“Spice up your life!” (That was a little bit of Spice Girls coming out. Team Mel B.-Dr. Krystal) Ok, moving on. Herbs are amazing at adding flavor, minerals and phytonutrients to meals. When we work with patients on nutrition, we try to encourage everyone to get comfortable with adding herbs to food. They are truly superfoods that give your body a major boost. We’re keeping it simple for you in this quick guide of our 5 Go-To Herbs we use daily, how we use them and why.
- Cilantro
WHY: What can’t we use Cilantro in? It’s a powerful heavy-metal detoxifier for the body. Remember, detoxing happens daily! By adding cilantro into your meals, you keep the detox process running smoothly.
HOW: We add this leafy herb to salads, rice, guac and even soup. - Mint
WHY: In addition to its hefty nutrient profile, mint is great to improve overall digestion.
HOW: Add it to coffee to take away the bitter taste. We add it to smoothies for a fresh flavor. We also love to mix it with yogurt and cucumbers for a summer salad. Battling halitosis? Chew on some mint to freshen up your breath. - Chives
WHY: Chives are a potent little herb. They’re small, but big on fiber. (You know we’re Team Fiber!) They’re high in Vitamin K which helps drive Vitamin D3 into the bones preventing Osteoporosis.
HOW: We throw them on our Fiber First bowls or even salads. You can use them to garnish just about anything. - Dill
WHY: Dill is one of those unexpected flavors. It can really jazz up a meal and pack a quick flavor punch. It’s antibacterial with an impressive vitamin concentration.
HOW: We add it to potato salad, cucumber salad, eggs, chicken salad and anything else that needs a little pop of flavor. - Basil
WHY: Who doesn’t love Italian? It’s probably the first thing you think of when you hear “basil.” One of the great things about basil is its adaptogenic properties. Adaptogens helps the body function better during times of stress.
HOW: Our favorite way to use basil is accompanying anything tomato! We make Zoodle Pasta, Cali’Flour Pizza and soups.
