Thai herbs and their benefit
One of the healthiest foods you can eat is Thai food. In fact, the tremendous health advantages of several Thai meals, including Tom Yum Soup, are currently being researched scientifically. Many of the fresh herbs and spices used in Thai cuisine, including turmeric, galangal, coriander, lemongrass, and fresh chiles, are already recognized to have immune-stimulating and disease-fighting properties.
Thai cuisine is well known throughout the world for its flavor, healthiness, and low-fat content. Numerous studies have revealed the excellent nutritional value and health advantages of Thai food. Prior to medicine becoming widely accessible in Thailand, several illnesses were treated by Thai people using local substances.
Little meat is needed for the ingredients, but medicinal herbs and spices are welcome. For instance, garlic can lower blood pressure. It also reduces cold symptoms. Blood circulation is boosted by chilies. Lemongrass improves urinary flow and soothes intestinal issues. Galangal, on the other hand, relieves tummy discomfort.
The tradition of using plants as medicine exists in most societies. For many years, Thais have employed dried herbs as treatments for a variety of bodily problems. The herbal compress is a popular remedy for muscle and soft tissue injuries in modern times. But at first, injured troops were the major recipients of herbal compresses. They were used to treat general aches, pains, and discomfort as well as inflammation brought on by combat wounds.
Many people believe that the ingredients used in Thai cuisine are particularly unusual, expensive, or difficult to locate in stores. It’s not true at all; all these lovely, wholesome Thai ingredients can be purchased for a reasonable price at numerous grocery stores. These ingredients also include sauces, spices, and herbs. The following are some of the primary ingredients used in Thai cuisine:
Turmeric
Asiatic in origin, turmeric is closely connected to the ginger family. Thailand uses dried turmeric powder just like many other nations. Curcumin, found in turmeric, is a well-known anti-inflammatory substance. The active component of turmeric not only safeguards blood platelets, which promotes heart health, but also enhances blood circulation and fights bacterial infections. Additionally, turmeric is a potent antioxidant that can help injured skin recover more quickly and protect it from breakouts of pimples and acne.
Garlic
Many Thai cuisines frequently contain garlic. China produces more than 10 million tons of garlic annually, making it the world’s leading producer. Garlic has several health advantages and can be eaten raw or cooked. Because it contains potent minerals and antioxidants, it lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol levels, and controls blood sugar levels. Due to its anti-fungal characteristics, it can help with digestion while also enhancing energy levels.
Chilies
Thai cuisine uses “phrik,” a shrub-like plant with upright branches and fruits, as a garnish and flavoring. There are numerous varieties of species. All of them contain capsaicin, a biologically active compound good for the heart, blood pressure, and respiratory system. Other medicinal uses include being a stomachic, carminative, and antiflatulence agent, as well as a digestif.
Ginger
Thai for “Khing” The erect ginger plant has rhizomes that are thicker, meatier, and more fragrant. The rhizomes of ginger plants contain 1 to 2% volatile oil, which is used in a variety of ways as a spice, flavoring, and food. Ginger has medicinal applications as a carminative, antinauseant, and antiflatulent.
Lemon Grass
In Thai, “Ta-khrai” This upright annual looks like a rough, sage-like grass. As a flavoring, fresh grass and leaves are added as well. 0.2-0.4% of lemongrass is a volatile oil. It has therapeutic qualities as a diuretic, emmenagogue, antiflatulence, antiviral, and antibacterial agent.
Lime
Thai for “Ma-nao” Lime is typically used as a garnish for meat and fish dishes. Scientific research has shown that the fruit contains the anti-inflammatory flavonoids hesperidin and naringin. In addition to having antitussive, antiviral, stomachic, and antiscorbutic characteristics, lime juice is used as an appetizer.
Tamarind
Although tamarind originated in Africa, it is currently being grown throughout South Asia. It has a lot of essential minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber and is a strong source of antioxidants. It enhances digestion and lowers fever. It has the ability to treat a variety of skin infections and superficial wounds. This ingredient gives Thai food a sour flavor.
Galangal
Many different cuisines employ galangal as a spice and dish seasoning. In Thai cuisine, a spice that resembles ginger is used. It has a reputation for being anti-inflammatory. It aids in enhancing circulation and digestion and helps with stomach aches. Although it is grown across India, and like the rest of Southeast Asia, it is primarily found around the Southeast Asian coast. Ginger can also be used in place of galangal.
Coconut Milk
Thai food contains coconut milk, which is a highly nutritious component. It has fat in it that is very good for people’s health. It aids in reducing LDL cholesterol, which when at a high level is dangerous. The body’s need for fatty acids to function properly is increased by this. The body’s immune system is also strengthened by it.
Fish Sauce
(Nam Pla) is a dish comprised of fermented fish and salt. Almost every meal in Thai cuisine includes fish sauce, which is also utilized in the majority of savory dishes. You can use salt or light soy sauce in its place. You don’t want to spill any of the 18 essential Thai herbs and spices in the refrigerator, and this is one of them. Although it is strong, it adds a deliciously weird flavor to your meals.
Bean sprouts and lotus roots are two examples of herbs and plants that are nutritional powerhouses. In addition to being bursting at the seams with calcium, magnesium, and potassium, these foods also contain a variety of other vitamins and minerals. Additionally, cardamom contains vitamin C along with sweet basil and iron that can be used as a powerful therapy for anemia and other iron shortages.
Herbal inhalers are by no means a rare occurrence. Depending on the herb, users may obtain relief from headaches, asthma, colds and congestion, tension, and anxiety. Inhaling lavender oil, which lowers blood pressure and speeds up the heart rate, is a common practice.
Thai cuisine has a reputation for having positive effects on health and happiness. It is essentially a cuisine of natural medicine because it relies so heavily on herbal components. Each herb has a different effect, and sometimes a combination of herbs can produce astonishing outcomes.
Thai herbal compounds influence the body’s systems in a variety of ways to promote wellness, ease symptoms, and ward off disease. For instance, ginger, galangal, and lemongrass are all good for the stomach and can help with indigestion, gas, vomiting, and pain. Similar to how taro root and bay leaves address blood sugar issues, cardamom and sweet basil support the heart.
Going out for a delicious Thai meal seems like the obvious choice if you feel a cold coming on or if you simply want to keep yourself healthy with a good dose of natural fresh remedies that combat many of the ailments of Western society because so many of these herbs and spices are used in abundance in most Thai dishes. Use the freshest ingredients possible while making Thai food at home to reap the benefits of all these therapeutic advantages, which are most noticeable in extremely fresh plants.
