Are you looking for a way to add a little extra flavor to your cooking? Oregano is a great herb that can be used to give almost any dish a delicious kick. From pasta sauces to pizza toppings, oregano can be used to add a unique flavor to many different dishes. Here are some of the benefits of using oregano for cooking. It has a unique flavor. It can help to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Oregano contains thymol, which is an antifungal and antibacterial compound that can help to protect against foodborne illnesses. Oregano has a unique flavor that can really enhance the flavor of a dish. Using oregano in your cooking can be a great way to add flavor without adding a lot of calories. It is also full of antioxidants, can help reduce gas and bloating, and can help to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. So why not give oregano a try in your cooking today?
Oregano Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
It is a flavorful and fragrant herb that packs a nutritional punch. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamin K, iron, manganese, calcium, vitamins A and C, folate, magnesium, and potassium. Oregano is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against cell damage and reduce inflammation. Additionally, oregano contains compounds that can help promote healthy gut bacteria and provide antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial support. Nutritional value per 100 g oregano:
- Biotin: 0 µg
- Calcium: 745 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 24.2 g
- Chloride: 0 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Choline: 0 mg
- Chromium: 0 µg
- Copper: 0.9 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 8.8 g
- Energy (Calories): 129 kcal
- Fat: 5.6 g
- Iodine: 0 µg
- Iron: 11.4 mg
- Magnesium: 175 mg
- Manganese: 1.2 mg
- Molybdenum: 0 µg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.2 mg
- Phosphorus: 132 mg
- Potassium: 815 mg
- Protein: 6.9 g
- Saturated fat: 0.7 g
- Selenium: 0 µg
- Sodium: 8 mg
- Sugars: 0.2 g
- Vitamin A: 2156 IU
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 0.8 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 144 µg
- Vitamin B12: 0 µg
- Vitamin C: 3.2 mg
- Vitamin D: 0 IU
- Vitamin E: 0.3 mg
- Vitamin K: 896 µg
- Water: 10.5 g
- Zinc: 2.2 mg
Oregano in India
Common to cuisines of the Mediterranean, the aromatic, slightly spicy flavor of oregano adds zest to food, while stimulating digestive activity. European oregano is extensively used as a major flavor ingredient in pizza. The more spicy Mexican oregano is widely used in Mexican dishes. It is less preferred for use in pizza than the milder European type. Oregano is also widely used in other foods, including alcoholic beverages, baked goods, meat and meat products, condiments and relishes, milk products, processed vegetables, snack foods, fats and oils and others.
- Scientific Binomial: Origanum vulgare
- Common English: Sweet Marjoram / Mexican Mint / Indian Borage
- Ayurvedic: Sukhaatmaka / Marubaka / Phanijjaka
- Unani: Marzanjosh
- Sanskrit: Damnak
- Hindi / Urdu: Sathra / Mirzanjosh / Dauna / Ajwain Leaves
- Bengali: Joan
- Marathi: Maruga/ Ova / Maruae / Santhraa / Jangali Maruaa
- Telugu: Vamu
- Tamil: Kattumaruva / Omum
- Gujarati
- Kannada
- Malayalam: Kattumaruva / Ayamodakam
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
It is a powerful anti fungal herb. Oregano, used extensively in Italian cooking, is also right for remedying ailments of the upper respiratory system. You may use dried herb, but it is best to use fresh, either grown by you or purchased at a health food store. This herb is very useful to treat abdominal pain, bronchitis, infection, rashes, constipation, cramps, epilepsy, fever. When made into a tea and consumed warm to slightly cool, oregano leaves helps reduce fevers and relieve cramps, besides being good for bronchitis, childhood diseases such as measles and mumps, and irregular menstruation.
- Fight Infection: For mouth and throat infections, including oral thrush, use the infusion as a mouthwash or gargle, then swallow.
- Regulate Menstrual Cycle: It is also helpful to regulate the menstrual cycle. Take the oregano as an infusion, and after several days, the cycle should be restored. But it shouldn’t be taken by pregnant women.
- Candida: Carvacrol, the ingredient found in this herb, inhibits the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Carvacrol inhibits the growth of candida albicans far more effectively than a commonly employed anti-fungal agent called calcium magnesium caprylate. Apply the infusion or the diluted oil (a maximum of 5% dilution in a carrier oil such as olive oil) regularly to skin problems such as ringworm and fungal nails. In case of candidiasis, take a 300 to 500 mg capsule or the liquid form (as directed by the physician) three times daily with meals. Recent search says that, oregano oil is over one hundred times more potent than caprylic acid against candida.
