Here are the 18 rosehip benefits, the most known; a plant where everything in it is synonymous with richness in various natural elements. It is a kind of natural bank of minerals and vitamins that are a springboard for health. Let’s see all this in detail.
I. What Is Rosehip
Rosehip is a plant from the Rosaceae family. It has several names, also known as dog rose, hedge rose or dog rose.
It is a hermaphrodite plant, which can reach up to 5 meters in height. The dog rose is generally found in temperate regions of the world.
This plant pushes in the edge of the grounds, the hedges, one finds some easily with the wire of the ballades in the fallow grounds for example.
The rose hip has flowers, as well as berries called rose hips, full of virtues for health.
II. 18 Rosehip benefits
1. May support heart health
Rosehips, the fruit of the rose hip, have cardiovascular health benefits. This small berry is indeed very rich in nutrients. This is why rosehip fruit can reduce cardiovascular risks.
A study was conducted to highlight the benefits of this small berry. This analysis was done on the cardiac risks of obese people.
The findings showed that the consumption of rosehip berry was able to reduce blood lipid levels and blood pressure. Both of these play a big role in heart health.
2. May boost the immune system
The immune system is the body’s first defense in case of an attack. The consumption of rosehip berries can stimulate the immune system and help the body fight microbes and bacteria.
This is due to the many properties of rosehips. The rose hip berry can strengthen the blood cells because it is a huge source of vitamin C, but also of vitamins B, K, and P.
3. May help prevent cancer
In case of cancer, or even to prevent the occurrence of one; you can consume rosehip berry.
The properties of this berry allow it to act to limit the action of cancer, especially because they allow to reduce the action of the protein kinase B.
It is necessary to know that this protein is responsible for the proliferation of the cancerous cells in the body.
Thus, by slowing down the action of this substance, the rosehip can act against cancer. The elements that allow rosehips to have this effect on cancer proliferation are polyphenols and vitamin C.
4. May help with type 2 diabetes
Because it helps fight blood sugar and blood pressure, rosehip is a product that works on type 2 diabetes.
Consumption of rosehip is a natural way to prevent type 2 diabetes because this berry purifies the blood and regulates the sugar level in it. In this way, it acts as a preventive measure against type 2 diabetes.
Moreover, the richness of antioxidants, carotenoids, and vitamin C in this berry enriches the body, which limits the risk of having type 2 diabetes.
5. May prevent rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful disease, which affects the joints. The inflammation caused by this condition can be alleviated by taking rosehips.
The consumption of the rosehip berry can act on the pain related to joint problems, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Rosehips can stop the inflammatory process and thus block the pain signals. This is possible because rose hip contains trace elements and minerals such as potassium and magnesium.
As a preventive measure, rosehip strengthens the human body enough to act on joint and muscle pain.
6. May help relieve osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a pathology that manifests itself by pain in the joints. It is a common ailment among older people because with age the joints do not function as well.
It is possible to relieve your joint pain by using a rosehip. The properties of rosehip make it an excellent anti-inflammatory, which can act on joints that hurt.
A study was conducted in Denmark to find out the impact of rosehips on joint pain.
The results revealed that the galactolipid found in rosehips is able to relieve people suffering from osteoarthritis.
7. May help with weight loss
To help with weight loss, it is also possible to turn to the rose hip berry. This action is possible due to an antioxidant present in the rosehip, which is called tiliroside.
This element would be able to accentuate the combustion of fats, and thus support the loss of weight. Associated with a varied and balanced diet, taking rosehip berry, in the form of tea or extract, is an asset for weight loss.
To help lose weight, we can add the action of rosehip on cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
8. May slow down skin aging
Rosehip is not only useful for healing and curing. It is also a product that can be used in skincare and cosmetics.
The use of rose hip berry can help the skin age more slowly. The properties of this berry, notably the tannins, malic acids, and citric acids found in its vitamin C; allow the repair of skin tissue.
Rosehip is therefore very useful for improving the condition of skin affected by eczema, acne, or sunburn.
Under the name of wild rose, the rosehip is often used in cosmetics.
9. May reduce inflammation
Rosehip is an asset to fight against various types of pain. It is used in various forms to act against suffering, especially in cases of joint pathologies. The flavonoids present in the rosehip berry can relieve inflammations.
These are elements that allow the rosehip to relieve suffering.
The rosehip acts directly on the brain to stop pain signals. This is another of the actions that allow rosehip to reduce inflammation.
10. May help relieve pain after surgery
The anti-inflammatory and analgesic function of rosehip has been studied by the Serbian University of Novi Sad. The researchers demonstrated that this plant could inhibit two enzymes responsible for physical pain: cyclooxygenase-1 (COX) and 12-lipoxygenase (LOX).
These results were reinforced by those of the University of Copenhagen.
