Rosehips 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Rosehips – 100 g ($13.99), 50 g ($8.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:
Nutrients and Compounds
One ounce of wild rose hips contains about: (6)

• 45 calories
• < 1 gram protein
• 10.7 grams carbohydrates
• 6.7 grams fiber
• <1 gram sugar
• 0 grams fat
• 119 milligrams vitamin C (199 percent DV)
• 1217 international units vitamin A (24 percent DV)
• 0.3 milligrams manganese (14 percent DV)
• 7.3 micrograms vitamin K (9 percent DV)
• 1.6 milligrams vitamin E (8 percent DV)
• 47.3 milligrams calcium (5 percent DV)
• 19.3 milligrams magnesium (5 percent DV)
• 120 milligrams potassium (3 percent DV)

Antioxidants  Antioxidants are substances that protect or reduce cell damage caused by molecules called free radicals.

Consuming foods and beverages rich in antioxidants may protect against chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes (2).

In a study on the antioxidant contents of six fruit extracts, rosehip was found to have the highest antioxidant capacity (3). More specifically, it has been found to contain high levels of polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamins C and E, all of which have powerful antioxidant properties (1, 4). The amounts of these antioxidants in rose hips can vary greatly, depending on the plant species, time of harvest, and altitude at which the plant was grown (4, 5). Plants from higher altitudes tend to have higher antioxidant levels (4).

Immune  One of the most impressive benefits of rose hips is their high concentration of vitamin C. While the exact amount varies by plant, rose hips have been shown to have among the highest vitamin C content of all fruits and vegetables (1, 4). Vitamin C plays many essential roles in your immune system, including (7, 8, 9, 10):

• stimulating the production of white blood cells called lymphocytes, which protect your body against infection
• enhancing the function of lymphocytes
• helping maintain your skin’s protective barrier against outside pathogens

In addition to vitamin C, rose hips contain high levels of polyphenols and vitamins A and E, all of which help strengthen and protect your immune system (11, 12, 13, 14). Though some animal research suggests that supplementing with concentrated rosehip can enhance immune function, human research is lacking (10).

Compared with other fruits and vegetables, rose hips offer one of the highest levels of vitamin C. This vitamins, along with other compounds in rosehip tea, helps strengthen and protect your immune system.

The vitamin C content in rose hips is very impressive, making it a great choice if you want to boost your immune system.. As a 2014 scientific review points out, vitamin C — also referred to as ascorbic acid — is “essential to stimulate the immune system by increasing the strength and protection of the organism” and it is “important in all stressful conditions that are linked to inflammatory processes and involve immunity.” (7)

Heart  Due to its high concentration of antioxidants, rosehip tea may benefit heart health. Studies suggest a relationship between vitamin C intake and heart disease risk.

One review of 13 studies found that supplementing with at least 500 mg of vitamin C per day was associated with a significant decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood triglycerides, two risk factors for heart disease (15)., observational studies have linked insufficient vitamin C intake to an increased risk of dying from heart disease (16).

Rose hips are also high in flavonoids. These antioxidants have been shown to reduce blood pressure in people with elevated levels and improve blood flow to the heart (17).

A 6-week study in 31 adults with obesity found that those who consumed a drink containing 40 grams of rosehip powder per day had significantly improved blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, compared with the control group (18). However, the researchers suggested that these beneficial effects may have been partially due to the high fiber content of the powder, which is not present in rosehip.

Weight Loss  Research suggests that rosehip tea may aid weight loss. Studies show that rose hips from the Rosa canina plant are high in an antioxidant called tiliroside, which may have fat-burning properties.

In an 8-week study in mice prone to obesity, those fed a high-fat diet containing 1% rosehip gained significantly less body weight and stomach fat than animals that did not receive the supplement (19). Human research shows similar results. In a 12-week study in 32 adults with excess weight, taking 100 mg of rosehip extract daily significantly decreased body weight and stomach fat, compared with the placebo group (20).

