Sage is somewhat of a miracle herb' with many, many beneficial uses. The sage plant is extremely valuable as a cooking herb and as a medicine to help keep the mind and body healthy. With the amazing list of benefits we can derive from this incredible herb, it deserves the highest level of respect as an important ally to healthy human life. There are quite a few types of sage found in various regions all over the world. Some of the more widely used names are Garden sage, Meadow sage, Scarlet sage and True sage A comprehensive discussion of the many species of sage and its properties and versatile uses would fill several book volumes. Therefore, for the purpose of this discussion, the focus will be narrowed to that type of sage known as "Common sage."

The botanical name for sage is Salvia Officinalis, with salvia meaning to heal.' Sage is classified as a perennial, which means that it is available for harvesting all year round. It is very easy to grow in both indoor and outdoor herb gardens, and such gardeners are rewarded with countless no-cost benefits with their bountiful crop.

Sage is used in cooking in regional cuisines around the world. For example, a common British use is to cook sage with onion for pork, chicken and turkey stuffing. A popular French use is for cooking in vegetable soups. The Germans use it to flavor sausage dishes. Ancient China used it for tea (instead of their traditional tea). And in Western cooking it is widely used as a major ingredient in meat marinades and to flavor a variety of foods. It is considered one of the most significant culinary herbs in Western cooking.

The primary part of the sage plant used for cooking is the leaves, fresh or dried, with dried leaves producing a stronger flavor. It is to be used sparingly as a cooking herb, as overuse could give foods a bitter flavor. A little research will produce so many recipes with sage as an ingredient in a variety of cultures, that a different one could be used every single day over a 100-year lifetime!

Medicinal and health benefits of sage are numerous and varied. For one thing, sage is a great antioxidant. Antioxidants are essential to fight harmful free radicals within the cells of our bodies. Free radicals are formed when the protons are separated from their electrons of the atoms within the molecules (within the cells) of our bodies. Free radicals promote unstable molecules in the body. Antioxidants are needed to neutralize the free radicals.

Modern research

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