When you’re low on iron, what do you turn to? Red meat? Liver? You don’t have to turn yourself into a meat loving carnivore in order to up your intake of iron; in fact, you can find iron in your own backyard garden!
Green thumbs rejoice! One of the most commonly used herbs, thyme, is not only effective for killing germs and curing colds, it’s also a good source of iron. Just two teaspoons of the herb pack in nearly 20 percent of your daily requirement for iron. According to Organic Gardening, it’s even rich in manganese, the mineral that boosts brain function and aids in healthy bone, skin and cartilage formation.
Iron is an essential mineral that functions primarily as a carrier of oxygen in the body, and also aids in immune function, cognitive development, temperature regulation, energy metabolism, and work performance. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III, men generally exceed the RDA, whereas most women do not consume enough.
Start growing your own thyme (learn how here), or make sure you add it to your weekly shopping list. Add thyme to pasta and pizza sauces, salad dressings, stews, stuffings, meat loaf, and soups. It’s also especially good with poultry, fish, and eggs.
Extra flavor and extra iron? Why not!?
photo credit Organic Gardening
