We typically think of culinary herbs as useful flavoring and, used with a subtle, skilled hand, simply make food taste incredible. What many people don't realize is that culinary herbs, like medicinal herbs, do have substances that fight diseases such as cancer, heart problems, stroke and diabetes, to name a few. Also, it isn't just chefs and those blessed with a skilled hand that can use herbs in preparing their meals and whip up a delicious meal, you can do it too!

I mentioned in my last blog that I would write about culinary herbs that we can combine with other herbs or use alone when preparing food, and, that will also work to fight for our health. I find that this part is a little more difficult to write because there doesn't seem to be a whole lot written on culinary herbs that fight against diseases. We can find herbs such as chamomile, calendula, feverfew, for instance that we use in teas, baths and what not, but, not herbs like basil, thyme, fenugreek, and cumin that we would use in our foods. The following is what I've come up with and I hope that it helps you to know what herbs to use for what conditions. I'll also make mention of my culinary mixtures that I sell here on LH that can be used for conditions mentioned here in this blog. My culinary mixtures are big sellers at the farmers market. Dried herbs mixed together, will give your meal an even better flavor than the fresh herbs will! Once you try my herbal mixes, you'll never prepare food without herbs again! They are goooood!

HEART

(the following are herbs that we can use in our culinary mixes that will help our heart)

BASIL Prevents heart disease and heart failure.

Basil is a member of the mint family and is very similar in appearance. The most popular type of basil that is used in cooking is sweet basil . I have SWEET BASIL as well as THAI BASIL and SPICEY GLOBE BASIL, which are used in Asian cuisine. They all have the same properties, but using them in cooking, gives you a whole new flavor!

Basil is also a good source of magnesium, a mineral that makes the muscles and blood vessels to relax, therefore improving blood flow and lessening the risk of irregular heart rhythm of the heart muscle or a blood vessel.

CHILI PEPPERS the hotter the better! The capsicum is an antioxidant that helps lower LDL and reduces the stickiness of blood platelets so that they don't clot and cause a heart attack or stroke. One fresh chile provides 126 % of the vitamin C and 95 % of the vitamin A you need daily, creating a powerful antioxidant team that fights the kind of cell damage that sets you up for heart disease, cancer and premature aging. Dried hot peppers are just as heat stable with capsicum as fresh is.

FLAXSEEDS another warrior for cancer and heart disease. Flaxseeds are loaded with alphalinolenic acid, which your body can turn into the same kind of fat it needs so desperately from fish. Flaxseeds is a great way to protect your heart.

GARLIC Garlic has an amazing ability to keep us well!! However, if you are taking blood thinning medications, do seek your doctor's advice before taking garlic on a regular basis. It's also best not to use garlic, even in your foods if you are scheduled for surgery in the next couple of weeks.

GINGER for cancer, heart disease, infections, inflammation, nausea, stroke.

Ginger prevents platelets in your blood from clotting, which reduces your chance of a heart attack or stroke.

LEMON BALM is not only a great tonic for the heart and circulatory system, it will also help to reduce stress on your heart as well.

ONIONS for heart disease and stroke. Onion have compounds adenosine and paraffinic polysulfides which keep your platelets from clumping together, forming the clots that can trigger a heart attack or stroke.

ROSEMARY Protects your heart from saturated fat and your waistline form added pounds. Rosemary also helps you to relax.

SAGE (S. triloba) has flavone called salvigenin. Research studies found that vascular relaxant effect of salvigenin may provide benefits in the cardiovascular diseases.

THYME helps in controlling the heart rate and blood pressure.

(FOOD THAT HELP THE HEART: cucumber, wheat germ, nuts, salmon, sardines, cold water fish, apples, oatmeal, lentils, tofu, red fruits ( red grapes), apples, pears, berries

The correct term for HIGH BLOOD PRESS is HYPERTENSION

If you have high blood pressure, then you are at risk for heart attacks, kidney failure, hardened arteries, and stroke. You do know that , right? The number one thing that everyone reading this can do is...get off the salt. No matter what type of salt is it, iodized, sea salt or some other concoction, salt is salt. That goes also for the salt substitutes that we see in the grocery stores. If you can't pronounce the ingredients, it is probably full of chemicals in some type of complicated formula. The best route you can go is using herbal blends, such as the two that I sell here on LH that have absolutely no salt at all. Once you try these herb blends, you'll never miss just plain old salt again. Don't be fooled, you do not need salt, not even in baking bread! I make bread all the time and my bread always comes out tasting delicious! That said, let's move on...

As far as food, the best ones to fight high blood pressure are fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, melons and dark green leafy vegetables, and about four stalks of celery per day, also garlic, either as it is or in garlic supplements. Just make sure that if you get garlic supplements that you buy from a reputable company. Actually though, you can buy garlic dried or just put the raw chopped in your food that you're preparing. You won't taste it that much. If you can eat garlic raw, eat three to four cloves every day. Onions also will reduce your blood pressure. Also, hot peppers.

