Apparently the key to boosting your memory is right in your kitchen. Even better, you don’t need to take a supplement or massive doses of it to get the full benefit. In fact, that’s exactly what you don’t want to do… Researchers out of Maryland published a study in the Journal of Medicinal Food that followed 28 adults.1 Their average age was 75. Scientists gave them four different doses of this herb and a placebo.
Researchers found that the lowest dose (750 mg) of the herb had a significant impact on cognitive performance in just a few hours compared to the placebo. The highest dosage, 6,000 mg, had an impairing effect and inconsistent results. The low dosage is closest to what’s typically used for culinary purposes, only proving to be all the more valuable. Less is better!
But what’s even more interesting…
Other studies have shown that you don’t even have to consume the herb to reap the benefits.
Researchers from Northumbria University in the United Kingdom found that just smelling the herb improved memory.2
Researchers exposed 20 people to its aroma. The adults then took speed, accuracy and mood tests. Sure enough, just a whiff of the herb had a positive effect. Researchers discovered that a chemical found in the herb improved brain performance. And after doing blood tests, scientists found that the more of this chemical that entered the bloodstream, the better the subject did on the speed and accuracy tests.
What is this culinary turned medicinal herb?
You probably already use it. It’s that common.
Rosemary.
Rosemary is part of the evergreen family.3 People have used it for ages in their cooking. And – as a medicine – it isn’t new either. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, French, and Hungarians used the fragrant herb for centuries.4 Ancient Greeks knew about rosemary’s memory boosting abilities way before clinical trials. Students used to wear sprigs in their hair while taking tests. They believed it improved memory.
In another U.K. study, researchers also studied the affects of rosemary’s aroma.5 They randomly split up 144 participants into three cubicles – rosemary scented, lavender scented, or no scent.
The rosemary group showed a significant enhancement of performance in overall quality of memory. They also showed to be more alert than their lavender counterparts.
Don’t wait to start adding rosemary to your diet or life. It can help at any age. And it doesn’t take long to take affect.
You can easily find fresh rosemary at the grocery store. Add a little to your dishes. You’ll get a boost of flavor and strengthen your brain while you’re at it.
Don’t care for the taste or want to mix things up? You can buy rosemary essential oil to enhance the fragrance of your house, office, or bedroom. Sprinkle a few drops on a pillowcase or in the shower. It may just save your memory.
References:
1 http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21877951
2 http://huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/rosemary-brain-memory-18-cineole_n_1304250.html
3 http://whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=75
4 http://voices.yahoo.com/rosemary-ancient-herb-modern-uses-2550503.html?cat=68
5 http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690999
