Nourish Your Brain with Sage | Homemade Memory-Boosting "Brain Spice" Recipe

Have you ever nibbled on a fresh sage leaf? An herbalist friend told me that chewing on a sage leaf every morning would enhance memory and boost mental clarity. She suggested it might also improve my mood. This seemed like a great idea (or at the very least a worthwhile experiment), so the next day I plucked a leaf from one of my sage plants. The earthy, slightly bitter flavor was not particularly tasty but the idea of improving my memory, concentration, and mental attitude was intriguing. I started munching on a sage leaf every morning and yes, it did seem that I could recall names and facts easier. Best of all, I felt calmer and more positive.

Understanding the benefit that sage has for the brain, I started thinking about other ways to include it in everyday meals. Dried or fresh, the leaves can be added to soups, sauces, casseroles, stuffing, potato dishes, morning smoothies, and more.

Last fall I created a brain spice by blending sage with turmeric and a few other herbs. Each ingredient in the spice contributes to a healthy brain. Brain spice can easily be sprinkled on meat, green salads, steamed vegetables, rice, and more. One friend uses it to season the sliced tomatoes harvested from her garden. My thinking is that not everyone is going to eat a sage leaf each morning but maybe the brain spice will elicit a yes.

Brain Spice Recipe

What you need:

4 tsp dried sage 1 heaping tsp turmeric

2 tsp dried nettle leaves ¼ tsp salt

1 tsp rosemary pinch of pepper

Blend these ingredients together and spoon them into a container. If you have a spice jar with a plastic lid that can sprinkle the spice, that is ideal.

Sage, nettle and rosemary increase circulation to the brain and keep the mind sharp. Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. It has been shown to improve the health of virtually every organ in the body, including the mental acuity of the brain.