“Rosemary, that’s for remembrance,” Shakespeare wrote more than 400 years ago. Those words ring true today.
Rosemary, a fragrant herb related to mint that you can grow in your garden or buy at your local grocery store, has been the talk of the health world ever since researchers at the University of California, San Diego, announced new findings. They identified a small fishing village south of Naples inside the Cilento National Park that has an unusual concentration of citizens over the age of 100, with very low rates of Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Many research studies are now under way to identify why these people live so long and so well.
But what was reported to be unique in this town was the prevalence of the herb rosemary in the residents’ diet. The healing power of spices to battle inflammation and promote healthy sugar levels, brains, and hearts is well-known. But rosemary may not be getting the attention it deserves based on these new findings in Italy. Here are some of the reported benefits of rosemary that you should know about:
It improves the health of arteries
All arteries are lined with a single cell layer called your endothelium that covers eight tennis courts’ worth of surface area. In a 2011 study, healthy volunteers eating rosemary extracts showed healthier arteries after three weeks.
It can improve memory
Shakespeare predicted it years ago—and now science has shown that measures of memory can be enhanced with rosemary.
It may suppress cancer cells
Studies of rosemary or its extracts on the growth of cancers such as colon, pancreatic, and ovarian show it may be beneficial.
It may improve arthritis
Rosemary has powerful anti-inflammatory effects, and preliminary data indicate it may have a role in natural therapy for arthritis.
It may improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels
Rosemary may activate a pathway called AMP kinase, the same pathway triggered by the drug metformin and apple cider vinegar. As such, improvements in measures of blood sugar and cholesterol may follow.
It may help with hair loss
In a study randomising 50 men to rosemary oil for hair loss compared to a prescription drug used for that condition, a similar increase in hair count was seen in both groups.
The bottom line: The key lessons of Cilento National Park, the home of the Mediterranean diet, are to eat a locally sourced plant-based diet low in fats (two tablespoons a day of freshly pressed olive oil is typical, without butter or animal fats), complemented by low-alcohol red wine and whole-grain breads made at home, surrounded by friends and family.
The long-living people of Acciaroli also remind us that herbs and spices, preferably homegrown or sourced organic in markets, are some of the most concentrated forms of life-sustaining phytonutrients.
I recommend rosemary, whether for “remembrance,” heart health, hair loss, or other possible benefits, as a daily addition in the quest for the good life, or la dolce vita. To get started, here’s a recipe for a simple rosemary vinaigrette that you can use to spice up your health—and hopefully achieve the healthy longevity of the Italian southern coast:
