Rosemary makes a tasty addition to beauty regime

Are you tired of those wrinkles and bags underneath your eyes that seem to have taken a permanent place on your face? More importantly, have you begun to notice signs of aging?

If your answer is yes, then perhaps you need to change your diet. Note I said change your diet —rather than offering you a series of cosmetic products to consider.

Believe it or not, there are so many ways you can glow plus stay young and healthy by taking in the right essentials, without having to spend money on either cosmetic surgery or anti-aging products; one such way is simply cooking with herbs. Sure, it sounds so plain, but it's 100 per cent true. Below are some amazing facts and insights into probably one of the oldest herbs in history: Rosemary.

Rosemary herb is believed to have come from Aphrodite; the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty and fertility. This wild perennial shrub is native to France, Portugal, Spain, the Mediterranean, as well as North Africa.

Today, however, it can be readily found - and is grown - in many parts of North America. Besides using rosemary in a variety of culinary dishes to enrich taste and flavour, you could just as easily use it for personal health and medicinal purposes. Thus, when next you decide to use rosemary in your next recipe (or order a meal with rosemary when dining out); give yourself a pat on the back for making a wise and healthful choice.

Description
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody-like plant with firm branches and a rifted bark. It has silvery needle-like leaves that are deep green in colour. The leaf of the plant is used medicinally. Its delicate flowers are sometimes blue, pink or white and also contain essential oils.

Health benefits
Throughout much of history rosemary herb has been used to cure many ailments. Today, it is still employed in different parts of the world for various curative and healing purposes. In conventional European medicine, for instance, the herb is used for stimulating the immune system, improving circulation, dyspepsia, plus treating headaches and colds.

Albeit, this is to say the least, in other parts of the world it is used to reduce nervous tension, dizziness, halitosis (i.e. the condition of having stale or foul-smelling breath), as well as improving blood flows to the head and brain, thus increasing concentration.

Its therapeutic properties are filled with powerful medicinal compounds that can be used in treating wounds, eczema and sciatica.

The herb also has soothing, diuretic, analgesic, aromatic, antibacterial, and antifungal, as well as antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. All of which have been scientifically proven in treating ailments such as: reducing the severity of asthma, increasing urine production, treating fatigue, neuralgia, and cancer (to name a few).

Furthermore, the aroma of this very versatile herb is also said to strengthen memory. Hence, when next you have an examination or test —keep a sprig of this plant on hand!

Staying youthful
According to researchers working at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, in Italy, rosemary extract helps protect the individual components of skin cells, which may prevent age-related skin damage such as wrinkles. In a follow-up study the Italian researchers found that rosemary extract is able to exert even greater benefits.

In particular, it was shown to safeguard a protective protein called HSP70.

The role of this protein is to reduce damage caused by stress, free radicals and other toxins on the skin.

In effect, helping to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation and free radicals; therefore, leaving one's skin youthful, supple and smooth.

Similarly effective is its superior antiseptic properties, often used in hair products and anti-aging cosmetics, to help rejuvenate the scalp and hair follicles so as to enhance growth and prevent early baldness - plus treat scurf and dandruff.

However, on a cautionary note, rosemary essential oils/extract may not be suitable for pregnant women in addition to people who suffer from high blood pressure and epilepsy.

Should you at anytime have further queries/questions please do not hesitate to consult a physician.