Sage: Benefits, Uses, and Contraindications

We often use it to flavor our dishes but sage It's not just good in the kitchen. It boasts countless benefitsIt's antimicrobial, purifying, and useful for digestive problems and menopause. So much so that its name derives from "salvus," meaning "safe," because of its beneficial properties.

Index of topics

What

Sage, whose name derives from "salvus," meaning healthy, is a beloved aromatic herb in our latitudes, partly because it's easy to grow both in the garden and in pots. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, and the plant, a small perennial, is characterized by its oval, slightly hairy leaves, a typical grayish-green color. Sage is rich in antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, rosemary acid, chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, and caffeic acid.

Nutritional values

In particular, a teaspoon of sage, equal to 2 grams of product, provides just six calories and contains:

1,21 grams of carbohydrates, of which 0,8 are fibers and 0,03 sugars
0,21 grams protein
0,16 grams of water
0,15 milligrams of vitamin E
0,6 milligrams of Vitamin C
33 milligrams of Calcium
21 milligrams of Potassium
9 milligrams of Magnesium
2 milligrams of Phosphorus

Benefits

Sage is an evergreen plant, easily found throughout the Mediterranean, including Italy, and in the Balkans. Its season is autumn, but it can be found at greengrocers year-round. Whether as an infusion, a homemade tonic, or an essential oil, sage cures every ailment. Here's how to use it and some delicious recipes featuring it. The benefits of sage are countless: let's start with: antimicrobial properties which make sage an excellent mouthwash ingredient. Traditionally, sage was also used for reduce menopause symptoms and a study confirmed that it is useful for reduce hot flashes. It is also believed that it is ally of memory, as demonstrated by research conducted on adults without health problems, and of the brain. Also effective for digestive disorders and for regulate menstrual flowSage hydrolate is used for oily skin and for remove any impurities. The oleolite, in addition to being purifying, also has healing properties.

How to heal yourself with sage

Sage infusions are certainly among the most widely used to treat various ailments. For example, in case of digestive problems, an infusion is recommended. But even a sore throat can be treated with infusions. gargling at least twice a day. How do you prepare it? Just add a few dried sage leaves to a little water and let them infuse for about twenty minutes. And we were also saying that it's excellent as a mouthwash. In the form of tonicSage helps if you have oily skin. You can make it yourself by steeping a few sage leaves in boiling water for half an hour, then straining and applying it to your skin. The essential oil can also be used externally (with caution) for rheumatism and muscle pain. Never use it pure, but add a few drops to a cream and spread it on the affected areas.

Use in the kitchen

Sage is used to flavor many dishes, but it's also the star of some recipes, such as the famous fried sage or sage liqueur. Here are some truly delicious ones.

Sage infusion for digestion

Sage tea is very effective for digestion, but also, if more concentrated, for soothing inflammation in the mouth and throat. It's very simple to prepare:

Take a teaspoon of leaves, preferably fresh, and put them in a cup of boiling water
Leave them for 5-10 minutes
Then filter, add a teaspoon of honey and a fresh lemon zest.
Filter and consume
If you use sage tea for a sore throat, increase the dosage to two teaspoons of fresh leaves per cup.

Fried sage

Let's start with the fried sage that he offers us Laura's kitchenAll you need is a handful of fresh leaves, a little salt, and a batter made with "00" flour, lager, and sparkling water. Dip the leaves in the batter, then fry in boiling oil for about 1 minute. A variation on fried sage is the one suggested by Nonna Maria del Canale. Grandmothers' recipesCompared to the previous recipe, the batter is prepared a little differently. Nonna Maria uses eggs, parsley, salt, a pinch of baking soda, grated Parmesan cheese, and minced garlic.

Pasta with butter and sage

Diego D'Alessandro suggests a pasta dish with butter and sage. Boil water for the pasta, meanwhile, pour the butter into a pan and add a drizzle of oil. As soon as the butter melts, add the sage leaves, a pinch of salt, and pepper, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add a little of the pasta cooking water to the pan and transfer the uncooked pasta to the pan, finishing cooking according to the video instructions.

Sage liqueur

The blog Mint and cinnamon offers a delicious sage liqueur made with water, ethyl alcohol, sage leaves, and white granulated sugar. Bring the water and sugar to a boil, let it cool, add the alcohol and sage mixture, and let the liqueur steep in a bottle for a month. The video provides detailed steps for preparation and ingredient quantities.

Controindicazioni

Given its frequent use in cooking, sage has no particular contraindications to report. However, it is not recommended for those with blood pressure problems, those who suffer from diabetes, to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Sage use may interfere with antidiabetic, sedative, and anticonvulsant medications.