Oregano Health Benefits, Nutrition and Herb Facts

Health Benefits of Eating Oregano Herb

• Oregano has a remarkable set of plant-based compounds that are good in disease blocking and health enhancing properties.
   

• Oregano herb contains polyphenolic flavonoid antioxidants such as carotenes, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin A and is regarded as among the plant source that has the highest antioxidant activities. All these compounds help serve as scavengers against free radicals as well as reactive oxygen species that cause aging and other diseases.
   

• Oregano is rich in health promoting essential oils including carvacrol, caryophyllene, limonene, ocimene, pinene and thymol. Thymol is proven to have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activities. The leaves and stems of oregano are highly antispasmodic, antiseptic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, expectorant, stimulant, and with gently tonic properties.
   

• Oregano tea is usually consumed to treat common colds, influenza, moderate fevers, stomach upsets, indigestion and painful menstruation. Oregano tea can be made by steeping 3 tablespoons fresh crushed oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano in about 8 oz of hot boiling water for 10 minutes.
   

• Oregano contains a good deal of the antioxidant vitamin C. It helps our body build resistance to protect against infectious agents and also scavenge harmful free radicals.
   

• The herb is also rich in minerals such as potassium, manganese, calcium, magnesium and iron. Potassium helps our body to control heartbeat as well as blood pressure level. Manganese (along with copper) acts as co-factors for the antioxidant superoxide dismutase enzymes, while iron helps protect against anemia. Calcium and magnesium are essential minerals meant for bone metabolism.
   

• Oregano has no cholesterol, but contains a great deal of dietary fiber that helps regulate cholesterol in our body. Check out the oregano nutrition below.

Overview and Facts about Oregano Herb

Oregano (scientific name Origanum vulgare) is also called Common and Wild Marjoram, Winter Oregano and Greek Oregano. The name of oregano comes from the Greek, which means "mountain of happiness". It is an exotic, aromatic yet gently bitter herb from the family of mint. Top quality oregano carries a pungency that may numb your tongue. The highest quality oregano herb is cultivated in a dry and warm climate.

Sunshine promotes the concentration of the health benefiting essential oils that give the flavor of oregano. Two other types of herbs are usually employed in the similar ways as oregano but feature different medicinal and culinary properties. Mexican oregano that belongs to the verbena family has a much stronger taste, while marjoram that is less in essential oils has a gentler flavor.

The leaves of the herb were used by the Greeks as a poultice to relieve painful muscles, and were used by the Romans to treat spider and scorpion bites.

Oregano oil is not merely a strong antifungal, it also offers other health benefits and helps heal various kinds of diseases. The oil is very effective as an antifungal; very much like the raw crushed garlic.

Oregano Nutrition Facts and Calories
 

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