Oregano is considered a staple herb in many cuisines around the world. It has a strong flavor and brings warmth to dishes, along with a touch of subtle sweetness.
It can be found fresh, dried, or in oil form, and all are said to have significant health benefits.
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Although usually used in small amounts, oregano does contain some important nutrients. Just one teaspoon of dried oregano can meet about 8% of your daily vitamin K needs..
from helping fight bacteria until reduce inflammationstudies have uncovered some of its impressive potential benefits.
This article looks at 6 evidence-based health benefits of oregano.
1. Oregano is rich in antioxidants
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oregano it is rich in antioxidantswhich are compounds that They help fight harmful free radical damage in the body.
The accumulation of free radicals It has been linked to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Several test-tube studies have found that oregano and oregano oil are rich in antioxidants.
The essential oil of oregano is especially rich in carvacrol and thymol, two antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals.
In combination with other foods high in antioxidants such as fruits and vegetablesoregano could provide a good dose of antioxidants that can help improve your health.
2. Oregano can help fight bacteria
Oregano contains certain compounds that have powerful antibacterial properties.
A test-tube study showed that oregano essential oil helped block the growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosatwo strains of bacteria that can cause infection.
Another study found that oregano was effective against 23 species of bacteria.
Also, a laboratory study compared the antimicrobial activity of essential oils of oregano, sage and thyme. Oregano was one of the most efficient essential oils against bacteria, after thyme.
Current research is limited to studies that have used concentrated amounts of this herb. Therefore, more research is needed to determine how these results might affect humans.
3. It could have anti-cancer properties
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Oregano is rich in antioxidants. These compounds can not only neutralize free radical damage, but can also help in cancer prevention.
Some studies have shown that oregano and its components can help destroy cancer cells.
An investigation treated human colon cancer cells with oregano extract and found that it stopped the growth of cancer cells and helped kill them.
another study A test-tube study showed that carvacrol, one of the components of oregano, also helped suppress the growth and spread of colon cancer cells.
However, you should keep in mind that these were studies that used large amounts of the herb and its compounds. Human studies using typical doses are needed to determine its effects.
4. Oregano can help reduce viral infection
In addition to fighting bacteria, some research has found that oregano and its components they can also protect against some viruses.
In particular, the carvacrol and thymol are two oregano compounds that have been associated with antiviral properties.
In a studycarvacrol inactivated norovirusa viral infection that causes diarrhea, nausea, and stomach painwithin an hour of treatment.
Another test tube study found that thymol and carvacrol inactivated 90% of herpes simplex virus in just one hour.
While these results are promising, additional research is needed on how oregano may affect viral infections in humans.
5. Oregano May Decrease Inflammation
Image by Hans Linde from Pixabay/Fresh Oregano
Inflammation is a normal immune response that occurs as a result of disease or injury.
However, it is believed that Chronic inflammation contributes to the development of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.
Oregano is rich in antioxidants, which can help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation.
It also contains compounds like carvacrol that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. In a study With animals, carvacrol reduced swelling in the paws of mice by up to 57%.
Another animal study showed that a mixture of essential oils of thyme and oregano reduced the number of inflammatory markers in mice with colitis or an inflamed colon.
Remember that these studies looked at the effects of oregano and its components in highly concentrated amounts.
Studies are needed to determine how a normal dose might affect inflammation in humans.
Oregano is very easy to add to the diet
Although you may think of oregano as a topping reserved solely for pizza and pasta dishes, this versatile herb can be used in many ways.
Try mixing whole oregano leaves with other vegetables for a nutrient-packed salad, or sprinkle the leaves on stews, soups, or casseroles.
You can also use it to make fresh pesto or salad dressing, flavor meat dishes, or enhance the flavor of homemade sauces.
Oregano is available fresh, dried, or in oil form, making it easy to add to your diet and improve the quality of your diet.