Rosemary
Health essence of rosemary Potent Antioxidant In a comprehensive global analysis of over 3100 different foods published in the January 2010 edition of the Nutrition Journal, rosemary was found to have one of the highest antioxidant contents of all the foods studied. The leaves of rosemary are used to flavour a variety of dishes and beverages, and are added to some cosmetics. In its long and colourful history, this hardy Mediterranean spice has been used, among other things, as a symbol of fidelity and a guard against evil spirits and bad dreams. It has also gained an important place in traditional medicine, including its use as an antiseptic and as a treatment for respiratory problems, stomach cramps and arthritic pain. It is also believed to enhance the memory. More recently, it has become clear that rosemary is a valuable preventive agent against several chronic diseases and is one of several spices that contribute to the health-promoting effects of the “Mediterranean” diet. Medicinal PropertiesCancerThis herb contains significant quantities of several antioxidants which exhibit potent anti-tumourigenic properties and make it a valuable herb to be used in the fight against cancer. These include apigenin, salicylates, caffeic acid and ursolic acid.Cardiovascular DiseaseLike oregano, it has cardioprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and two of its compounds, carvacrol and rosmarinic acid, directly prevent the formation of atheromatous plaques in the arteries.Oleanolic and ursolic acid reduce the risk of atherogenesis even further by lowering abnormal blood lipid levels, while caffeic acid prevents platelet aggregation. These and other compounds give rosemary potent preventive properties in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Alzheimer's DiseaseRosemary provides two important anti-Alzheimer's compoundsCarnosic acid 1. Unlike many other plant compounds carnosic acid is able to cross the blood-brain barrier to protect the brain directly. 2. Carnosic acid helps dilate the left and right middle cerebral arteries – two of the major arteries carrying blood to the brain. Narrowing of these arteries with age is a common and important factor contributing to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. 3. Carnosic acid increases the body's production of the antioxidant, glutathione. Glutathione is one of the most important antioxidants that help to protect the brain against free radical damage. 4. Carnosic acid is one of the first naturally occurring compounds to demonstrate a valuable characteristic called pathological-activated-therapy (PAT). A property whereby a therapeutic agent works only in the presence of the pathological process that it is capable of acting against is called pathological-activated-therapy. Rosmarinic acid Although its mechanisms are not fully understood, like the phytochemicals in garlic and turmeric, rosmarinic acid prevents the deposition of amyloid plaque in the brain and may also contribute to its breakdown. ToxinsRosemary has specifically been shown to protect the liver from damage by environmental toxins.More broadly, potent antioxidants present in rosemary, such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid, are effective scavengers of free-radical toxins and assist in the prevention of inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular disease and cancer. AllergiesThe traditional its use as a treatment for respiratory problems has now been validated by clinical studies investigating its anti-allergenic properties.These have demonstrated that rosemary is an effective therapy for hay fever and asthma-causing allergies, and these anti-allergenic properties may well extend to other types of allergies. Spice supplementVitaSpice capsules contain rosemary and 20 other important medicinal spices
|
