Little Known Health Benefits of Cilantro
Nowadays, we are exposed to heavy metals such as cadmium, arsenic, and aluminum which are hazardous for our health. (1) We can find heavy metals everywhere, and the sad thing is that our skin absorbs them easily.
When these heavy metals get in our body they are really hard to get out, so shortly, they bio-accumulate in the body.
They tend to accumulate in our endocrine system, muscle tissue, even our bones. If these heavy metals reach harmful levels, they can cause severe health problems.
It is very important to keep your body clean and free of toxic metals because they lead to many health issues such as brain deterioration, heart problems, cancer, weak bones, kidney illness, lung illness, as well as emotional issues.
Some of the usual side effects of being exposed to metals are oxidative stress from free radicals, hormonal imbalance, as well as in serious cases damaged organ function. For instance, mercury can seriously damage your health.
A lot of people who are exposed to mercury say that they are feeling much better after taking a lot of cilantro during a longer time. You should not wait for anything serious happen to take care of your body.
Fortunately, one ingredient which is completely natural is really helpful in removing heavy metals as well as toxins from the body. This amazing ingredient is the humble cilantro plant.
It is usually used as a decoration in dishes, and it can help remove heavy metals that have gathered in your body.(2)
How Does Cilantro Help?
This plant, cilantro, contains a lot of minerals and vitamins, manganese, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamins K and A. In fact, cilantro supports the natural detoxification processes of the body.
The cilantro leaf has compounds which bind to toxic metals and make them leave the affected tissue. So, with the help of this process, the metals are relieved from the body in a natural way.
You can consume the raw leaves or concentrated extracts to get the benefits of cilantro. Sadly, this plant goes bad very fast.
In that case, the best way to always have a detoxification power you can use supplements if you do not have cilantro or if you do not like its taste.
Also, it is good to say that not everyone likes the specific taste of cilantro. The reason behind this is the missing of the gene names OR6A2. Those people who do not have this gene say that they are experiencing an unpleasant taste.
The Health Benefits of Cilantro
Moreover, we offer you some extra benefits that cilantro has. Read on to find out more about this amazing plant. You should know that some of the studies mentioned below are actually animal studies.
1. Better Heart Health
Consuming cilantro may help you prevent heart issues.(3)
2. Mood Boost
It has been shown that cilantro has a calming effect.
3. Normal Blood Sugar Levels
According to some studies, consuming cilantro helps you normalize your blood sugar levels.(4)
4. Antioxidant
This plant has powerful antioxidant activity.
5. Better Sleep
Consuming cilantro can help you get a better sleep.(5)
6. Fungal Balance
The Dental School of Piracicaba, Brazil, has conducted a research which reveals that cilantro oil can help you fight against candida fungus in your mouth.(6)
7. Helps Against Damaging Organisms
This plant has a neutralizing activity against few types of damaging organisms.(7)
8. Healthier Brain
Consuming cilantro may help you in getting a healthier brain because it discourages oxidative stress.(8)
9. Bone Health
Consuming a little bit of cilantro can get you the recommended dosage of vitamin K which is important for healthy bones.
10. Normal Fluid Balance
The seed of cilantro promotes normal fluid balance as well urine flow.(9)
11. Better Eye Health
Nutrients such as vitamin A that is contained in cilantro promote better eye health.
12. Better Digestion
According to Dr. James A. Duke, cilantro improves digestion. His recommendation is consuming a tea prepared from the leaves if you experience stomach issues. (10) Also, it can encourage normal bowel movements.
13. Food Preservative
The leaves and seeds of cilantro are used to make essential oils which as used as natural food preservatives.(11)
If you want to avoid getting heavy metals in your body, you need to stay away from them. This sounds easy, but it is hard to do.
However, you can do it by consuming just filtered water, using deodorants that are free of aluminum, consume organic foods, and avoid places with a lot of traffic.
In this article, we offer you a recipe that has cilantro which is excellent for cleaning your body from heavy metals.
What do you need?
- Half of the cup fresh and cut organic cilantro;
- Half of cup organic apple juice;
- Half of the cup water;
- One tsp. of wheatgrass powder or whichever green powder you want.
And all you need to do is mix these ingredients in a blender till you get a smooth texture. Remember, although this treatment is good for some people, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be beneficial for you as well.
How to Grow Cilantro Indoors
The good news is that cilantro is easy to grow. Since it is good to have fresh cilantro whenever you need it, you can grow it in your home. When the plant blossoms the leaves stop growing, and they have a bitter taste.
So, the best time to plant cilantro is in fall and spring in order to avoid the long and hot summer days. In order to plant cilantro, you need a well-fertilized and well-drained soil. Place the plant in a spot that gets a lot of sunlight.
In ¼ inch into the soil, sow a few seeds together, and 6-8 inches apart. After you plant cilantro, water it, and then when the soil is dry. You need to wait 3-4 weeks to harvest the leaves.
You can harvest the leaves whenever you want during the process of growing, but you are supposed to wait till the plant is about 6 inches high. You can sow new seeds every 2-3 weeks if you want to harvest leaves constantly.
Note that dried cilantro leaves lose their nutrients, so the best way is to use them fresh. The seeds can be used to plant cilantro, or you can use them dry for cooking. You need to wait to harvest the seeds till most of them are brown.
Then, cut off the stem several inches under the seeds. Tie the stalks and hang them upside down. Keep them in a paper bag. The seeds will fall into the paper bag after five days.
Use an airtight, glass container to store the seeds for about a year. Dry-roast or grind the seeds to get the flavors. We hope that you find this article helpful.
This recipe is a traditional Grandmother’s-Remedy that has been used for hundreds of years. Although there is no scientific evidence to support these claims, our Grandmothers swear by it.
