Why You Should Eat Basil Beyond its delightful taste, basil boasts an array of nutritional benefits. Loaded with vitamin K, just two tablespoons of fresh chopped basil provide nearly 100% of your recommended daily intake. Vitamin K benefits include supporting bone, cognitive, and heart health. This herb also packs a punch with essential oils, antioxidants, iron, calcium, and magnesium, which have been associated with anti-inflammatory properties, improved digestion, and cardiovascular health. A key antioxidant found in basil is rosmarinic acid, which has been linked to anti-inflammatory