Of the beverages to take water, grape juice. Make a salad with fresh dandelion leaves.

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help fight heart problems, as well as high blood pressure:

ALIGATOR SPICEY HERB SEASONING

ALL PURPOSE ZIPPY BLEND

ASIAN SEAFOOD SEASONINGS

BASIC BEEF MARINADE

BREAD DIPPING HERBS

CAJUN SHAKE

DRIED ONION

ELAYNN'S CREOLE SEASONING

ELAYNN'S HOT PEPPER MIX

SEAFOOD SEASONING

SHRIMP TAPAS SEASONING

SPICY HERB DIP

SWEET SPICEY BARBECUED SALMON

 

CANCER

(the following are herbs that we can use in our culinary mixes that will help either help

prevent cancer or help in eliminating it)

BASIL contains eugenol, a compound that increases production of antioxidants which help rid of toxic substances that may cause colon cancer.

CHILI PEPPERS

CUMIN SEEDS may also have anti-carcinogenic properties in stomach or liver tumors.

FENNEL SEEDS help keep you alive, fighting cancer and preventing cancer formation.

FENUGREEK SEEDS bind to toxins in the food and helps to protect the colon mucus membrane from cancer causing toxins.

FLAXSEEDS Flaxseed also contain lignans which prevent human estrogen from being absorbed, which may prevent breast, prostate, and endometrial cancers from getting started. Another warrior for cancer

GARLIC lower risk of colon cancer and a 50 % lower risk of stomach cancer than those who ate a clove or less weekly. Also garlic staves off breast and prostate cancers. Garlic contain allicin, a cancer fighting sulfur compound.

GINGER fights cancer by preventing cancer cells from multiplying and even by encouraging them to just drop dead.

MINT contains limonene, a powerful anticancer agent that can block the development of breast tumors and then shrink them. Limonene hinders cancers cells from utilizing a protein that they need to survive. Also mint packs another breast cancer fighter, luteolin, which may inhibit the production of inflammatory compounds linked with the development of cancer. Peppermint contains menthol and help your digestive tract. Peppermint oil helps those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.

ONIONS are important cancer fighters. The more onions consume the less risk of stomach and respiratory tract cancers. The sulfur compounds reduce colon and renal cancers by causing the cancer cells to die. Also onions may even reduce the risk of lung, bladder, ovarian, and brain cancers.

ROSEMARY Fights cancer. Help your liver's production of sever cancer fighting substances, include glutathione-S-transferase.

Rosemary has carnosol, a phenolic compound that fights cancer by interrupting inflammation so that cancer cells don't grow in the first place!

Carnosol also appears to boost your liver's production of several cancer fighting substances, including glutathione-S-transferase.

TURMERIC is a potent cancer crusader. Two compounds in Turmeric... curcumin I and II may possess cancer-fighting properties and also boost the immune system. Turmeric may also inhibit production of an enzyme found in high levels in certain type of cancer, including bowel , colon and prostate cancer.

CANCER FIGHTING FOODS; mustard greens, tarragon, dandelion greens, cabbage, turnip, rutabaga, cauliflowers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, mustard greens, kohlrabi, caraway seeds, green tea, echnicea, sorrel, nasturtium leaves.

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help fight cancer:

ALIGATOR SPICEY HERB SEASONING

ASIAN SEAFOOD SEASONINGS

BALSAMIC HERB MARINADE

BASIC BEEF MARINADE

CHICKEN MARINAD HERB BLEND

CHILE SAUCE

DRIED ONION

ELAYNN'S CREOLE SEASONING

ELAYNN'S HOT PEPPER MIX

GREEK SEASONING HERBAL SALT SUBSTITUTE

HERBED BUTTER spice MIX

HERBED HOT BREAD SEASONING

SALT SUBSTITUTE WITH NO GARLIC NOR ONION

SEAFOOD SEASONING

SPAGHETTI SAUCE HERBS

SPICY HERB DIP

SWEET SPICEY BARBECUED SALMON

TEXAS BARBECUE DRY RUB

WILD GAME HERB SEASONING

WHOLE TURKEY MARINADE

DIABETES

It has been established that amino-acid 4-hydroxy isoleucine present in the FENUGREEK SEEDS has facilitator action on insulin secretion. In addition, fiber in the seeds help lower rate of glucose absorption in the intestines, thus controls blood sugar levels.

FLAXSEED

ONIONS

Onion can help in managing your insulin levels as well as taking insulin can. I'm not advocating going off your insulin,but if you are just diagnosed with diabetes you might consider adding this to your diet, before insulin becomes a subject.

TURMERIC in regards to diabetes; People are getting type 2 diabetes earlier and earlier. This type of diabetes can be the result of bad habits such as too high calorie, high fat food and not enough exercise. With a better diet, regular exercise and maybe a few spices such as turmeric, you may be able to ward off this condition.

Turmeric, along with bay leaves, cinnamon, and cloves, can help regulate your body' level of insulin.

