Rosemary

Rosemary is an excellent herb to help protect your memory and it is full of special flavonoids that have well documented health benefits. Rosemary is also a good source of nutrients like calcium, iron and magnesium, some B vitamins and vitamin C.

Flavonoids such as carnosic acid and carnosal have been extracted from Rosemary and it has been shown that they act as anti-inflammatories. While it was unclear exactly how this happens, what was shown was that the extracts were providing some defense against inflammation because the markers of inflammation were reduced. The flavonoid hesperidin in Rosemary has also been revealed to be very useful as an antioxidant, and other flavonoids have been identified as specifically being proactive in inhibiting the damage of free radicals.

Rosemary has been considered through the ages as being a therapeutic remedy for poor memory, and more recent research has suggested that it is the flavonoid rosmarinic acid in Rosemary that helps protect memory. Rosmarinic acid scavenges and clears up agents that are attributed with destroying memory processes in cases of conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Regularly adding Rosemary to your diet may be a simple preventive measure to protect your memory and mental functioning.

Rosemary has also been shown in research to reduce the effects of pain through acting on receptors to painful sensations. Extracts taken from Rosemary were shown to decrease the reactions to painful stimuli, and reduce inflammation. Often research is undertaken to establish if there is any basis to the folklore surrounding Rosemary as a healing herb. Researchers often suggest their results support the use of Rosemary for therapeutic purposes like pain relief in the case of headaches.

Rosemary is one of those items in the garden that has been researched more thoroughly with results showing it is definitely a healthy choice and useful addition to our diet. For those concerned about protecting their mental functioning, including Rosemary infusions and adding Rosemary to culinary dishes might be simple dietary measures that could work as a preventive in the longer term.

Information supplied by Steph Askeur
Fresh-cut enthusiast