7 EMERGING BENEFITS AND USES OF CURRY LEAVES
Curry leaves, commonly known as “Kadi patta”. This is the signature spice of South Indian and found mainly in every Indian household. They are known for their aromatic and distinctive flavour and are used in dishes like sambhar, rice, upma, curries, rasam, snacks and so on. These leaves have various health and beauty benefits like weight loss, indigestion, blood pressure, anaemia, diabetes, acne, hair fall etc. These aromatic leaves have nutrients like calcium, fibre, zinc, copper, phosphorus, iron, carbohydrates, vitamin a, b, c, e and magnesium.
Across India, curry leaves are widely used in dals for their flavoursome “tadka” to add more flavour and aroma to the dish.
It is also used in herbal (ayurvedic) medicines as well. In Ayurveda, the roots of curry plant is used for treating body aches, leaves for stomach related issues and the bark is used for snake bite relief.
The nutritional values per 100 grams are:
- Energy - 108.000 Kcal
- Carbohydrates - 18.700 gm
- Fibre - 6.400 gm
- Protein - 6.100 gm
- Minerals- 4.000 gm
- Calcium - 830.000 mg
- Phosphorus - 57.000 mg
- Iron - 0.930 mg
- Copper - 0.100 mg
- Magnesium - 44.000 mg
- Zinc - 0.200 mg
- Manganese - 0.150 mg
- Chromium - 0.006 mg
- Thiamine - 0.080 mg
- Vitamin C - 4.000 mg
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CURRY LEAVES
Aside from being a versatile herb, curry leaves offer an abundance of health benefits that will convince you to add this supremacy in your diet.
- Have antioxidants
Most illnesses in our body are caused by infections or oxidative cell damage at some point. Curry leaves are packed with carbazole alkaloids, a compound that have anti-bacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, that fight from free radicals and keep cells of the body healthy.
- Heal wounds and burns
Curry leaves have alkaloids that help heal wounds that are not too deep. They have similar effects on boils, inflamed or itchy skin, and mild burns. You can make a paste out of curry leaves at home that serves as an antiseptic.
- May help in losing weight
Curry leaves are said to reduce the body fat, thus helping you shed some extra kilos. Chewing 5-6 curry leaves or simply adding them in your meals may help in losing weight. You can even make tea out of curry leaves by simply boiling 8-10 leaves and have it the first thing in the morning for extreme results.
- Keep diabetes in check
Several studies have shown that curry leaves help reduce high blood sugar levels and protect against symptoms related to nerve pain, diabetes and kidney damage etc. Thanks to the presence of minerals like zinc, iron and copper which are known to stimulate the pancreas.
- Sharpen your memory
Chewing curry leaves at any time of the day have shown enhancement in memory power and reduce the effects of conditions like amnesia or loss of memory. Study showed that consuming curry leaf extract for 15 days improved memory scores in both young and aged generation.
- Treats Indigestion
In Ayurveda, it is said that curry leaves have mild laxative properties and are carminative in nature, which means they can be used to treat gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids to alleviate indigestion. Boil some curry leaves and consume it with some drops of lemon in it. You can also make a paste of curry leaves and drink it buttermilk. Just remember, it should be consumed on an empty stomach for maximum benefits.
- Good for the eyesight
Curry leaves are rich vitamin A that is beneficial for eyesight. In some cases, deficiency of vitamin A leads to night blindness or even vision loss. Vitamin A contains carotenoids an organic compound which protects the cornea and the surface of an eye. We recommend regular consumption of curry leaves in the diet.
The soothing aroma, standard flavour and various health benefits of curry leaves sums up for the reason for you to add them in your daily diet. They are rich source of vitamins and minerals and great for body’s overall health and development. Make sure you opt for organic, chemical free leaves to avail optimum benefits.