Health Benefits of Thyme

This nutritious herb mixes well with a variety of flavors and is crammed full with polypeptides, antioxidants, enzymes, and other nutrients that encourage improved health and quality of life. Thyme hails from the thymus group and is a member of the mint family and is intimately linked to oregano, another essential herb.

This perennial herb, indigenous to the southern Mediterranean areas, is now cultivated worldwide for its gourmet and medicinal uses. Although this herb can liven up your cooking, thyme will also help remove unhealthy microbes from your body and improve your mental and physical well-being.

Health Benefits of Thyme

The following are the significant health benefits of thyme:

Effective Against Sore Throats

Experiments have shown that thyme oil is a potent natural antimicrobial, making it an effective weapon against sore throats. Its carvacrol quality is a significant factor why it's one of the better essential oils to ease a sore throat.  

The experimental findings revealed that the thyme plant oil demonstrated extraordinarily high behavior against medicinal strains. It has also shown good effectiveness towards antibiotic-resistant strains. Just be sure to incorporate this herb to your broth or drinks or a germ-killing thyme tea the next time you get a throat infection.

Reduces Hypertension and Lowers Cholesterol Levels

It has been shown that thyme ingestion induces antihypertensive activities, making it a perfect herbal alternative for anyone with symptoms of hypertension. New animal research showed that extract from Thymus vulgaris dramatically decreased the heart rate of hypertensive subjects.

It has also been shown that the extract decreases cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels while raising the cholesterol concentrations in HDL. Rather than going overboard with salt, consider adding helpful herbs such as thyme to your meals to improve both the taste and nutritional content.

Treats Food Poisoning

Thyme has the potential not only to help deter the degradation of the food but also to disinfect already infected foods. Scientists have shown in many experiments that essential oil from the herb is capable of increasing the shelf-life of meat and bakery items and decontaminating lettuce inoculated with Shigella, a parasitic organism that induces diarrhea and may contribute to significant bowel harm.

In one analysis, washing natural fruits and vegetables decreased the amount of Shigella bacteria below the identification point in a solution containing just one percent of the oil. This means you can potentially help decrease foodborne disease risk by incorporating it into the next meal, including fresh greens or salad.

Insect Repelling Properties

Thymol is also a component in many insecticides, both outdoor and indoor, and is widely used for killing infectious agents and rats and similar animal pests. A popular study reveals that thyme supplement can repel mosquitoes, but it's insufficient to cultivate it in your backyard.  

Apply thyme leaves around your hands to unleash the essential oil and obtain the highest pest combat efficiency. By blending a couple of drops of thyme oil to each teaspoon of olive oil or combining a few drops for every two ounces of water, you can also make homemade repellants.

Mood Enhancing Properties

It has been reported that the compound labeled carvacrol present in these traditional medicines has some very beneficial mood-boosting implications. The analysis had shown that when carvacrol was given to rats for a week consecutively, both dopamine and serotonin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus may rise.

Dopamine and serotonin are two important neurotransmitters, especially when it refers to the mental state. Results from an investigation indicate that carvacrol is a cerebral cortex-active molecule that can impact cognitive processing through neurotransmitter amplification.

If thyme is consumed frequently at small concentrations, it can boost well-being feelings. Other experiments, mainly carried out on rodents, indicate that it has anxiolytic qualities, in particular, suggesting it battles fear.

Boosts Immunity and Prevents Cancer

Bioactive components in this herb may be able to suppress tumor growth and may become cancerous. Carvacrol is a key element of the essential oil that has shown antitumor effects, rendering this valuable plant a possible fuel for cancer prevention.

One recent research showed that the development and differentiation of the two colon cancer cell lines are blocked by carvacrol. Analysis indicates, generally, that carvacrol has therapeutic potential for both colon cancer detection and rehabilitation.

Thyme also has immunosuppressive properties, which, according to new animal research, could be able to help cure inflammatory disorders. They not only have antioxidant benefits, but the capacity to reduce the development of some pro-inflammatory cytokines that may lead to chronic disorders has been identified.

