Curry leaves are natural flavoring agents with a number of important health benefits, which make your food healthy and tasty along with the pleasant aroma. They contain various antioxidant properties and have the ability to control diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion, excessive acid secretion, peptic ulcers, dysentery, diabetes and a healthy cholesterol balance. It is also believed that within the multiple benefits of curry leaf , a number of anti-cancer properties are found and are known to protect the liver.
What are Curry Leaves?
Curry leaves are the leaves of the curry tree, scientifically known as Murraya koenigii Spreng and belongs to the Rutaceae family. The plant is native to India and is usually found in tropical and subtropical regions, it is grown in several other countries such as China, Australia, Nigeria and Ceylon; The height of the plant varies from small to medium. The useful parts of this plant are the leaves, the root and the bark. The leaves have always been sought for their unique taste and utility in the kitchen, but there are also a number of benefits of these leaves that are quite recommended for health that make them very attractive; When obtaining the leaves of the tree they can be dried or fried, depending on the intended use. The fresh form is also very popular, both for cooking and for medicinal herbs. In Ayurvedic medicine, these leaves are believed to have several medicinal properties, such as anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and hepatoprotective properties (ability to protect the liver from damage).
“The roots are used to treat body aches and the bark is used to relieve snake bites”.
Its immense herbal properties are used in various local cuisines in India and other parts of Asia as flavoring agents . Curry leaves resemble ‘neem’ or Indian lilacs and their name in most Indian languages is translated as ‘sweet neem’.
Nutritional Properties of Curry Leaves:
The main nutrients found in curry leaves are carbohydrates, energy, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, copper and minerals. It also contains several vitamins such as nicotinic acid and vitamins C, A, B, E, antioxidants, plant sterols, amino acids, glycosides and flavonoids. Also, it is found in almost zero fat (0.1 g per 100 g). The other chemical constituents present in the leaves are carbazole alkaloids . Studies and research carried out by the Department of Domestic Economics at Kenmei Women’s Junior College in Hyogo, Japan showed that the alkaloids found in the leaves possess antioxidant properties. Carbazole alkaloids include mahanimbin, murrayanol, mahanineoenimbin, O-methylmurrayamine A, O-methylmahanine, isomahanin, bismaanine and bispyrayafoline . Other studies conducted at the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University suggested that these chemicals also have insecticidal and antimicrobial properties, specifically mosquitocidal properties.
These are the benefits of curry leaves
Benefits of Curry Leaves Certified for Health:
Most people think that curry leaves simply add flavor to food and throw away the leaves while eating their soup or curry. However, they are much more important than many people realize, and instead, the benefits of these leaves provide a variety of properties necessary for strengthening health, most importantly, it is without effects. secondary. Let’s see the most striking benefits of leaves of curry tree.
1. Cure Diarrhea:
When referring to the benefits of curry leaves, it is necessary to highlight that several studies have concluded in their research that the carbazole alkaloids present in the leaves have antidiarrheal properties. Experiments in laboratory rats showed that carbazole extracts from curry leaves had significantly controlled castor oil-induced diarrhea. A lot of leaves can be ground and pasta can be eaten or leaf juice can be consumed.
2. Gastrointestinal Protection:
The use of curry leaves is recommended as a cure for gastrointestinal problems in Ayurveda. One of them is important due to the fact that it is considered to have mild laxative properties. Make juice from a lot of this leaves and add lemon juice. This mixture must be consumed for indigestion or a paste made with the leaves can be added to the whey and taken every morning on an empty stomach, in this way you will absorb much of the benefits of curry leaves.
3. Antioxidant Properties:
As we mentioned before, several scientists have conducted studies on the benefits of curry leaves, especially in Asian countries, thanks to such research, it has been determined that they are a good source of antioxidants . The presence of several vitamins such as vitamin A, B, C and vitamin E help reduce oxidative stress and free radical removal activity, these properties can also be obtained in the form of dry powder.
4. Anti-diabetic Properties:
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of curry leaves that have proven to be good for your health is their use in diabetes control. Precisely, one of the many certified and proven research on this plant, showed with palpable evidence that the antihyperglycemic properties of the leaves were beneficial to control the levels of glucose present in the blood of the diabetic rats that were studied.
5. Fight Cancer:
The chemical components found in curry leaves, such as phenols, are useful for fighting cancers such as leukemia, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. For example, specialists and connoisseurs of natural medicine in Japan concluded that the benefits of this leaves showed evidence of anti-cancer properties in carbazole alkaloid extracts from leaf of the curry tree.