GALL BLADDER

garlic, onion, peppermint, rosemary

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help your gallbladder:

BALSAMIC HERB MARINADE

CHICKEN MARINAD HERB BLEND

DRIED ONION

GREEK SEASONING

HERBAL SALT SUBSTITUTE

HERBED BUTTER

MINTY LEMON MARINADE

WILD GAME HERB SEASONING

 

HEADACHE

MIGRAINE lemon balm, basil, fennel, peppermint, rosemary,

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help with migraines:

BALSAMIC HERB MARINADE

MARINADE RUB FOR FISH

MINTY LEMON MARINADE

SALT SUBSTITUTE WITH NO GARLIC NOR ONION

SPAGHETTI SAUCE HERBS

WILD GAME HERB SEASONING

FOR OTHER TYPES OF HEADACHES; thyme, ginger, sage, savory

HERB SEASONED BREAD CRUMBS

GREEK SEASONING

TURKEY HERB SEASONING

 

RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS

BASIL contains eugenol, a compound that increases production of antioxidants which help rid of toxic substances that may cause colon cancer.

Use Basil for respiratory and chest problems such as bronchitis or coughs.

Relieve cold and flu symptoms.

Inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Basil essential oil is effective in providing relief from cold, influenza, whooping cough, asthma, bronchitis, and sinus infections.

Basil protects cells from oxidation and damage. Prevent the progression of the above illnesses.

FENUGREEK SEED

Its seeds have been used in many traditional medicines as laxative, digestive, and as a remedy for cough and bronchitis.

LEMON BALM which is antispasmodic also helpful in some forms of asthma.

 

LUNGS

for treatment of tuberculosis: fenugreek, sage, watercress

 

MENOPAUSE

lemon balm, chervil, rosemary'

NERVOUS CONDITIONS

almonds, lemon balm, celery, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme, marjoram

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help with nervous conditions:

CHICKEN MARINADE HERB BLEND

HERB SEASONED BREAD CRUMBS

GREEK SEASONING

HERBAL SALT SUBSTITUTE

HERBED BUTTER

HERBED HOT BREAD SEASONING

ITALIAN HERB SEASONINGS

MARINADE RUB FOR FISH

MINTY LEMON MARINADE

SALT SUBSTITUTE WITH NO GARLIC NOR ONION

SPAGHETTI SAUCE HERBS

WILD GAME HERB SEASONING

WHOLE TURKEY MARINADE

 

OVER WEIGHT

apples, lemon balm, celery, fennel, green tea,turmeric, garlic,ginger, rosemary

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help with over weight:

ASIAN SEAFOOD SEASONINGS

BASIC BEEF MARINADE

CHICKEN MARINAD HERB BLEND

DRIED GINGER

ELAYNN'S CREOLE SEASONING

HERB SEASONED BREAD CRUMBS

GREEK SEASONING

HERBAL SALT SUBSTITUTE

MAGNIFICIENT SALMON

MARINADE RUB FOR FISH

MINTY LEMON MARINADE

ROSEMARY ROASTED SHRIMP

SPAGHETTI SAUCE HERBS

WILD GAME HERB SEASONING

 

CHOLESTEROL

fenugreek seeds, ginger, turmeric, rosemary, flax seed , lemon grass

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help with cholesterol:

ASIAN SEAFOOD SEASONINGS

BALSAMIC HERB MARINADE

CHICKEN MARINAD HERB BLEND

DRIED GINGER

ELAYNN'S CREOLE SEASONING

RHEUMATISM

allspice, cayenne, coriander, ,thyme, garlic, rosemary

(apples,cranberries, celery, dandelion horseradish)

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help with rheumatism:

ALIGATOR SPICEY HERB SEASONING

ALL PURPOSE ZIPPY BLEND

ASIAN SEAFOOD SEASONINGS

CAJUN FISH SEASONING

CAJUN SHAKE

CHILE SAUCE

ELAYNN'S CREOLE SEASONING

HERBAL SALT SUBSTITUTE

JAMAICAIN JERK SEASONINGS

PORK BARBECUE DRY RUB

RUB FOR FISH

SHRIMP TAPAS SEASONING

SMOKED FRESH WATER FISH SEASONING

SWEET SPICEY BARBECUED SALMON

TEXAS BARBECUE DRY RUB

TURKEY HERB SEASONING

 

LIVER

garlic, onion, peppermint, rosemary

The following is a list of my culinary mixes in the SEASONINGS SECTION of the GROCERY AND PRODUCE section here on LOCAL HARVEST that will help our liver:

BALSAMIC HERB MARINADE

BREAD DIPPING HERBS

CHICKEN MARINAD HERB BLEND

DRIED ONION

ELAYNN'S CREOLE SEASONING

GREEK SEASONING

HERBAL SALT SUBSTITUTE

HERBED BUTTER

WILD GAME HERB SEASONING

WHOLE TURKEY MARINADE