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Lemon Basil Seeds Turn to Jelly in Water
Lemon Basil · แมงลัก · Ocimum africanum
Lemon Basil — แมงลัก (maeng-lak) — Ocimum africanum.
Lemon basil — maeng-lak. Drop its seeds in water, and they swell into a soft jelly, a soluble fiber called mucilage. The edible part is the seeds. Early animal studies on basil-seed mucilage looked at satiety-related markers in high-fat-diet mice. The seeds also bring omega-3 ALA, calcium, and magnesium. Gel-forming soluble fiber can slow carbohydrate absorption. ALA is an omega-3 your body can't make on its own, and it contributes to normal blood cholesterol. Calcium helps maintain normal bones and teeth and supports normal blood clotting. Magnesium helps turn food into energy and keeps muscles and nerves working normally. Kaeng Liang boils a peppery vegetable broth, stirring in fresh lemon basil leaves right off the heat to preserve their scent. Khanom Jeen Nam Ya ladles a coconut fish curry over fermented rice noodles, piled high with raw lemon basil, cabbage, and long beans. The lemon-scented leaves are eaten fresh in Thai soups and salads. To grow lemon basil and save seeds, let the small white flower spikes dry to papery brown on the stem before you harvest. Follow Longevity Biome — a new Thai plant every day.
Gaeng Liang — แกงเลียง (gaeng-liang)
Khanom Jeen Nam Ya — ขนมจีนน้ำยา (kha-nom-jeen-nam-ya)
Source: Effects of Ocimum basilicum mucilage on lipids/gut microbiota in high-fat-diet mice. ScienceDirect (2023); basil-seed flour & insulin resistance, PMID 39516211
Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.
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Food and nutrients
Seeds rich in: fiber, omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), calcium, magnesium
Research context
Basil-seed mucilage swells and may promote fullness — animal studies, 2023