Oregano isn't just a way to add pizza to your pasta sauce. Use it to bring some zing to your salad dressing, chicken marinade or vegetable saute, and your cells may thank you, too. This herb may have the power to prevent damaging inflammation in your body, and that prevents weight gain, not to mention wrinkles, impotence, cancer and more.
The essential oils in this herb contain a tongue-twisting substance called (E) beta caryophyllene; we just call it (E) BCP for short. This compound binds to certain receptors in your cells in a way that means less inflammation. That's the effect it had in mouse studies, and it's likely that (E) BCP has a similar benefit in humans.
What's so bad about inflammation? In your arteries, walls that are inflamed grow fatter and fatter, since inflammatory cells fighting something they want to keep away get bigger and bigger. The cells pile up, eventually rupture and then block the blood flow highway to your heart or brain (definitely not good).
Don't like oregano much? Surprisingly, the lowest dose of the compound tended to be the most effective in a recent study. Don't like it at all? Black pepper, rosemary and cinnamon all contain the compound, too. And if those don't hit the spot, try these other inflammation fighters, cherries and berries, omega-3 rich fish including salmon and tuna (or take DHA from algae in pill form); dark chocolate, and olive oil (the more virgin the oil, the better).
Bottom line, protect yourself from inflammation by adding some extra flavor to your food -- what tastes good is often good for you, too.
