Oregano, also known as marjoram or oregano, is an aromatic herb that has been used in cooking for thousands of years. Who has never surrendered, for example, a cheese pizza, ham, tomato and oregano ?!
"I think oregano always gives a different flavor to foods?" I love to season cabbage salad with it, for example. But of course, the truth is that it goes with everything: pizza, pasta in general, etc. ?, comments Patricia Medeiro, 27, teacher.
Maria Leme, 58, a housewife, also loves oregano and says she uses the herb to prepare most foods. ? When I make a cheese and vegetable pie, for example, do I add some oregano? In the sauce of noodles also can not miss? Anyway, oregano makes any recipe tastier ?, he says.
What few people know is that the herb, in addition to its important role in providing more flavor to food in cooking, also offers a number of health benefits.
? Oregano has several nutritional properties that can help the functioning of our body ?, comments nutritionist and personal diet Sabrina Lopes.
Below you will find this and other information about this herb that is already part of the diet of most people.
Health Benefits of Oregano
Sabrina Lopes talks about the benefits of oregano for the body:
- It has antioxidant property (antioxidants help to protect cells against the effects of free radicals).
- It is anti-inflammatory.
- It is antibacterial. The antibacterial action of oregano helps fight against the bacterium Helicobacter pylori? mainly responsible for gastric and duodenal ulcer. It also promotes the balance of intestinal flora, which also helps our immune system and the absorption of important substances into the body ?, explains nutritionist Sabrina Lopes.
- It acts on the digestive system. "It acts on the digestive system by stimulating the production of digestive enzymes, and also through substances such as tannin, cervacol, cymene and linalol." that guarantee digestive properties reducing gas formation and preventing colic in the intestine ?, highlights Sabrina Lopes.
- It has diuretic action. "Oregano has a mild diuretic action, it aids blood circulation and also prevents swelling, extreme weight variations and leg pain," explains nutritionist Sabrina.
- Has expectorant action. "When oregano is used in tea form, it has expectorant action, relieving coughs," says Sabrina Lopes.
- Has antifungal action. "Fighting fungi like candida, through the active substance in oregano, carvacrol?" that has property to inhibit the growth of this fungus ?, explains the professional.
- Stimulates the immune system due to the presence of thymol.
Oregano vs. Cancer
Some international studies have even shown oregano as an important ally in the fight against cancer.
In 2012, for example, research at the University of Long Island in the United States found that the herb could be used to fight prostate cancer. That's because, according to the researchers, a substance called carvacrol, present in oregano, induces cancer cells to self-destruct.
Recently, biologists at United Arab Emirates University also reported that oregano may help slow or prevent cancer progression in women with breast cancer.
However, it is important to highlight that further studies should be done to confirm these possible benefits of oregano in the fight against cancer.
How to use oregano in food
In the market, says Sabrina Lopes, it is possible to find oregano in the form of essential oil, fresh leaves and, more commonly, dried oregano leaves.
Sabrina Lopes explains that oregano is commonly used in typical Italian dishes such as tomato sauces, eggplant parmigiana and pizza. "But it can also be used daily in the kitchen as a spice in vegetable stock, meat, fish and poultry," he says.
Many people still have the habit of seasoning the salad with some oregano. Another option is to use oregano in the preparation of herbal salt (green salt) and use it instead of common salt in your recipes. Here's how easy it is to prepare it:
"It's also possible to make tea with the herb and add it to the cabbage juice," adds nutritionist Sabrina.
The nutritionist points out that oregano should be inserted at the end of the recipe, as well as the other spices. "Avoid putting it first because high temperatures can cause loss of nutritional properties," he explains.
How to store oregano at home?
Ideally, store the dried oregano in a dry, dark and away from heat to conserve the herb's properties, as explained by Sabrina Lopes. "Avoid high temperatures, so avoid open shelves on or near the stove or other heat-producing appliance," he says.
Fresh oregano can be frozen to maintain its properties longer. "Do not use if there are changes in the color or odor of the herb," adds nutritionist Sabrina.
How to grow oregano at home?
As with other herbs, oregano is easy to plant: either in the garden or indoors from small plants or seeds.
It is possible to grow oregano in your garden. This oregano can be stored fresh, frozen and even you can do the drying process of this oregano. People using this method ensure that the taste and aroma of home-grown herbs are special ?, concludes nutritionist Sabrina.
Check out the video below to create your own mini home garden to grow your favorite seasonings:
In the following walkthrough, you learn how to dehydrate herbs to conserve them much longer:
Now you have some more good reasons to consume oregano! In addition to flavoring the food, the herb can offer different health benefits!
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