The Health Benefits of Sage

Native to the Mediterranean parts of the world, sage can grow to four feet tall. Both the flowers and leaves of this plant are used in cooking. It is a popular spice in many dishes, used as a rub in many meat dishes or as an alternative to salt as a flavoring. This herb has been used since ancient time not only as a culinary herb but because of its many health benefits.

Many females who are either going through menopause or are menstruating have drops in their estrogen levels. The symptoms of insufficient estrogen levels include:

• Hot Flashes
• Night Sweats
• Anxiety
• Vaginal Dryness
• Loss of Libido
• Mood swings

(natural-hormones)

Sage plays a role in balancing hormones in women, helping relieve them of these symptoms. That is because sage contains a hormone that mimics the estrogen in the female's body. If you are a female going through menopause and want to relieve and prevent the symptoms, drink a cup of sage tea up to three times a day. This tea is also excellent for women who have menstrual cramps and helps regulates menstrual cycles.

Sage contains antibiotic and diuretic properties. These properties are excellent in fighting the bacteria that causes urinary tract infections. Even if you are do not have the signs and symptoms of a UTI, drinking sage tea helps flush the bacteria that is building up in your urinary bladder and tract.

When we are under stress, the adrenal glands release a hormone called cortisol. Known as “'the stress hormone'” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response to stress, and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body” (stress). While higher amounts of cortisol may work in positive ways, such as being able to think through a situation more effectively or having a boost in energy, there are times when too much stress affects us in the wrong way. When we are affected by stress in the negative way we may not be able to think clearly. We may have high blood pressure. We may notice an increase in belly fat. Sage has calming and relaxing properties and drinking a cup of tea that has sage in it helps reduce the levels if cortisol in your body.

Sage boosts the immune system because it contains flavonoids and vitamin C. If you have a cold or the flu, drinking tea that has sage in it can help fight the symptoms. You can even prevent yourself from getting sick in the first place by including sage in your daily diet. The vitamin C found in sage acts as a very powerful and effective antioxidant. We need these to protect our bodies against free radicals or damaged cells. These damaged cells will attack the good ones and damage them as well. Sage plays a key role of destroying the bad cells before they cause any further damage.

Using sage in your daily meals is an excellent way to aid to your digestive system. If you eat a spicy meal or over indulge at the all you can eat buffet, a little sage goes a long way in relieving symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, gas, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, bloating, nausea and vomiting. If you suffer from embarrassing flatulence, sage will work wonders.

Sage contains expectorant properties. This spice helps with respiratory problems such as:

• Bronchitis
• Sore Throat
• Asthma
• Tonsillitis
• Coughs
• Fevers

Sage contains antiviral properties. If you are suffering from the stomach flu, drinking tea with sage in it will help relieve you of vomiting and diarrhea. If you include sage tea in your daily diet, these antiviral properties of this herb may protect from catching the stomach flu and other viral infections.

Sage contains anti-bacterial properties which are effective in preventing cuts, scrapes, burns and insect bites from becoming infected. The astringent properties in sage are excellent for not only acne, eczema and psoriasis, but also for cold sore, fever blisters, sun burn and poison ivy rashes.

The vitamin B9 found in sage helps with brain function. If you are a high school or college student, chances are you take tests. Maybe you have no problem studying for a test and taking it. However, you may be other type of person who cannot memorize anything. You may have studied and prepared for weeks. However, when you go to take the test, you draw a complete blank. Sage helps strengthens your cognitive abilities. Not only will your memory be improved, you may notice that your hand-eye coordination has improved as well.

Sage is an excellent source of calcium. Some individuals do not get enough dairy in their diets. Some people just do not like drinking that glass of milk. Others are lactose intolerant and cannot have any dairy products. By including a teaspoon of sage in your daily cooking, you are helping your body by increasing bone density. Not only is calcium is good for strong and healthy bones, it also plays a major role in lowering bad cholesterol.

Sage is an excellent source of potassium and magnesium which are all needed to keep your blood pressure numbers at a safe level. When you do not have enough of these in your daily diets, you run the risk of getting high blood pressure. When you keep your blood pressure lower you run a less risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. The American Heart Association states that food that contains potassium and magnesium play a key role in reducing blood pressure heart attacks and strokes.

Even though you can easily collect sage and make your own teas, lotions and other products, you may not have the time. You can find sage in the spice aisle at many grocery stores. You can also find a wide variety of products at your local health food store. Some of these products include:

• Spices
• Herbs
• Teas
• Capsules
• Extracts
• Tinctures
• Essential Oils

You can also purchase products containing products containing sage online at sites such as Amazon and EBay.

If you are planning to gather sage from the wild, it is best to talk to a qualified herbalist since poisonous plants can easily be confused for this plant.

Make sure you do not exceed the recommended daily dosages since sage can be toxic if you take high amounts.

Always talk to your doctor before you start any herbal remedy regimen since some herbs may interact with medicines and supplements you may already be taking.