Hi friends,

Now's the time to plant your summer herb garden. Here's a handy guide to easy summer herbs, their health benefits and how to incorporate them into your cooking. Enjoy!

xoxo,

Sukey

If you like the idea of starting a roof garden or bringing some life to your windowsill but have yet to begin, herbs are a fantastic place to dive in. Fresh herbs will spruce up your home cooking and, thanks to their healing properties, your health as well. Most are easy to grow, even in a tiny apartment, and you can even grow several herbs together in one large pot to save space. Read our guide to getting started, pick from these summer herbs and get growing.

The Summer's Easiest (and Healthiest) Herbs:

Parsley is one of the most nutritious herbs, containing Vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and potassium. Get your daily fix to promote bone and muscle health. Because it is a diuretic and anti-inflammatory, parsley can help treat urinary tract infections and reduce bloating. More good news? It freshens your breath. Combine it with cooked bulgur, chopped tomatoes, red onions and lemon juice for a quick tabbouleh salad.

Mint makes a great finishing touch to a meal because it aids in digestion. Mint teas are calming and work wonders on stress headaches. Plus, it naturally cools the body. On hot days, combine summer fruits like berries and peaches with chopped mint for a refreshing and soothing dessert.

Dill is another herbal digestive and eases stomach cramping, and it is used in many cultures to soothe colic in babies. For nursing mothers, it is also believed to stimulate and increase milk production. Mix it with tahini or mustard for a tangy salad dressing or blend it with cucumbers and plain yogurt for a summery chilled soup.

Basil has antiseptic qualities, so it can be used to treat infections or boiled with water and gargled as mouthwash. Basil is also believed to be a natural stress reducer, so add it to sandwiches and salads when you're packing for a relaxing picnic. Make basil pesto, or sprinkle chopped basil over fresh tomatoes with olive oil for a quintessential warm weather appetizer.

Cilantro contains flavonoids and phenols, which fight allergies. Like mint, it's a cooling herb, so it complements spicy dishes well. Use it to add flavor to brown rice or beans, or process cilantro with green chilis, lemon juice, ginger and cumin to make a simple Indian chutney.

The Well Wisdom:

Water your herbs whenever the soil feels dry and make sure they get 5 to 6 hours of sunlight a day. If you see flowers coming up the center of any herbs, cut them off so that the plant won’t go to seed and stop growing. Then enjoy fresh herbs at your fingertips all year long.