Curry leaves Nutrition & 7 Surprising Health Benefits
Curry leaves: Widely popular as ‘Sweet Neem leaves’
The verdures of curry trees (Murraya Koenigii) are Curry leaves which are native to India and Srilanka. Curry leaves are often called “sweet neem leaves” in Indian households and have a wide array of medicinal and comestible applications. These magic leaves provide amazing flavours and health benefits.
The curry leaves are enormously popular in the Indian subcontinent so you do not need to fret about its availability. Here in this article, we will look at everything you need to know about these magic leaves.
Curry leaves Nutrition facts:
The nutrition content of 100 grams of Curry leaves
| Nutrients | Fresh Curry leaf | Dry Curry leaf |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 6g | 12g |
| Fat | 1g | 5.4g |
| Carbohydrate | 18.7g | 64.31g |
| Calcium | 830mg | 2040mg |
| Iron | 0.93mg | 12mg |
| B-carotene | 0.0075mg | 0.0059mg |
Curry powder
Curry powder is a blend of a wide array of spices that includes coriander, cumin, mustard, turmeric, etc. But surprisingly it does not contain any curry leaves and it may be puzzling for someone who is not accustomed to Indian cooking so let us have a brief glance at its nutritional value.
The curry powder is very low in cholesterol and sodium. It is loaded with vitamin B6, fibre, phosphorous, potassium, and calcium which are linked with many amazing health benefits.
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Do you know?
Curry leaves (Murraya Koenigii) contains essential oils that are used in perfumes. Curry plants are cultivated in low-water gardens that are known as xeriscape gardens. The strong odour of this plant keeps the grass-eating animals like deers, cows, and insects like bugs away from the garden.
Nutritional analysis
Curry leaves are packed with vital nutrients like carbs, fibre, protein, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, and multivitamins.
Carbs
Curry leaves host a good share of carbs. The primary role of carbs is to boost our body energy. Hence the richness of carbs in Curry leaves have many amazing health benefits that are linked with the proper functioning of the heart and kidneys.
Fibre
Curry leaves are the rich source of fibre content. It is linked with gut health and smooth bowel movement. On top of that, it also aids in controlling the blood sugar level and helps to fight health scourges like diarrhoea and nausea.
Protein
Curry leaves are loaded with protein which is considered as the basic building block of the body. It is key for proper growth and development of the body and helps to keep the diseases at bay by strengthening our immunity.
Vitamins and minerals
Calcium
Curry leaves are the powerhouse of calcium that is vital for healthy bones and teeth. It also plays a crucial role in thwarting diseases like osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
Phosphorous
Curry leaves host a lion share of phosphorous. It has a wide array of functions like the cleansing of kidneys, maintaining normal heartbeat, and strengthening bones and teeth. On top of that, it also aids in reducing muscle cramps post-workout. Phosphorous also aids in building up cells and tissues at the cellular level.
Essential oils
Curry leaves host an abundant share of volatile essential oils such as alpha-pinene, sabinene, beta-pinene, alpha-terpene, and many more. These oils exhibit crucial properties like anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, ant-diabetics, anti-dysenteric which are linked with strong hair, healthy skin, and good oral health. It also possesses carminative and digestive properties which are beneficial against hyperglycaemia, high cholesterol, and cures indigestion.
The fame of Curry leaves
There are thousands of mouth-watering curry leaves recipes such as Sambhar, Mor Kuzhambu, Upma, Medu Vadas, Masala Vada, and the list just never ends.
Curry chutney is one of the most popular recipes of Curry leaves. It is a blend of spices and can be modified in many alluring ways. It not only caters to our taste buds but also has a wide array of health benefits.
Curry leaves medicinal uses
Apart from adding pleasant aromas to various recipes, Curry leaves are a blend with many medicinal properties that are considered to fight the ailments. These medicinal uses of curry leaves are known for ages and it is a vital part of our daily diet.
Here are some of the medicinal uses of curry leaves:
Enhances immunity
Curry leaves host a major share of calcium and protein which aids in boosting our immunity. Thus it keeps the health scourges at bay.
A boon for treating dysentery, constipation, and diarrhoea
Curry leaves possess a medicinal quality of making your upset stomach happy. You can drink a cupful of milk consisting of fine curry leaves to cure diarrhoea, constipation, or dysentery. It hosts a fair share of dietary fibre which supports bowel movement and stimulates digestive enzymes.
Relieves morning sickness and nausea
This medicinal use of Curry leaves is vital for pregnant ladies. It aids in increasing the digestive section and relieves nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Eliminates bacteria
Curry leaves host essential oils that exhibit antibacterial property. Since the most disease is caused by an infection in the body curry leaves can be used as a natural treatment of such infections.
Good for eyesight
Curry leaves are rich in vitamin A which is linked to good eyesight. The early onset of a cataract is prevented by the medicinal use of curry leaves.
7 health benefits of Curry leaves
Benefits of Curry leaves for weight loss
If you are feeling your weight and pondering about it then Curry leaves will definitely aid you in losing some pounds. These leaves are rich in fibre content which is linked to weight management.
Benefits of Curry leaves for skin
Curry leaves possess incredible properties linked with glowing skin. A paste of curry leaves can be good for bruises, heals wounds and burns, or any skin eruptions. For quick relief, you can always go for a thick paste of Curry leaves.
Benefits of Curry leaves for hair
Curry leaves to aid in hair growth and resolves the hair fall-related issues. The regular consumption of curry leaves makes the hair root strong and prevents premature greying.
Benefits of Curry leaves on empty Stomach
Curry leaves benefits the most when eaten empty stomach. It is an excellent remedy for treating upset stomach and several other stomach related scourges.
Benefits of Curry leaves boiled water
Curry leaves exhibit amazing health benefits when added to lukewarm water. Drinking this boiled water can help you to lower down the blood sugar level, cut short the extra fat in the body, prevent free radical damage of your cells, and helps in dealing with digestive issues.
Benefits of Curry leaves for heart
The higher cholesterol level and triglyceride increase the risk of heart disease. Curry leaves which are low in cholesterol keep your heart safe from these risk factors. The high amount of alkaloids in Curry leaves is also beneficial for a healthy heart.
Benefits of Curry leaves on muscles
Curry leaves host pain-relieving properties. It consists of a fair share of potassium which helps in reducing muscle cramp after an intense workout.
Curry leaves: FAQs
- Q: How to store Curry leaves?
- A: Dry Curry leaves can be stored in a plastic box or refrigerator as per your needs. Before storing, wash them thoroughly and pat them dry.
- Q: How many Curry leaves should I eat in a day?
- A: On average, you should eat 8-10 Curry leaves for proper health benefits. Remember overeating may produce side effects.
- Q: What is the best time to eat Curry leaves?
- A: The best time to eat curry leaves is early in the morning. You can eat raw curry leaves or can consume it with tea or hot water empty stomach.
- Q: Can Curry leaves regrow hair?
- A: Curry leaves host a good share of beta-carotene and protein which prevents hair loss and stimulates the growth of hair.
Side effects of eating raw Curry leaves
We have discussed the amazing health benefits and medicinal uses of curry leaves. But eating raw Curry leaves can hamper you adversely can produce allergies in some individuals. Eating raw leaves can cause ailments in toddlers, pregnant, or breastfeeding women.
Curry leaves: All in all
Here we have discussed a wide array of topics about Curry leaves ranging from its nutritional value, medicinal uses, and health benefits. Also, we have seen the popular FAQs related to it and possible side effects. To wrap up I would say Curry leaves are blessings for humankind and you must have the optimal intake of these leaves for amazing health benefits.
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