Let Your Love for Cilantro Grow!

A little bit of History

Coriander, more commonly known as cilantro in the US, is a popular herb used across the world both in culinary cuisines and in traditional medicines. Dating back to ancient Egypt, cilantro is not only found in culinary recipes, but medicinal ones as well. Egyptians called cilantro the “spice of happiness”, while the Romans used cilantro in up to 18% of their dishes, and often used this herb as a medication to promote wellness. Since then, cilantro’s popularity has spread across the globe.

Cilantro is versatile and can be used in salsas, curries, sauces, or as a simple garnish. Growing up in an Indian household, I recall how almost every dish is incomplete without the addition of mouth watering cilantro chutney that excites every palette with its nutritional goodness.

Did you know that up to 14% of the human population has a gene that causes this usually fresh and tangy herb to taste like soap! Depending on your genes, cilantro can be a tasty and nutritious herb that can help keep your body healthy and happy.

Functionally Fantastic

 

Almost every part of cilantro can be used in cooking or in traditional and modern medicine, including seeds, leaves, flowers, and fruits of the plant. Cilantro contains a rich source of vitamin A, C, β-carotene, minerals, iron, and more. This herb also contains antioxidants and bioactive compounds that are considered to contain anti-convulsant, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic properties, as well as diuretic and sedative compounds. Cilantro has great potential as an oxidative stress preventative when in combination with modern medicine, which can help prevent numerous diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Be Kind to Your Brain

Cilantro is considered a powerful brain food. If you want to enhance your cognitive function, cilantro is the right herb for you! A 2011 study found that cilantro intake lowered serum cholesterol while enhancing neurotransmitter activity, which in total improved memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease in mice. Oxidative stress can also inhibit one’s memory and cognitive performance. One study found that cilantro’s antioxidant properties contain neuroprotective effects when inhaled as an essential oil, which was found to enhance working and spatial memory. Finally, cilantro has been documented to relieve migraine headaches by reducing frequency, duration, and pain. This is believed to be due to cilantro’s anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties, which can provide immense relief to migraine sufferers.

Cilantro as a Mood Enhancer

Not only is cilantro delicious, it can boost your mood as well! Studies have shown that cilantro contains anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects. Cilantro extract given to mice decreased anxiety that mimicked the drug diazepam, also known as Valium. Essential oil derived from cilantro has also been shown to improve symptoms of depression in mice, which can potentially be used in treatment of human depression. Although cilantro will not replace treatments for anxiety and depressive disorders, it can certainly aid in the relief of these symptoms.

Microbiome Boost

Ancient medicinal practices have reaped the gut benefits of cilantro for thousands of years. Cilantro is known to treat an upset stomach, indigestion, diarrhea, or stimulate an appetite. Its anti-inflammatory properties can alleviate inflammation in the stomach and intestine, lessening many of these gastrointestinal problems. This leafy herb can also modulate the gut and introduce a high diversity of microbiota into the digestive system, and is even antimicrobial against pathogenic bacteria such as E. Coli and Listeria.

Wonder Herb

In all, cilantro is a delicious and nutritious herb that can keep your body and mind thriving. Whether you want to keep your mind or body happy, cilantro is the perfect herb to incorporate into your diet. When looking for a refreshing and tangy green to add into a dish, take cilantro into consideration!