Key Takeaways<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re on a mission to reduce inflammation<\/a>, you\u2019re not alone. Chronic inflammation is at the root of many health symptoms<\/a>, including fatigue, joint pain<\/a>, and stomach upset\u2014just to name a few examples. Fortunately, there are plenty of foods that fight inflammation<\/a>, from fruits to tea<\/a>. But what about herbs, a key component of delicious and colorful dishes? As it turns out, herbs can boost the anti-inflammatory potential of a meal, and there\u2019s one that\u2019s particularly helpful. Ahead, a registered dietitian calls out the best herb for inflammation, including how it works in the body, and ways to eat it at home.<\/p>\n Best Herb for Inflammation <\/p>\n If you want to boost the anti-inflammatory potential of your meals, reach for rosemary<\/a>. The lemony pine-like herb contains phytochemicals (more specifically, phenolic compounds) that provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant<\/a> properties, according to Madeline Schneider, RDN, LDN, registered dietitian and founder of The Nurtured Nutritionist.\n<\/p>\n If you\u2019re unfamiliar with phytochemicals, they\u2019re \u201cnaturally-occurring bioactive chemicals found in plants that provide health benefits to the body,\u201d explains Schneider. In rosemary, the main anti-inflammatory phytochemical is carnosic acid, which \u201cworks by activating enzymes that make up the body\u2019s natural defense system against inflammation,\u201d says Schneider. It also targets inflammatory cytokines (a type of protein), which cause inflammation in the body, notes Schneider.\n<\/p>\n But carnosic acid doesn\u2019t work alone. Rosemary also contains rosmarinic acid\u2014a phenolic compound that boasts \u201canti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, thereby reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body,\u201d per Schneider.\n<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that rosemary, like other herbs, is eaten in small amounts in dishes\u2014so simply adding it to your meals won\u2019t completely conquer all inflammation. As Schneider notes, it would take unrealistically large amounts of rosemary to significantly help with inflammation. \u201cThat\u2019s why eating a well-balanced diet with a variety of nutrient-dense foods<\/a> can help you better meet nutrient needs [and] provide health benefits, such as lowering inflammation, over time in a cumulative effect,\u201d notes Schneider.\n<\/p>\n With that in mind, it\u2019s more practical to focus on a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods\u2014and then find opportunities to incorporate rosemary for additional flavor and benefits.\n<\/p>\n More Rosemary Health Benefits <\/p>\n \u201cBeyond fighting inflammation, rosemary also provides many other health benefits,\u201d shares Schneider. This includes \u201cantimicrobial properties to help fight infection, antioxidants to help fight cellular damage, antitumorigenic properties to slow the growth of cancer cells, and neuroprotective benefits,\u201d explains Schneider.\n<\/p>\n How to Eat More Rosemary <\/p>\n \u201cRosemary can be added to dishes as a fresh or dried herb<\/a>,\u201d says Schneider. Need some inspiration? Check out these ideas for using rosemary at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n Make Rosemary Tea <\/p>\n \u201cEnjoy the aroma and health benefits of rosemary by making herbal tea,\u201d suggests Schneider. Here\u2019s how: Steep a fresh rosemary sprig in boiling water, let steep for 10 to 15 minutes, add flavoring ingredients such as lemon juice or honey, remove the sprig, and enjoy, per Schneider. (Bonus: Honey<\/a> offers impressive anti-inflammatory benefits, too.)\n<\/p>\n Season Meat With Rosemary <\/p>\n \u201cChop rosemary leaves to add to a meat marinade<\/a> or rub,\u201d recommends Schneider. It works especially well with chicken thighs<\/a> or lamb chops<\/a>, complete with a side of hearty roasted vegetables.\n<\/p>\n Infuse Oil <\/p>\n For an easy way to add rosemary to dishes, infuse the herb into cooking oil, per Schneider. Simply place a few sprigs of fresh rosemary into olive oil<\/a>, then let sit for about two weeks. To speed up the process, gently warm olive oil and rosemary in a pot for about 10 minutes, then let it steep for one hour. According to Schneider, you can use rosemary-infused olive oil just as you would regular olive oil: as a dip for crusty bread, a drizzle for roasted vegetables<\/a>, or a cooking oil for eggs<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Use It In Baked Goods <\/p>\n If you prefer savory treats, try your hand at a Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia<\/a> or Herb and Cheese Crackers<\/a>. Rosemary also works in olive oil cake, Lemon Shortbread Cookies<\/a>, or other baked goods that have savory or citrus-y notes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key Takeaways Rosemary is packed with powerful compounds like carnosic and rosmarinic acid that help the body fight…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":114790,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4315],"tags":[105,4326,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-114789","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-medication","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114535481095357004","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114789\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n