Oregano has been a staple at all pizza joints, subtly elevating the taste of pizzas with a dash of chilly flakes. All of us are so used to peppering our pizzas with copious amounts of oregano, without even knowing the tremendous health benefits the herb offers! Let alone pizzas, oregano flakes have been playing the perfect sidekick to salads too!
Apart from pizzas and salads, oregano is a staple in many cuisines across the world – but it wasn’t until recently that the popularity of this herb soared. Primarily, oregano had been widely used in Mediterranean cuisine, not just to add flavour to food, but also as a medicine. Gradually, oregano has managed to make its place in Italian, Asian and other popular cuisines in the world.
It is one of those herbs that can fit into any cuisine, thanks to its unique flavour. The herb is known for its robust, slightly peppery taste with a tinge of sweetness. Owing to how easily it blends into foods, the flavour of oregano may go unnoticed most of the time, just like its benefits. And we’re here to highlight exactly what we all miss out on – the impressive nutritional profile of oregano! Let’s have a look:
Loaded with Antioxidants
As oregano is high in antioxidants, it boosts our body’s ability to deal with inflammation effectively. It is important to tackle free radicals in our body, which when left unattended, can result in chronic inflammation in the body. This in turn results in illnesses such as arthritis, heart ailments and even arthritis. But with antioxidant-rich foods such as oregano, you can easily prevent cell damage, protecting your body from a whole range of illnesses.
Rich in Anti-bacterial Properties
The main elements in oregano are thymol and carvacrol, both of which have excellent antibacterial properties. Research shows that oregano oil displays significant antibacterial activity against microbes, making it an important part of treating a variety of diseases.
Protection Against Cancer
As oregano is rich in antioxidants, it’s no secret that it can help neutralise damage caused by free radicals in the body. One of the major ailments caused by chronic ailments is cancer – and we need to include a variety of foods in our meals to ensure that our body is adept enough to deal with different types of cell damage as well as inhibit the development of cancer cells – and oregano is one of them!
Helps Deal With Digestive Ailments
Oregano oil in particular is beneficial when it comes to digestive ailments. Consumption of oregano can help treat digestion-related illnesses such as cramps, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome and a lot more. They also help alleviate the discomfort caused due to digestive bacteria, helping you recover from such illnesses quickly.
How to Include More Oregano in Your Diet?
Oregano can instantly enhance the taste of any food – as we mentioned before, oregano flakes are a staple on pizzas and salads. Apart from this, you can also consider adding oregano to soups, for better absorption of the nutrients into the body. The herb can also be added to stews and spice mixes used to prepare curries in different cuisines. And of course, you’re free to add them to kinds of pasta, garlic bread and basically anything that you feel needs a dash of flavour and nutrition!
Oregano is available in different forms – you can use the fresh oregano leaves for the best results. But in case you cannot get your hands on them, you can always make do with the dried, powdered form. Oregano oils are popular too and can be used in a variety of recipes.
Summing Up
The next time you’re adding oregano to your pizza or any other dish, remember, is not just another herb. It is a powerful herb, which when used right can help us steer clear of any future ailments and deal with illnesses we’re presently suffering from. And yes, as oregano is a herb, you need to ensure you use it in moderation. Excess of anything comes with its set of side effects, and oregano is no exception. Choose your foods wisely and use them carefully too!
