The Numerous Health and Beauty Benefits of Rosehips
Rosehips
have been known for their outstanding resilience for millennia, as
these fruits are among the few that can resist the winter colds and
typically only ripen once the first frost hits. But what is the secret
of this resilience and could we borrow it from them? It turns out we
can, and the traditional use of rosehips in medicine is now being
further and further confirmed by the scientific method, discovering the
many health benefits this humble red fruit hides beneath its shell.
Don’t
be mistaken, however, as rosehips are not real fruits, they are what
biologists call a pseudofruit or an accessory fruit, as the fragile
seeds are being protected from harsh climatic conditions by a sturdy,
vitamin-rich shell that forms from the floral cup that once hosted the
delicate Dog Rose flower (see photo below).
It
is exactly this shell that can be used to prepare a sweet cup of
rosehip tea that boasts of having both anti-inflammatory, anti-aging,
pain-relieving, and weight loss benefits. The seeds of the plant are
covered in sharp needle-like fibers, so they cannot be used to prepare
tea, but they are used to prepare rosehip seed oil that is particularly
beneficial for the skin. Below, we go through the health benefits of
both rosehip tea and rosehip seed oil separately, as well as explain how
to prepare and use them.
The Health Benefits of Rosehip Tea
Rosehip
tea is by far the most simple and delicious way to reap the health
benefits of rose hips, as all you need is some dried rosehips and
boiling water. You can either use them whole, use a dried and cleaned
variety or cut them in half and remove the seeds and prickly fibers out
of the shell and discard them before preparing the tea.
Here is how to make the tea:
simply place 1.5 - 2.5 teaspoons of rose hips (around 7 pieces) into a
cup and steep them in boiling water for 10 minutes. This nutritious tea
is packed with vitamin C, E and β-Carotene, as well as polyphenol
antioxidants, galactolipids and triterpene acids that account for its
beneficial health effects. Rosehip tea has been found to have the
following health benefits:
1. Reduces Pain and Inflammation
One
of the most well-founded health benefits of rosehip is its
anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effect, with some doctors even
claiming that rosehip supplements are comparable to NSAIDs. The majority
of studies have been on patients experiencing chronic back pain, neck
and shoulder pain, as well as osteoarthritis.
A new articleshowed a significant reduction in pain compared to a placebo after 3
months of treatment. So, if you suffer from chronic pain, especially joint pain, drinking rosehip tea regularly or taking a rosehip supplement may reduce its intensity.
Apart
from that, the tea and supplements may also have an anti-inflammatory
effect for the joints, as the berries contain a type of plant-based fats
called galactolipids.
2. Helps Weight Loss
If
you have a high-fat diet, especially one that is rich in saturated
animal fats, such as butter, bacon and other fatty meat and dairy
produce and you’d like to shed a few inches off your waistline, drinking
rosehip tea or taking a supplement may help you reach your weight loss
goal a little bit faster. Both animal and human studies
have shown that rose hips have a fat-burning effect, likely thanks to
an antioxidant compound called tiliroside naturally existing in rose
hips.
3. Boosts Immunity
Antioxidants
are particularly important for our immune system, as they prevent the
cells throughout our body from being damaged by free radicals and
therefore strengthen our immune system. And the list of antioxidants in
rose hips is just impeccable, as these small berries are packed with
polyphenols, vitamin A and E.
But
probably the main star of the show is vitamin C of which rosehips have
plenty. In fact, according to some estimations, rose hips contain the
most vitamin C per milligram than any other fruit or vegetable, with
fresh rose hips containing as much as 1157.88 mg per 100 g. For
comparison, an average lemon contains only 53 mg of vitamin C per 100 g,
almost 22 times less than rosehip.
Unfortunately,
vitamin C isn’t particularly stable and degrades during drying, but
even so, a cup of rosehip tea remains rich in the vitamin. And while we know by now that vitamin C cannot prevent colds, it can prevent possible complications nad has many more health-strengthening benefits.
4. May Help Prevent Acquired Diabetes
Type
2 diabetes is on the rise, and as any degenerative condition, it can be
alleviated by antioxidant-rich foods and drinks, at least conceptually.
Although scientists don’t know the exact mechanism of how rose hips can
help prevent diabetes, there is some evidence showing it can.
Unfortunately,
there hasn’t been a lot of scientific studies conducted on human
diabetes patients, but supplementing with rosehip has been shown to
lower blood glucose levels, fasting insulin levels and liver lipid
generation in mice. These diagnostic criteria for diabetes are the same
in mice and humans, and so rosehip tea may be an extra preventative
measure that can help reduce one’s chances of suffering from this
dangerous condition.
5. Promotes Heart and Cardiovascular Health
Poor
blood circulation is another one of those seemingly-inevitable
conditions that we are more and more likely to suffer from as we age, be
it caused by heart problems or atherosclerosis. Luckily, we have
rosehip that could potentially help with both.
A
diet rich in vitamin C, for example, has been associated with a lower
blood level of triglycerides and the bad type of cholesterol (LDL), both
of which contribute to atherosclerosis. Apart from that, rosehips are
rich in flavonoid antioxidants, which were reported to reduce blood
pressure and improve blood flow.
Health Benefits of Rosehip Oil
As
mentioned previously, rosehip seed oil is derived from the seeds and
not the entire rosehip. Like the pulp, these seeds are particularly rich
in vitamin C and A, but also have beneficial plant-derived fatty acids
that are particularly beneficial to the skin.
How to use: Rosehip
oil is a carrier oil and not an essential oil, so it doesn’t have to be
diluted and can be applied topically on the skin. It is also a
so-called dry oil, meaning that it absorbs quickly into the skin without
leaving an oily film on your skin. It’s best to purchase rosehip oil
sold in a dark glass bottle, as exposure to the light may degrade the
vitamins the oil contains. Rosehip oil is capable of boosting one’s skin
health and youthful appearance.
Rosehip
oil is very rich in vitamins C and A, the two staples of anti-aging
creams and serums. Vitamin C works wonders for the skin, being capable
of brightening hyperpigmentation and preventing sun damage. There is
even some evidence that vitamin C can speed up wound healing and help
treat atopic dermatitis.
Vitamin
A, in turn, has been associated with wrinkle smoothing, reversing sun
damage and treating acne. To use rosehip oil on your skin, simply apply a
few drops as the last step in your skincare routine or instead of a
moisturizer.
Precautions and Interactions with Drugs
Rosehip
rarely causes any allergic reactions and can usually be safely taken as
a supplement in either form. However, it can increase the likelihood of
developing kidney stones in some individuals, as well as lower the
effectiveness of some drugs, so we highly recommend talking to your
health provider if you’re considering adding rosehip to your diet or
supplement regimen. Finally, pregnant and breastfeeding women should
consult their doctor before drinking rosehip tea.