For thousands of years, from Spain all the way to China, coriander has been used to spice up dishes. Originally from the Eastern Mediterranean and the Near East, ancient traders quickly spread this amazing herb to all parts of the world.
Coriander seems to be one of the most polarizing flavors – it has a very unique flavor that people either love or hate.
What are the health benefits of coriander?
1. Coriander has an anti-inflammatory effect and is rich in antioxidants.
Coriander leaves contain many polyphenols, flavonoids and other compounds that fight inflammation and harmful free radicals. Studies of one of these compounds called kaempferol suggest that it may help fight cancer and heart disease.
2. Coriander is a good source of essential vitamins.
One serving of 100 grams of parsley contains 30% of the recommended daily vitamin C value. But where coriander really shines is when it's rich in vitamin A and vitamin K.
Many leafy greens are good sources of vitamin A, but coriander is the best. The same 100 grams of coriander provides up to 6748 IU (International Units) of Vitamin A, or 225% of the recommended daily amount! With vitamin K, these numbers are even more impressive.
100 grams of coriander provides 258% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K. This vitamin is not as common as vitaminS A, C or B, it helps increase bone mass and is used to help treat Alzheimer's disease.
In addition, coriander leaves are rich in certain minerals such as manganese, iron, magnesium and calcium.
3. Coriander can improve digestive health.
In TCM, coriander powder and leaves are used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, cramps, and flatulence.
4. Coriander may help purify food from heavy metal contamination.
Adding a little coriander to your next seafood dish may help reduce the chances of mercury or other dangerous heavy metals accumulating in your body. Over time, accumulated metal toxicity can lead to neurological problems and other health conditions.
The process of removing toxic metals from the body is called chelation. Currently, there is only limited evidence that consuming coriander can purify the body of harmful metals that have accumulated.
However, there is some evidence that consuming foods that are at high risk of metal contamination, such as certain marine fish such as tuna, will help prevent your body from absorbing as much metal as it does in other ways.
More research needs to be done, but that's good news for seafood lovers.
5. Coriander lowers blood sugar and prevents cardiovascular disease.
High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can exacerbate the risk of heart disease. According to a study published in the Journal of Food Science, parsley can help lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This also helps to lower blood pressure levels, thereby reducing the risk of stroke.
The same study also pointed out how coriander can help the liver lower blood sugar levels, which is also good news for diabetics.
Coriander is a magical food, but it has stood the test of time as a healthy addition to any diet.
Pick some today and see if its unique flavor matches your taste and incorporate it into your healthy life.