Purple basil: benefits and harm

Purple basil differs from its green counterparts only in color. The benefits and harms of purple basil are almost the same as other types of table plants of this genus. It is unlikely that this variety is a separate species of the basil genus. It is much more likely that this is a color mutation of ordinary sweet basil. Some gardeners are even of the opinion that the common species changes color from green to purple as it ages.

This opinion is clearly wrong, since green fragrant basil even blooms while retaining its color. But purple is really green in the early stages and only then gains color. The color change may be regulated by the same mutated gene that causes the mercury content of purple basil to be elevated.

What are the benefits of purple basil for the body?

At a time when it was necessary to heal with what grew in the nearest forest and trust in God, basil was called the royal herb and it was believed that it brought great benefits and no harm. There is no information about the time when the purple variety of basil appeared.Usually, when mentioning the benefits of this herb, they talk primarily about its green appearance.

Indeed, the beneficial properties and contraindications of purple basil differ little from those of the green variety. But differences still exist. Moreover, purple basil has both health benefits and harms in some cases in greater quantities than green basil. The harm lies in the increased mercury content compared to a regular plant. The benefit lies in the increased content of plant pigment from the anthocyanin group. Otherwise, the benefits of all varieties are the same:

  • anesthesia;
  • disinfection;
  • tonic effect.
Important! In the food industry, anthocyanins are designated as food additive E163.

What are anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are plant pigments that determine the color of flowers. Thanks to anthocyanins, flowers can be:

  • pink;
  • red;
  • brown;
  • blue;
  • purple.

Since color depends on the pH of the cell, flowers of the same plant species can be different depending on the acidity of the soil. On acidic soil the flowers will be red, on neutral soil they will be blue-violet, on alkaline soil they will be yellow-green.

Some plants, including purple basil, also contain anthocyanins in their stems and leaves. In this case, the intensity of foliage color also directly depends on the intensity of lighting: the more light, the more saturated the color.

Thus, the color of purple basil depends on 4 factors:

  • the amount of anthocyanins in the plant;
  • soil acidity;
  • light level
  • varieties.

Accordingly, the benefits may decrease or increase, but there is no data on harm. Perhaps the harm remains at the same level everywhere.

Benefits of anthocyanins

These pigments reduce inflammatory processes in the intestines with excess consumption of fats and carbohydrates. Improves intestinal barrier functions. Accordingly, according to these indicators, the benefits of the purple variety of grass are greater than those of the green variety.

What are the benefits of purple basil for women?

The beneficial properties of purple basil for women include, first of all, a good mood due to the belief in the miraculous power of the plant. A happy woman with shining eyes is beautiful at any age.

But the real benefits cannot be denied. Purple basil contains substances necessary to maintain smooth skin:

  • 1-1.5% essential oils in the aerial part;
  • 6% tannins;
  • 12-20% oil in seeds;
  • vitamin P;
  • camphor;
  • provitamin A;
  • vitamin C;
  • Salonines.

Essential oil has a complex structure. It includes:

  • eugenol (70%);
  • camphor;
  • linalool;
  • cineole;
  • ocimene

Many of these essential oils are used either in perfumes or in painkillers.

It is best to nourish the skin with vitamins and other beneficial substances “from the inside” by adding fresh spices to food.

When applied externally, basil disinfects the skin, eliminating minor inflammations and acne. To do this, wipe the skin every morning with a swab dipped in basil decoction. After 30 minutes, wash with clean water.

It is also believed that basil, including purple basil, improves the flow of breast milk. But no one has conducted serious research on this matter.

But the harm from mercury has been clearly established. But if you grow grass on environmentally friendly soil, the harm will be minimal.

Benefits of purple basil for men

In the East, basil is considered an aphrodisiac.And purple is especially revered as “the strongest.” In fact, not a single variety produces any special effect. But due to the large amount of beneficial substances, purple basil stimulates the central nervous system and improves overall well-being. In such cases, everything else is attached automatically.

Why is purple basil harmful?

The benefits of the increased amount of anthocyanins in purple basil are discussed in detail above. But the benefits of this plant are balanced by the harm from the high content of another substance.

Any variety of basil contains mercury. But purple is the record holder among its brothers. Mercury causes irritation and inflammation in the intestines. Thus, the possible benefits of high anthocyanin content are negated by the maximum amount of mercury in purple basil.

Basil is contraindicated for diseases associated with the cardiovascular system:

  • hypertension;
  • ischemia;
  • thrombophlebitis;
  • myocardial infarction.

Plant varieties with a high content of anthocyanin can thicken the blood. If there are disturbances in the process of hematopoiesis or increased blood clotting, it is better to avoid all types of basil.

Where is purple basil used?

The main purpose of fresh branches is to decorate dishes. Green and purple branches, when properly selected and laid, form very beautiful color combinations. There are several purple varieties with different aromas and leaf colors. You can choose the ones you like best.

Anthocyanin varieties

Varieties with a high content of plant pigments. The leaves of the plants have different shades.If you look at a photo of purple basil varieties, you will see that the color of the leaves varies from green with red veins to almost black. In addition to color, these varieties of red basil differ in taste and aroma. For each individual dish, you can choose the ideal variety:

  1. Ararat: canned vegetables, salads, marinades.
  2. Yerevan: soups, vegetable dishes, fish, meat. Looks good on a decorative flower bed.
  3. Dark opal: in dry and fresh form they are used to prepare vinegar, spices, and aromatic oils.
  4. Osmin: salads and marinades.
  5. Red ruby: universal application.

There are also colored varieties in the pepper varieties of the herb.

In winter, the plant can be used in dry form as a spice and for preparing decoctions. But to do this, you need to be able to dry it properly so that the leaves do not lose their color and beneficial properties.

How to Preserve Purple Basil for the Winter

The harvest is harvested during the height of flowering and is required in dry weather. Bushes are cut along the leafing line. Since it is a herb, although sometimes it looks like a bush, before autumn the basil will have time to grow back, and it can be cut again. By mowing the grass during flowering, you can get the maximum amount of nutrients. The moment of mowing is determined by the color of the seeds in the first order brushes. The color of the seeds should be brown.

Important! To speed up the development of the second stage of shoots, after mowing, loosen the soil and fertilize the grass with fertilizers.

The resulting raw materials are dried in the shade under a canopy. It is important that the drying area is well ventilated. You can dry them by tying them in bunches and hanging them on twine or laying them out on a clean surface.

The sun's rays cause significant damage when drying raw materials.They will especially affect the preservation of color that will disappear under the sun. When properly dried and stored in an airtight container, away from air and water, basil will retain its smell and color until the next harvest.

Another storage method is deep freezing. In this case, you can get maximum benefits without much effort. Almost all nutrients are preserved in frozen foods. But the water remaining in fresh branches destroys leaf cells, causing irreparable damage. When using frozen herbs, only defrost enough to be used at a time. You can’t freeze basil a second time.

The third option is to grind the herbs in a meat grinder and add salt. Other products are added if desired: garlic, lemon juice, etc. When storing such a preparation in the refrigerator in a pre-sterilized container, the basil will last until the next harvest, but its color may change.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of purple basil generally balance each other, and its decorative appearance expands its scope of application. If purple basil does more harm than good, you can not eat it, but decorate a flower bed or windowsill in your home with it. But the benefits of this aromatic herb will be the same: the spice can repel insects.

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