By Jean Sumner
Curry powder makes food taste so good. It is actually a combination of spices including turmeric, fenugreek, coriander/cilantro, cinnamon and ginger. Let’s focus on the healing power of cilantro/coriander. Cilantro is a great tasting herb that can add delicious flavor to many dishes. But it is also packed with nutrition and many health benefits. This tasty herb provides (% of RDA/100g):
- 15% of folates
- 11% of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine)
- 45% of vitamin C
- 225% of vitamin A
- 258% of vitamin K
- 22% of iron
- 18% of manganese
(Note: RDA-Recommended daily allowance)
All this nutrition and cilantro is very low in calories! It is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber which help to reduce cholesterol. It is a good source of minerals including potassium, calcium, manganese, iron and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Iron is essential for red blood cell production.
It is also rich in many vitamins, including folic-acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A, beta carotene and vitamin-C, which are essential for optimum health. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. 100 g of cilantro leaves provide 30% of daily recommended levels of vitamin C. Cilantro is loaded with Vitamin A – an important fat soluble vitamin and anti-oxidant, which is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is also essential for vision. Consumption of natural foods rich in vitamin A and flavonoids (carotenes) helps body protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
Cilantro is one of the richest herbal sources for vitamin K; provides about 258% of daily recommended allowance. Vitamin-K has a potential role in bone mass building by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bones. It also has an established role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in their brain.
This wonderful herb along with its seeds has antibiotic properties, anti-cancer properties, anti-microbial properties, and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that it has an anti-diabetic effect and can control blood sugar.
Cilantro is one of the very few herbs that are used as a heavy metal detox agent, to detoxify mercury, aluminum and lead among others. Juice cilantro, add chlorella and drink an ounce a day for an effective heavy metal detox.
Because cilantro is so full of anti-oxidants and nutrients it is a great herb to use to build up your immune system.
Now you know if a recipe calls for curry powder you are getting the benefits of more than one herb. And cilantro is a powerhouse!