Friday, July 13, 2018

Health Benefits of Sage


Introduction
Sage has many healthy benefits for humans, such as improving brain function, lessen inflammation prevent chronic diseases, boost the immune system, regulate digestion, ease skin conditions, help strengthen bones, slow the onset of cognitive disorders as well as help prevent diabetes.  Let’s take a look at some of these benefits.
What is Sage?
In scientific terms, sage is called salvia officinalis.  A perennial woody herb, sage is related to rosemary, which is also good for the human body.  Sage benefits come from rosmarinic acid, an organic compound in rosemary.  Apart from rosemary, sage is an evergreen shrub with a woody stem and blue-purple flowers found in the Mediterranean region.  It was used more than 1,000 years ago as a cure for snakebites, protect against evil, boost female fertility—these uses are no longer relied on.  In modern times, sage is exported around the world for use in recipes in the U.S. and Middle East, as it makes savory dishes that give them a peppery flavor—a key ingredient for meat-based preparations.
Health Benefits of Sage
The combination use for culinary and medicinal uses for sage makes it valuable human health for the following reasons:
·         Boosts Cognition:  Sage can be inhaled or consumed in small amounts for recalling memory and retention.  This may boost brain activity to help increase concentration for students in school or challenging careers. 
·         Treats Inflammation:  Chewing sage leaves is effective for getting the organic compounds to your body, although it may not be a pleasurable experience.  Steeping a tincture of leaves can help relieve inflammation with respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, arthritis, gout, cardiovascular system that results in heart disease or high-blood pressure. 
·         Antioxidant Properties:  Chronic conditions and degenerative diseases with dangerous health concerns that are caused by free radicals and dangerous by-products in cellular metabolism attack healthy cells called apoptosis (mutation).  Sage uses rosmarinic acid—luteolin and apigenin—to neutralized these free radicals from creating oxidative stress in the heart and other organ systems, skin, joints, muscles and the brain.
·         Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease:  Sage can help stimulate brain function to improve memory and concentration to eliminate cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.  Neutral pathways stimulate extracts in essential oils to keep the mind alert and youthful as we get older.
·         Strengthen Immune System:  The anti-microbial properties in sage in small doses can make applications to ward against bacteria or viral infections which attack the human body through the skin.  The mouth and nose, usually how illness compromises the body’s health, is a gateway for foreign particles entering the body.  Topical creams with sage can be used as antibacterial route to keep out these foreign particles.

·         Improve Bone Health:  With its vast amounts of vitamin K, sage is often overlooked as a benefit to the body.  Although essential to the body for bone density and strengthen bone health as we age, vitamin K is not found in many foods.  Early signs of osteoporosis and a nutrient-poor or sedentary lifestyle can make bone health low.  But adding sage to your meals can increase vitamin K intake 27% for a single serving of the daily recommended allowance.
·         Skin Care:  Topical salves made from sage leaves can be effective for skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne.  It can reduce the blemishes by soothing the appearance by using sage extracts to any affected areas on the skin.
·         Manage Diabetes:  Health benefits in sage have a widespread agreement for diabetes.  The extracts and chemicals used in sage are the same drugs used to treat and manage diabetes.  By regulating and inhibiting stored glucose in the liver, prevent major blood-sugar spikes, prevent onset of type-2 diabetes, and help manage diabetes if it is already manifested.
·         Aides in Digestion:  The rosmarinic acid in sage is good for preventing gastric spasms and prevent occurrence of diarrhea and gastritis.  Adding sage to your meals can help get the digestive system on track to reduce inflammation in your stomach.
Caution
A word of caution for people who are allergic to herbs like mint, sage is from the mint family, despite the oxalates and purines found in sage.  Consult your doctor before adding sage to your diet

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