Oregano may sound like a key ingredient in a delicious pasta sauce or Italian stew, but it’s far more than a seasoning. It’s actually a rich source of potent bioactive compounds, including carvacrol1, rosmarinic acid and thymol. These constituents offer a number of health benefits, especially in supporting immunity, making this powerful herb a true ally in the Winter months and beyond.
SO, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF OREGANO AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
The constituents of oregano work in three major ways to offer immune support:
1. ANTIBACTERIAL/ANTIVIRAL/ANTIFUNGAL PROPERTIES
Inhibiting the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses is a major activity of carvacrol, one of the main active compounds in oregano, making it the perfect choice as a defence against microbes/unwanted bugs.
2. ANTIOXIDANT ACTIONS
Carvacrol, rosmarinic acid and thymol, in addition to several powerful flavonoids also present in oregano, have impressive antioxidant actions. This means that oregano can help fight oxidative stress by neutralising free radicals, which in turn assists in keeping immune cells healthy, protected and functioning optimally.
3. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ASSISTANCE
Inflammation in the body, which originally is an immune response, has the capacity to impair our ability to fight infections, especially if it becomes chronic. As well as offering potent antimicrobial effects, oregano acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. So, by reducing systemic inflammation, oregano may also strengthen immune defence.
The benefits of oregano don’t end at immune support. Its powerful constituents have also been shown to assist digestive health too. Some digestive complaints can have a bacterial, viral or fungal cause. In these instances, we can harness the potent antimicrobial effects of oregano to help eliminate the ‘bad microbes’ and assist in restoring equilibrium to the digestive system.
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