Easy Edible Houseplants

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                House plants can completely transform your home. A room full of well-cared-for, watered, and vibrant plants add beautiful color, oxygen, and an overall relaxing vibe to any room in the house. Houseguests lucky enough to gaze upon your bountiful botanicals will be amazed with how well you have your life together (despite the fact that you’re barely holding on).

                Now my cats have been trying to eat my house plants for years despite supposedly being carnivores. This has severely limited the variety of plants I can have in the house. Well two can play at that game. I present to you:

Easy Edible Houseplants

                Here are five beautiful, delicious, and nutritious herbs you can easily grow in your own house anywhere there is sunlight. I’ve included information about their powerful health benefits in case you weren’t yet fully enticed.

Seed packets can be purchased at some grocery stores or where garden supplies are sold. Plant, water, and sun according to seed packet instructions. Additionally, fully grown plants can be purchased from the grocery store. Just add water.

1.       Basil – Packed with essential oils, polyphenols, and flavonoids that have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-arthritic, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer effects (Shahrajabian, 2020).

2.       Rosemary – Excellent source of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest it may contain beneficial compounds that promote brain health, vascular health, and  blood-sugar control (Jiang, 2019).

3.       Oregano – The flavonoids and phenolic acids within oregano have been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties in vivo (Gutiérrez-Grijalva, 2017).

4.       Parsley - Compounds in this plant have many effects such as anti-cancer agent, liver-protective, neuroprotective, pain relieving, and antidiabetic (Ajmera et al, 2019).

5.       Thyme – Contains a large number of phytochemicals that are antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive (Soleimani et al, 2022).

 -TM

https://www.homemadesimple.com/kitchen/herbs-that-are-surprisingly-easy-to-grow-and-cook-with/

Ajmera, P., Kalani, S., & Sharma, L. (2019). Parsley-benefits & side effects on health. Int J Physiologt Nutr Physical Educ, 4, 1236-42.

Gutiérrez-Grijalva, E. P., Picos-Salas, M. A., Leyva-López, N., Criollo-Mendoza, M. S., Vazquez-Olivo, G., & Heredia, J. B. (2017). Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids from Oregano: Occurrence, Biological Activity and Health Benefits. Plants, 7(1). https://doi-org.proxy.library.kent.edu/10.3390/plants7010002

Jiang T. A. (2019). Health Benefits of Culinary Herbs and Spices. Journal of AOAC International, 102(2), 395–411. https://doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.18-0418

Shahrajabian, M. H., Sun, W., & Cheng, Q. (2020). Chemical components and pharmacological benefits of Basil (Ocimum basilicum): a review. International Journal of Food Properties, 23(1), 1961–1970.

Soleimani, M., Arzani, A., Arzani, V., & Roberts, T. H. (2022). Phenolic compounds and antimicrobial properties of mint and thyme. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 36. https://doi-org.proxy.library.kent.edu/10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100604

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