My favorite Christmas herb relieves stress, boosts memory

Rosemary is one of my favorite Christmas herbs… [Click here](1770d7/ct0_0/1/ms?sid=TV2%3ApMk0D0u72) to view this message in your browser | [Click here](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3ApMk0D0u72) to stop receiving our messages [] [] Al Sears, MD 11905 Southern Blvd. Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 [] December 25, 2023 [] Reader, Rosemary is one of my favorite Christmas herbs… In my house, I mix it with grass-fed butter and garlic to season the prime rib we make for our holiday dinner. Every year, I bring a small rosemary plant that’s been shaped into a miniature Christmas tree topiary into the kitchen. Not only does it look festive, but inhaling its rich aromatic fragrance is an instant stress reliever. You simply need to rub a few leaves between your fingers. And who doesn’t need a little stress relief this time of year? There’s also an ancient legend that says if you smell rosemary on Christmas Eve, it will bring happiness in the New Year. But I try to use it all year long… not just for its incredible aroma and flavor, but because it has amazing health benefits. Especially when it comes to the brain. Studies prove that this culinary herb can improve memory,1 ease depression2 – and most notably, protect against Alzheimer’s and dementia by preventing the death of brain cells.3 You see, rosemary is a rich source of luteolin. This powerful antioxidant protects a special kind of cell in your brain called “glial cells” from free radical damage and inflammation. For decades, scientists thought these glial cells were just support for the neurons that did the real work of “thinking.” But now we are learning that they do much more. Most importantly, these brain cells stimulate and fine-tune the actions of your neurons. This gives you a faster, more accurate brain. You get less fogginess and better concentration. For example, if you were missing a kind of glial cell called oligodendrocytes, messages would travel through your brain 30 times slower! Other glial cells clear out toxic waste from your brain every night.4 While you sleep, neurons shrink by as much as 60%. In a study published in Stem Cell Reports, researchers found that there’s a specific kind of glial cell called an astrocyte. This cell produces more beta amyloid – a biomarker of Alzheimer’s – in people with the disease.5 To put it simply, healthy glial cells could be the key to a healthier brain as you age. But rosemary does much more than help your brain health. It also: - Boosts immunity - Improves circulation - Reduces joint inflammation - Eases digestion issues, including heartburn - Fights bacterial infection - Increases alertness AND promotes sleep - Promotes hair growth Like I mentioned earlier, I use rosemary to season my holiday prime rib… I thought I’d share the recipe I make for my family. It’s probably a little late to make it to your Christmas dinner table, but it’s a perfect way to welcome the new year. Holiday Prime Rib with Rosemary Garlic Butter [broth] Ingredients: - 5-pound prime rib roast - 1 cup grass-fed butter - 7 cloves organic garlic, minced - 3 Tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped - 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped - 2 Tbsp Himalayan salt - 1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper Preparation: - Preheat the oven to 500°F. - Mix the butter, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until evenly combined. - Rub the rosemary butter all over the rib roast, covering the top and both sides. - Place the roast in a roasting tray with a rack. - Bake for 5 minutes per pound or 25 minutes for a 5-pound roast. - After 25 minutes, turn the oven off. Let the roast stay in the oven for 2 hours. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR DURING THIS TIME. This produces a perfect medium rare prime rib. - Remove from the oven, garnish a serving platter with more fresh rosemary, and serve! To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS --------------------------------------------------------------- References: - British Psychological Society. “Rosemary aroma can aid children’s working memory: Exposure to the aroma of rosemary essential oil can significantly enhance working memory in children.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 May 2017. - Iatrou G, et al. “Rosemary tea consumption results to anxiolytic- and anti-depressant-like behavior of adult male mice and inhibits all cerebral area and liver cholinesterase activity; phytochemical investigation and in silico studies.” Chem Biol Interact. 2015 Jul 25;237:47-57. - Habtemariam S. “The therapeutic potential of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) diterpenes for Alzheimer’s Disease.” Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016; 2016: 2680409. - Jeffrey J, et al. “A paravascular pathway facilitates CSF flow through the brain parenchyma and the clearance of interstitial solutes, including amyloid β.” Sci Transl Med. 2012;4(147):147ra11. - Oksanen M, et al. PSEN1 mutant iPSC-derived model reveals severe astrocyte pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease.” Stem Cell Reports. 2017 Dec 12;9(6):1885-1897. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.10.016. alsearsmd@send.alsearsmd.com [Preferences | Unsubscribe](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3ApMk0D0u72) 11905 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, United States