Although many people know bay leaves as a refreshing flavor, especially in Asian dishes but not people are aware of the herb’s incredible health benefits. Also known as bay-laure, bay leaf is from the lauraceae family. The herb is used for traditional medicine and also regarded as a symbol of honor. As a matter of fact, ancient Greeks crowned their Olympians and war heroes with wreaths of bay leaves.
When added to food recipes, bay leaves, especially the dried leaves, give off a strong sweet aroma. The leaves can be stored for months and its dried fruits or berries are used as flavoring agents in food.
The Health Benefits of Bay Leaves
Bay leaves are effective in preventing type 2 diabetes, lowering blood sugar levels, improving digestion, treating itchy scalp, improving hair growth, reducing dandruff, and destroying cancer cells. This herb is also popularly used in stews, soups, rice and other flavor-packed dishes.
Now, here are other reasons why you should include bay leaves in your life too.
Controls Diabetes
According to a study, consuming ground bay leaves twice daily can lower blood sugar levels. The study also found that bay leaves are made up of compounds that can help in efficiently processing insulin. Bay leaves can also prove beneficial for people who are susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes. The study also noted that the leaves could reduce total cholesterol levels.
Promotes Heart Health
Compounds such as caffeic and rutin acid are contained in bay leaves to help toughen the walls of the heart and reduce cholesterol levels. It is important to note that high levels of cholesterol can result in a plaque buildup leading to a stroke or heart attack.
Aids Digestion
Do you feel constipated or bloated? Well, bay leaf can help improve digestion. In fact, bay leaf is considered helpful in stimulating digestive juices and removing excess toxin from the body due to its diuretic property. Furthermore, the enzymes contained in bay leaf are able to efficiently break food down, relieve irritable bowel syndrome as well as other digestive issues.
Relieves Pain
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, bay leaves can reduce pain in people suffering from arthritis, joint issues and sprains. In about 20 minutes of application, the paste of ground bay leaf, in combination with castor leaves, can relieve pain in the affected areas. Additionally, by massaging it on the forehead, bay leaf oil acts as a remedy for treating headaches.
Boosts Anti-Cancer Activities
Some studies have suggested that bay leaf could be helpful in destroying cancer cells with the aide of its phytonutrients and catechins compounds. Bay leaf extracts are also believed to help kill breast cancer cells.
Quickens Wound Healing
The paste of ground bay leaf can help as remedy in treating scars and wounds. With its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, bay leaf can also be effective in treating fungal infections like candida.
Clears Up the Respiratory System
One amazing feature of bay leaves is its ability to reduce cough and soothe an irritated throat. In cases of cold or a cough, bay leaf can be used in getting rid of bacteria and unclogging stuffy air passages. For best results, boil about 5 bay leaves in water. Allow to cool slightly, then soak a washcloth in it and apply it on your chest.
Treats Kidney Stones
According to one study, bay leaf might help in reducing the level of urease in the body. When a person has a lot of urease, it could result in the development of kidney stones and certain gastric issues.
Combats Stress and Anxiety
For people who find it difficult to unwind at the end of the day’s work, a cup of bay leaf tea could help. It calms nerves, inhibits anxiety, and even facilitates sleep.
Treats Dandruff and Improves Hair Growth
Are you struggling with hair loss and incessant dandruff? Bay leaf could put an end to that struggle with its hair-friendly compounds. For so many years, it has been used as a remedy fixing any kind of hair problem. You only need to boil a few bay leaves in water. After cooling it down a bit, rinse your scalp and hair with this water. And if you experience an itchy scalp, mix the paste of bay leaves with coconut oil. Then, apply this to your scalp and leave for 30 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.
Culinary uses
Bay leaves can be used fresh or dry. Although they are better after being allowed to dry under the shade for some days to eliminate their bitterness, the leaves still retains their sweet aroma.
Keep bay leaves aside if you stumble upon them in cooked food. Besides, the leaves have a leathery texture and could be tough to chew.
Here are some serving tips:
- Bay leaf is used to flavor sweet dishes like custard, creams, and sweetbreads.
- Dried bay leaves are brewed into herbal tea.
- It is also an important ingredient in many classic sauces such as béchamel, tomato sauce, and bread sauce.
- Bay leaves can be added to flavor cuisines such as vegetable, seafood, meat, poultry, meat, and rice dishes.
Storage
Storing bay leaves is quite easy. Traditionally, to retain their oils, bay leaves are selected and dried slowly away from direct sunlight.
There are different kinds of bay leaf preparations available in stores. So, it is important to get your bay leaves from authentic sources and avoid those with infected leaves, spots, and off-smell.
At home, you can store bay leaf in an airtight jar and keep under a shade away from direct sunlight. Bay leaves should not be kept stored for more than a year, especially since they lose flavor early.
Precautions and Warnings
Bay leaf is generally considered safe, but because it results in uterine contractions, it isn’t recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers.
Furthermore, people who have been billed for surgery should stop consuming bay leaf two weeks before, particularly if it’s centered around the central nervous system.
