Green basil - benefits and harms

Basil belongs to the vegetable crops of the Yasnotkov family. Both types of plants (green and purple) are widely used for medicinal and prophylactic purposes, as well as in cooking as a seasoning for meat dishes, sauces, marinades, desserts and drinks. Residents of European countries, in contrast to Asian ones, prefer green varieties of spices, as their taste is softer and more aromatic.

What green basil looks like

The herbaceous plant has a branched shape and is a bush with shoots of about 50-70 cm... The leaves are oblong, with denticles along the edges, covered with small villi. When flowering, a brush or spikelet with white, light pink or purple inflorescences (5-10 flowers each) forms at the tips of the stems.

Greens taste salty and tart... Breeders have received many different varieties with vanilla, menthol, lemon aromas.

The chemical composition and calorie content of fresh basil

100 g of greens contains about 23 kcal. The share of carbohydrates is 1.1 g, protein - 3.2 g, fat - 0.64 g... This portion includes:

• water - 92 g;
• dietary fiber - 1.6 g

100 g of spices are also included:

• vitamin A - 264 mcg;
• vitamin K - 415 mcg;
• tocopherol - 0.8 mg;
• ascorbic acid - 18 mg;
• folic acid - 68 mcg;
• vitamin B1 - 0.03 mg;
• vitamin B2 - 0.1 mg;
• vitamin B5 - 0.21 mg;
• vitamin B6 - 0.16 mg;
• nicotinic acid - 0.9 mg.

The amount of macro- and microelements is as follows:

• calcium - 178 mg;
• potassium - 295 mg;
• magnesium - 65 mg;
• phosphorus - 55 mg;
• iron - 3.18 mg;
• copper - 0.4 mg;
• selenium - 0.3 mcg;
• zinc - 0.8 mg.

The product contains saturated (0.04 g) and polyunsaturated (0.4 g) fats, numerous essential and non-essential amino acids.

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The benefits and harms of green basil

Useful components found in spices have a healing effect on the body... The product is an effective prophylactic and therapeutic agent.

Medicinal and useful properties

With regular addition to the diet of green basil there are positive changes in the state of the body:

• strengthens the immune system;
• digestion and absorption of useful components are normalized;
• the state of the nervous system improves and its resistance to stress increases;
• sleep mode is normalized;
• mental activity is stimulated;
• there is a toning of the state of the body as a whole.

Basil will useful for viral infections of the respiratory tract, as it promotes:

• sputum removal;
• lowering high temperatures;
• relieve symptoms of the disease.

Greens have a positive effect on the male genital area... It enhances potency and improves the quality of sexual life.

Wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties plants are used in the treatment of the oral mucosa: stomatitis, tonsillitis. Fresh greens not only eliminate ulcers, but also effectively cleanses tooth enamel from stones and plaque and prevents the development of caries.

Basil is recommended for people with problems with the cardiovascular system because of its ability to well cleanse blood vessels from cholesterol plaques. The plant's essential oils contain a large amount of antioxidants that protect against the development of neoplasms and slow down the aging process.

Important! Greens are also indispensable during weight loss.The product is low in calories, but at the same time contains almost all the necessary substances for the normal functioning of the body. It provides a feeling of fullness, and the fiber in its composition helps cleanse the body of toxins and toxic substances.

Contraindications

There are a number of restrictions on the use of the product that you need to pay attention to.

Among the contraindications:

• epilepsy;
• period after suffering a heart attack or stroke;
• diabetes.

People who use blood thinners, it is also not approved for use, since the product promotes increased thrombus formation.

It is recommended to use basil with caution during pregnancy... An excessive amount of greenery can lead to an increase in the tone of the uterus.

Attention! Frequent use of fresh spices for medicinal purposes negatively affects tooth enamel.

Fragrant green basil varieties

The plant is in demand by owners of personal and summer cottages. It is also grown at home on a windowsill.

