An often-overlooked herb could be the key to combating bloating, colds, and flu, not to mention boosting your immune system. If you’re fed up with feeling under the weather, it might be time to give your shopping list a revamp.
So, what is this wonder ingredient? Experts are highlighting thyme as an especially valuable herb during the chillier months, as many people return to work and aim to start the new year healthily.
Marta León, an expert in food, nutrition, and hormonal health, told COPE that bacteria and viruses flourish in winter, leading to the popularity of vitamins C and D for their renowned ability to fight illness. Yet, thyme’s potent antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities are frequently brushed over.
“Avoid everything that distracts our liver and system so they can do what they need to do and protect us from viruses,” she recommends, according to the Mirror US. “[Thyme] cares for our respiratory system because it is an expectorant; it can be very helpful when we have a cough, mucus or phlegm.
“Having a bloated stomach might seem unrelated to the immune system but it again distracts the body from performing its functions and might be consuming too many energy resources.”
Marta also highlighted the potency of thyme, helping to bolster your immune defences against harmful bacterial intruders. There are several ways you can incorporate it into your diet.
What is the best way to eat thyme?
The most effective results are reportedly achieved by steeping fresh (or dried) thyme leaves in boiling water for 15-20 minutes. Drink this two to three times per day, and you’ll introduce high levels of vitamin K and iron to your diet.
Steps to prepare the herbal tea – step by step
Another method of consumption involves sweeteners. This herbal tea, perfect for cold, snowy days to fortify the immune system, combines thyme, honey, and lemon.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Boil water
- Add a tablespoon of lemon juice and thyme
- Cook this for 5 minutes
- Strain and sweeten with honey to taste
You can also add honey or ginger if you prefer, instead of lemon juice.
In fact, mariongluckclinic states that alongside thyme, echinacea is another excellent herb. Expert Vera Martins expresses her fondness for “recommending them to my patients, as well as family and friends, as they never let me down.”
She praises them as “powerful medicinal tools for modern times”, noting that thyme boasts strong anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, enabling it to not only help combat illnesses but also fight infections, particularly those affecting the respiratory tract, such as bronchitis and tonsillitis.