In 2011, a study was done on women who had just undergone a cesarean section. The findings highlighted the pain-relieving capabilities of rosehips, as women who had rosehip supplementation had lower pain scores than those who had not.
11. May help lower cholesterol
Another of the rosehip’s virtues found in its fruit rosehip is the effect it has on cholesterol.
This plant can help you reduce the level of cholesterol in your blood. That is why this flower is an asset for heart health.
In addition to that, this fruit is rich in antioxidants, which are known for their ability to reduce cholesterol levels.
12. May help lower blood pressure
Studies on the rosehip berry have highlighted its properties on heart health. It has been found that rosehip consumption can positively affect blood pressure.
Therefore, by taking this product, you improve your heart health, as blood pressure is one of the factors playing the biggest role in heart health.
Rosehip is rich in vitamins and minerals. It not only works on blood pressure but also helps obese people to lose weight more easily.
13. May help with digestion
The use of rosehip is very convenient to treat various problems related to digestion. For example, you can consume this berry if you suffer from diarrhea.
The action of the rosehip in case of diarrhea is facilitated by the active ingredients it contains, which improve the intestinal absorption of water and electrolytes.
This virtue of the rose hip berry is known in Europe and the West since at least the XVIIth century. It was already used in China not only to relieve digestive disorders but also to treat the urinary tract.
14. May improve kidney health
Rosehip’s action on the digestive system also allows this small berry to act on kidney health. Because it has blood-purifying properties, rosehip is a plus for the kidneys.
As a reminder, kidney function is essential to clean the blood and get rid of the waste present in it, notably via the urine. The kidneys act as filters.
Thus, while purifying the blood, rosehip helps the kidneys in their work. Blood with fewer toxins requires less cleaning work from the kidneys, so they can preserve themselves longer.
15. May help support treatment of urinary tract infections
Rosehip has been used for centuries in China for urinary tract health. This fruit from the rose hip is known for its beneficial effect on the urinary tract, which helps to function better.
In women, the urinary tract can be at risk after a C-section. A study was done on women who have just undergone a caesarean. These women were given a rosehip berry supplement.
The results showed that rosehips reduced the risk of bacterial infections in the urinary tract.
These results only confirm the traditional Chinese approach to rosehip berries.
16. May help improve blood circulation
One of the things that affect blood health is diet. When you consume products that are too fatty, too sweet, or too rich; the harms of this diet easily find their way into the blood.
Blood sugar and cholesterol are found in the blood and are responsible for pathologies such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Your blood is purified by eating rosehips. It acts not only on blood sugar but also on cholesterol. Rosehips help regulate both.
17. Rich in antioxidants
Rosehip is a food that is very rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants have great properties on human health, as they act on cell aging.
The antioxidants and polyphenols found in rosehips are also capable of acting on diseases such as cancer.
The antioxidants present in rosehips can stop the evolution of free radicals, thus slowing down the aging of the skin.
18. Rich in vitamin C
The rosehip is considered a fruit, and it is rich in several nutrients, but especially in vitamin C.
The rose hip has the vitamin C equivalent of 20 oranges. This makes the rosehip a food very rich in vitamin C, which explains why it is so effective in fighting against flu-like conditions or improving the immune system.
Due to the presence of vitamin C, external bacteria cannot enter the body because of the skin’s protective barrier.
It is also because there is vitamin C in the body that it can produce the white blood cells needed to fight infections.
III. Rosehip Nutrition Facts (100 g)
The nutritional values for 100 g of rosehip berries are:
- Calories: 162
- Protein: 1.6 g
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Potassium: 429 mg
- Sodium: 4 mg
- Sugar: 50 g
- Dietary Fiber: 24 g
- Vitamin C: 1000 mg
IV. Dosing per Day
It is generally advised not to exceed 5 g of rosehip per day. If you take it in capsule form, it is 3 to 6 capsules of 300 g per day, before meals and with a large glass of water.
If you take it in powder form, it is 2 to 5g per day.
In mother tincture form, it is no more than 15 drops, morning and evening.
To get results, take rosehip for at least 3 months.
V. How to take Rosehip
a) How to Make Rosehip Tea
You can consume rosehip berries in the form of tea or decoction. To do this, boil between 30 and 50 g of rosehips in water for about 5 minutes.
Once this is done, let it steep for another 15 minutes. Strain it through a sieve before consuming.
Your tea is ready to be drunk. It is an ideal preparation in case of diarrhea.
b) How to Make Rosehip Syrup
Start by crushing 300 g of rosehips and place them in water.
For 10 minutes, heat the water, but not above 50°C, keeping your pot covered.
After this time, turn off the heat and let the preparation macerate for 1 hour.
Strain the juice and fruit. You can use a potato masher and a funnel to strain the mixture.
When you have the juice, add enough water to make 0.5 l of liquid.
