Sorrel

Some of the health benefits of sorrel include its ability to boost eyesight, strengthen the immune system, improve digestion, build strong bones, increase circulation, increase energy levels, help prevent cancer, reduce certain skin conditions, lower blood pressure, increase appetite, slow the aging process, protect against diabetes, strengthen heart health, and improve kidney health.

Be careful not to confuse sorrel (rumex acetosa) with roselle (hibiscus sabdariffa), which is known as jamaican sorrel or guinea sorrel.

Research suggests that sorrel may be used as a deterrent against certain kinds of cancer due to the presence of a group of compounds called flavonoids, now thought to be powerful antioxidants which scavenge the body of disease-causing free radicals.

Sorrel is used for reducing sudden and ongoing pain and swelling (inflammation) of the nasal passages and respiratory tract, for treating bacterial infections along with conventional medicines, and for increasing urine flow (as a diuretic).

Sorrel is also an ingredient in the herbal cancer treatment essiac. When used as a dried herb, the leaves of the sorrel plant can be used to treat itchy skin, fever, scurvy, and ringworm. Sorrel can be cut thinly and sprinkled over soups and salads to help relieve these ailments. Even if you donat suffer from these issues, sorrel makes a great addition to a meal. Sorrel can be incorporated into meals as a sauce, that can go over fish or chicken dishes.

The high content of dietary fiber that can be found in most varieties of sorrel mean that your digestive health can be improved by adding these leaves to your soups and salads.

Dietary fiber adds bulk to food as it moves through the digestive system, improving your gastrointestinal health and reducing conditions like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and cramping, as well as more serious gastrointestinal issues.

Dietary fiber can also help to reduce total cholesterol in the body, thereby protecting heart health and reducing chances of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

A healthy man needs 90 milligrams of vitamin c each day, while a woman should have 75 milligrams.

A 1/2-cup serving of raw sorrel leaves contains around 32 grams of vitamin c, 36 percent of a man's requirement and 43 percent of a woman's.

People with diets that contain plenty of vitamin c-rich foods like sorrel may be less likely to develop atherosclerosis and to suffer from a stroke or heart attack.

For maximum vitamin c content, eat sorrel raw.

Experts recommend drinking tea made from sorrel for blood pressure reduction, especially in patients suffering from type-2 diabetes.

Studies have shown that drinking 2-3 cups of sorrel tea everyday helps in lowering the blood pressure considerably by at least 7-14mm hg.

Researchers believe that the anthocyanins found in the sorrel plant are responsible for effectively reducing high blood pressure.

Sorrel has a very significant level of potassium (1 cup contains 15% of your daily recommended intake), which is an essential mineral for human health.

Potassium is a vasodilator, as well as being instrumental in maintaining fluid balance throughout the body.

This means that potassium reduces the stress on the cardiovascular system by relaxing the blood vessels and arteries.

Lowered blood pressure reduces the chances of dangerous clotting and excessive strain on the heart that can lead to coronary heart disease and other complications.

The significant levels of iron in sorrel mean that it boosts red blood cell production and prevents anemia (iron deficiency).

Increased circulation boosts oxygen levels throughout the body in the vital organs, boosts hair growth, increases energy levels, and speeds up the healing process (in conjunction with the protein content of sorrel).

Although the studies looking into the antioxidant components of sorrel are still ongoing, there is good evidence that sorrel contains polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, all of which function as antioxidants in the human body.

The wealth of antioxidants that sorrel contains means that it is very effective at seeking out free radicals in the body and neutralizing them before they can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous cells.

Antioxidants have a wide range of effects in the body, but cancer prevention is their most high-profile benefit.

The flavonoids found in the sorrel plant are good deterrents against particular types of cancers.

These flavonoids help in destroying cancer cells in the body and prevent further spread of this disease. They are also helpful in strengthening the immune system.

Sheep sorrel in particular is a good natural cure for cancer.

It contains oxalic acid and chlorophyll that are both effective in fighting cancer. Therefore, many people regularly eat sorrel leaves as a preventive measure against cancer.

Vitamin a, another of the essential vitamins found in sorrel, has been closely connected to the improvement in eyesight and a reduction of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Beta-carotene, which is a derivative of vitamin a, acts as an antioxidant, and combined with the other important antioxidant compounds in the body, sorrel can greatly boost eye health and prevent age-related degradation of that vital sense.

The vitamin c content in sorrel is impressive (a single cup of sorrel contains 106% of your daily recommended intake), which means that your immune system can be optimized and brought up to full strength when you add this to your diet.

Vitamin c, also known as ascorbic acid, stimulates the immune system and increases the white blood cell count in the body, which is the first line of defense against pathogens and other foreign invaders in the body.

Vitamin c also helps to reduce swelling, prevent scurvy, and even has analgesic (pain relief) properties when consumed in high quantities.

Sorrel is also a good natural treatment for dry and damaged hair.

It is widely used in commercial hair care products for this very reason.

Experts believe that sorrel can also help control balding when applied regularly to bald patches. Therefore, it is also considered a good cure for mild hair loss.

The leaves of sorrel have been used in two ways to treat skin conditions.

The leaves, when dried as an herb can be eaten, and this has been connected with a reduction in ringworm and itchy, dry skin.

When fresh leaves are ground up, the liquid that is extracted can be applied topically to the area in question to reduce rashes and irritation.

This is likely due to the vitamin c and vitamin a content in the leaves, as well as the other neutraceuticals found in this herb.

Aside from the other heart-related benefits, it is important to remember that sorrel belongs to the oxalis family, which has been closely associated with improving the condition of diabetics and boosting heart health in general.

Again, this is likely due to the organic compounds and anthocyanins found in sorrel, which interact with almost every system in the body to boost functionality and health.

Sorrel has been shown to have a diuretic effect, particularly when the leaves are dried and then consumed within a few days.

As a diuretic, sorrel stimulates urination, which cleans out the kidneys, taking with it any extra toxins, salts, water, and even a small percentage of fat.

Outside of health uses, sorrel has also been used extensively in the culinary world for hundreds of years.

Common/wild sorrel and french sorrel. One differentiating feature between the two are the larger leaves of common sorrel. In general, sorrel appears as a thin plant with long, green or crimson leaves and has a taste similar to kiwi or unripe strawberries. It is known for its sour taste, and is even called aazeda,a in portugal, which means asour"

*oxalic acid is a toxin, so eating sorrel in moderate amounts is important. Also, oxalic acid contributes to the growth of kidney stones, so if that is already a health concern, you should avoid eating oxalic acid-rich foods like sorrel. Also, when cooking sorrel, do not use cast iron or aluminum cookware, as the metal will interact with the oxalic acid and cause the herb to take on a very unpleasant metallic taste. It is also generally recommended that children and pregnant or breastfeeding women avoid this herb, as not enough information exists regarding its effects in these states. Another side effect that one must be mindful of when taking sheep sorrel is diarrhea. Diarrhea can lead to potassium loss, and thus, those taking certain diuretic medications prescribed by a physician, which can also lead to potassium loss, should be cautious with sorrel.

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