Tagged with 'oregano'

We always thought oregano was just for flavoring pasta sauce, but turns out oregano is really healthy for you, too. Learn more here.

I add it to chicken, casseroles, and spaghetti sauce, but oregano does more than add flavor to your food! It contains vitamins A, C, E, K and B₆, as well as fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. For the sciency type, oregano contains two powerful phytonutrients, thymol and rosmarinic acid, which also function as potent antioxidants that prevent damage to cells throughout the body.

Various Health Benefits of Oregano Oil

Immune System

Oregano oil is being studied for an array of medical uses. It contains a compound called carvacrol, which has been shown to help break through the body’s outer cell membranes that help protect bacteria from the immune system.

In particular, studies show oregano oil is effective at killing bacteria, and could also help the immune system fight off viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.  

Next time you feel a cold coming on, add some oregano leaf to a homemade soup or stew for an immune system boost.

Oral Health

The thymol in oregano oil is not only a phytonutrient, but is also used in many mouthwashes to combat bacteria, plaque and bad breath. Try adding a drop of two of oregano oil on your toothbrush with or without toothpaste.

Cholesterol

In people with high cholesterol, research shows taking oregano after each meal for 3 months can reduce LDL, or “bad” cholesterol and increase HDL, or “good” cholesterol.

Intestinal Parasites

Oregano is possibly effective for treating parasites in the intestines. The active compound, carvacrol, promotes a healthy environment in the GI tract. Taking oregano oil for 6 weeks can kill the parasites Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba hartmanni, and Endolimax nana.

Controlling Microorganisms

When compared to other essential oils from herbs, oregano oil is more effective than others at inhibiting bacterial and fungal infections, such as E.coli, listeria, and staphylococcus aureus.

How to Incorporate Oregano Herb and Oil:

• Garnish it on top of your pizza.

• Add to sautéed mushrooms and onions.

• Add a few sprigs to your olive oil to infuse the oil with the essence of the herb.

• Fresh oregano is an aromatic addition to omelets and frittatas.

• Add to homemade pasta, garlic bread, and spaghetti sauce.

• High quality oregano and oregano oil may help improve your health, as research continually shows.

• Oregano oil (diluted in coconut oil) can be used on skin infections to boost healing.

• It can be diluted for effective use on athlete’s foot and fungal infections.

• Oregano oil diluted in olive oil can be rubbed on sore muscles and joints for pain relief.

Tips and Notes: Oregano oil should be avoided during pregnancy, but culinary oregano leaf is considered fine.

When cooking with oregano, add fresh oregano toward the end of the cooking process since heat can easily cause a loss of its delicate flavor. It’s best to add dried oregano at the beginning of the cooking time.

Enjoy!

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

References:

Web MD. Oregano. 

Elgayyar M. Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils from Plants against Selected Pathogenic and Saprophytic Microorganisms. Journal of Food Protection, Number 7, July 2001, pp. 927-1084, pp. 1019-1024(6). 

Georgetown University Medical Center. Oregano Oil May Protect Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria, Georgetown Researcher Finds. ScienceDaily. 2001 October 11.  

Mark Force, William S. Sparks, Robert A. Ronzio. Inhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano in vivo. Phytotherapy Research. 200 May 11. vol.14 issue3 DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(200005)14:3<213::AID-PTR583>3.0.CO;2-U.