Grow Your Own Herbs and Spices for National Herbs and Spices Day

What ingredient can turn a bland meal into something very flavorful? If you were thinking of spices or herbs, you were right! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Herbs and Spices Day on June 10th than trying out a new dish with your least used spices.

While you can always walk down the spice aisle at your grocery store, sometimes a meal tastes even better with homegrown herbs. Start a garden and have fresh herbs or spices always at the ready when you need them. It can be extremely rewarding to cook with fresh spices and herbs that you have grown. Dill and basil are some good ones to start with. They are easier to grow and can be used in many recipes. If the plants start to flourish, share them with your friends and family.

4 Health Benefits of Specific Herbs and Spices

Not only have herbs and spices been used for centuries for culinary purposes, they have also been used for medicinal purposes. They have many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help with chronic or acute diseases.

1. Cinnamon: This popular spice is known to help fight inflammation that occurs in the body. Studies suggest that cinnamon can also have a lowering effect on blood sugar levels, which is especially promising for people living with diabetes.

2. Sage: Up-and-coming research proposes that this herb can promote increased brain function, especially in people that have Alzheimer’s Disease. There is also research in which sage improves memory.

3. Ginger: This spice is extremely popular when it comes to alternative medicine. It has been known to treat nausea related to morning sickness, as well as chemotherapy. It can also treat inflammation and pain in the body.

4. Rosemary: This herb has a compound called rosmarinic acid that can clear up nasal congestion as well as help decrease allergy symptoms. Rosemary is great for people suffering from allergies or common colds that want to try something besides western medicine remedies.

4 Easy Herbs and Spices You Can Grow Yourself

With the weather becoming nicer and the sun beginning to shine more, there is no better time to start growing your herbs and spices. Here are some suggestions that are easy to grow, but also bring a ton of flavor to dishes:

1. Basil: An easy and versatile herb to grow. It can grow either indoors or outdoors; if there is a lot of sunlight, it should grow just fine indoors. It can be used in pesto or topped on pizzas.

2. Chives: Like basil, chives can be grown indoors or outdoors, which makes them easy to grow. Chives have a unique flavor and are usually used to garnish sauces or soups and are so delicious on top of eggs.

3. Dill: There is nothing better than fresh dill in sauces or salads. All you need to do is plant the dill flower and leave it out in the hot weather to grow! You can even make your own pickles using the fresh dill you grow!

4. Cumin: This spice tends to grow the best in environments with long and hot summers. It is a great spice to add to your favorite meat or bean dishes because it brings out all the flavors.

Even though National Herb and Spice Day was yesterday, June 10th, it is never too late to celebrate the amazing variety the world has to offer. Whether you cook with a new spice/ herb or start your own garden, you can’t go wrong!

Your Turn to Take Action: What herb or spice will you start growing this summer as a way to celebrate National Herb and Spice Day? Let me know in the comments below.

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