Tags
basil, Fresh herbs, health benefits, Paleo, pesto, pistachios, raw foods, raw nuts, vegan, Vegetarian
Forget that store bought jarred pesto, nothing will compare to fresh live raw ingredients! Here’s another reason to grow your own container of fresh basil. It’s nutritionally packed with flavour and so delicious, a personal favorite easy to make pesto! Have it on rice or corn cakes, pasta, gnocchi, tomato & mozzarella salad, sandwiches, etc… it’s almost endless! Here’s what you’ll need…
Ingredients:
- a fresh bunch of large leaf basil
- one half fresh squeezed lemon juice
- olive oil ‘generous amount’ – extra virgin, cold pressed/first pressed (Braggs Greek olive oil or Trader Joe’s Greek olive oil)
- hand full of raw pistachios, and just a small amount of raw pine nuts
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp of cumin
- Celtic Sea salt/Himalayan pink salt to taste
- Fresh ground pepper to taste
- (optional) a small amount of fresh shavings of Parmesan cheese ‘or’ Nutritional Yeast
Instructions:
First blend the garlic and pistachios with olive oil, then add the remaining ingredients in the food processor adding a generous amount of olive oil for a creamy smooth oily texture. That’s it! Be sure to store your pesto in a glass jar covered in a small amount of olive oil on top to keep it fresh. Good for one week in refrigerator. Bon appetit! 😋
Health benefits of basil ~
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Cancer-fighter
- Pain-reducer (analgesic)
- Fever-reducer (antipyretic)
- Diabetes-preventer
- Liver-protector (hepatoprotective)
- Blood vessel-protector
- Anti-stress solution
- Immune-booster
Basil contains antioxidant-rich volatile essential oils, which are considered hydrophobic. This means they don’t dissolve in water and are light and small enough to travel through the air and the pores within our skin. Basil’s volatile essential oils are what give the herb its distinct smell and taste, but they’re also responsible for the healing benefits of basil.
Herbs like basil contain essential oil compounds because these help the plant defend itself from predators like bugs, rodents and strains of bacteria in the soil. When we ingest these protective oils, we experience similar benefits: a boost in immunity and protection from disease. source: DrAxe.com
Additional nutritional information… http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=85#healthbenefits
Health benefits of pistachios ~
1. Healthy Heart
Pistachios help in reducing bad cholesterol, LDL and increases good cholesterol, HDL in the body thus preventing heart diseases. It also increases strength of the nerves making heart stronger.
2. Anti-inflammation Properties
Pistachio benefits include the presence of vitamin A, vitamin E and anti-inflammatory properties reducing the inflammation in the body caused due to any problems.
3. Prevents Diabetes
60% of the daily required phosphorous is present in a cup of pistachios which can prevent even type-2 diabetes. Also phosphorous in pistachios helps in breaking down proteins into amino acids resulting in glucose tolerance.
4. Haemoglobin And Blood
Vitamin B6 is the protein that helps in carrying oxygen in the blood. The high quantity of B6 in pistachios if taken daily can increase the oxygen quantity in the blood and increase the haemoglobin count in it.
5. Nervous System
Vitamin B6 is present in high concentration in pistachios which is very beneficial to nervous system. Amines are the messaging molecules in the nervous system. In order to develop, they need amino acids which are dependent on vitamin B6 presence in the body. This vitamin builds a sheath called myelin around the nerve fibers. And messages pass via Nerve fibers from one nerve to another. Vitamin B6 helps in building many amino acids which help in proper transmission of nerve impulses.
6. Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is an age related eye disease which slowly reduces the eye vision making adults unable to read and work properly. It makes them unable to recognize people as well. Free radicals attack the cells and damage them resulting in macular degeneration. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are two anti-oxidants that are found in Pistachios which fight against these free radicals and destroy them preventing the cells from damage and thus preventing macular degeneration.
7. Boosts Immunity
Vitamin B6 is very important for a healthy immune system. This helps in building blood and proper blood supply throughout the body.
8. Healthy Brain
Vitamin B6, that is present in high quantity in pistachios helps in increasing the haemoglobin count in the blood. This oxygen rich blood is then supplied to the brain making it even more active.
9. Healthy Glands
Glands like spleen, thymus, etc become healthier and work properly with good supply of blood containing more white blood cells (WBC) that is required to fight against infections.
10. Healthy Skin
Vitamin E is very essential for a healthy skin and this anti-oxidant is present in pistachios. It integrates the cell membranes of the mucous membranes of the skin membranes. It protects skin from harmful UV rays, prevents from skin diseases and makes skin healthy and more beautiful.
11. Anti-ageing
Vitamin E present in pistachios is helps fight ageing process of skin and making you look younger. oil present in this nut has emollient properties helping skin to moisturize and keep it from drying. It is used as aroma oil, medicinal massage oil etc.
12. Prevents Cancers And Infections
Vitamin B6 helps in increasing the blood count. The WBC or white blood cells help in preventing infections and various cancers.
source: stylecraze.com – women’s health website
Related Links:
ByzantineFlowers 
You must be logged in to post a comment.