Herbs have many benefits yet there are certain tips to consider when using herbs.
Some of the benefits of herbs include: helping you lose weight, increasing food absorption and treating different medical conditions. There are many types of herbs in the market that can be used. You only need to choose the one that is ideal for you. For you to get the most from the herbs you need to put a number of tips into consideration. Tips to consider when using herbs include:
Buy natural organic herbs
When choosing herbs, look or herbs in the natural state as much as possible and try to choose organic.
Knowing where the herbs originate from can also help determine the quality of those herbs.
Herbs obtained directly from the farm or grower are the best choice. Farmers markets are a great place to get herbs directly from the farmer.
If that is not possible, speak to the staff or manager at your local health food store to learn where they source their herbs.
Even if you are getting herbs in supplement form, you should be able to know where they are sourced.
If you are buying online, you may also be able to buy directly from the farm using their store.
Take good care of the herbs
The reason why you have the herbs in the first place is because you want to get the nutrients that they come with.
Studies have shown that poorly maintained herbs don’t give the desired results. This results in you not getting the nutrients that you are looking for. To protect your herbs you should take good care of them. One of the ways to do this is by freezing the herbs. If there are some of the herbs that you haven’t used, chop them into small pieces and throw them in the freezer. Once frozen put them in the freezer-safe bag.
Another way of maintaining your herbs in good condition is by drying them. Drying maintains the nutrients and also prevents the herbs from rotting. When it comes to storage, store the herbs in a place that is free of moisture and direct sunlight. According to experts, properly stored herbs can last up to 1 year with all the nutrients intact.
If you are buying dried herbs, pay attention to the color and smell of them.
Make the herbs palatable
Some herbs are bitter and don’t taste good, yet bitters are good for us. Bitter herbs can be blended with other more palatable herbs, added to smoothies or have honey or stevia added for sweeteners.
Some examples of bitter herbs are dandelion, yarrow, goldenseal and horehound.
Conclusion
These are just some of the tips to consider when using herbs. Before taking herbs for health conditions, always get the advice of your doctor or natural health care provider.
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