Bronchitis Protection

Any of the most popular applications of thyme have been inherently managing coughing, pneumonia as well as other respiratory symptoms for decades. The further study supports this and shows that this herb makes an important natural treatment for bronchitis.

Effective Oral and Dental Healthcare

Extracts from this herb have been used in dental materials such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, as described above. Substances in this herb can help avoid the production of infectious diseases in the mouth and keep the teeth protected by preventing plaque and decay.

Nutritional Value Thyme (100 grams)

Calories in Thyme and their Recommended Daily Intake

The total number of calories present in 100 grams of thyme is 101 calories, and its recommended daily intake is 50 grams a day.

Ways to Consume Thyme

In teas and food preparation, people may use the fresh thyme leaves and often put them between linen layers to shield the cloth from insects. The essential oil of thyme generally alluded to as thyme oil comprises twenty and sixty percent thymol.

Manufacturing companies harvest thyme oil for various applications such as scented soaps and as a deodorant ingredient. Individuals also used thyme oil as both a disinfectant as well as insecticides. Thymol is a natural preservative for poultry, and olive growers also mix thymol into the oil that retains Mediterranean olives.

An individual cannot ingest essential oils by mouth, or add them straight to the skin, unlike the fresh leaves. Dilute the thyme oil, such as olive oil, in a carrier liquid. Thyme is a fantastic additive utilized in cuisines worldwide, notably in France, Italy, and throughout the Mediterranean region.  

Thyme is a major ingredient in the famous pesto sauce and can be used as a condiment or applied to pasta or rice. The cooking of meat or poultry may be made using fresh leaves or organic sprigs. As in this heart-healthy sea bass recipe, thyme is also an outstanding spice to use with seafood.

This whole-wheat lasagna and broccoli and thyme cheese is a grown-up twist on a classic nostalgia, and it is a perfect way to incorporate more thyme to your eating habits.

Side Effects of Thyme Consumption

When eaten in regular quantities of food, thyme is considered healthy. When used for medical purposes in greater doses, it can be healthy for brief periods. However, when ingested in substantial doses, it can potentially cause stomach complications. Thyme excessive consumption can cause stomach discomfort, cramps, migraine, and lightheadedness.

Thyme oil can also be eaten orally, but in small amounts, compared to other essential oils. Since the oil is condensed, the established side effects may be more exacerbated. Hypotension, an excessive decrease in blood pressure, may arise with overuse of thyme oil.

Thyme oil allergy is also common, particularly in plants in the mint family. An allergy can appear when confronted with diarrhea, sickness, and dehydration. Allergic contact dermatitis can occur when applied to the skin. It's safer for pregnant or breastfeeding females to eat this herb in regular quantities of food, not therapeutic.

It is not a typical food allergen, but if you are allergic to oregano or similar Lamiaceae species, you may be allergic to thyme as well. It may function as an estrogen in the body for females with hormone-sensitive disorders such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cysts, or endometriosis.

If you have some disorder that may be made worse by exposure to estrogen, stop it. This spice might delay blood clotting when used in significant doses, so be particularly cautious if you have any clotting problems and are already using blood thinners. It is best not to take it two weeks before the surgery, for the very same reason.

Final Word

Thyme is a herb which can be eaten fresh or dry. Like other herbs and spices, it is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants which battle against the disease. This herb has a long tradition of use in conventional remedies and has proved its track record as a natural medication capable of fighting off bacteria.  

Applications of thyme include battling lips, skin, digestive tract, and respiratory problems. Thyme's other medical benefits include increasing blood pressure, strengthening your immune response, raising your morale, and promoting oral or dental health. The best way to make this famous herb a part of your daily diet to make sure you enjoy your meals with some dried thyme. It can also be eaten in formulations of tea or essential oil.

References:

• https://www.healthline.com/health/health-benefits-of-thyme#Thyme-for-some-good-food
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29771598/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29785774/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5483461/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4391421/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074903/