One of the greatest advantages of the modern age is that people from across the world are able to share their customs, ideas and cultures with others like never before. Just like we Indians have spread the knowledge of Ayurveda all over the world and brought attention to natural plants and herbs because of their therapeutic qualities, other cultures have also shared their age old secrets with us.

One such secret that isn’t native to India is the herb thyme. Thyme is a tender herb from the mint family with a distinctly aromatic fragrance that was used by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks for a number of purposes. Mostly it formed a part of their cuisines but in the present day, we are learning more and more of the nutritional qualities of Organic Thyme. As a result, thyme is not only a valuable condiment that is used to garnish and season exotic recipes, it is also a powerhouse of health and nutrition. To illustrate this, here are some of the major nutritional qualities of thyme:-

1. Its anti-oxidant content prevents premature aging and related diseases

Anti-oxidants are one of the most valuable substances in a food. They are incredibly useful in providing relief from oxidative stress in which the body can fall prey to damage from free radicals. This is the main cause of premature aging – not only do you look older, but your internal organs suffer immense wear and tear which ages the body as well.

One of the main essential oils in thyme is named thymol and it has strong anti-oxidant properties. It can counter the effect of free radicals, increase the amount of healthy fats in heart, kidney and brain cells and prevent them from damage. Thyme also contains rich doses of flavonoids such as apigenin, thymonin etc. which boost its anti-oxidant content and provide relief from free radicals.

2. It is a powerful anti-microbial

Thyme has the ability to combat and destroy a number of microbes and prevent them from wreaking havoc on your body. The volatile oils in thyme are quite potent against bacteria like Staphylococcus, E. coli, and Shigella. These bacteria can enter your body through your food and lead to severe complications. However, adding fresh thyme to your recipes can help in countering their effect and protect you from their deadly attack.

3. It is packed with incredibly useful minerals

Thyme has one of the richest nutrient and mineral profiles and all of them can be useful to your body in a variety of ways. While potassium is a vasodilator that keeps the blood vessels healthy and your blood pressure in check, iron is very useful in increasing the haemoglobin count of your blood, thereby increasing its oxygenation and improving blood quality. Manganese, another mineral found in thyme is used up by the body to synthesize a natural anti-oxidant called superoxide dismustase. Consuming thyme means helping your body create your own anti-oxidant, which leads to greater relief from free radicals.

In addition, thyme is also rich in calcium, magnesium and selenium all of which contribute greatly to improving your health.

4. It is filled with essential vitamins

Thyme is rich in a number of essential vitamins like B complex vitamins, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin E and many more.

One of the B complex vitamins, B-6 helps to keep the brain healthy and is a stress buster, vitamin C keeps up the body’s immunity and fights off free radicals, vitamin A helps to improve skin quality and vision and beta carotene can help in preventing oral and lung cancers.

It is clear that thyme contains an incredible mix of vitamins, nutrients, minerals, anti-oxidants and essential oils. All of these are found in a delicate little herb that you can easily add to your food or even drop in a cup of tea. Thyme’s benefits are yours to avail, if you’re willing to give it a try!

To learn more about thyme, click here.