Oregano is usually thought of as a culinary herb used in Italian, Greek and Mediterranean cooking, but it has also been used for many centuries as a medicinal plant.
Traditionally, the health benefits of oregano oil have been used to treat a wide range of conditions from bacterial and viral infections to parasites and asthma. Although oregano oil is the most-often form used for medicinal purposes, the spice oregano could be presumed to provide many of the same benefits when consumed regularly.
Oregano has one of the highest levels of antioxidants found in any spice or food. Ounce-for-ounce, oregano has shown 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 12 times more than oranges, and 4 times more than blueberries. Oregano has good amounts of vitamin K and, iron, manganese and fiber. It's also a good source of calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C and omega 3 fatty acids.
It's a little-known fact that herbs (and spices) such as oregano have far greater concentrations of antioxidants than any common fruit or vegetable source. 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.
Traditionally, the health benefits of oregano oil have been used to treat a wide range of conditions from bacterial and viral infections to parasites and asthma. Although oregano oil is the most-often form used for medicinal purposes, the spice oregano could be presumed to provide many of the same benefits when consumed regularly.
Oregano has one of the highest levels of antioxidants found in any spice or food. Ounce-for-ounce, oregano has shown 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 12 times more than oranges, and 4 times more than blueberries. Oregano has good amounts of vitamin K and, iron, manganese and fiber. It's also a good source of calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C and omega 3 fatty acids.
It's a little-known fact that herbs (and spices) such as oregano have far greater concentrations of antioxidants than any common fruit or vegetable source. 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.
The health benefits of oregano are often obtained using oregano oil, extracted by steam distillation from fresh oregano leaves. for centuries, people have recognized the antibacterial and disinfectant properties of oregano oil and used it for treatment of different infections of skin, diseases and wounds.
Anti viral and anti bacterial properties. Oregano oil has anti viral and anti bacterial properties. It thus provides protection against many infections caused by bacteria and viruses. This includes colds, mumps, measles, pox and other problems created by viruses.
Oregano protects you against most of the diseases caused by bacteria, such as infections, typhoid, cholera, skin infections and food poisoning. The health benefits of oregano provide natural immunization against diseases like cold, pox, measles, mumps.
Anti fungal and anti parasitic properties. Oregano oil is very useful against many fungi and parasites. Regular use of oregano oil, internally and externally, protects against fungal infections. Oregano oil, when ingested, gets you rid of many types of parasites, such as round worms and tape worms.
Other health benefits of oregano oil. Oregano oil is good on relieving any type of inflammation, internal or external, and can offer relief from allergies. Oregano oil promotes digestion and relieves congestion and pain, without side effects.
The health benefits of oregano are so numerous, ideally you'd want to have some every day. However, as with any herb or spice, you may find it impractical to include oregano in your meal plans that often.
There's an easy way to accomplish this — by making yourself a fresh smoothie every day and adding some oregano and other spices to your recipe. Fresh smoothies make for some of the most nutritious, delicious and easy-to-make meals you could imagine. They're a great way to get more of those "good for you" antioxidant-rich foods (that you may not get enough of) into your diet.
I personally use herbs such as basil, cilantro and parsley in my green smoothie recipes to give them more of the benefits of dark green leafy vegetables. Because they're so concentrated with antioxidants, you can use a much smaller amount than you would with other greens like kale or spinach, and they won't overwhelm the flavor of your smoothie recipe.
Also, you can use other spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, turmeric and others in smoothie recipes, mostly for their added antioxidant benefits. Once they're blended in with all the other ingredients, you can't really distinguish any one particular taste. Experiment a little to get the flavor just right for you.
Action Against Harmful Organisms
More Detailed Health Benefits of Oregano Oil
Recommendations for Oregano
If you want to get all of the health benefits of oregano, you'll want to stay away from typical supermarket brands of bottled spices. Most of them are irradiated in order to destroy microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses that might be present.
Irradiation, however, damages the integrity of the spice — destroying vitamins, minerals, proteins and other beneficial micronutrients. Irradiation also creates more free radicals, just the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish by eating spices.
The health benefits of oregano are also available in capsules and liquid oregano oil.
Anti viral and anti bacterial properties. Oregano oil has anti viral and anti bacterial properties. It thus provides protection against many infections caused by bacteria and viruses. This includes colds, mumps, measles, pox and other problems created by viruses.
Oregano protects you against most of the diseases caused by bacteria, such as infections, typhoid, cholera, skin infections and food poisoning. The health benefits of oregano provide natural immunization against diseases like cold, pox, measles, mumps.
Anti fungal and anti parasitic properties. Oregano oil is very useful against many fungi and parasites. Regular use of oregano oil, internally and externally, protects against fungal infections. Oregano oil, when ingested, gets you rid of many types of parasites, such as round worms and tape worms.
Other health benefits of oregano oil. Oregano oil is good on relieving any type of inflammation, internal or external, and can offer relief from allergies. Oregano oil promotes digestion and relieves congestion and pain, without side effects.
The health benefits of oregano are so numerous, ideally you'd want to have some every day. However, as with any herb or spice, you may find it impractical to include oregano in your meal plans that often.
There's an easy way to accomplish this — by making yourself a fresh smoothie every day and adding some oregano and other spices to your recipe. Fresh smoothies make for some of the most nutritious, delicious and easy-to-make meals you could imagine. They're a great way to get more of those "good for you" antioxidant-rich foods (that you may not get enough of) into your diet.
I personally use herbs such as basil, cilantro and parsley in my green smoothie recipes to give them more of the benefits of dark green leafy vegetables. Because they're so concentrated with antioxidants, you can use a much smaller amount than you would with other greens like kale or spinach, and they won't overwhelm the flavor of your smoothie recipe.
Also, you can use other spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, turmeric and others in smoothie recipes, mostly for their added antioxidant benefits. Once they're blended in with all the other ingredients, you can't really distinguish any one particular taste. Experiment a little to get the flavor just right for you.
Action Against Harmful Organisms
- A recent study on the activity of multiple essential oils against harmful organisms found that both oregano and thyme oils showed the strongest activity.
- Inhibition of the growth of enteric organisms. A 6-weeks study on individuals with organisms found that supplementation with 600 mg of oregano oil daily led to a complete disappearance of the harmful organisms. It may also protect us against a wide variety of infiltration within the body, as well as the physical environment. This includes round worms, tape worms, bed bugs, lice, fleas and mosquitoes.
More Detailed Health Benefits of Oregano Oil
- Resistant to redness and swelling
- Can help relieve congestion
- Emmenagogue — Oregano oil can aid irregular menstruation and reducing the negative effects of menopause.
- Calms sensitivities to environmental irritants. Oregano oils produce a sedating effect on the hyper-sensitivity of allergies.
- Potent anti-oxidant capacity — Through neutralizing free-radicals, oregano oil helps us slow the process of cellular deterioration, thus slowing the process of aging.
- Rosmarinic acid, a component of oil of oregano, is an antihistamine, and a more powerful antioxidant than vitamin E.
- Digestive aid — Stimulates the flow of bile in the digestive organs
- With regular use, oregano oil can help protect us against fungal infections.
Recommendations for Oregano
If you want to get all of the health benefits of oregano, you'll want to stay away from typical supermarket brands of bottled spices. Most of them are irradiated in order to destroy microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses that might be present.
Irradiation, however, damages the integrity of the spice — destroying vitamins, minerals, proteins and other beneficial micronutrients. Irradiation also creates more free radicals, just the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish by eating spices.
The health benefits of oregano are also available in capsules and liquid oregano oil.