The Herbal Garden

Health Properties

You know that fresh herbs are great for flavoring meals but did you know how healthy they are? Like fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs are rich in vitamins and minerals. They're also loaded with antioxidants, which are known to help prevent heart disease, cancer and stroke. In fact, a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that many common culinary herbs contain considerably more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables.

Here's how selected herbs stack up for antioxidant activity according to the USDA's Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) measures.

Fresh herbs also contribute to a healthy diet by serving as a natural flavoring that eliminates the need for excess salt, fat and preservatives.