Preference is given to the following varieties:

1. Basilisk... The bush is low (about 20 cm), has small smooth leaves and white inflorescences. It has a peppery-clove aroma that works well in pickles and fresh salads. The ripening period after germination is 1 month.
2. Greek... It has a spherical shape and reaches a height of 15 cm. The plant is used not only in cooking, but also to decorate any interior. The taste of greens is sweet and spicy. Suitable for sauces, marinades and fresh salads. The leaves are consumed 2 months after the first shoots appear.
3. Clove... It grows up to 60 cm. It has elongated bright green leaves. The color of the inflorescences is white. The spice has a characteristic aroma that goes well with meat dishes. Produces a good harvest. Greens are suitable for consumption 1 month after germination.
4. Gourmet... The plant has large leaves and grows up to 25 cm. It has a pronounced aroma and taste. Suitable as an additive to salads and main courses. Greens are suitable for drying, pickling and freezing. The spice begins to be used 1.5 months after germination.
5. Caramel... The caramel-fruity taste of the plant allows it to be included not only in vegetable salads, but also in confectionery and drinks. The variety has large, fleshy leaves that are suitable for consumption within 1 month after germination. The yield is high - 3 kg per 1 sq. M.
6. Naughty... The bush forms many shoots. The leaves have an aromatic and delicate taste. The variety is intended for cultivation both in flower pots and in the garden. It is used for canning food and as a seasoning for fresh salads, fish and meat dishes. Average yield (about 1800 g from 1 m²).
7. Thai queen... Refers to decorative varieties. Differs in luxurious flowering. The bunches are dark purple in color, resembling lilacs. Grown at home on a windowsill, in a greenhouse and in the open field. The leaves are eaten throughout the growing season.

Other varieties:

Variety of green vegetable basil "Tonus"

Basil variety "Green aromatic"

How to plant green basil

Basil is a thermophilic plant. therefore it is preferable to grow it in seedlings.

Sowing seedlings

Optimal seed sowing time - the end of March... After the first shoots appear, the seedlings are usually ready for transplanting in 1.5 months.

Basil potting mix is ​​prepared as follows:

1. They take peat, humus or compost, as well as sand in a ratio of 4: 2: 1.
2. The composition is steamed in a water bath for about 1 hour to destroy pathogenic bacteria and seeds of other plants.

A ready-made soil mixture is also used, which can be purchased in a specialized store. Before sowing, such soil is recommended to be treated with a solution of potassium manganese or one of the drugs against fungal spores: "Fitosporin" or "Maxim".

A container with a height of about 7 cm is ideal for sowing seedlings., it is filled with soil almost to the very edge.

Attention! For sowing basil, special cassettes are often used.

Sown in several stages:

1. The seeds are evenly distributed over the surface and lightly sprinkled with earth so that they are at a depth of about 1 cm.
2. The soil mixture is compacted a little and carefully watered with water.
3. the container is covered with glass or plastic wrap and placed in a place with a temperature above + 20 ° C.
4. When the seeds sprout (after 10-14 days), the glass and polyethylene are immediately removed and the seedlings are moved to a room with a cool temperature (+ 15 ... + 19 ° C) so that they do not stretch out.
5. Pour regularly with slightly warmed water.

Important! Excessive waterlogging of the soil is harmful to the plant culture, since it leads to damage to the black leg.

After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings dive into other containers... Ash (2 tbsp) and mineral fertilizer (1 tbsp) are added to the soil (5 l), the earth is mixed well.

Small depressions are made in the soil and seedlings are placed in them, not deeply deepening and trying not to damage the root system. Water as needed.

How to plant in open ground

Ready seedlings are transplanted into open ground according to this scheme:

1. About 20-25 cm is left between the plants, and 35 cm between the rows.
2. When planting in a checkerboard pattern, the seedlings are planted approximately 30 cm apart.

Adhere to the following course of action:

1. Grooves or pits are made (optional).
2. The depressions are well moistened with warm water.
3. Plants are transplanted to a permanent place of growth along with a lump of soil.
4. Sprinkle with dry soil, leaving the central bud with leaves outside.
5. They compact the earth.

In the middle lane and in the southern regions, basil can be planted in open ground and seeds... Sowing is carried out at the end of April - in May (depending on the climatic zone). The soil is loosened well and grooves are made, leaving row spacing about 40 cm wide. The seeds are sealed to a depth of 1.5 cm and slightly compact the soil.

When 2-3 leaves appear, the basil is thinned out, leaving a distance of about 20 cm between individual plants.

Conclusion

If you plant the spice correctly and water it regularly, the crop can be harvested throughout the growing season. It is recommended to break off the tops of shoots with several leaves, since they are the most fragrant and useful. When harvesting, the stems are cut off entirely so that new ones can grow.