Spice Up Your Life #6: The Value Of Oregano

Do you use oregano? I bet that at the most you sprinkle it on your pizza or maybe you add it to your pasta sauce, but that’s about it, right?
Well, after you finish reading this post and discover all the health benefits of this herb I’m sure you’ll find new ways to enjoy it!

Powerful antioxidant

Oregan is packed with phytonutrients (such as thymol and rosmarinic acid) that are potent antioxidants.
In a study published in the August 2009 issues of the “Journal of Medicinal Food” researchers found that oregano has a highly antioxidant activity, 4 times stronger than blueberries.
Oregano was listed as a food source high in the flavonoid luteolin in a study conducted at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Seville, Spain. Luteolin has considerable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer health benefits.

Anti-Bacterial

Thymol is also been found to have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal activities. Another phytonutrient contained in oregano, carvacrol, has the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria.
In Mexico, a team of researchers have compared oregano to a prescription drug used against infection from an amoeba called Giardia lamblia and found that oregano was way more effective than said drug.

Packed with nutrients

Oregano is a great source of vitamin K, a very good source of manganese, iron, calcium and other vitamins.
Look at the table below from nutritiondata.self.com and see for yourself how just one teaspoon of oregano brings to your health.

Start using it!

Fresh as well as dried oregano herb is available in the herb stores all around the year. Whenever possible, buy fresh leaves over the dried form of the herb since it is superior in flavor and rich in many vital vitamins and anti-oxidants like beta-carotene, vitamin C, and folates.
My advice is to not limit the use of oregano just on your pizza/pasta. It goes really well with chicken and - especially the fresh one - can make a valuable add-on to your salads!

The Iron You