Coriander, more popularly known as cilantro, is a popular spice found in Indian specialty kitchens but did you know that even little amounts of it can benefit one’s health?
The coriander plant is a plant that grows as much as 1 to 2 feet high. It has hairless stems, and soft and dark green leaves. It has a broad base but has slender and feathery upper stems. Its seeds have a yellowish brown tint and vary from round to oval in shape.
The best thing about this plant is that every part of it is edible, with a sweet, citric and aromatic taste. Even Greeks and Romans also found cilantro a very useful to their pantry.
This Mediterranean herb is usually included in meals not just to serve as garnish or added spice, but as a source of essential vitamins and minerals needed one’s body including iron, potassium, folic acid, vitamin A, K and C, calcium and magnesium as well as 11 essential oils. Coriander also has the added bonus of being a great addition to your beauty regimen in order to maintain a healthy and glowing skin.
Here are some of the proven benefits of this miracle plant:
As Disinfectant for Skin Disorders
Coriander is an ideal natural treatment for skin conditions such as dryness, eczema, and fungal infections because it is a popular disinfectant, antioxidant and antiseptic that eradicates germs from the skin. It also has a detoxifying property that helps maintain a glowing skin.
As Treatment to Hypertension
Well, technically it does not treat hypertension per se. What coriander does is it lowers the LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. It is also an effective treatment to regulate heart rate since it is a good source of iron as well as magnesium which is a necessary partner for superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme.
As Treatment for Anxiety
Cilantro has muscle relaxing capabilities that make it a great substitute to mild laxatives. It also helps calm the nerves and ease stress, thereby decreasing risk of having anxiety disorders. Intake of this herb can also help facilitate peaceful sleep. Coriander mixed with the juices from celery and cucumber can also be effective in easing “overwork syndrome” since it has high levels of B-vitamins that have a de-stressing qualities.
As Aid for Digestion
Leaves of coriander plants are also beneficial for the digestion. Aside from easing nausea, it also can relieve indigestion problems by enabling the body to produce more enzymes and juices in the digestive tract to help process the food. Aside from that, it has fiber essential for the digestive process. It can also ease flatulence and settle your churning stomach.
As Detoxifier
Coriander is known as an effective “chelation agent” or heavy metal detoxifier. This means the herb has properties that help eradicate heavy metals that enter the body through consumption of non-organic foods and those prepared using aluminum vessels or covered with aluminum foil. These metals, which can cause serious chronic conditions like cancer, cardiovascular conditions, kidney and lung diseases, can also be acquired through smoking, use of conventional water supplies, application of deodorants, and intake of over-the-counter antacids.
As Anti-Allergies
Several studies found out that coriander have anti-histamine properties that reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies as well as hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Consumption of coriander oil can also decrease the skin effects of contact with allergens in plants, food, insects, and other substances. It is also known as an effective preventive measure from hives, anaphylaxis and swelling of glands and throat.
As Protection against Salmonella
Salmonella contamination poses serious risks to humans, thus protection against it is imperative. Since coriander is rich in a compound that have double the cleansing power of an antibiotic called dodecenal, it has been dubbed as a leading natural treatment for salmonella-caused ailments.