However, current research is limited to the effects of concentrated rosehip. More human studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between rosehip tea and weight loss. Can rose hips help to treat obesity naturally? According to some research, possibly. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in 2015 examined the effects of rose hip supplementation on subjects for 12 weeks. During this time, the pre-obese subjects were assigned to two random groups and either received one tablet of placebo or 100 milligrams of rosehip extract once each day with zero dietary intervention.

The researchers found that daily intake of rose hip extract significantly reduced all of the following in the pre-obese subjects: abdominal total fat area; abdominal visceral fat area; body weight; and body mass index. These decreases were also substantially higher compared to the placebo group. (8)

Diabetes  While the exact mechanism is unclear, some research suggests that rose hips may protect against type 2 diabetes. In a study in mice on a high-fat diet, adding rosehip powder over 10–20 weeks significantly decreased blood sugar levels, fasting insulin levels, and fat cell growth in the liver — three risk factors for type 2 diabetes (21). In another study, rosehip significantly lowered fasting blood sugar levels in rats with diabetes (22).

A study of adults with obesity, supplementing with rosehip powder daily had no significant effects on fasting glucose levels or insulin sensitivity. These results applied to people with healthy and impaired blood sugar levels alike (20). As with weight loss, current research is limited to rosehip extract, and more studies on the relationship between rosehip tea and type 2 diabetes risk are needed.

Inflammation And Pain  Rosehip is high in compounds with anti-inflammatory effects, including polyphenols and galactolipids (1, 23). Galactolipids are the main types of fat in cell membranes. Recently, they have been studied for their strong anti-inflammatory properties and potential to reduce joint pain (1, 24).

In a review of three studies, supplementing with rosehip significantly reduced joint pain in people with osteoarthritis. Furthermore, those receiving rosehip were twice as likely to report improved pain levels, compared with the placebo group (24). Another 4-month study in 100 people with osteoarthritis found that those who supplemented with 5 grams of rosehip extract daily experienced significantly less pain and increased hip joint mobility, compared with the control group (25). In fact, 65% of the participants in the rosehip group reported some reduction in pain (25).

Rosehip has also been suggested to aid rheumatoid arthritis, though research is limited, and high-quality human studies are lacking (1).

Skin Aging  Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and responsible for providing elasticity to your skin. Vitamin C has been shown to promote collagen synthesis and protect skin cells against sun damage, both of which can help keep your skin looking tighter and more youthful. As rosehip is high in this vitamin, drinking it could benefit your skin (26). Rosehip contains the carotenoid astaxanthin, which may have anti-aging effects, as it helps prevent the breakdown of collagen (27, 28). Other carotenoids in rosehip may benefit skin health as well. In particular, vitamin A and lycopene are known to protect skin cells against sun damage (28).

An 8-week study in 34 people showed that those who consumed 3 grams of rosehip powder per day experienced fewer crow’s feet wrinkles, as well as improved skin moisture and elasticity (27). However, it’s unclear whether drinking rosehip tea would have the same effect on skin health (27). A randomized, double-blind clinical study published in 2015 in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging compared the ability of rose hip powder versus astaxanthin to improve signs of aging, including wrinkles. The rose hip powder contained both seeds and shells of rose hip fruit from the Rose canina plant. Subjects were between the ages of 35 and 65 and had wrinkles on their faces. For eight weeks, half of the subjects consumed standardized rose hip product while the other half took astaxanthin. Subjects in both the rose hip and astaxanthin supplementation groups had positive self-assessments of change. The rose hip group showed statistically significant improvements in crow’s feet wrinkles, skin moisture and elasticity (with similar results in the astaxanthin group). (13)

Arthritis  Rose hips from Rosa canina (also known as dog rose) have been shown to alleviate arthritis symptoms when taken on a daily basis. Rose hip has been shown to block the activation of proteins in cartilage cells that can lead to unhealthy degradation of joint tissue. This herbal remedy has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects by decreasing chemotaxis, which is the transportation of immune cells into tissue. (9)

