Oregano Flake

Description

Oregano nutrition facts

Oregano is a wonderful perennial culinary and medicinal herb. It has long been recognized as one of the “functional foods” for its nutritional, anti-oxidants and disease preventing properties. The herb, whose name means “delight of the mountains” in Greek, is native to the Mediterranean region.

Botanically, it belongs to the mint (Lamiaceae) family, in the genus; Origanum, and is known scientifically as Origanum vulgare.

The plant is a small shrub, growing up to 75 cm in height with multi-branched stems covered with small grayish-green oval leaves and small white or pink flowers.

Oregano is widely popular in Greek and Italian cuisines. Its leaves have a characteristic aromatic, warm, and slightly bitter taste. Their intensity varies; however, a good-quality oregano is so strong that it almost numbs the tongue.

There are many cultivars of oregano cultivated across Europe, however, the influence of climate, season, and soil have greater effect on the composition of the essential oils than the difference between various species. Origanum heracleoticum is another Greek variety that is having characteristic sharp scent, and flavor. Sweet marjoram(Origanum majorana) is one of closely related species of oregano.

Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is different from origanum species but related to the verbena family of herbs. It is used in place of oregano in many Central American regions.

Health benefits of Oregano

• Oregano contains an impressive list of plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have disease preventing and health promoting properties.
• The herb parts contain no cholesterol; however, are rich source of dietary fiber, which helps to control blood cholesterol levels.
• Oregano contains several health benefiting essential oils such as carvacrol, thymol, limonene, pinene, ocimene, and caryophyllene. Its leaves and flowering stem has anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, carminative, cholagogue (help gall bladder secretion), diaphoretic (sweat production), expectorant, stimulant, and mildly tonic properties. Its decoction is taken by mouth for the treatment of colds, influenza, mild fevers, indigestion, stomach upsets, and painful menstruation conditions.
• Thymol is also been found to have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal activities.
• The herb is rich in poly-phenolic flavonoid anti-oxidants (vitamin A, carotenes, lutein, zea-xanthin, and cryptoxanthin) and has been rated as one of the plant sources with highest anti-oxidant activities. These compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.
• The active principles in the herb may improve gut motility in addition to increase the digestion power by facilitating copious secretion of gastro-intestinal juices.
• This marvelous herb is an excellent source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure caused by high sodium. Manganese and copper are utilized by the body as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron helps prevent anemia. Magnesium and calcium are important minerals for bone metabolism.
• In addition, fresh herb is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin; vitamin-C. Vitamin C helps human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.

Oregano is a proven super “functional food.” This herb is one of the foundation bases of healthy Mediterranean diet in addition to olive oil, fish and lots of greens, herbs and vegetables. It has an excellent nutritional profile; just 100 g of oregano herb provides:

Dietary fiber- 107% (Percent of RDA) (RDA- Recommended daily allowance).

Folates- 69%
Pyridoxine- 93%
Vitamin-C- 83%
Vitamin-A-230%
Vitamin-K- 518%
Iron- 550%
Manganese-203%
Carotene-ß- 4112 µg

Selection and storage

Fresh as well as dried oregano can be readily available in the herb stores all around the year. Try to buy fresh herb over its dried form since it is superior in flavor and richer in essential oils, vital vitamins and anti-oxidants like beta-carotene, vitamin C, and folates.

Choose fresh oregano leaves featuring vibrant green color and firm stem. It should be free from mold, discoloration or yellowing. Try to buy dried oregano from the organic farm and processed from authentic sources since it assurances you that the product is free from irradiation and pesticide residues.

Fresh leaves should be stored inside the refrigerator, kept in a zip pouch or wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel. Dried leaves can be kept fresh for many months when stored in a tightly sealed glass container, and stored in a cool, dark and dry place.

Culinary uses

In order to keep the fragrance and aromatic flavor intact, oregano leaves are generally used just before preparing recipes.

Here are some serving tips:

• Oregano herb is widely used as a “spice.” It is principally employed in the cuisines as a seasoning to enhance the flavor.
• It has been used in preparation of many popular dishes in Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine since ancient times. Along with other spicy items, it is being used as flavoring agent in the preparation of pizzas, chicken, fish, and meat dishes.
• It has also been used in the preparation of soups, omelet, sauces, and pickling.
• Freshly chopped oregano leaves is a great addition to green/fruit salad.

Medicinal uses

• The leaves and flowering stem of the oregano plant have antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, increase bile secretion, diaphoretic, expectorant, stimulant, and mildly tonic properties.
• Oregano decoction is taken by mouth for the treatment of colds, influenza, mild fever, indigestion, stomach upsets, and painful menstruation.
• Thymol has been found to have anti-septic, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal activities.

Safety profile

Oregano oil extracted from the herb parts may cause skin and mucus membrane irritation and hence, avoided in aromatherapy.