can protect you in other ways:

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Health benefits of basil

Research indicates that there are several health benefits associated with basil.

A study by researchers at Purdue University2 revealed that basil "contains a wide range of essential oils rich in phenolic compounds and a wide array of other natural products including polyphenols such as flavonoids and anthocyanins."
The herb contains high quantitites of (E)-beta-caryophyllene (BCP), which may be useful in treating arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases, according to research conducted at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.3

Reduce inflammation and swelling - a study presented at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's annual event, revealed that "extracts of O. tenuiflorm (Holy basil) were shown to reduce swelling by up to 73%, 24 hours after treatment".

Anti-aging properties - according to research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester, basil has properties that can help prevent the harmful effects of aging. Holy basil extract was effective at killing off harmful molecules and preventing damage caused by some free radicals in the liver, brain and heart.

Rich in antioxidants - results of a study published in the Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research showed that ethanol extract Ocimum basilicum

Nutritional profile for basil

Basil is rich in vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium.

Nutritional value of basil per 100 g (3.5 oz)

Energy - 94 kJ (22 kcal) Carbohydrates - 2.65 g
Dietary fiber - 1.6 g Fat - 0.64 g
Protein - 3.15 g Water - 92.06 g
Vitamin A - 264 μg Thiamine - 0.034 μg
Riboflavin - 0.076 mg Niacin - 0.902 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.155 μg Folate - 68 μg
Choline - 11.4 mg Vitamin C - 18.0 mg
Vitamin E - 0.80 mg Vitamin K - 414.8 μg
Calcium - 177 mg Iron - 3.17 mg
Magnesium - 64 mg Manganese - 1.148 mg
Phosphorus - 56 mg Potassium - 295 mg
Sodium - 4 mg Zinc - 0.81 mg

Source: USDA Nutrient Database5