Rose Hips Are a Fruit With Benefits for Arthritis Relief and More
6 minute read
Rose hips are the “false fruit,” connected to the rose plant. But despite the fact that rose hips are not really a fruit, they are edible. And not only are they edible, they actually contain a wide variety of nutrients that can help with a range of health issues.
Here is all you need to know concerning some of the benefits of rose hips, so you can decide if this lesser-known plant might be worth adding to your health routine. These nutrients provide some powerful boosts to your health.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a powerful heart health helper, which makes it essential for adults or anyone concerned about their risk of heart disease. Magnesium has also been shown to help with migraine symptoms and it is important for bone health as well.
Fortunately, rose hips contain high amounts of magnesium, which is one of the reasons why they’re great for arthritis relief.
Vitamin C
This is perhaps the best-known vitamin out there, and for good reason. Vitamin C can help boost your immune system, which can protect you from various diseases. Not only that, but vitamin C can also help provide a burst of energy to your body naturally.
When we think of vitamin C, we often think about citrus fruits like oranges or lemons, or even grapefruit. But you may not consider that a plant like rose hips could actually be very high in vitamin C. If you’re looking for a different way to add vitamin C into your diet, rose hips might be just the option you need.
Antioxidants
Another powerful immune booster, antioxidants help protect your body against “free radicals” created during the digestive process and causing inflammation, among other health issues, in your body.
These free radicals can be difficult to avoid, so loading up on antioxidants is a good way to make sure your body is protected and is another way to promote heart health.
Vitamin E
This vitamin is known to help with healthy skin and eyes as well as provide an immune system boost. The way that vitamin E accomplishes this is by helping to restore cell tissues, like the kind found in eyes.
Vitamin E can help with a variety of different tissues within your body, so it’s important that you maintain a proper supply of this vitamin in your diet.
Lycopene
Lycopene is a nutrient that can help with a wide variety of health issues, perhaps most notably with cognitive health. Lycopene helps protect your cognition from potential decline, and it can even help with other symptoms we normally associate with aging.
Lycopene has been linked to a reduced risk of several diseases, including cardiovascular illness, and it can even help regulate your cholesterol levels.
Ellagic Acid
This particular acid occurs naturally in some foods, rose hips among them. It has antioxidant properties, so it can help protect against certain diseases. It has also been shown to help fight against inflammation and obesity.
Ellagic acid is not the most well-known substance, but it does occur in rose hips, which gives rose hips even more health benefits.
Phenols
Plant phenols like the kind found in rose hips can be extremely beneficial when it comes to fighting disease. One phenol, for example, is called EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate. This phenol is also present in green tea, and it’s responsible for many of the health benefits associated with green tea.
Manganese
This mineral is essential when it comes to helping maintain strong bone and joint health. But manganese can do more than just protect your bones from wear and tear. It’s also been shown to boost thyroid health, which can help regulate hormones and keep your metabolism in good working order.
Manganese can also help relieve the effects of inflammation, and it can even help regulate your sugar level. All in all, manganese is a powerful health booster that gives rose hips some of their health-charging power.
Calcium
Perhaps the best-known benefit of calcium is that it can help with bone health, but it does a lot more than that. Calcium can also help protect your heart and muscles, and your nerves actually require calcium to function properly.
| Related: Is Vitamin K Better for Bones Than Calcium? |
Some studies even indicate that calcium could help regulate blood pressure, so it’s just one more reason to consider adding rose hips to your health routine.
Potassium
Potassium is an electrolyte that can help maintain healthy blood pressure. It’s also responsible for balancing your pH within your body, which means it keeps acids and bases at the right level.
Perhaps the most famous food high in potassium is bananas, but rose hips are also rich in this nutrient.
The Bottom Line
Rose hips can have any number of benefits or your health. These include improving digestion, immune system boosts, better skin, balancing pH levels and more. You can find them in supplement form, or get them at your local specialty grocery store.
Maybe it’s time to add rose hips or rosehip tea to your menu and start enjoying the many beneficial ingredients that can be found. You might even consider a rose garden.
