Keep your brain young with rosemary!
Rosemary is the number-one culinary herb in Cilento. “They put rosemary on everything they cook,” confirms University of California at San Diego researcher Alan Maisel, M.D. Why does that matter? Because the aromatic, pine-like herb is packed with carsonic acid, a natural chemical that fights the effects of aging and inflammation on the brain, improving memory and reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. It also helps shrink artery-clogging plaque, another key reason for the region’s low rate of heart attacks! ✤ To your health! Make your own rosemary-infused extra-virgin olive oil to use in cooking and as a dipping oil for bread, like they do in Cilento: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup olive oil with 5- 6 sprigs of rosemary. Cook five minutes over medium heat; let cool, then transfer the sprigs and oil into a bottle, sealing tightly. Oil will keep up to one month refrigerated.