Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tarragon Health Benefits & Nutritional Facts

Tarragon is a spice that includes a Continental Spice in European cuisine or Mediterranean cuisine. Tarragon is also an aromatic herb that is considered as one of the four best seasoning ingredient in traditional French cuisine. But do you ever heard about tarragon health benefits before? If you don't have heard at all, you come to the right article. Tarragon or in Latin is called Artemisia Dracunculus not only adds delicious flavor to our food, but also to provide the medicine benefit when added to food. Tarragon is known as a medicine when the ancient Greeks chewed Tarragon leaves to treat toothache.

Tarragon contains tannins, cineol, coumarin, flavonoids, ocimene, estragole, volatile oil and ocimene. Therapeutic properties of this herb are deodorant, vermifuge, digestive, stimulant, alcohol, and anti-rheumatic emenagogue. Tarragon is also a rich source of vitamins such as vitamin C, B-complex vitamins (riboflavin, pyridoxine, folate, niacin), and vitamin-A.

Tarragon img src from flickr

Tarragon Health Benefits

Tarragon has substances called phyto-nutrients, which are substances that act as a natural immune system of plants and this also affects human health. Because rich in Phyto-nutrients and antioxidants that Tarragon can soothe menstrual pain, abdominal pain, mental fatigue, nausea and vomiting. The plant has the capacity to cure knee pain and muscle pain in elderly women.

The oil extracted from this herb also increases blood circulation in the body, which helps abundant supply of oxygen, nutrients, hormones and other enzymes for the rest of the body. It also helps in the proper distribution of the amount of oxygen, hormones, nutrients and enzymes throughout the body tissues. Drinking oil will reduce one of the many symptoms of a toothache and hiccups.

Tarragon is also useful for digestion and help fight disorders of the digestive system. It is very important to encourage the production of bile by the liver and helps the proper functioning of the digestive system work. Tarragon essential oil also stimulates appetite and support the functioning of other organs.

Tarragon Nutritional Facts

Tarragon herb (Artemisia dracunculus), dried,
Nutritional value per 100 g.
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
PrincipleNutrient ValuePercentage of RDA
Energy295 Kcal15%
Carbohydrates50.22 g38%
Protein22.77 g40%
Total Fat7.24 g24%
Cholesterol0 mg0%
Dietary Fiber7.4 g19%
Vitamins
Folates274 mcg68.5%
Niacin8.950 mg56%
Pyridoxine2.410 mg185%
Riboflavin1.339 mg103%
Thiamin0.251 mg21%
Vitamin A4200 IU140%
Vitamin C50.0 mg83%
Electrolytes
Sodium62 mg4%
Potassium3020 mg64%
Minerals
Calcium1139 mg114%
Copper0.677 mg75%
Iron32.30mg403%
Magnesium347 mg87%
Manganese7.967 mg346%
Zinc3.90 mg 35%