Menu
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result

Home > Nutrition > 6 Health Benefits of Basil and Nutritional Facts

6 Health Benefits of Basil and Nutritional Facts

February 4, 2022 - Updated on February 7, 2022
7 min read
By Kathryn Strickland, RD | Registered Dietitian

In this article:

  • Origin of Basil
  • Benefits of Consuming Basil
  • Nutritional Value of Basil
  • Best Way to Use Basil in Cooking
  • Most-Asked Questions
  • Final Word

Basil is an annual herb belonging to the mint family of Lamiaceae and is widely consumed all over the world. But it does more than just add aroma and flavor to food.

basil health benefits

This herb is also credited with multiple therapeutic properties that have been used in folk medicine and Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) for centuries. No wonder it is often referred to as the “king of herbs,” “royal herb,” or “saint basil.” In fact, the name basil is derived from the Greek word basileus, which translates to “king.” (1)

Common basil or sweet basil is mainly used for cooking, but it is holy basil (or tulsi as it is called in India) that has the most healing properties and is therefore largely used for medicinal purposes. (2)

Origin of Basil

Basil originates from the regions of India, Africa, (3) and the tropical regions of Asia. It is best grown in a warm environment.

Advertisements

Benefits of Consuming Basil

Here are some ways in which basil can improve your health:

1. Treats common cold

basil consumption can help relieve colds and flu

A study reviewing the overall effects of basil leaves, specifically the tulsi variety, showed that they can help relieve the common cold or flu (4) when consumed in tea form or chewed directly.

2. Relieves cough

Basil leaves, tulsi variety, can also help relieve coughs by aiding the body in releasing mucus. No wonder it is a common ingredient in cough syrups. (5)

Another study, this time looking at the effects of basil seeds, showed that they can aid in reducing coughing by relaxing the muscles. (6)

3. Boosts immune system

The tulsi plant can boost the immune system by increasing natural killer cells, which are involved in killing off cells infected by viruses, and T-helper cells, which aid in activating the body’s immune response. (7)

This effect was observed in the subjects after they consumed 300 mg of tulsi leaves before food on a daily basis for 4 weeks. (8)

Advertisements

4. Fights stress

basil has been known to possess stress relieving properties

A few studies have shown that the tulsi plant can help alleviate stress. The leaves were made into a fine powder and concentrated to 500 mg into a capsule and given twice a day for 2 months. The participants, aged 18–60 years of age, showed improvement in their stress levels as documented by a stress assessment. (2)

Another study, which included 158 participants, showed that the administration of a pill made from an extract of basil leaves for 6 weeks resulted in a reduction in forgetfulness, exhaustion, and sleep problems.

5. Improves oral health

When basil leaves are dried and powdered, they can be used to help clean the teeth and aid in other tooth disorders. (9)

6. Eliminates kidney stones

Tulsi leaves can be brewed to prepare a therapeutic tea, and a bit of honey can be added to it for sweetness and extra medicinal benefits. Consuming this beverage can help remove kidney stones through the urinary tract in a 6-month time frame. (10)

7. Other benefits

Basil has other benefits including lowering blood sugar, improving lipid values, improving high blood pressure, improving low blood pressure, and being an antimicrobial.

In a study, 100 patients above the age of 40 years suffering from diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol or triglyceride levels were administered 5 ml of tulsi extract in the morning and evening for 3 months. The findings revealed that their blood sugar, lipid values, and blood pressure improved by the end of the trial period. (11)

Advertisements

Another study showed that consuming basil and honey tea twice a day can help improve hypotension in females aged 18–30 years. (8) Basil essential oil has been shown to have an antimicrobial effect (12) and therefore can be used as a disinfectant to remove pathogenic germs from the home.

Nutritional Value of Basil

Fresh basil per 100 g (~200 basil leaves, ~4.5 cups)Dried basil per 100 g (~22 tbsp)
Kcal: 23 Kcal: 233
Protein: 3.15 g Protein: 23 g
Carbohydrates: 2.65 g Carbohydrates: 47.8 g
Fiber: 1.6 gFiber: 37.7 g
Sugar: 0.3 g Sugar: 1.71 g
Total Fat: 0.64 gTotal Fat: 4.07 g
Iron: 3.17 mgIron: 90 mg
Phosphorus: 56 mgPhosphorus: 274 mg
Potassium: 285 mg Potassium: 2630 mg
Sodium: 4 mg Sodium: 76 mg
Choline: 11.4 mgCholine: 55 g
Vitamin A: 5280 IUVitamin A: 744 IU
Carotene: 3140 µgCarotene: 378 µg
Lutein and Zeaxanthin: 5650 µgLutein and Zeaxanthin: 1150 µg
Vitamin K (Phylloquinone): 415 µgVitamin K (Phylloquinone): 1710 µg

Best Way to Use Basil in Cooking

The cooking process can destroy the nutrients present in basil, so it’s best to use the herb as a seasoning at the end of cooking so that it retains most of its medicinal value.

