Oregano. (health matters).(health, nutritional benefits)(Brief Article)

Oregano is well known for what it can do to spark up tomato-based dishes, but we're only now learning what the pungent herb can do for our health. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have found that oregano and -- to a lesser degree -- other related herbs are powerful antioxidants, compounds that help eliminate harmful free radicals from the body.

Oregano, the researchers have discovered, has even stronger antioxidant powers than vegetables and fruits, which are loaded with them. That's one reason we're encouraged to eat plant-based diets rather than those dependent on meat, though it's not happening yet. Most Americans aren't even eating enough fruits and vegetables to gain antioxidant benefits.

A tablespoon of fresh oregano, researchers found, has more than 40 times the ...