Basil is an herb in the mint family. It adds flavor to meals, and its nutrients may provide health benefits. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) plays a role in many Mediterranean, and particularly Italian, cuisines. It forms the basis of pesto and adds a distinctive flavor to salads, pasta, pizza, and other dishes. Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines also feature this herb. In the diet, sweet basil can provide vitamins, minerals, and a range of antioxidants. Its essential oil may also have medicinal benefits. Sweet basil is available in many grocery stores, while other varieties have different tastes and fragrances. Another type of basil is tulsi, or holy basil (Ocimum santum). This plant plays a therapeutic role in Tamil and Ayurvedic medicines, which are predominantly practiced in Southeast Asia. This is different from sweet basil. In this article, learn more about the health benefits and nutritional contents of basil, and find some tips on how to include it in the diet.

Health benefits

Basil may provide health benefits in the diet, as herbal medicine, and as an essential oil. Traditional usesTrusted Source include the treatment of snakebites, colds, and inflammation within nasal passages — a common effect of colds, for example. Basil provides some macronutrients, such as calcium and vitamin K, as well as a range of antioxidants. Sweet basil, for example, has a high concentration of the chemical agent eugenol. This gives it a clove-like scent. Lime and lemon basils have high concentrations of limonene, which give them a citrusy scent. Both eugenolTrusted Source and limoneneTrusted Source have antioxidant properties.

Reducing oxidative stress

Antioxidants are essential for eliminating free radicals from the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules that develop as a result of metabolism and other natural processes. They can also form as a result of smoking and some dietary choices. Antioxidants are compounds that help remove these molecules from the body. If they build up instead, oxidative stress can occur, resulting in cell damage and, possibly, disease. ScientistsTrusted Source have linked cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other health issues to oxidative stress. The body produces some antioxidants, but it also needs to absorb some from the diet. Among the many antioxidants in basil are anthocyaninsTrusted Source and beta carotene.