Sage is without doubt one of the commonest herbs out there in native markets. It’s an evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers, out there in contemporary, dried or oil kind.
As a spice, it has a touch of pepper, and the leaves are used to flavour stews and roasted meat, amongst different issues.
Due to its robust aroma, it’s usually utilized in small quantities. The leaf may also be used for medicinal functions.
David Rukerabigwi, a dietician and nutritionist working with Slim n’ Match, a weight reduction and wellness centre in Kigali, says this herb is used for digestive issues, together with lack of urge for food, gasoline (flatulence), abdomen ache (gastritis), diarrhoea, bloating, and heartburn.
He says it’s additionally used to cut back overproduction of perspiration and saliva, and for melancholy, reminiscence loss, and Alzheimer’s illness.
Dietary worth
Rukerabigwi says sage is loaded with antioxidants which can be linked to a number of well being advantages, together with improved mind operate and decrease most cancers threat.
Antioxidants are molecules that assist fortify the physique’s defences, neutralising doubtlessly dangerous free radicals which can be linked to power illnesses.
He notes that research point out that sage incorporates over 160 distinct polyphenols, that are plant-based chemical compounds that act as antioxidants within the physique.
Sage additionally incorporates chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, ellagic acid and rutin, that are all linked to well being advantages corresponding to decrease threat of most cancers and improved mind operate and reminiscence.
The herb additionally has antimicrobial results, which may neutralise microbes that promote dental plaque, thus important to dental well being.
Analysis has proven that consuming sage will help help the mind and reminiscence in a number of methods. As an illustration, it’s loaded with compounds that may act as antioxidants, which have been proven to buffer the mind’s defence system.
It additionally seems to halt the breakdown of the chemical messenger acetylcholine (ACH), which has a task in reminiscence. ACH ranges seem to fall in Alzheimer’s illness.
Rukerabigwi notes that it has additionally been confirmed that even small quantities of sage, whether or not smelled or consumed, assist to extend recall talents and reminiscence retention.
In the case of the immune system, sage has been proven to assist increase its power.
It is because the herb consists of some antimicrobial properties. When consumed, it helps within the prevention of bacterial and viral infections that assault the physique by way of the pores and skin.
Erick Musengimana, a nutritionist working with Rwanda Diabetes Affiliation, says sage is sort of efficient within the administration of diabetes. That is so as a result of sage consists of sure extracts and chemical compounds that mimic the medication sometimes really helpful for managing diabetes.
“The herb seems to control and inhibit the discharge of saved glucose within the liver, avoiding main fluctuations of blood sugar, which will help forestall the onset of sort 2 diabetes,” he says.
He provides that sage can even handle the situation if it has already manifested, which is important as effectively.
