Immune Boosting

One of nature’s richest sources of vitamin C, Rosehips have been used for centuries to combat infections such as coughs, colds, flu and respiratory conditions. It is now known that vitamin C is crucial to the overall health of the body in its efforts to fight off infections, both bacterial and viral. White blood cells contain 20 times the amount of vitamin C than other cells and require constant replenishment to keep the immune system working to its optimum capacity.

Rosehips also contain many important antioxidants – plant chemicals that are naturally anti-inflammatory, shield immune cells from environmental damage and encourage the production of white blood cells.

Arthritis

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of Rosehips has been the focus of much research in relation to arthritis in recent years. Rosehips hit the headlines in 2014 when a natural supplement made from Rosehip extract was found to reduce the agony of arthritis by a staggering 90 per cent.

Research includes a 2008 meta analysis of three clinical trials showing that Rosehip powder reduced hip, knee and wrist pain by about one-third in 300 osteoarthritis patients. In a 2010 trial of 89 patients, Rosehips were shown to improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms better than a placebo. Yet another study in 2007 showed patients with sore joints who took a Rosehip capsule every day experienced a 40 per cent drop in pain levels and a 25 per cent improvement in mobility.

Digestive Health

Rosehips are rich in pectin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide (complex sugar) that acts as a prebiotic – an indigestible fibre that is used in the gut to increase populations of healthy bacteria, aid digestion and enhance the absorption of valuable vitamins.

Pectin also supports a laxative effect in the intestines and is helpful in cases of mild constipation. It appears that intestinal functions are modulated by Rosehips and as such, they can aid in cases of diarrhoea, stomach pain and gastric inflammation.

Weight Loss

In 2015, researchers from Japan led a clinical trial to evaluate the effect of Rosehips in reducing abdominal visceral fat in borderline obese people. The study, designed as a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, involved 32 people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25, but less than 30. For 12 weeks, the participants took a chewable tablet that was either a placebo or contained 100mg of Rosehip extract - no other changes were made to their diet or caloric intake.

The results of the study showed that the people who took the Rosehip extract significantly reduced their abdominal total fat area, abdominal visceral fat area, body weight and BMI, compared with their baseline levels and that of the placebo group. Their body fat percentage also dropped, and there were no adverse reactions reported during the study.

The researchers identified tiliroside, an active ingredient in Rosehips, to be responsible for the fat-reducing properties of the fruit. This compound accelerates fat metabolism and improves the body’s utilisation of glucose, which prevents fat from building up in the tissue and triggers fat burning. In addition, tiliroside also possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.