Rosemary

Rosemary is a very popular herb and its dried version is well known seasoning in various recipes like soups, fish, meat and stews.



Traditionally besides being famous aromatic herb rosemary was often used to strengthen memory. It has a unique combination of rich fragrance and pine like flavor that evokes both the sea and the forest.



Rosemary grows on a small shrub related to mint and belonging to Labiatae family. The shape of the leaves is like flat pine tree needles that have a deep green color with a silver white line on the underside.

Health benefits of rosemary –

1. Rosemary is considered a good source of calcium, iron and dietary fiber, however in the drying process 40% of calcium and iron is lost. Fresh leaves also contain manganese.
2. The essential oils in rosemary have a rejuvenating effect and help to strengthen the capillaries when applied tropically. Rosemary in olden times was used as a natural anti-ageing agent to prevent ageing and wrinkles, but recent clinical findings have proved its cosmetic effects. This is the reason why rosemary is commonly found in various cosmetics for skin care like soaps, creams, toners and hair products.
3. Besides being used in the kitchen and in the cosmetic industry, rosemary also has its medicinal value. The active components in rosemary help to boost the immune system and helps improve stomach upsets, headaches, digestion and circulation. The anti-inflammatory compounds in rosemary that is caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid helps to decrease the severity of asthma attacks and also helps in liver disease and heart disease.
   
   
   
   Rosemary is also believed to prevent cancer, boost liver functioning, prevent age-related skin damage and reduce swelling by acting as a mild diuretic.
4. The antioxidant compounds along with vitamin E in rosemary also protect the body against cancer. They help to scavenge the free radicals and decrease the oxidative stress in the body. They also protect the DNA which is your genetic blueprint from free radical damage significantly. These free radicals if not kept in check can increase proliferation of the cells and increase the risk of cancer.
5. Any imbalance of estrogen in women can pose a risk of breast cancer; rosemary is a natural way to block these effects of estrogen and reduces the chances of breast cancer.
6. Rosemary can be effectively used in a detox diet as it has the ability to inactivate and flush the toxic substances from the liver before they can cause any damage.