As we move through February, we are reminded to send love to others, but Mindful Mixtures would like to remind you to send a little love to yourself! One way to nurture the special organ that makes it possible for you to exist (your heart) is to supply it with nutrients that make it powerful and keep it strong. You learned from Tami’s last post that the one mineral the heart needs more than any other organ in the body is magnesium. The highest levels of magnesium have been found in the left ventricle of the heart (the part that does most of the work). Keep the heart healthy and you are one step ahead of living a long and robust life!
Utilizing edible herbs is a great way to add this important nutrient into your diet. Herbs contain higher amounts of magnesium than most vegetables. Based on a 200 calorie serving, Basil comes in #1 with 556mg. Basil can be added to any meal or eaten on its own. Coming in second place is Coriander and Cilantro with 498mg. Third place is given to Mint with 422mg per serving. Mint can be eaten, drank as a tea or mixed into cocktails/mocktails. Dill is next with 357mg and there are many others ranging from 180-317mg such as Parsley, Tarragon, Marjoram, Sage, Savory and Thyme. Fresh herbs are always richer in magnesium than dried and the darker the green, the better!
Drinking medicinal herbs is another way to get this important mineral into your body. Alfalfa, Horsetail, Stinging Nettle and Red Clover are packed with magnesium and having one cup of tea each day can boost your intake significantly. It is also the best way to say I love you to your precious heart. Be kind to your body, you only have one of them!
It’s still a new year and there are many months yet to be lived in 2022. Let’s make them the healthiest months of our lives yet!
xoxo
Jody
Certified Herbalist and Clinical Aromatherapist