The Benefits Of Basil Seeds You Don’t Know.

There are more and more people implementing the use of basil seeds in Malaysia, but for the most part, the people in Malaysia are unaware of the benefits that basil seeds provide you with. Many people do not know this but basil seeds are not just for growing basil plants, you can also consume them. They tend to look similar to sesame seeds but are black in color. The type that you eat typically tends to come from sweet basil, ocimum basilicum, which is the plant mainly used to season foods. For this particular reason, the seeds are usually referred to as sweet basil seeds. They also go by many other names, some of those names are sabja and tukmaria seeds. Basil seeds have a long history of use in both the Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, but their health effects have only been tested in a very few studies. In this article, we will be taking a look at a few of the benefits that basil seeds can provide you with!

1.GOOD SOURCE OF MINERALS
Based on some of the product nutrition labels, 1 tablespoon or 13 grams or even 0.5 ounces of basil seeds will supply you with 15% of the reference daily intake when it comes to calcium and 10% of the RDI for magnesium and also iron. Calcium and magnesium are both essential for your bone health and also your muscle function, while iron is crucial for red blood cell production. Many people do not tend to get enough calcium and magnesium through their diet. Consuming basil seeds could easily help you reach your daily needs of these nutrients. Additionally, basil seeds could also be an important source of iron and calcium for the people who do not eat either meat or dairy products.The fibrous, pectin rich gum from basil seeds could also be a valuable ingredient in the food industry, as the fact that it is flavorless could possibly help thicken and stabilize mixtures. For instance, it can help to stabilize ice cream and reduce the growth of unwanted ice crystals by 30 to 40% in comparison to the standard ice cream formulations. Basil seed gum can also help stabilize salad dressing, low fat whipped cream, and jellies, and as well as serve as a fat replacement in yogurt and even mayonnaise. Home cooks can also use these seeds to thicken recipes such as desserts, soups, and also sauces.

2.PACKED WITH FIBER
Basil seeds are also known for being high in fiber, particularly soluble fiber, which includes pectin. Here are some ways that the fiber found in basil seeds may potentially benefit your health. It helps you meet your fiber quota. Just 1 tablespoon or 13 grams or even 0.5 ounces of basil seeds will supply you with 7 grams of fiber, which is 25% of the RDI. Only a small percentage of people tend to eat enough fiber. It may support gut health. Test tube studies have suggested that pectin has prebiotic benefits, which means that it may nourish and increase beneficial gut bacteria. This may also include anti inflammatory bacteria that will support gut health. It may help you feel full. Pectin may possibly delay stomach emptying and also increase hormone levels that will promote a sense of fullness. Still, it is uncertain whether eating basil seeds in order to curb appetite is an effective weight loss strategy. It may aid blood sugar control. When people with type 2 diabetes consumed 10 grams or a three quarter tablespoon of basil seeds in water after each of their meals for a month, their post meal blood sugar was 17% lower than at the beginning of the study. It may improve your cholesterol. Pectin may also lower blood cholesterol by inhibiting the cholesterol absorption in your gut. The people who consumed 30 grams or about 7 teaspoons of basil seeds on a daily basis for one month had an 8% drop in their total cholesterol. Due to the lack of recent scientific research on basil seeds, even more in depth studies are needed to confirm these health benefits.

3.FLAVORLESS THICKENER & STABILIZER
The fibrous, pectin rich gum from basil seeds could also be a valuable ingredient in the food industry, as the fact that it is flavorless could possibly help thicken and stabilize mixtures. For instance, it can help to stabilize ice cream and reduce the growth of unwanted ice crystals by 30 to 40% in comparison to the standard ice cream formulations. Basil seed gum can also help stabilize salad dressing, low fat whipped cream, and jellies, and as well as serve as a fat replacement in yogurt and even mayonnaise. Home cooks can also use these seeds to thicken recipes such as desserts, soups, and also sauces.



4.RICH IN PLANT COMPOUNDS
Basil seeds are known for being rich in plant compounds, which includes flavonoids and other polyphenols. Flavonoids are antioxidants, which means that they protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. These plant compounds also carry anti inflammatory and anticancer properties. Several observational studies have linked a higher flavonoid intake to reduced the risk of heart attack. Additionally, in a test tube study, basil seeds will also extract killed harmful bacteria and also trigger the death of cancer cells. However, the research on the potential health benefits of basil seeds is still lacking. These benefits have not yet been tested in people, nor with whole seeds.

5.FIBROUS BEVERAGE INGREDIENT
Basil seeds have also long been implemented in drinks in India and even Southeast Asia. A popular cold beverage like dessert in India is falooda, which is made with basil seeds, rose flavored syrup, and also milk. Some versions also tend to add ice cream, noodles, or even fruit. Additionally, only a few food manufacturers in the United States and Europe are now selling bottled beverages that are made with basil seeds. The seeds will make the drink a bit chewy and it will also add plenty of healthy fiber, which is something that most of the beverages typically lack.

6.GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO CHIA SEEDS
Basil seeds are a little larger than chia seeds but they tend to have a similar nutritional profile. The most notable nutritional differences are that chia seeds tend to contain more than twice the omega 3 fat but a little less fiber in comparison to basil seeds. Chia seeds and basil seeds will swell and form a gel when they are soaked. However, basil seeds will swell quicker and to a larger size when compared to chia seeds. Both seeds will have a bland flavor, so they can be easily used in plenty of the similar types of recipes such as smoothies and baked goods. Chia seeds can also be consumed dry, for instance, when they are sprinkled on a salad, while basil seeds typically are not eaten dry, as they are hard to chew.

Thank you.