The many benefits of rosemary: Secret to brain health is hiding in your kitchen
Rosemary, the aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean, has long been a staple in kitchens around the world. However, a recent study led by Dipa Kamdar from Kingston University reveals that rosemary's benefits go far beyond its culinary appeal. This powerful herb plays a vital role in supporting brain health, reducing inflammation, and enhancing immune function. Also read | Looking for hair growth solution? Try rosemary oil; doctor reveals this simple herb oil is the go-to for thicker hair
According to multiple studies, rosemary has been associated with healthy brain function. One study associated rosemary to decreased risk of Alzheimer's. According to a study conducted by the researchers at Northumbria University, participants who inhaled rosemary's scent performed better in memory tasks than the ones who performed the same tasks in an unscented environment.
Even historically, rosemary had been associated with better brain functioning. It is believed that in ancient Greece and Rome, students used rosemary to improve concentration and memory. Also read | Super herb: Benefits of rosemary water for great hair
Blood circulation: Rosemary helps in stimulating blood circulation in the brain, which helps in delivering more blood and nutrients that can improve mental clarity.
Calming properties: The aroma of rosemary is believed to have calming properties that can help in reducing anxiety and stress. It also helps in inducing better sleep. Lower stress can help in better memory retention and clarity.
Antioxidants: Oxidative stress can cause damage to brain cells, that can affe4ct cognitive functioning. Rosemary is packed with antioxidants that can prevent this process. Also read | Habits that damage your brain health: Modern lifestyle routines you need to stop immediately
Health-enhancing effects: Rosemary is loaded with carnosic acid, an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent that helps in shielding brain cells from harm.
Beyond brain health: rosemary's health effects go beyond the brain. It also helps in easing digestion, relieving bloating and reducing inflammation.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
15 hours ago
- India Today
Endocrinologist Dr. Ambrish Mithal on the happy side-effects of weight-loss drugs
New-age weight-loss drugs are exploding the pharmaceutical market, offering better results than traditional medicines. Top endocrinologist Dr. Ambrish Mithal deconstructs the many facets, including side-effects, of these GLP-1 drugs in his recently published book The Weight Loss Revolution, in an episode of India Today's said that while the GLP-1 field -- drugs that belong to the class of GLP-1 targeting the same hormone in the body -- is just beginning to explode, there'll be many newer drugs with less and less side effects and easier to most cases have shown muscle loss as a prominent result of using GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide or semaglutide, Dr. Mithal explains that losing muscle is an accompanying factor to weight loss. "In the long run, if you're not following a healthy diet, you will end up with significant muscle loss. And this is not because of the weight-loss drugs. Whenever we lose weight, we also lose muscle. If you lose 10 kg, you've lost 2-3 kg of muscle. Now, if you want to preserve that, you have to ensure adequate protein and fibre in your diet. Along with that, you have to make sure that you're exercising regularly and that exercise should include strength training," Dr. Mithal also shared what many people experience loose skin after taking these medicines. "When you lose weight rapidly, you lose subcutaneous fat. Particularly in older people where skin tends to sag anyway. If you suddenly lose weight, don't hydrate yourself well, not eating the right kind of balanced diet, then you get that little sagging on the face which people have started calling Ozempic face. Before these drugs came into the market, anyone we put on a very strict diet or someone who had bariatric surgery would see similar results," he gastrointestinal side-effects, nausea, and vomiting, Dr. Mithal addressed concerns about thyroid cancer, highlighting that there's no evidence to link the also explained the "happy side-effects" of GLP-1 medications. Besides growing body of evidence suggesting how semaglutide is linked to Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Mithal said that the benefits of the drugs are moving beyond weight loss."The evidence that they might be helping Alzheimer's by helping obesity in the brain may actually be very exciting, and even for cardiac health, Parkinson's disease. Cardiac events are reduced. Fatty liver is reduced. Kidney disease progression is reduced. But the brain effects are particularly fascinating. Sleep apnea has also gone down," he said, adding that the drugs have also helped improve fertility outcomes in women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).Currently, most GLP-1 drugs are injectable and expensive, limiting their access in India. However, new formulations and more research are on the way. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, two blockbuster fat-busting medicines, are set to gain ground in India to tackle the diabetes and obesity crisis."Remember, the GLP-1 field is just beginning to explode. There'll be many newer drugs with less and less side effects and easier to use," Dr. Mithal sayssaid.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Rescuers step up as summer heatwaves stoke heatstroke risk across US, Europe