There have been numerous studies over the years revealing the possibility that rose hips can help people suffering from arthritis. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover clinical trial published in the Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology looked at the effects of rose hips on 94 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. Half of the patients were given five grams of an herbal remedy made from a subspecies of rose hips (Rosa canina) daily for three months and the other half were given a similar amount of placebo. After three weeks, the rose hip group experienced a “significant reduction” in pain compared to the placebo group. (10) Other studies have shown similar results of arthritis symptom reduction including less pain and stiffness with rose hip supplementation. (11, 12)

Anti-Cancer  Could rose hips be another natural way to fight some types of cancer? It looks possible, according to some research to date. A type of breast cancer known as triple negative prevalent amongst young women as well as those who are African-American or Hispanic is a very aggressive form of cancer which does not respond to most available treatments.

During an in vitro study (lab study) published in 2015 in the Cancer Research journal scientists treated tissues cultures of African American triple negative (HCC70, HCC1806) and luminal (HCC1500) breast cancer cell lines with several concentrations of rosehip extract. The findings were very positive: “Each of the breast cancer cell lines were treated with rosehip extracts (1mg/mL to 25ng/mL) demonstrated a significant decrease in cell proliferation.” Pretreatment of the cancer cell lines with rosehip extract also selectively reduced MAPK and AKT, two enzymes that are known to promote cell growth in triple negative breast cancer. (14)

Botanical Name: Rosa canina
English: Rose Hips
Also, known as: Eglantine, Weisse Rose, Rosa Bianca, Rosa Blanca, Brier Hip, Dog Brier Fruit, Dog Rose Fruit, Hipberries, Witches Brier, Hip Tree, Hip Fruit, Hop Fruit, Hogseed, Sweet Brier, Wild Brier, Witches Brier, Dog Rose, Dagger Rose, Haggebutt, Wild Rose
Origin: Chile
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Fruit

General Information:
Rosa canina is a shrub introduced from Eurasia. It grows up to 9 feet tall and has multiple arching stems. Stems are covered with thorns that are stout, flattened, downward-curving and unequal in size. Leaves are alternate and pinnately divided into 5 to 7 leaflets with serrated margins. Both sides of the leaves are glandless and smooth. The relatively large flowers, 2-5 cm across are borne in small clusters at the tips of the branches. They have five pale pink to bright pink petals, sometimes white, numerous stamens, and five backwards curving (1.e. reflexed) sepals that are variously toothed or lobed. These flowers are borne on stalks that are hairless and not prickly. Flowers are solitary or in small clusters at the ends of branches. Flowers have five white to pink petals 0.8 to 1 inch long, five sepals, usually 10 or more pistils, and multiple stamens. Sepals are glandless, often have slender lateral lobes, curve backward at the time of anthesis and are deciduous. The fruit is an oval or rounded fleshy capsule, known as a hip that turns from green to orange or scarlet red in color as it matures. Fruits are a delicious wild edible, hairless, smooth, bright red, 0.6 to 0.8 inches long and contain numerous seeds. The seeds are yellowish in color, irregularly shaped, and 4-6 mm long.

Rosa canina pseudo fruits often referred to as rose hips, have been used as an herbal medicine for more than 2,000 years. They are nutritive,  tart and can be infused into a tea that is high in many vitamins, especially Vitamins A and C. Even though citrus fruits get all the glory for being a great source of Vitamin C, rosehips actually contain a higher concentration of this important vitamin and are in fact one of the richest botanical sources of it. Fruits persist on the plant for several months and become black.

Rose hips are the fruit of a rose plant and they appear after the flower dies. For hundreds of years, they were a key dietary element for native people of North America where roses were found growing wild.

When the importing of citrus fruits was limited during World War II, rose hips became very popular in Great Britain. During this time in history, volunteers there would gather rose hips for hours for the creation of rose hip syrup for the Ministry of Health. This syrup would be given out to citizens for health purposes with children being at the top of the priority list. (15) In addition to syrup, they are also used in jams, jellies, herbal teas, soup, beverages including wine, pies and bread. (16)

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
Recommended daily amount: 1 -2 tsp of rosehips (2-5 g)/use, up to 3 times/day. This can be added to food, drink or to make tea.