Most-Asked Questions

Are basil and holy basil different?

basil vs holy basil: what's the difference

Basil and holy basil are the same herb, just different varieties. Sweet basil is used for culinary purposes, while holy basil is used for medical purposes.

Can basil be consumed daily?

Whether basil can be safely consumed every day or not depends on the variety of the basil being consumed.

  • Sweet basil, which is used for culinary purposes, can be consumed daily in dried form or fresh.
  • Holy basil, or tulsi, used for medical purposes should be discussed with a physician before using daily. Certain medical conditions or drugs may diminish the benefits of tulsi or react negatively with it. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before starting its medicinal intake to get the proper dosage and directions of use and to rule out any contraindications. Currently, there is no standard dosage for taking tulsi for various medical conditions.

What are the side effects of basil?

side effects of basil consumption

Medicinal intake of tulsi does not seem to have any adverse short-term effects according to studies, but none of these human studies were conducted over an extended period. Therefore, it is unclear if tulsi consumption has any adverse long-term effects. (10)

There also does not appear to be any common side effects of sweet basil. Basil seeds, however, can be a choking hazard and may also decrease a person’s estrogen level if too many are taken. (2)

Advertisements

Final Word

When consuming basil for medical purposes, it is important to keep in mind that there is very limited data on the proper amount to be taken and its effects, specifically tulsi leaves.

In some studies, basil has been shown to be effective in managing blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, reducing lipid levels, fighting microbes, and boosting the immune system. More research is needed to show its efficacy against the common cold, flu, cough, oral health problems, and kidney stones. 

This is because most of the studies conducted on these topics are either outdated or done on animal subjects. Plus, the human studies done have been limited and only trialed with a small number of subjects, so the findings cannot be generalized to the rest of the population.

Advertisements

Also, every person is different and can react to these herbs in different ways. A physician who understands Ayurveda medicine should be consulted before any basil consumption for medical purposes.

Further research will need to be done to determine the safe dosage for individuals with certain medical conditions and any contraindications with medications taken.

References
  1. Calderón Bravo H, Vera Céspedes N, Zura-Bravo L, Muñoz LA. Basil Seeds as a novel food, source of nutrients and functional ingredients with beneficial properties: A Review. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8303141/. Published June 24, 2021.
  2. Cohen MM. Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4296439/. Published 2014.
  3. Joshi RK. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of ocimumbasilicum L. (sweet basil) from Western Ghats of North West Karnataka, India. Ancient science of life. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4264302/. Published January 2014.
  4. (PDF) A Review Paper on Tulsi plant (ocimum sanctum L.). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342674549/.
  5. DeFilipps RA, Krupnick GA. The medicinal plants of Myanmar. PhytoKeys. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6033956/. Published June 28, 2018.
  6. Tagde P, Tagde S, Tagde P, et al. Nutraceuticals and herbs in reducing the risk and improving the treatment of COVID-19 by targeting SARS-COV-2. Biomedicines. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8468567/. Published September 18, 2021.
  7. Khanna K, Kohli SK, Kaur R, et al. Herbal Immune-boosters: Substantial warriors of pandemic covid-19 battle. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7532351/. Published May 2021.
  8. Jamshidi N, Cohen MM. The clinical efficacy and safety of tulsi in humans: A systematic review of the literature. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5376420/. Published 2017.
  9. Chandrappa PM, Dupper A, Tripathi P, Arroju R, Sharma P, Sulochana K. Antimicrobial activity of herbal medicines (tulsi extract, neem extract) and chlorhexidine against enterococcus faecalis in endodontics: An in vitro study. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4756573/. Published December 2015.
  10. Alok S, Jain SK, Verma A, Kumar M, Sabharwal M. Pathophysiology of kidney, gallbladder and urinary stones treatment with herbal and allopathic medicine: A Review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4027340/. Published December 2013.
  11. Choudhury H, Pandey M, Hua CK, et al. An update on natural compounds in the remedy of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6035310/. Published November 29, 2017.
  12. Amor G, Sabbah M, Caputo L, et al. Basil Essential Oil: Composition, antimicrobial properties, and microencapsulation to produce active chitosan films for Food Packaging. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7827191/. Published January 8, 2021.
  • Was this article helpful?
  • YES, THANKS!NOT REALLY
Spread the Love❤️
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements

Newsletter

Get our BEST updates delivered to your inbox:



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Categories

  • Nutrition
  • Wellness
  • Oral Care
  • Eye Care
  • Heart Health
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Women’s Health
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Respiratory Health

Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
eMediHealth

This site provides content for informational purposes only. The information provided is not intended for use as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In case of a medical concern or emergency, please consult your healthcare provider.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation.

Our Network: Little Extra

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Nutrition
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Yoga & Meditation
  • Women’s Health
  • Heart Health
  • Allergy & Immunology
  • Bones & Joints
  • Child Health
  • Digestive
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Eye Care
  • Glands & Hormones
  • Health News
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mental Health
  • Nervous System
  • Oral Care
  • Pain Management
  • Respiratory Health
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Urological Health

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.