6. Lower Cholesterol Levels:
Curry leaves are also known to reduce the level of bad LDL cholesterol. Studies conducted over the past decade on the benefits of this leaves in India have shown that they have the potential to reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
7. Good for Hair Growth:
It is believed that curry leaves help strengthen hair roots . Dry powder from leaves of curry tree is mixed with oil can be applied to your hair with a quick massage, while curry leaf paste can also be applied to darken gray hair; doing this regularly can also improve hair growth.
8. Good for the Eyes:
The benefits of curry leaves for eyesight are proven by science, thanks to the high content of vitamins such as A that each of its ramifications possess. These types of vitamins are well known to contain carotenoids that protect the cornea, which is the surface of the eye; That is why it is advisable to add this product to your diet, since the absence of this important vitamin can lead to episodes of night blindness or worse, it can form frontal clouds in the eye or total loss of vision in situations more adverse
9. Radioprotector and Chemoprotector:
As if that were not enough, the series of studies to which the benefits of curry leaves have been subjected throughout history, have shown specialists a great improvement or reduction in the sequelae that can cause some invasive treatments such as Chemotherapy or radiotherapy. They also offer protection against chromosomal damage, bone marrow protection and prevention of free radicals from activating in the body.
10. Protects Against Pathogenic Attack:
Research on this plant has also revealed that the benefits of this leaves are also effective in the fight against bacterial and fungal infections. The leaf extracts of the plant have been comparable to conventional antibiotic medications.
11. Protect the Liver:
Your liver plays an important role in the digestive system and must be protected from any attack of free radicals, as well as viral and bacterial attacks that can lead to infection. The benefits of these leaves highlight that the tannins and carbazole alkaloids present in them exhibit good liver protection properties. They are also useful to protect the liver from various diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.
12. Skin Protection:
Curry leaves are also useful in skin care. The juice or paste of the leaves can be applied to burns, cuts, bruises, skin irritations and insect bites for rapid recovery and clean healing.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Benefits of Curry Leaves:
-Where Can I Buy Curry Leaves?
You can buy curry leaves in almost any major supermarket, particularly in the eastern world, but increasingly in the west. The main chains have leaves in various forms, which means you can even grow yours at home! Natural medicine and Ayurveda-oriented stores will also have curry leaves for sale, once again, they have a wide variety of uses, so there are many places to find them.
-How to Save The Curry Leaves?
You should remove the curry leaves from the stems, wash them and dry them. Place them on a large plate with a sieve or mesh cover and place the leaves in the sun for 2-3 days. Store the dried leaves in a plastic container; you can even store them in the fridge and simply get one when you need it!
-How to Use Curry Leaves for Hair?
Curry leaves are very popular in hair care, mainly due to the antioxidants and amino acids that the leaves contain; you can take a handful of these leaves and then mix them with yogurt, crushing them in a paste. Apply this directly to your hair and leave the mixture for half an hour. Then, wash the mixture and clean your hair normally. This can help rejuvenate hair follicles and prevent hair loss.
-How to Make Curry Leaf Oil?
You should start with a pan of coconut oil that is heated before dropping the curry leaves. Let this mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes and then let the oil cool; you can brush the oil at that point and then use the remaining curry leaf oil whenever you want to massage your scalp or prevent premature graying.
-How is Curry Leaf Powder Prepared?
To make curry leaf powder, all you need is a pan, curry leaves and a pinch of salt, heat the dried curry leaves in the pan until they begin to brown and curl / crisp. Do not burn the leaves. Add salt gradually and place the leaves in a food processor or blender. The leaves will be pulverized very quickly in a fine green spice that you can add to the dishes. Delicious and easy to prepare.
-How Should Curry Leaves Be Used?
You can use curry leaves in different ways, either in food preparation or for certain health benefits that this unique plant can grant, you can even make curry leaf oil and use it to increase hair growth or prevent aging premature. Another option is to make curry leaf powder and add it to your food to benefit from the antioxidant content of the leaves. You can also grind fresh leaves into a paste and apply it to the skin to avoid infections.
-What is the Best Way to Grow a Curry Leaf Plant?
Curry trees are hardy plants and can be grown in relatively easy domestic gardens in warm parts of the world. An entire plant can be grown from the fallen leaves of these trees; So many people choose to grow their own for their seasoning needs. Although curry plants are tender, they can be grown indoors, especially if you live in a cold region and can bloom from cuttings or seeds.