Is eating sage leaves healthy?

Sage is an herb with several promising health benefits. It’s high in antioxidants and may help support oral health, aid brain function and lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This green spice is also easy to add to almost any savory dish. It can be enjoyed fresh, dried or as a tea.

What happens if you eat sage leaves?

It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts, for up to 4 months. But sage is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in high doses or for a long time. Some species of sage, such as common sage (Salvia officinalis), contain a chemical called thujone. Thujone can be poisonous if you take too much.

Is it safe to eat raw sage leaves?

Sage is primarily used as a flavoring for fatty meats, sausages, beans and vegetables. The herb is rarely, if ever, used raw, because its aroma and flavor is best released when cooked (plus the herb is a little bit too pungent to be consumed raw). Sage pairs excellently with pork and other rich meats, like game birds.

Is it safe to eat garden sage?

Taken in high doses, the compound thujone contained in garden sage may cause convulsions. Since thujone is volatile, most of it dissipates when sage is cooked, so the culinary use of sage is safe.

Can you eat sage stems?

Toss the stems (and this also goes for hearty stems like rosemary, thyme, sage, and basil) into your vegetable stock mix, or stuff inside chicken during roasting. (Discard the stems before eating.) Or turn them into herb salt. Those stems gave those herbs life; they have plenty of life to give to your cooking, too.

How do you use fresh sage leaves?

Frying a strong herb like sage mellows its flavor. Fried sage can be crumbled over a dish to heighten flavor at the last moment. Sage can also be used to add herbaceousness to sauces, compound butters, meat marinades, pastries, and breads. Add fresh sage leaves to cocktails and teas for an instant hit of herbal flavor.

Can you eat common sage?

The stems, leaves, and flowers of common sage are edible. However, you may let plants flower, especially if you want to use the dainty blossoms as a garnish. Throughout the growing season, periodically pinch off flowers, stems, and leaves to promote new growth.

Is sage poisonous?

Some species of sage, such as common sage (Salvia officinalis), contain a chemical called thujone. Thujone can be poisonous if you get enough. This chemical can cause seizures and damage to the liver and nervous systems.

Is sage poisonous to humans?

What can I do with fresh sage leaves?