November 2024 Newsletter
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme… a study in poultry herbs. In the traditional recipe for roasting turkey, these (and other) herbs are used for both the stuffing and the bird. Here’s a little more insight into these herbs that I hope you find interesting.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), is it dangerous? I grew up in a family of five children and eating in a nice restaurant was rare. I remember seeing this sprig of green on the plate as a decoration but my dad would pop it into his mouth at the end of the meal. “It’s good for the digestion and the breath” he would say. No doubt, after eating an Italian meal that was a good ending. On researching parsley, I was surprised to learn that there were warnings about consuming it and also about putting it on your skin as if it were a common problem. It has vitamins B1(Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), vitamins C and K, and other chemicals that stimulate appetite, improve digestion, help with diabetes, dark skin patches on the face (Melasma), potentially has a laxative effect and helps with kidney stones. It is safe as long as you don’t eat over two hundred grams at one sitting. Parsley oil contains toxins which can have serious effects on the kidneys and can lead to liver damage and HALLUCINATIONS (don’t tell the teenagers). Applying the parsley seed oil to the skin might be unsafe because it makes the skin more sensitive to sun damage. It interacts with coumadin (warfarin), pentobarbital or Nembutal, aspirin, diabetic drugs, and diuretic drugs by exaggerating or emphasizing the same effects.
Parsley juice might increase levels of sirolimus (Rapamune) in the body, again amplifying the effects of that drug. It seems to increase the ability of the liver to break down drugs quickly. In summary, no problem with a spoonful in your turkey stuffing but don’t eat a salad of it.
Sage (salvia officinnalius), is also an anti-oxidant and great for oral health. It provides the body with vitamins K, A, C, E, B6, iron, calcium, zinc, copper, and manganese. It improves brain function, and lowers blood sugar and cholesterol. It is a natural ‘cleansing’ agent. People claim it neutralizes potentially harmful toxins. It has pesticide properties in the garden. It is in the same plant family as oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme.
Rosemary (salvia marinus) is an herb that also is good for mouth freshening and digestion, improves brain health, and hair growth. It has a diuretic effect. Research has shown it to demonstrate an anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal and antibacterial activities. That means it can help with colds, flu, sinus infection, asthma, edema. That gives it a “wonder herb” label - until you read the cautions. Most of these are if you are on certain medications and want to eat a lot of rosemary. It interacts with anti-coagulants like aspirin, heparin, warfarin, coumadin, Plavix, ibuprofen, Advil, Naproxen, statin drugs and ACE inhibitors. In the case of last two, it might double their effect. Instructions are given to not give sage tea to an infant younger than six months. It is also not recommended for people with ulcerative colitis, epilepsy, or high blood pressure.
Thyme (thymus vulgaris) is said to help lower blood pressure, and this particular information is actually why I first endeavored to research these herbs. This idea is gaining acceptance in modern medical circles. Volatile oils help relax arteries. Relaxed arteries allow blood to flow at a lower pressure. The recommended dose was five hundred milligrams, taken twice a day with meals. Dried or fresh doesn’t matter, but drying concentrates the minerals that thyme offers. Thyme is one of the most nutrient dense herbs, with minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and selenium. It has vitamins C, B6 (pyridoxine, which helps GABA neurotransmitter action) and super oxide dismutase. The volatile oils are carvacrol, barneol, and geraniol. These are accompanied by anti-oxidants zeaxanthin, lutein, apigenin, naringin and luteolin, and thymosin and other phenolic flavonoids. If you choose to use thyme for aromatherapy, mix with lavender and a little carrier oil, then put on a little cloth next to your pillow for calming effects. For tea, mix two to three teaspoons in a cup of hot water. You can crush the leaves to put on a salad. Side effects of too much consumption are nausea, stomach upset, headache, dizziness, allergic reaction in the skin or congestion.
Another herbal plant that helps blood pressure and the heart is hawthorn berry. It comes from a tree and the leaves are also edible. It is a flavonoid with pro anthocyanidins. It is said to improve blood flow to the heart muscle in particular. In general, it helps manage
angina and congestive heart therapy because of its ability to help the heart convert food to energy (cyclic AMP). It opens up blood vessels and acts similar to calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure. It is said to have a toning effect on the heart and vascular system, which would help with heart failure, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, and atherosclerosis. I have often suggested CoQ10 enzyme to help the heart, but this research says hawthorn helps the CoQ10, which makes the heart able to recover from effort and in essence, stay strong. Fourteen studies showed it offers significant benefit as an adjunct to conventional treatment of chronic heart failure. The symptoms of shortness of breath and fatigue were significantly reduced compared to a placebo. A tea can be made with one teaspoon of hawthorn in a cup of hot water, steep for eight to ten minutes. It has a mild, tangy flavor.
