The ancient Greeks thought thyme made one courageous. And while the courage-giving benefits of thyme haven’t yet been verified by science, there are a number of other thyme benefits that have been well-researched and worth knowing.
For starters, thyme is an awesome anti-oxidant, containing many important flavonoids: apigenin, naringenin, luteolin, and thymonin.
Apigenin, also found in green vegetables such as parsley and celery, has been the focus of much research; it seems a sort of wonder-cure – it boosts the immune system, relaxes the central nervous system, and lowers high blood pressure.
Recent studies suggest this flavonoid may also work to prevent certain types of cancer, including leukemia, and breast, skin, and colon cancer, as well as boost cancer treatments. Oh, and did we mention it’s been linked to encouraging the body to burn fat rather than storing it? Great news for those of us fighting dreaded belly fat.
Perhaps the most established use of thyme is in cough syrups. Which is no surprise since thyme works both to dry up the mucus that clogs up your airways as well as soothe your irritated membranes. A juice made of thyme leaves can be extremely effective even in cases of whooping cough or bronchitis.
Thyme is also high in vitamin C, vitamin C, and calcium, and has appreciable amounts of iron, manganese, and copper.
Thymol, an essential oil contained in thyme, is a strong antiseptic with anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. This means it can be effectively used against yeast or other bacterial or fungal infections.
Quick Roundup of Thyme Benefits
- Boosts your immune system: Through the actions of apeginin, a flavonoid found in thyme, thyme strengthens your defenses against disease.
- Helps defeat the common cold, as well as more severe respiratory infections: Thyme has both expectorant and antitussive properties, thinning mucus and making coughs more productive as well as soothing your throat and calming coughing spasms.
- Rich in nutrients: Thyme contains many vitamins and trace minerals. Just one ounce of this herb, fresh, will give you 75% of your RDA of vitamin C, 11% of your RDA for calcium, and 27% of the iron you need every day.
- Lowers blood pressure: Apigenin works to lower your blood pressure and reduce your internal tension.
- Anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial action: Thyme is an effective, all-natural cure when you’re trying to fight bacterial infections in or on your body.
Delicious Thyme Juice Recipes
Before we get started, you should know that you can add a bit of thyme to any juice recipe – but it’s a good idea to use just the leaves and get rid of the stems. Otherwise, the juice recipes can come out a little “woodsier” than you’d like.
Oh, and another note: The average juicer (like the standard centrifugal juicer) isn’t so great for delicate herbs like thyme. If you’re planning on juicing a lot of herbs, the best juicers are wheatgrass juicers or slow juicers like masticating or twin gear juicers.
Alright, without further ado – here’s a little roundup of the best thyme juice recipes to try!
Thyme for Green Juice
This is a delicious green juice recipe featuring thyme. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 sticks celery
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 lemon (peeled)
- 1 apple
- ½ cup thyme
- 1 inch piece ginger
The combination makes a typical green juice – with a slightly herbal twist. The beauty of thyme is that it has a really lovely, gentle flavor that plays well with pretty much anything. That being said, if you’re not used to the taste, a half cup can be a bit too earthy so adjust as necessary.
Red Cabbage Thyme Juice Recipe
Here’s a brilliant digestion-boosting, ulcer-fighting juice recipe, courtesy of Happy Healthy Blog:
- 2 cups red cabbage
- 2 lemons (peeled)
- 1 inch ginger
- 1/4 cup fresh thyme
The color is beautiful, of course, but what’s really great about this unusual but tasty concoction are the health benefits you get from juicing not just the fresh thyme but the red cabbage. Cabbage is one of the veggies that offers so many perks when you juice it raw and this recipe is a great way to do so!
Tropical Vacation Thyme Juice Recipe
Who’d have thought you could combine earthy, woodsy thyme with tart, tropical pineapple…and get such a lovely combination of complementary tastes? The clever minds at Kelli’s Vegan Kitchen, that’s who. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1/2 of a fresh pineapple
- 1 orange
- handful of fresh thyme
- nub of fresh ginger, to taste
It’s like taking a walk through the woods and a dip in the ocean at the same time. Great combination and a lovely way to start the morning – a perfect breakfast juice.
