Cutting salt likely to prevent future heart disease, even if you're not at risk now

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Updated 0001 GMT (0801 HKT) February 25, 2020

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Our ancestors used herbs and spices to flavor foods and soon learned that some of them seemed to improve their health. Today, science is looking more closely at those claims. Read on to find out the latest research on these historically healthy spices and herbs.
Photos: 12 healthy herbs and spices: A closer look
Our ancestors used herbs and spices to flavor foods and soon learned that some of them seemed to improve their health. Today, science is looking more closely at those claims. Read on to find out the latest research on these historically healthy spices and herbs.
Hide Caption
1 of 13
One of the most commonly used spices in the world, cinnamon has been linked in various studies to improvement in cholesterol and blood sugar control, and it seems to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. <br /><br />Enjoy it on your food, but hold off on using capsule supplements, says Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokeswoman Lauri Wright. There's not enough research on dosage and long-term impact, and if you have liver issues, it could be dangerous.
Photos: 12 healthy herbs and spices: A closer look
One of the most commonly used spices in the world, cinnamon has been linked in various studies to improvement in cholesterol and blood sugar control, and it seems to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.

Enjoy it on your food, but hold off on using capsule supplements, says Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokeswoman Lauri Wright. There's not enough research on dosage and long-term impact, and if you have liver issues, it could be dangerous.
Hide Caption
2 of 13
Uniquely fragrant, rosemary has historically been known for its impact on memory. Shakespeare wrote about it in Hamlet, when Ophelia says to her brother Laertes, "There's rosemary; that's for remembrance." <br /><br /><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4749867/" target="_blank">Studies </a>have shown that rosemary has strong anti-inflammatory properties and seems to improve memory in mice and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736918/" target="_blank">humans</a>, making it a promising target for Alzheimer's research. Its natural antioxidant abilities persuaded the European Union to approve rosemary extract as a <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/science/additives/enumberlist" target="_blank">food preservative</a>. <br /><br />As with any herb, be careful. There are compounds in rosemary oil that could worsen bleeding or seizures and be harmful if taken by mouth.<br />
Photos: 12 healthy herbs and spices: A closer look
Uniquely fragrant, rosemary has historically been known for its impact on memory. Shakespeare wrote about it in Hamlet, when Ophelia says to her brother Laertes, "There's rosemary; that's for remembrance."

Studies have shown that rosemary has strong anti-inflammatory properties and seems to improve memory in mice and humans, making it a promising target for Alzheimer's research. Its natural antioxidant abilities persuaded the European Union to approve rosemary extract as a food preservative.

As with any herb, be careful. There are compounds in rosemary oil that could worsen bleeding or seizures and be harmful if taken by mouth.
Hide Caption
3 of 13