some fun with basil pairings!

Credits and thanks in addition to recipes and information linked above: The Herb Information Site: Herb Profiles: Basil; Natural Food Series: 12 Best Health Benefits of Basil; Just Fun Facts: Facts about Basil; Dr. Axe: Benefits of Basil; Basil Food Quote; Pixabay.com.

Inclusion of a link does not imply WHF endorsement of all content at that link.