In a saucepan, heat the liquid, adding 800 g of sugar slowly and gradually. Avoid overheating.
Use a sterilized bottle into which you pour the liquid to the brim and then close it tightly. Turn the bottle upside down until it cools. The vacuum created will prevent mold from forming.
Keep your bottle cool and take it during the winter, 2 to 3 times a day, as a preventative measure.
If you don’t open it, you can keep this syrup for one year. But once opened, the syrup cannot be consumed beyond 7 days.
c) How to Make Rosehip Jam
To make rosehip jam or jelly, you will need
- 1.2 kg of fresh rosehips
- 1 vanilla pod
- 400 g of sugar
- 1 lemon
Preparation:
- Clean and wash the berries carefully, making sure to cut off the dark ends of each rosehip and remove the stems.
- Once the rosehips are clean, place them in a jam pan and cover them with water.
- Heat the whole thing over high heat for 30 minutes. You can then recover the broken berries.
- Use a food mill to grind the berries and dilute them with the water from the cooking process to recover the juice.
- Strain the juice as many times as possible to remove the hairs and seeds.
- Put the juice in a jam pan, and add the 400 g of sugar, the lemon juice, and the vanilla bean, which you have split in half beforehand. This will give your jam more flavor.
- Over low heat, heat the mixture until it boils. When you are at the boiling point, add 10 minutes of cooking time before putting your jelly in jars that you will cover immediately.
- Your jam is now ready.
d) How to Make Rosehip Soup
For a rosehip soup for 4 people, you will need
- 300 g of fresh rose hips
- 40 g of heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons of slivered almonds
- 4 tablespoons of honey
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
Preparation:
Once the rosehips have been rinsed, soften them well by cooking them over low heat for 10 minutes in 1 liter of water.
To remove the skins and hairs, strain the berries and the cooking water. Once this is done, return the preparation to the heat.
After diluting 2 tablespoons of water with cornstarch, add this to the mixture. For 5 minutes, cook again and add the honey.
Dry fry the almonds.
You can serve the soup hot or cold, or even lukewarm. Add the cream and toasted almonds to the rest.
e) How to Make Rosehip Powder
Rosehip powder is available in organic stores or over the counter on the internet. But it is possible to make it yourself.
Once the rosehips are picked, dry them. For this, you have a few alternatives. For example, you can dry them in a preheated oven, between 45° and 50° C. Let the berries rest for about 8 hours before gradually raising the temperature to 60°C.
You can also dry the rosehips in an electric oven for 9 to 12 hours.
Then put your dried berries through a food mill to obtain the rosehip powder.
f) How to Make Rosehip Vinegar
Roughly crush 200 g of rosehips and put them in a saucepan with 2 tablespoons of black pepper and 8 dl of white wine vinegar.
Cover the pan, bring it to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Add a few peppercorns and washed rosehips to this preparation.
Put the vinegar while it is still hot in clean bottles, then close and let it cool.
You can store it for weeks without opening it. Rosehip vinegar is excellent with apples or endives.
g) How to Make Rosehip Crumble
- Start by preheating the oven to 180°C. In the meantime, peel and remove the seeds and cut 3 sour apples into slices.
- Place the slices in the bottom of a dish on top of which you will place the contents of a bowl of rosehip flower petals.
- To make an hourglass, mix 120 g flour with 80 g sugar and 60 g butter with your fingertips.
- Spread this dough on the dish, on top of the rose petals, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
- After this time, let your dish cool and enjoy it.
h) Rosehip and Hibiscus Tea
For this preparation, you will need:
- 8 rosehips
- 1 tablespoon of stinging nettle leaves
- 1 organic apple
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of hibiscus
Preparation:
Put the berries, nettle leaves, hibiscus flowers, and the washed and chopped apple in a heatproof container.
Heat one liter of water to 85°C.
Once the water is hot, pour it into the container with the rest of the ingredients and let it infuse for 15 minutes covered. Depending on your preferences, you can even infuse for up to 2 hours.
Then you can strain the preparation and serve it. This drink can be taken hot or cold.
VI. Potential Side Effects of Rosehip
The side effects of rosehips depend mostly on the dosage. It is important to remember that rosehips contain a lot of vitamin C. It is, therefore, possible that it can cause insomnia and interfere with the action of estrogen-based contraceptives.
Headaches, nausea, and intestinal cramps are other probable disorders.
Rosehip should also be avoided by people with a sensitive stomach, as it can cause constipation.
For people suffering from favism, i.e. G6PD deficiency, it is not recommended to take rosehip. It is also not recommended for people with a history of heart disease or those on blood thinners.
VII. Other Questions about Rosehip Benefits
1. Are the same nutritional elements of rosehips found in other foods?
Many foods have some similarities with rosehips. For example, because of their action on weight loss, rosehips have similar properties to those of Brazil nuts.
