The Health Benefits of Sage
Many people have heard of the many health benefits of sage but do not really understand how this herb benefits the body or why they should include it in their daily health regimens. Many people just love the smell and taste of sage. Others simply do not know what all of the health benefits of sage are. The truth is that there are quite a few. Let’s take a quick look at just a few.
One of the most important health benefits of sage is its ability to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It also contains powerful antioxidants that are very effective at preventing cancer as well as other diseases. Sage also has remarkable anti-inflammatory properties and the substance salvia that grows on its branches is an active ingredient in some prescription medications like aspirin. The beneficial effects of sage can include its ability to improve brain functions, lower blood pressure, prevent many chronic diseases, improve the immune system, reduce digestive problems, ease skin problems and many more.
As stated earlier, sage comes from the Mediterranean area and its greatest contributions to the health of humans are found in its flavorful and medicinal uses. You may have heard of the common herb salvia which is the main ingredient in sage tea. That’s right – sage tea is a classic blend of dried herbs. In the United States, salvia is mostly harvested from sagebrush shrubs grown throughout the southwestern U.S., New Mexico and Arizona. It is the flavor of the sage that makes this beverage so popular.
Another of the sage health benefits is its ability to reduce cholesterol. Research has shown that this herb lowers total blood cholesterol by as much as 5%. While this reduction is only partial, it is still an improvement over the status quo. When it comes to reducing overall cholesterol, sage benefits seem to outweigh its cons.
What’s more, there are also several other health benefits of sage that make it great for cooking. Like other members of the Aloe family, sage has a high concentration of powerful antioxidant vitamins like vitamin K and vitamin C. As an antioxidant, these vitamins help rid the body of free radicals that can cause damage to other cells in the body. These free radicals can form heart disease, cancer and stroke. This is why the daily consumption of a cup of tea made from fresh or dried sage leaves will provide you with a number of health benefits.
Finally, drinking a delicious cup of tea made from sage has another benefit besides the health benefits. You will also enjoy the delicious flavor that comes from the finely chopped herbs. Sage adds a bit of complexity and elegance to bland food that is typically served cold. Whether you add it to a salad, make a dish with chicken or create a delicious casserole, you will enjoy the unique flavor of adding sage to your cooking. The only drawback is if you do not like the flavor of sage, you may not want to include it as an ingredient in your next meal.
