Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:33 pm by globalturbo
Sage has been revered for centuries for its medicinal and culinary uses. The botanical name comes from the Latin word "salvere," meaning "to be saved."1
A member of the mint family of plants and closely related to rosemary,2 its warm and musky essence is essential for making the fragrant dressing that goes so well with turkey.
A perennial plant growing 1 to 2 feet high, sage produces small, grey-green and deeply veined leaves, with the intensity of the flavor growing stronger as the plant ages.3
Sage comes in various forms: Russian sage is known for its lavender-purple flowers and ornamental applications, while the common sage is regarded for its pungent aroma that is widely used in cooking.4
Another popular sage variant used in cooking is pineapple sage, which bears bright red flowers and a sweet fragrance, which is good for teas.5
Golden sage has variegated leaves,6 and purple sage indicates the color of leaf and flower it produces.7 Tricolor is just that, with white, purple and green variegated leaves. Three-lobed sage denotes three leaves to a stem.8 Sage usually comes in one of three ways: fresh, ground and "rubbed."
Rubbed sage literally comes off the leaf almost like a powder and is extremely light and fluffy.9 Fresh is the most flavorful and fragrant, making the most pungent recipes. When fresh sage isn't readily available, your best bet is ground sage, although it tends to lose its strength after a year or so. It's best stored in a cool, dark place, in a glass jar with a tightly fitted lid.10,11
Sage pairs well with cheese.12 Sprinkling roughly chopped sage leaves near the end of caramelizing onions or mushrooms, egg bakes, omelets and even tea are other delicious ways to use this herb.13
How to Choose Good Sage
Harvest the leaves using sharp pruning shears to reduce damage. If you don’t have one, you can gently pull at the base of the leaf. Lastly, leaves tastes best when picked during early morning or late evening.16
Health Benefits of Sage
Medicinally used for muscle aches, rheumatism and aromatherapy, these oils also contain ketones, including A- and B-thujone,22,23which can help enhance mental clarity and memory. This knowledge can be extremely useful in treating cognitive decline and patients suffering from Alzheimer's.24 In fact, sage, made into a drink from the leaves, has been called the "thinker's tea."25
A gram of sage (as seen in the nutritional profile) indicates the health benefits that even a small amount provides. Vitamin K is the most prominent, with 43 percent of the daily recommended serving in the more practical serving of 1 tablespoon.
Sage is also an excellent source of fiber, vitamin A, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and B vitamins such as folate, thiamin, pyridoxine and riboflavin in much higher doses than the recommended daily requirements, plus healthy amounts of vitamins C and E, thiamin, and copper.26
| Calories | 6 | |
| Calories from Fat | 2 | |
| Total Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g | 1% |
| Trans Fat | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 0 mg | 1% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1 g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g | 3% |
| Sugar | 0 g | |
| Protein | 0 g | |
| Vitamin A2% | Vitamin C | 1% |
| Calcium3% | Iron | 3% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie
Studies on Sage
In 2011, research showed that traditional medicinal uses for sage for menopausal symptoms has more than a little merit. Eight medical practices in Switzerland participated in a study on sage that involved 71 patients, all averaging 56 years of age, menopausal for at least 12 months and experiencing at least five hot flashes a day.
Each was treated with a once-per-day tablet of fresh sage leaves for eight weeks. This preparation demonstrated clinical value in treating mild, moderate, severe and very severe hot flashes, which decreased by nearly 50 to 100 percent over eight weeks in the treatment. 28
Sage Healthy Recipes:
Brussels Sprouts With Chestnuts and Sage
| Ingredients: | |||
| 2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved | 1 tablespoon raw, grass fed butter | 1 tablespoon coconut oil | 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium chicken broth |
| 3/4 cup coarsely chopped chestnuts, (about 4 ounces; see Tip) | 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage | 1/2 teaspoon salt | Freshly ground pepper to taste |
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[*]Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add Brussels sprouts and cook until bright green and just tender, six to eight minutes. Drain well.
[*]Melt butter with oil and broth in a large skillet over medium heat. Add Brussels sprouts, chestnuts and sage and cook, stirring often, until heated through, two to four minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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This recipe makes 12 servings.
(From: Eating Well29)[/size]
Sage Fun Facts
Summary
There's a reason why sage’s scientific name means "to save." Healers have been using this herb for a number of ailments for thousands of years. Different varieties like purple or Russian have slightly different fragrances and flavors while providing different benefits for the body.So while you're enjoying cheese laced with sage, you're receiving advantages like flavonoids, phenolic acids, enzymes and antioxidants for lowered heart disease risk, inflammation and menopausal symptoms, as well as better concentration and relief from bronchial asthma. Growing sage is easy, indoors or out. A few snips added to your favorite recipes give you much more than great flavor.
https://foodfacts.mercola.com/sage.html
