Rosemary Health Benefits And Nutrition Fact

Rosemary has many health benefits. Rosemary is a type of herbs that is currently used for headaches, digestive disorders and depression (of course, besides it can be used as flavor enhancer in cooking). Rosemary can be a stimulus to the brain, because it can give the oxygen-rich blood supply to the brain so that improve brain function. Mentioned that rosemary contains powerful antioxidants that are believed to overcome free radicals, and shows anti-tumor activity and anti-cancer.

Rosemary is an aromatic evergreen shrub. Typically used for food flavoring. The leaves only 2-4 cm long by 2-5 mm leaf width, purple or blue flowers and classified in the family Lamiaceae. Plant that originated from the Mediterranean and Asia is also suitable to be planted, in cold climates.

Rosemary is used to flavor salads, soups, baked vegetables, and meat dishes, rosemary tea is a popular flavor drink in Mediterranean region, tomato soups even more delicious by adding rosemary, blend fresh rosemary leaves with olive oil and use it to butter your bread.

Rosemary Nutrition Fact

Rosemary has been researched and developed by some experts. Based on the results of the study, rosemary leaf containing 1-25% essential oil, borneol 16-20%, 1.8% therein, chineol 30%, 7% acetic Bornyl, Champor 15-255 and essential oils. Besides containing several bioactive compounds, in 100 grams of rosemary contained 317 mg of iron, 6.65 mg of calcium and vitamin B6 0.336. Oil is also rich in omega-3 is good for brain development.

image source: nutrition-and-you.com

Rosemary Health Benefits

1. Anti inflamantory. Rosemary contains two important ingredients, caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid, which are responsible for various therapeutic actions. Both these acids are potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. They help reduce inflammation that contributes to asthma, liver disease and heart disease.

2. As Antioxidant. The natural acids present in rosemary help in protecting the body's cells from being damaged by free radicals like monoterpenes, phenolic diterpenes and flavonoids. A rich source of Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), another potent antioxidant, rosemary helps in fighting free radicals further.

3. Helps in protecting DNA against free radical damage. Scientists from Cancer Research Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovak Republic, have found that rosemary helps in protecting DNA against free radical damage.

4. Rosemary inactivates oestrogen hormones like oestrone and oestradiol, which are responsible for breast cancer, by stimulating liver enzymes.

5. Italian researchers have found that rosemary extract safeguards a protective protein called HSP70 that helps in reducing damage caused to the skin due to stress, free radicals and other toxins.

6. Skin health. Rosemary extract helps prevent age-related skin damage, such as wrinkles, by protecting the individual components of skin cells.

7. French scientists from National Institute of Agronomic Research, Dijon, say that extract of rosemary encourages detoxifying enzymes, like cytochrome P450, glutathione transferase and quinone reductase, flush out harmful toxins from the liver, out of the body.

8. Rosemary extract, when consumed on a daily basis, improves kidney functions, increases urine flow and preserves essential minerals such as sodium, potassium and chlorium.

9. Rosemary oil is used to stimulate hair growth, boost mental activity, relieve respiratory problems and pain, and reduce disorders in menstrual cycle, menstrual cramps, peptic ulcers, urine flow, prostate, gall bladder, intestine, sperm mobility, leukemia and kidney stones

10. Rosemary can also help keep the digestive tract and soothe the stomach, reduce spasms and cramping in the intestines and relieve stiffness or fullness.

11. Rosemary can stretch the muscles, nerves, reduce tension, anxiety and pain in the whole body. Therefore rosemary can also be useful for someone who is undergoing treatment of headache, migraine, depression, fatigue, anxiety and apathy.

Caution

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid large quantities of rosemary. Excessive dosage can lead to miscarriages or even affect the fetus.
• People suffering from high blood pressure or epilepsy should not take rosemary supplements.
• Rosemary oil can be allergic, thus, it should be consumed only when prescribed by a doctor.
• Rosemary leaves, when taken in large quantities, have serious adverse effects, such as coma, spasm, vomiting and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).