Skip to main content

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.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

zarsaparilla /sarsaparilla benefits

  Sarsaparilla:  Benefits, Risks, and Side Effects What is sarsaparilla? Sarsaparilla is a tropical plant from the genus Smilax. The climbing, woody vine grows deep in the canopy of the rainforest. It’s native to South America, Jamaica, the Caribbean, Mexico, Honduras, and the West Indies. Many species of Smilax fall into the category of sarsaparilla, including: S. officinalis S. japicanga S. febrifuga S. regelii S. aristolochiaefolia S. ornata S. glabra History For centuries, indigenous people around the world used the root of the sarsaparilla plant for treating joint problems like arthritis, and for healing skin problems like psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis. The root was also thought to cure Hansen’s disease (leprosy) due to its “blood-purifying” properties. Sarsaparilla was later introduced into European medicine and eventually registered as an herb in the United States Pharmacopoeias to treat syphilis. Other names for sarsaparilla Sarsaparilla goes by many different nam...
Post a Comment
Read more

BENEFITS OF EUCALYPTUS

Benefits of Eucalyptus Tea            What Is Eucalyptus Tea? Eucalyptus tea is made from the leaves of a Eucalyptus plant species  native to Australia and known in that region as the fever tree due to its medicinal properties.  (typically Eucalyptus globulus.) There are variations of this tea, however. The most common form consists of water and a few Eucalyptus leaves, which are brewed. What Is Eucalyptus? When we think of Eucalyptus, most of us associate this plant with Koalas in Australia nestled within a Eucalyptus tree nibbling away at the leaves. These leaves are the main staple of a Koala’s diet.    Or perhaps you associate this plant with a common floral filler for wreaths and flower arrangements. You’ll find dried Eucalyptus in the dried flower section of most any craft store because of its popularity in floral arrangements. There are hundreds upon hundreds of different Eucalyptus species growing all around the world. According...
Post a Comment
Read more

6 way to lose belly fat

  Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar                     6 Simple Ways to Lose Belly Fat The most optimal way to lose belly fat is to eat healthfully and exercise regularly. It can also help to write down what you eat daily to help you stay on track. Losing abdominal fat, or belly fat, is a common weight loss goal. Fat has various functions in your body, including energy storage and hormone regulation. Having some body fat is healthy. There are two main types of fat in the abdomen. Subcutaneous fat is the type that’s located just below your skin. This fat is stored all over your body, including the midsection. The other type of fat in your abdominal area is called visceral fat. This fat is located deeper in your body, where it cushions the organs in your abdomen. Research has linked high amounts of this fat with conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. For this reason, losing excess visceral fat can have significant be...
Post a Comment
Read more