Herb Marinade (chicken or fish)
2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon garlic (minced), 1 teaspoon each of oregano and thyme, ½ teaspoon each of basil and parsley, ¼ teaspoon pepper
Mix all ingredients together, pour over the meat, let it sit 30 minutes before cooking.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme… a study in poultry herbs. In the traditional recipe for roasting turkey, these (and other) herbs are used for both the stuffing and the bird. Here’s a little more insight into these herbs that I hope you find interesting.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), is it dangerous? I grew up in a family of five children and eating in a nice restaurant was rare. I remember seeing this sprig of green on the plate as a decoration but my dad would pop it into his mouth at the end of the meal. “It’s good for the digestion and the breath” he would say. No doubt, after eating an Italian meal that was a good ending. On researching parsley, I was surprised to learn that there were warnings about consuming it and also about putting it on your skin as if it were a common problem. It has vitamins B1(Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), vitamins C and K, and other chemicals that stimulate appetite, improve digestion, help with diabetes, dark skin patches on the face (Melasma), potentially has a laxative effect and helps with kidney stones. It is safe as long as you don’t eat over two hundred grams at one sitting. Parsley oil contains toxins which can have serious effects on the kidneys and can lead to liver damage and HALLUCINATIONS (don’t tell the teenagers). Applying the parsley seed oil to the skin might be unsafe because it makes the skin more sensitive to sun damage. It interacts with coumadin (warfarin), pentobarbital or Nembutal, aspirin, diabetic drugs, and diuretic drugs by exaggerating or emphasizing the same effects.
Parsley juice might increase levels of sirolimus (Rapamune) in the body, again amplifying the effects of that drug. It seems to increase the ability of the liver to break down drugs quickly. In summary, no problem with a spoonful in your turkey stuffing but don’t eat a salad of it.
Sage (salvia officinnalius), is also an anti-oxidant and great for oral health. It provides the body with vitamins K, A, C, E, B6, iron, calcium, zinc, copper, and manganese. It improves brain function, and lowers blood sugar and cholesterol. It is a natural ‘cleansing’ agent. People claim it neutralizes potentially harmful toxins. It has pesticide properties in the garden. It is in the same plant family as oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme.
Rosemary (salvia marinus) is an herb that also is good for mouth freshening and digestion, improves brain health, and hair growth. It has a diuretic effect. Research has shown it to demonstrate an anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal and antibacterial activities. That means it can help with colds, flu, sinus infection, asthma, edema. That gives it a “wonder herb” label - until you read the cautions. Most of these are if you are on certain medications and want to eat a lot of rosemary. It interacts with anti-coagulants like aspirin, heparin, warfarin, coumadin, Plavix, ibuprofen, Advil, Naproxen, statin drugs and ACE inhibitors. In the case of last two, it might double their effect. Instructions are given to not give sage tea to an infant younger than six months. It is also not recommended for people with ulcerative colitis, epilepsy, or high blood pressure.
Thyme (thymus vulgaris) is said to help lower blood pressure, and this particular information is actually why I first endeavored to research these herbs. This idea is gaining acceptance in modern medical circles. Volatile oils help relax arteries. Relaxed arteries allow blood to flow at a lower pressure. The recommended dose was five hundred milligrams, taken twice a day with meals. Dried or fresh doesn’t matter, but drying concentrates the minerals that thyme offers. Thyme is one of the most nutrient dense herbs, with minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and selenium. It has vitamins C, B6 (pyridoxine, which helps GABA neurotransmitter action) and super oxide dismutase. The volatile oils are carvacrol, barneol, and geraniol. These are accompanied by anti-oxidants zeaxanthin, lutein, apigenin, naringin and luteolin, and thymosin and other phenolic flavonoids. If you choose to use thyme for aromatherapy, mix with lavender and a little carrier oil, then put on a little cloth next to your pillow for calming effects. For tea, mix two to three teaspoons in a cup of hot water. You can crush the leaves to put on a salad. Side effects of too much consumption are nausea, stomach upset, headache, dizziness, allergic reaction in the skin or congestion.
Another herbal plant that helps blood pressure and the heart is hawthorn berry. It comes from a tree and the leaves are also edible. It is a flavonoid with pro anthocyanidins. It is said to improve blood flow to the heart muscle in particular. In general, it helps manage
angina and congestive heart therapy because of its ability to help the heart convert food to energy (cyclic AMP). It opens up blood vessels and acts similar to calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure. It is said to have a toning effect on the heart and vascular system, which would help with heart failure, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, and atherosclerosis. I have often suggested CoQ10 enzyme to help the heart, but this research says hawthorn helps the CoQ10, which makes the heart able to recover from effort and in essence, stay strong. Fourteen studies showed it offers significant benefit as an adjunct to conventional treatment of chronic heart failure. The symptoms of shortness of breath and fatigue were significantly reduced compared to a placebo. A tea can be made with one teaspoon of hawthorn in a cup of hot water, steep for eight to ten minutes. It has a mild, tangy flavor.
Herb Marinade (chicken or fish)
2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon garlic (minced), 1 teaspoon each of oregano and thyme, ½ teaspoon each of basil and parsley, ¼ teaspoon pepper
Mix all ingredients together, pour over the meat, let it sit 30 minutes before cooking.