- Boosts Immunity: This herb is very useful for stomach ache, cough, weight loss. It is a source of Vitamin A, vitamin C, copper, zinc, iron, potassium. It is good for skin, hair and over all health. Eating fresh leaves everyday boosts immunity. It is a great source of vitamins which are good for healthy heart and bones. It has antioxidants, which helps to save our body from free radicles. Thymol present in the oregano helps to improve digestion.
- Vaginitis: In the treatment of vaginitis, try taking 500 mg of the capsule form or 0.5 ml of the liquid twice daily (as directed by the doctor). Oregano oil has potent antifungal effects and is very important for women who have repeated vaginal yeast infections due to systemic candidiasis.
- Cough and Cold: Good for the respiratory system as well as for coughs and colds is oregano made into a tea. It sets well as an expectorant and for coughs. With strongly antiseptic and anti-microbial constituents, oregano infusion or tincture is a useful expectorant in bronchial infection, chesty coughs, and respiratory catarrh. The herb is also used for digestive disorders or chest infections.
- Bladder Infection: The antimicrobial activity of oregano oil has been recognized for centuries. Oregano oil had powerful antimicrobial activity against several types of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria commonly associated with skin infections. Oil of Origanum vulgare destroys yeast overgrowth associated with acne formation, bladder infection and athlete’s foot. Take 500 mg twice daily or use a liquid form.
- Athlete’s Foot: Try oil of oregano in foot bath to treat foot infection. While it fights athlete’s foot, this foot bath delivers delicious relaxation. Put hot-to-tolerance water and salt in the foot basin. Stir in 5 drops of essential oil of oregano. Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes until the water is no longer warm. Dry your feet, including between your toes, with a clean towel.
- Soothing Effect: Oil of Oregano can be applied to the neck, spine, throat, chest and temples of a person having a seizure and rubbed into the skin good, it will often help in bringing that individual out of his or her fit a lot sooner and with very little trauma. Adding oregano to bathe water gives soothing and calming effect.
- Sinusitis: It is also helpful for common cold, flu, sinusitis, food poisoning, parasites as it has powerful antiparasitic and antiviral effect. It is a popular remedy for cough and cold. Just crush 2-3 leaves in palm and inhale. This is instant remedy to unblock nose. Freshly squeezed oregano leaves extract is best natural cough and cold remedy.
- Boils: To treat abscesses and boils, take 500 mg in the capsule form four times daily, or take the liquid form as directed on the container. It can be applied directly on the lesions as well.
- Headache: For headache, rub few drops of freshly squeezed leaves juice on forehead.
- Mosquito Repellent: Leaves juice can also make a great mosquito repellent. Just add 1/2 cup of leaves juice to 1/4 liter water. Sprinkle it over all possible places where mosquitos can hide.
- Tooth Pain: Oregano oil is useful for toothache.
Side Effects
Do not take internally if you are pregnant. Avoid large medicinal dosages during pregnancy, though culinary use is fine.
FAQs.
Q. Is it okay to drink oregano everyday?
You can include oregano in everyday cooking. As you are adding mint leaves at the end of recipes, in the same way add this leaves towards the end of cooking. Do not cut leaves, just pluck, make pieces with hand, and add in cooking and stir. Similar to mint it can added to lassi, pulav, soup, paratha to enhance the taste. Oregano spiced fritter is one of my favorite dish during rainy season. Just dip whole oregano leaf in besan pakora batter and dip fry in oil.
Q. Is oregano and Ajwain leaves same? How to make Oregano powder at home?
Yes, it is the same. It is also known as Indian oregano, mountain joy or karpurvalli. Ajwain plant is easily available any where in India. It can be grown very easily in pot with cutting or with seeds. With the same ajwain leaves, you can make oregano powder at home. Here is quick DIY homemade recipe. This powder tastes best as pizza, sandwich, burger, salads and pasta toppings. To make this herb powder:
- Take some oregano leaves.
- Wash properly to remove dust and dirt.
- Pat dry with soft towel.
- Sundry these leaves for a week.
- If you think they are not dried completely, then keep in sunlight for 1-2 more days.
- Crush these leaves and your oregano powder is ready.
Q. How do you make oregano tea at home?
- To make a tea, simply bring 1 pint of water to a boil.
- Remove from the heat and add 1 tsp of dried oregano.
- Stir well, cover and let steep for 30 minutes.
- Strain and refrigerate.
- Warm slightly before use.
- Generally 1 cup two to three times daily is suggested.