Health Benefits of Rosemary

Rosemary is so easy to grow and has great health benefits besides adding flavor to your food. Here is an article a I found about the great benefits of rosemary.

Herbs and Spices are Some of the
Top Antioxidant Foods

It's a little-known fact that herbs (and spices) such as rosemary have far greater concentrations of antioxidants than any common fruit or vegetable. Herbs also contain a particularly wide variety of antioxidants as well, making them one of the top antioxidant foods around.
Antioxidants are nutrient compounds found in virtually all plant foods (and also manufactured in your body). The primary job of antioxidants is to protect your cells against the oxidative stress caused by free radicals, considered to be the primary cause of the aging process.
Protecting yourself against free radicals with antioxidants is the most effective way to reduce the risk of many health problems associated with aging. The benefits of antioxidants include powerful protection against all types of degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, and many more.
Antioxidants work together, synergistically, and each one has its own specific characteristics and benefits. One antioxidant may work in places in the body where another one can't go, and neutralize free radicals that other antioxidants miss. Therefore, getting the widest variety of antioxidants is just as important as how much of any one antioxidant you get. See my page on How Do Antioxidants Work? to learn more about this.

Adding more herbs and spices to your diet
greatly increases the variety of antioxidants that
you get from your diet, and is one of the most
effective measures you can take against
disease and premature aging.

Specific Health Benefits of Rosemary

Improved Mental Capacity. Rosemary has been shown to increase the blood flow to the head and brain, improving concentration. It stimulates mental activity and is a good remedy for depression and mental fatigue, and can relieve some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Inhaling rosemary oil can lift your spirits immediately.
Respiratory Problems. The benefits of rosemary oil in treating respiratory problems are well known. Rosemary oil gives relief from respiratory allergies, cold, throat congestion, sore throat and flu. Since rosemary oil is antiseptic it is effective for respiratory infections as well. Rosemary also contains anti-inflammatory properties that may make it useful for reducing the severity of asthma attacks.
Indigestion. The benefits of rosemary oil are often used for indigestion, flautulence and stomach cramps. Rosemary can be added to meat dishes as it helps in digesting these, especially lamb, beef and pork. It does this by causing the gallbladder to produce greater quantities of bile. Rosemary suppresses symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome such as flatulence and intestinal cramping.
Cancer Prevention. Another health benefit of rosemary extract is an ability to protect the body from certain carcinogens such as alfatoxin and help defuse carcinogens through the liver. Research is also being carried out to study its potential in treating various types of caners including colon, stomach, breast and lung cancer. Rosemary has also been shown to protect DNA from cancerous-causing chemicals.
Other Health Benefits of Rosemary. A daily dose of rosemary extract in liquid form can improve kidney function significantly. Other claimed health benefits of rosemary oil include its usage for disorders in menstrual cramps, peptic ulcer, urine flow, prostrate, gall bladder, intestine, cataract, heart and sperm mobility. Rosemary acts as a fungicide by killing candida yeast and destroying any yeast-infected cells.
Read more: http://www.antioxidants-for-health-and-longevity.com/health-benefits-of-rosemary.html