Superfoods of the Greek countryside

Ancient botanists and healers documented them; earlier generations brought them into the room and into Greece’s people traditions; and modern subject confirms galore of their valuable properties. Some strengthen the immune system, others soothe the stomach oregon calm the tense system, while others support the liver and beforehand well-being. Yet they each stock 1 happening successful common: they turn successful the Greek countryside and springiness us a way to bring a spot of nature’s wisdom into our cupful oregon onto our plate.

Oregano

The past Greeks considered it a symbol of joyousness and happiness: wedding wreaths were often made (among different things) from sprigs of oregano. They were besides alert of its healing properties, utilizing it internally arsenic a decoction to treat poisoning, diarrhea, and colic, arsenic well arsenic externally to relieve skin inflammation. In the people medicine of Crete, until conscionable a fewer decades ago, its leaves – fried successful olive lipid – were used arsenic a poultice for rubbing connected the little backmost to relieve pain, while oregano lipid was used to easiness toothaches. Oregano grows astir everyplace successful Greece. Fresh oregon dried, it lends its distinctive aroma to galore dishes, but it besides remains a “remedy.”

It is 1 of the herbs with the highest vitamin C content. It besides contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, boron, manganese, and vitamin A. It has antibiotic and antiseptic properties, peculiarly successful its indispensable lipid form. It helps relieve intestinal disorders and abdominal pain, and has stimulating, diaphoretic, and anti-asthmatic effects. It is used successful cases of flu and colds, arsenic well arsenic for gingivitis and pharynx inflammation (as a rima rinse).

Its antioxidant enactment is singular – 42 times greater than apples, 30 times greater than potatoes, 12 times greater than oranges and 4 times greater than blueberries. The indispensable lipid of Greek oregano is considered among the champion successful the world because, according to caller studies, it has the highest contented of carvacrol and thymol, compounds with strong antioxidant and anticancer properties.

Nettle

It has go 1 of the astir fashionable wellness beverages. In fact, owed to its greenish color, tannin-rich flavor, and stimulating properties, it is often compared to matcha tea. Nettle has been used for centuries, and the past Greeks knew galore of its properties: it is strengthening, immunodeficiency digestion, acts arsenic a diuretic and anti-inflammatory, supports lactation (due to its galactagogue effect), and helps relieve disorders related to some menstruation and menopause.

Recent studies person highlighted its relation successful treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, reducing humor sugar and LDL (“bad”) cholesterin levels, regulating humor pressure, managing allergies and relieving constipation. It is very affluent successful vitamins A, B1, B5, C, K, and D, arsenic well arsenic minerals such arsenic iron, calcium, magnesium, silicon, potassium and manganese. It contains each indispensable amino acids and is affluent successful chlorophyll and beta-carotene. It is besides considered an perfect state for weight loss, arsenic it promotes a feeling of fullness (when consumed fractional an hr earlier meals) and has diuretic properties. In short, it helps detoxify the body, stimulates the immune system and provides vigor and vitality.

Greek upland tea

The archetypal to picture species of the genus Sideritis was the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus. However, Greek upland tea has been known since antiquity. Dioscorides, successful his work De Materia Medica, refers to three plants under the sanction “Sideritis.” According to some historians, the sanction derives from the word “iron,” apt due to the fact that of the plant’s quality to assistance heal wounds caused by robust weapons during wartime. Today, dozens of species and subspecies turn wild successful Greece – astatine precocious altitudes connected craggy terrain.

Its antioxidant power, owed to its precocious flavonoid content, is very strong. It is considered arsenic effectual arsenic greenish tea successful preventing oxidative stress. It boosts the immune system, relieves indigestion and stomach pain, helps combat colds, enhances memory, positively affects intelligence well-being and cognitive function, and provides energy.

Chamomile

This people caffeine-free infusion is known worldwide for its galore beneficial effects: it has anti-inflammatory properties; relieves indigestion, cramps and stomach irritation, and helps trim bloating; soothes sore throats and colds; and, thanks to its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, tin beryllium used topically connected wounds and skin irritations.

Its calming effect connected the tense system is besides well established, which is why regular depletion has been associated with reduced humor unit (often linked to stress). It is nary coincidence that an infusion of its flowers is officially recognized by the European Medicines Agency arsenic a traditional herbal medicinal product.

Thyme

Widely used successful cooking, thyme has been valued since antiquity for its different properties arsenic well: it is said that Alexander the Great bathed successful thyme-infused water to free himself of lice. Roman soldiers did the same, but to invigorate themselves earlier battle. Today, subject has confirmed its antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, which is why it is often used successful the treatment of acne.

Thyme contains vitamins A and C, which strengthen the body’s earthy defenses. Thanks to its thymol and carvacrol content, it is simply a almighty antioxidant. It is often used arsenic a earthy remedy for respiratory issues, relieving symptoms of bronchitis, cough, and sore throat. When consumed regularly, it stimulates the accumulation of digestive enzymes, helping with indigestion and inflammation of the gastric lining. Mouth rinses with thyme besides support bully oral hygiene.

Milk thistle

Silymarin is its main progressive compound and the crushed why the humble, often-overlooked beverage thistle is considered 1 of the astir valuable works allies for our health. It helps neutralize escaped radicals, offering strong antioxidant enactment – particularly successful liver cells, peculiarly successful cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver – and astatine the aforesaid clip supports faster cellular regeneration.

This is vital, considering that detoxification of the assemblage from harmful and toxic substances takes spot successful the liver. Thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it besides improves skin health. It plays a relation successful maintaining steadfast cholesterin levels and helps modulate abdominous cells successful the assemblage while expanding abdominous metabolism, contributing to weight loss—within the context, of course, of a balanced diet. (Milk thistle is great, but it doesn’t work miracles!)

Sage

Its authoritative botanical sanction is Salvia officinalis, etymologically linked to the Latin verb salvare, meaning “to save,” owed to its healing properties. The past Greeks used its caller leaves to treat wounds and snake bites, and arsenic a decoction to heighten pistillate fertility. Known arsenic “Greek tea” successful France and “Greek sprout” successful China, it remains fashionable today, either connected its ain oregon combined with different aromatic herbs.

Not that it isn’t still associated with definite beliefs… On the land of Syros, for example, it is said to ward disconnected the evil eye, and it is often seen hanging successful bunches extracurricular homes. A richly endowed herb, sage has anti-catarrhal properties (helpful for asthma, bronchitis, and cough), antifungal and anti-infective properties (for flu, gingivitis, and insect bites), antispasmodic effects (for menstrual cramps), and wound-healing properties. More broadly, it stimulates the tense system and memory, activates humor circulation, and its antioxidant components assistance combat escaped radicals.

How to hole the infusion

Fill your cupful with blistery water, ideally not exceeding 90°C, so arsenic not to suffer the aromas oregon marque the portion bitter. Place a insubstantial oregon stainless steel infuser containing the herbs into the water for 3-5 minutes, and screen the cupful to maximize some the progressive compounds and the flavor.