laurel/bay leaf teas benefits

 Bay Leaf: Health Benefits, Nutrition, and Uses

What Is Bay Leaf?

Bay leaf (also known as laurel) is a spice commonly used to flavor soups and meat dishes for its light, herbal flavor. It is sometimes sold in stores in a powder or as a fresh leaf, but it is most often found as a dry, whole leaf. You add the leaf during cooking and take it out before serving, since it’s tough to chew and digest. Some people believe that bay leaves are poisonous, but that’s not true.

There are many species in the bay leaf family, but all share a similar taste and nutrition profile. Varieties of the bay leaf can be grown everywhere from the Caribbean to India, and it is found in the spice aisles of grocery stores around the world.

The following are the varieties of bay leaves used to flavor food and the scientific names of the trees they come from:

California bay leaf, Umbellularia californica

Indian bay leaf, Cinnamomum tamala

Indonesian bay leaf, Syzygium polyanthum

Mexican bay leaf, Litsea glaucescens

West Indian bay leaf, Pimenta Racemosa

Turkish bay leaf, Laurus nobilis

Bay Leaf Benefits

Bay leaf tea, known to be packed with a healthy dose of vitamin C, A, calcium, amd magnesium, has beneficial effects on the nervous and immune systems, inflammations, anxiety,and obesity.
These vitamins are all known to support a healthy immune system.
It adds minimal calories to your food while boosting the amount of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Immune System Health

 Improve The Functioning Of Nervous System

Numerous studies have found that bay leaves can have an effect on the central nervous system, possibly including soothing nervous disorders and ensuring that communication occurs smoothly around the body.

 Improve Skin Health

When topically rubbed on the skin,bay leaves are known to have healing  properties, and the same is true when these leaves are brewed into a tea. The antioxidants can help to soothe the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and blemishes, and even add elasticity to the.

Improve Heart Health

With good amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A  in this tea, drinking a cup of this regularly can help to reduce blood pressure and even drop cholesterol levels, while maintaining the integrity of your blood vessels and arteries.

Helps Managing Diabetes

Bay leaves have a well-known effect on blood sugar control within the body. Reduces type 2 diabetes risk factors. A pair of small studies suggested that taking ground bay leaf capsules or drinking tea brewed from Turkish bay leaf may lower your blood sugar levels. However, one of the studies was small and the other tested bay leaves on healthy volunteers, not people with diabetes. Suggests that consuming bay leaves in doses of 1-3 g/day for a period of thirty days can help decrease risk factors for diabetes. A cup of tea is a great way to get bay leaf into your diet. In vitro studies have also observed improved glucose function. Keep your stress hormone levels down and under control.

Potential Antioxidant Properties

Some of the antioxidants in this tea are known to eliminate free radicals and relieve symptoms of gastric issues.

Help Aid in Digestion

There are certain enzymes found within bay leaves that speed the digestive process and help you get more nutrients from the food you eat. Bay leaf tea can help ease bouts of upset stomach.Make some very aromatic bay leaf tea to help settle your stomach.

Help Soothe Respiratory Distress

The use of this tea to soothe coughs and sore throats is common in areas where it is widely cultivated. The tea is also very aromatic, which can help relieve sinus pressure or stuffy nose.

Bay Leaf Nutrition

Bay leaf is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, and manganese.

A crumbled tablespoon of bay leaf contains:

5.5 calories

Protein: 0.1 g

Fat: 0.1 g

Carbohydrates: 1.3 g

Bay leaves also contain small amounts of many vitamins and minerals. The most prevalent are:

Calcium

Copper

Iron

Magnesium

Manganese

Vitamin A

Vitamin B6

Vitamin C

Riboflavin

Zinc

Things to Watch Out For

Bay leaf can add something extra to most savory dishes, and it makes an aromatic tea. However, it should not be eaten raw or in large quantities on its own since it can be hard to chew and digest. 
In addition, there have not been adequate studies on the effects of using bay leaf as a medicine during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

How to Use Bay Leaf

Bay leaf can be found in most grocery stores. Usually it comes in a dried whole leaf form. Dried powders and fresh leaves may also stock the shelves, so feel free to experiment with all three kinds in your recipes. You can also use a food processor or coffee grinder to turn your whole, dried bay leaves into a powder.Most commonly, people cook with bay leaves by placing full, dried leaves inside a dish before cooking so that the food absorbs their flavor. But crushing them is the best way to get the full benefits of bay leaves. Blended fresh bay leaves can also be used in food, though that method is less common. Both dried, powdered bay leaf and fresh bay leaf tend to have a stronger flavor than whole, dried bay leaf, so make sure to use a bit less if subbing in for a recipe.

Here are some ways to use bay leaf in recipes:

Add to a soup, such as Mexican posole, of beef stew during cooking for a savory, spicy flavor.
Try a garam masala recipe using Indian bay leaf.
Include in a bay leaf in marinade for beef or chicken.
Simmer in Thai or Laotian curries.