Sage- proven health benefits, nutrition and uses

Some of the benefits of sage include memory booster, improve mood, controls anxiety, eases menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, fights and prevent cancer, cure sore throat, useful in diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory skin conditions like redness of skin, good for liver and oral health. It exhibit strong anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti fungal properties.

Nutritional value of sage

  • The biological name of zinger is Salvia officinalis.
  • It is also know as Salvia (Spanish), Salvia, Sefakuss (Hindi), Salvi tulasi (Malayalam), Dharba (Telugu), Bui tulasi (Bengali), Kammarkas (Marathi), Sathi (Punjabi) in many households.
  • It is very low in Cholesterol and Sodium.
  • It is also a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Manganese.
  • A 100 g of sage contains about 315 calories.
  • It contain also Proteins, Water, Phytosterols, Dietary Fiber, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Omega-6 Fatty Acids, vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Choline), and minerals (Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium).Sage-tea-health-benefits-and-uses-how-to

Health Benefits of Sage

1. Thyroid diseases

Including herbal tea, two to six times a week is an easy way to reap medicinal value of the herbs. Drinking sage tea reduces the risk of hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer.
Study indicates that drinking herbal teas, especially chamomile and also sage protects from thyroid cancer as well as other benign thyroid diseases.  Thirty year of consumption significantly reduced the risk of thyroid cancer and benign thyroid diseases development by almost 80%.

2. Cure sore throat

Herbal sage preparation is an effective treatment of acute sore throats and studies has found sage prepration as effective as chlorhexidine/lidocaine spray in the treatment for treating acute sore throats. Another study has indicated that sage spray is a safe and effective treatment for patients with acute pharyngitis or inflammation of the pharynx, a region in the back of the throat that can cause sore throat, scratchiness in the throat and difficulty in swallowing. Within the first two hours of sage spray symptomatic relief  can be achieved.

3. Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a slow, progressive decline in cognitive function and behavior. Study indicated that sage extract has a therapeutic effect on patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. In another study,  the spice sage and its active, neuroprotective ingredient rosmarinic acid could validate the traditional use of this spice in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Eases menopausal symptoms

Menopausal symptoms include hot flushes, insomnia, nocturnal sweating, dizziness, headaches and palpitations. These symptoms reflect adaptation of the body to estrogen deprivation which affects various central neurotransmitters. Women treated with a fresh sage preparation experienced a significant decrease in the number and severity of hot flashes over an eight-week study period.

Studies indicate that sage and alfalfa extracts are effective in reducing menopausal symptoms.

Another study confirmed that fresh sage preparation demonstrated clinical value in the treatment of hot flushes and associated menopausal symptoms.

5. Skin problems

Tropical application of sage extract can be useful in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. Studies has found sage contain high amounts of phenolic diterpenes such as carnosol and carnosic acid. It is as effective as hydrocortisone in the topical treatment of erythema or redness of skin occur with inflammation, due to sunburn or allergic reaction to drugs.

6. Enhance mood and brain health

Studies has found that sage leaf extract has cholinesterase inhibiting properties which helps to improve mood and cognitive performance. Drinking sage tea can be easy and natural way to reduce anxiety and mood boosting herbal drink. It is an effective way to handle stress and enhances alertness, calmness, and contentedness.

 7. Diabetes

Studies suggest that sage may be useful as a food supplement in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by lowering the plasma glucose of individuals at risk. Sage leaf extract may be an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Sage-essential-oil-uses-and-health-benefits

8. Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal

Sage oil exhibits effective anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, antiseptic topical treatment helps to inhibit multi-resistant strains of bacteria and yeast.

9. Anti-viral

Study indicates that aqueous extract from leaves of sage is an effective anti-viral agent that helps to inhibit infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and  also strong activity against herpes simplex virus type 2.

10. Good for liver health

Studies confirmed that water infusion or tea of sage leaves within 14 days helps to improve the liver antioxidant potential and did not induce liver toxicity. This suggest that drinking sage tea helps in liver detoxification and reduces the risk of liver disease due to oxidative stress or liver toxicity.

11. Anti-inflammatory

Intake of sage tea is effective in alcohol toxicity and gastric ulcer as it provide protection to gastric mucous.
Studies has found that sage has gastroprotective compounds which exhibit proton and potassium pump inhibitory activity.

12. Anti-oxidants

Strongly aromatic leaves of sage is often used in flavoring cooked foods. The strong antioxidant and protective effect of this leaf could be harnessed in the management and prevention of degenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress.

13. Anti-microbial

Studies indicate that eating sage has effective antimicrobial benefits that helps to prevent cholerae contamination in foods and the diseases associated with this microorganism. In another study, sage oil has found to posses strong antimicrobial properties against many bacterial and fungi. It helps to prevent food-borne bacteria and fungi diseases.

14. Anti-cancer

Studies indicate that drinking sage tea is effective in leukemia. The results showed sage tea extracts facilitated free radical production in leukemia cells but protected normal cells from UV radiation.

15. Aid in digestion

Sage is an excellent digestive aid and appetite stimulant. It helps in reducing gas in the intestines and relieving abdominal cramps and bloating.

16. Oral and dental health

Sage contain strong anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties which helps to boost oral health. It helps to prevent and heal many dental problems, including  mouth ulcers, infected and bleeding gums, dental abscesses and throat infections.

Ways to use sage

Drink sage tea.

Include sage leaves in your pasta, salad, curries or soup.

Apply sage leaves extract or sage essential oil tropically for skin problems.

Try aromatherapy with sage essential oil.