Like cocoa, rosehip is rich in flavonoids and tannins, which allows it to calm inflammations.
Because of the high proportion of vitamin C found in this berry, it is far superior to citrus fruits or black currants.
2. Is rosehip oil good for sunburn?
Rosehip oil is used to combat sunburn. Sunburns are largely responsible for skin aging.
This oil reduces the action of free radicals and helps the skin to regenerate. Rosehip oil is rich in vitamin A and carotenoids.
Rosehip oil reduces wrinkles and scars and prepares the skin for sunburn.
3. Can you consume rosehip during pregnancy?
Rosehip is consumed by some people during pregnancy, especially to fight against infectious diseases and as a vitamin C supplement.
Although this was done during the last two world wars, it is still important to consult a doctor for an informed opinion before deciding to consume it.
Despite the benefits of rosehips, caution is always advised, as no two pregnancies are alike.
4. Is Rosehip safe for use while breastfeeding?
There are reports of the benefits of consuming rosehips for women while breastfeeding.
But this is not a unanimous opinion. That’s why it’s important to consult your doctor before deciding to take rosehips, whether in tea or capsules.
5. Does rosehip lighten skin?
Rosehip oil can do a lot for the skin, whether it is the skin on the face or the skin on the rest of the body.
It is a dry vegetable oil that acts on spots and scars. It allows to attenuate them and unify the complexion of the face.
Rosehip oil restores the skin’s radiance and eliminates the imperfections that affect its beauty.
6. Is Rosehip safe for your face?
Rosehip is a great way to care for your face. It can be used in the form of oil and applied to the facial skin as a treatment.
This oil can reduce wrinkles, improve skin hydration, and fight brown spots and scars.
By using this oil on your face, the skin of your face will age less quickly, your skin will be softer and gain in firmness. It is a dry oil that will not pose a problem to oily skin with acneic tendencies.
In conclusion, except for people who are allergic to rosehip, everyone can use it without danger.
7. Does rosehip increase estrogen?
Rosehips, or more precisely their berries, are foods rich in vitamin C. For this reason, it is possible that taking rose hips may result in more estrogen being produced.
This is why rosehips are not recommended to be taken with certain hormonal medications.
Taking rosehips with estrogen can have negative side effects on the body. Too much estrogen can result in headaches, pain, or weight gain.
8. Does rose hips make you gain weight?
Rosehips are used to help lose weight. They have several properties that act in this sense.
They are berries that act and reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels in the blood. In addition, rosehips help digestion, another element that brings a lot to those who seek to lose weight.
Consuming these berries as part of a healthy diet is a great way to lose weight.
9. Is rosehip good for hair?
For hair benefits, you can use rosehip in oil form. It is a vegetable oil that can help you improve the condition of your hair because it is rich in vitamins.
In particular, it helps to fight against dry hair and split ends. It is also an oil that can help you to eliminate dandruff present on the scalp, and to sanitize the hair.
Just use a few drops of this oil on the scalp and massage, or put a larger amount on the lengths of your hair.
10. Is rosehip good for the liver?
The liver is an organ that is directly affected by the style of diet you have. When you consume alcoholic products, or dishes rich in fat; take rosehip tea to help your liver.
The liver works better with vitamin C. Not only does vitamin C reduce the risk of inflammation, but it also helps the immune system function better. The latter impact on the body is related to the fact that vitamin C promotes the synthesis of glutathione.
Rosehips are rich in vitamin C, so taking rose hips will help your liver to be healthier.
11. Does rosehip oil remove dark spots?
For skin beauty, you can also turn to rosehip oil. This oil can reduce brown spots, whether they are related to eczema or age spots.
Rosehip oil is therefore an asset for reducing brown spots and unifying the complexion, giving it radiance and regenerating weakened and marked skin.
It is a dry oil that does not leave a greasy film on the skin, which means that it does not cause acne.
12. Is rosehip oil good for wrinkles?
Rosehip oil is rich in vitamins and nutrients. It is indeed very useful in cosmetics, as it has many benefits for skin health.
This oil is a natural way to firm up the skin and give it strength. Because it is full of antioxidants, rosehip oil acts on free radicals. In this way, the aging process is slowed down.
Rosehip oil gives suppleness and elasticity to the skin because it reinforces the skin’s hydration; this reduces facial wrinkles and slows their appearance.
13. Does rosehip oil help eyebrows grow?
For eyebrow growth, many plant oils can help you. Rosehip oil can very well be combined with other vegetable oils to help grow eyebrows.
Some cosmetic products do not hesitate to make this kind of mixture, with castor oil and vitamin A, for example, to make the eyebrows grow more easily.
Useful Links:
Rosehip: Nutrients and phytochemicals
Therapeutic Applications of Rose Hips from Different Rosa Species