This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only. MADRID: As dangerously high temperatures sweep across parts of the United States and southern Europe this week, emergency workers are racing to mitigate the public health risk of heatstroke. Spanish rescuers took AFP through the warning signs and best responses to the potentially fatal condition, as a heatwave grips Spain, Portugal, France and the Balkans. Scientists warn that periods of extreme heat will become longer, more frequent and more intense as human-induced climate change accelerates. Symptoms In a large room at Madrid's Isabel Zendal hospital, emergency medical staff adjusted their headphones and fixed their gaze on their computer screens. They receive 3,500 calls every day, some caused by falls, fainting and other dangers linked to overheating. But identifying heatstroke straight away is "difficult", said Gemma Rodriguez, a team leader at the SUMMA 112 emergency service. The symptoms can "point to another condition, for example, an unconscious person, a person who has fallen over... or has trauma, and the primary cause could have been heatstroke", she told AFP. To diagnose the condition, doctors typically examine whether the patient has a body temperature of over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit); whether their skin is hot and dry; or whether they are sweating heavily, nauseous or vomiting, she added. In extreme cases, heatstroke can cause incoherent speech and loss of consciousness, and can even prove fatal if left untreated. Rodriguez said vulnerable groups like children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses should pay particular attention to the warning signs. She recalled the case of an elderly couple with Alzheimer's disease who spent several hours in the sun in the countryside in early June. The man tumbled into a ditch and the woman fainted, but they are now out of danger thanks to the intervention of SUMMA 112, she told AFP. Treatment When someone has heatstroke, the priority is to bring down their body temperature, for example by moving them into the shade or an air-conditioned room -- anything to shield them from the sun, Rodriguez explained. "Another method is to use compresses, cool them with serums, or (apply) water and ice" to the armpits, forehead, neck, genital area and stomach, she said. "In the most extreme and serious cases", Rodriguez added, patients may need to be given therapeutic serums intravenously. Prevention To avoid heatstroke, people should avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day, generally from midday to 4 pm, Rodriguez said. The advice is particularly relevant to sports enthusiasts and people who work outdoors, like street sweepers and labourers, she added as she unfolded a survival blanket designed to keep patients cool. It is also important to stay hydrated, wear light clothing and caps, and stay in the shade or air-conditioned spaces, Rodriguez told AFP. For active types unable to resist a workout, she had a simple message: "avoid those (hot) hours or do it in an air-conditioned room".
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Will You Develop Dementia? Your Eyes Can Tell You 12 Years In Advance, Says Study
Last Updated: Researchers in Norfolk observed more than 8,600 healthy individuals over several years. By the end of the study, 537 of them had developed dementia They say the eyes are a window to the soul. But a groundbreaking study from the UK now suggests they may also offer an early glimpse into the onset of dementia, up to 12 years before symptoms appear. In a revelation that has stunned the scientific community, researchers in Norfolk observed more than 8,600 healthy individuals over several years. By the end of the study, 537 of them had developed dementia. What linked them all was something subtle, yet potentially revolutionary, that how their eyes reacted to a simple visual test years earlier. Participants were initially asked to complete a 'visual sensitivity" task. They had to quickly spot a triangle formed by three moving dots on a screen and press a button in response. It seemed like a routine test, but researchers found a pattern. Those who would later develop dementia consistently responded more slowly than others. What does vision have to do with memory loss? Experts at Loughborough University, who led the study, believe the answer lies deep in the brain's architecture. In Alzheimer's disease, toxic amyloid plaques first target regions associated with visual processing, long before they attack the memory centers. That means the eyes may register subtle neurological changes years before the mind starts forgetting. 'These results are forcing us to rethink the earliest signs of Alzheimer's," said Dr Martyn Gould, one of the lead researchers. We've always looked to memory tests to catch this disease, but our eyes might tell the story long before we forget our own, he added. The implications are vast. If this visual delay is a reliable early warning sign, it could change the way doctors screen for cognitive decline. And since vision-related symptoms – such as difficulty focusing, trouble recognising faces, or poor perception of outlines and colours – are already common in dementia patients, the findings add to a growing body of evidence that Alzheimer's begins its quiet assault long before memory fades. For instance, people with dementia often struggle to distinguish blue and green hues, or they find it hard to filter out visual distractions. Their eye movements can become erratic, making everyday activities like reading, watching television, or driving far more dangerous. In fact, Loughborough scientists are now examining whether impaired eye coordination contributes to road accidents among elderly drivers. Another striking observation was that patients with dementia don't process faces the same way others do. While most people instinctively scan the eyes, nose, and mouth to recognise someone, dementia patients' gaze often drifts toward unrelated background objects, leading to an inability to 'imprint" new faces. This wandering gaze has even become a subtle diagnostic clue for seasoned neurologists. 'We can sometimes tell something's wrong just by how a patient's eyes move," said one clinician involved in the study, 'They look around, but it's like they're not really seeing." There's even growing speculation that purposeful eye movement might aid memory retention. In a separate study, rapid horizontal eye movements, about two per second, appeared to improve autobiographical memory in right-handed people. Other research suggests that the simple act of scanning a page or screen repeatedly may stimulate memory-forming pathways in the brain. Still, eye-tracking technology remains largely confined to research labs. The equipment is expensive, and interpreting the data requires expert training. Until cheaper, user-friendly systems emerge, using eye movement as a standard diagnostic tool remains a challenge.
