Anti-cancer Foods, Anticancer Living, Articles, Cancer Related

Anti-Cancer Foods: Oregano Uses & Benefits

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Dried and fresh oregano, vintage wood background, rustic style, selective focus

Did you know that after returning from serving in the Mediterranean during World War Two, the soldiers were craving pizza, and thus, oregano gained popularity in America? For this reason, it is frequently known as the pizza herb.

What Is Oregano?

Oregano is a flowering plant that grows in the Mediterranean region and is related to the mint family.

The plant contains small leaves that give a strong perfume. Its flavor is bitter, pungent, and green, with hints of mint and hay.

The pink or purple flowers that appear when the plant blooms are beautiful but also edible and tasty.

What Are The Uses Of Oregano?

Oregano has traditionally been used to treat respiratory ailments (cough, bronchitis, asthma), gastrointestinal conditions (indigestion, diarrhea, stomach cramps), menstrual disorders, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and diabetes.

Fresh or dried oregano leaves enhance the flavor of many different foods.

It is a prominent ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine. Because it doesn’t contain gluten, it’s a good option for those following a vegan or paleo diet.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Oregano?

Antioxidants, found in abundance in oregano, can help stop damage by scavenging disease-causing free radicals.

Different test tube studies reported that oregano and its constituent parts might be beneficial in fighting off specific bacterial strains and viruses.

In another animal study, researchers found that giving a combination of essential oils containing thyme and oregano to mice with colitis, also known as an inflamed colon, reduced inflammation markers.

A 2016 rodent study’s authors came to the conclusion that OME (Origanum Majoranum Extract) may reduce dyslipidemia linked to type 2 diabetes by controlling the genes that are involved in lipid and glucose metabolism.

What Makes Oregano An Anti-Cancer Food?

Antioxidants abound in oregano that may help prevent cancer and repair free radical damage.

Various test-tube studies have shown that oregano and its constituents may help kill cancer cells. Similarly, in one test-tube study, oregano extract helped to treat human colon cancer cells, which led to the finding that it inhibited cancer cell development and assisted in their destruction.

Oregano contains a compound known as carvacrol which inhibits the growth and proliferation of colon cancer cells, according to another test-tube study.

An in vivo and in vitro study published on PubMed® found that oregano had specific tumor-suppressive properties in breast cancer.