A Taste of Herbs

Grow your own herbs and use them to flavour up the barbecue

It isn’t too late in the year to plant a herb garden. You just need to choose growing plants from your local garden centre rather than seedlings. Herbs are a great low-calorie way to boost flavour and they also have a host of health benefits. Read on for our pick of the best:

Rosemary contains compounds that help relax muscles in the digestive tract. It is also thought to help concentration and memory.  Drink it as a tea or use it to add flavour when cooking meats such as lamb. Research shows that adding herbs like rosemary  to meat before barbecuing could help reduce unwelcome chemicals which can be produced when grilling meat, fish and chicken at high temperatures.

Mint is a long time favourite for soothing digestive problems including bloating and indigestion. Recent studies have also shown it may also help to bring relief to IBS symptoms such as pain, muscle spasms and flatulence.  Drink it as a tea or add some leaves to salads and while cooking.

Parsley High in protein, iron, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A and C, parsley is more often used as a garnish than a food. It has a strong taste and is more palatable taken as a tea. All parts of the plant have medicinal properties, especially the roots and seeds, which are thought to help with inflammation.  Chewing fresh parsley leaves will help to sweeten breath for example after eating garlic.

Thyme The essential oil of thyme contains thymol, which is a natural antiseptic and expectorant. It is also thought to have immune-boosting properties. Use it fresh to flavour foods or make into a tea.

Basil Best known as the herb that gives Italian food its distinctive taste, basil can help to relieve upper digestive discomfort as well as indigestion and bloating. Juice from the leaves can also be applied neat to infected spots and insect bites to speed up healing. Tear up the leaves and add to summer salads or use to flavour Italian dishes.