Benefits, Uses, And Side Effects
Rosemary is an herb that helps improve gut health, boost memory, and improve mood. It also helps to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and protect the immune system. Moreover, rosemary can help protect against macular degeneration, stimulate circulation, detoxify the body, and heal many skin conditions.
This herb is considered to be sacred by ancient Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, as well as Hebrews and is particularly prevalent in Italian cultural cuisine. It is also known as ‘Dew of the Sea’ or ‘Old man’.
What is Rosemary?
Rosemary is a fragrant, woody herb native to the Mediterranean region. Its scientific name is Rosmarinus officinalis and it belongs to the Lamiaceae family, with other herbs, such as thyme, oregano, lavender, and basil. It has fine needle-like leaves with a silver touch and pink, purple, white, or blue flowers.
Rosemary has a warm, bitter, and astringent taste. Unlike many other herbs that lose their potency when dried, rosemary retains its taste even in the dried form. It gives a wonderful flavor and aroma to soups, sauces, stews, and chicken roasts.
Rosemary is rich in nutrients that help boost your immunity, reduce muscle pain, and improve your memory. Many people also use it for hair growth. It is available in many forms from fresh and dried to powdered forms for cooking. Rosemary tea, extracts, and essential oil are also used for these benefits. [1]
Rosemary NutritionAccording to USDA, fresh rosemary has a very high reserve of vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, thiamin, and folate. It contains minerals like magnesium, calcium, and iron. Moreover, it has abundant antioxidants in the form of phenolic compounds like diterpene, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. The essential oils in it contain powerful ingredients such as cineol, camphene, borneol, bornyl acetate, α-terpineol, and α-pinene. [2] [5] [4] [3]Aside from the nutrients mentioned above, the herb contains dietary fiber. It is low in cholesterol and sodium but high in saturated fats.
Rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)
1 Oz