Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean. It is used as a culinary condiment, to make bodily perfumes, and for its potential health benefits.
It has a warm, bitter taste and it provides a nice flavor and aroma to many foods.
Rosemary is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, along with many other herbs, such as oregano, thyme, basil, and lavender.
Rosemary is not only known for its taste and smell; it is also renowned for the many health benefits it possesses. A good source of iron, calcium and vitamins A, C, and B-6, rosemary has been used for its medicinal purposes for centuries.
The herb not only tastes good in culinary dishes, such as rosemary chicken and lamb, but it is also a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6.
The herb has been hailed since ancient times for its medicinal properties. Rosemary was traditionally used to help alleviate muscle pain, improve memory, boost the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth.
BENEFITS OF ROSEMARY
Some of the many potential health benefits of rosemary include:
- Rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are thought to help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation.
- It is considered a cognitive stimulant and can help improve memory performance and quality. It is also known to boost alertness, intelligence, and focus.
- The aroma of rosemary has been linked to improving mood, clearing the mind, and relieving stress in those with chronic anxiety or stress hormone imbalances.
- The oil of rosemary promotes hair growth, prevent baldness, slow graying, used for dandruff treatment and dry scalp.
- Rosemary is often used for digestion problems, including heartburn, intestinal gas, liver and gallbladder complaints, and loss of appetite.
- Rosemary is specifically powerful against bacterial infections. It is linked to preventing staph infections.
- The nutrients in rosemary help protect skin cells from damage often caused by the sun and free radicals.
- Also, a report published in the Journal of Food Science revealed that adding rosemary extract to ground beef reduces the formation of cancer-causing agents that can develop during cooking.
- Rosemary is safe when taken in low doses, but if consumed in very large doses if can lead to serious side effects, such as vomiting, spasms, coma, or even pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).
- High doses of rosemary may cause miscarriage; therefore it is not advisable for pregnant women to take any supplemental rosemary. Please consult with your doctor before incorporating rosemary into your diet.
