So you think you know Curry, do you? While it is a good idea to consume lots of Curry, curry leaves are a bit different from what you have come to call curry. This is because curry powder (used in the preparation of curry dishes), contains just a small amount of actual ground Curry leaves, but also contains many other additives such as turmeric and a wide variety of spices added for flavor and spiciness. This is why curry leaves are in such high demand across the world, because they contain much higher quantities of beneficial compounds when compared to curry powder.
What Are Curry Leaves?
Curry leaves, found on the curry tree, Murraya koenigii also known as sweet neem, is found abundantly growing in the tropics, particularly in India where it was native to. The leaves are highly valued as additives to several foods throughout Asian regions, and have now spread all across the world. Curry leaves are highly revered in Ayurvedic medicine and its claims are for the most part verified by science.
Nutrition Info (per 100g, ground)
Calories 325
Total Carbohydrate58.1g 19%
Dietary Fiber33.2g 133%
Total Fat13.8g 21%
Protein12.7g25%
Vitamin A986IU 20%
Vitamin C11.4mg 19%
Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) 22mg 110%
Vitamin K99.8mcg 125%
Thiamin0.3mg 17%
Riboflavin0.3mg 17%
Niacin3.5mg 17%
Vitamin B61.2mg 58%
Folate154mcg 39%
Calcium478mg 48%
Iron29.6mg 164%
Magnesium254mg 64%
Phosphorus349mg 35%
Potassium1543mg4 4%
Zinc4.1mg 27%
Copper0.8mg 41%
Manganese4.3mg 214%
Selenium17.1mcg 24%
15 Amazing Benefits of Curry Leaves
1. Helps Treat Anemia
Curry leaves are one of those things that completely surprise you when it comes to their iron content. To obtain an accurate reflection of its nutritional value, it is a good idea to first ground leaves to make powder. This helps to ensure that you will be getting a roughly similar amount of dietary iron every time you consume it.
Curry leaves are also rich sources of vitamin C which plays a part in helping with the absorption of dietary iron. Combining the two can help treat or prevent anemia.
2. Supports Liver Health
The liver is subjected to oxidative damage which can cause a loss of function. Curry leaves can help protect it from damage, in large part thanks to its many antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin C. By helping to reduce the damage, this organ can function uninterruptedly for many years
3. Helps Promote Healing Of Wounds
Curry leaves have been used traditionally for hundreds of years to help speed up wound recovery, since in addition to its ability to help stimulate collagen production, they also contains specialized compounds which can minimize scar tissue formation and leave skin in excellent condition.
4. Promotes Weight Loss
Curry leaves can help support your weight loss efforts in a few different ways, by virtue of the fiber content which can have a significant effect on blunting appetite, or its ability to help increase the metabolic rate. Curry leaves are also believed to increase the rate by which fatty acids are used for energy, promoting their breakdown significantly.
5. Supports Healthy Vision
Curry leaves are an exceptional source of vitamin A, the most important vitamin for helping to maintain good vision. Vitamin A can help to safeguard the optic nerve from damage, which would negatively impact your ability to see. Consumption of high levels of vitamin A are also helpful for reducing the risk of cataracts, glaucoma and even macular degeneration.
6. Can Improve Hair Quality
Once again the vitamin A along with the presence of specialized amino acids can support hair growth and even address issues relating to thinning or falling hair. The many antioxidants found in the leaves are believed to reduce the impact of damage on the scalp cells and also encourage healthy blood flow to deliver nutrients to support hair growth.
7. Can Assist With Blood Glucose Management
While the high fiber content of the leaves would be enough to contribute to improved blood glucose management, in addition to this there are specific nutrients found in the leaves which can positively benefit insulin sensitivity and in turn overall blood glucose control.
Using more of the leaves is a great idea to reduce your risk of associated metabolic disorders and even prevent the development of diabetes completely.
8. Remedy For Indigestion
Even though curry as a spice is generally not regarded as something beneficial for indigestion, curry leaves are fundamentally different in the sense that powders usually have an assortment of additional ingredients for flavor. Curry leaves to not have that issue and can positively benefit your digestion.
In particular, by speeding up the rate of gastric emptying food is able to leave the stomach sooner. It is useful for dealing with stomach cramps, or conditions marred by an imbalance of enzymes.
9. Nasal Decongestant
Curry leaves are an effective way to naturally relieve stuffy nose since it possesses vasoconstrictive effects on the blood vessels within the nostrils. Normal breathing is restored, and it can even assist with helping to thin the mucus secretions from the sinuses. Combined with peppermint and you have a very effective remedy for the common cold.
10. Can Help To Treat Acne
Curry leaves on their own may not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking for effective natural acne remedies, but once combined with other herbs such as turmeric and even a little lemon juice its potency is seriously enhanced.
The combination is believed to help reduce the natural production of sebum from the skin, which is a major contributor to blockage of follicles and the subsequent development of pimples. Keep in mind that Curry leaves also have anti-inflammatory properties and you can understand its potential here.
11. Supports Healthy Pregnancy
Curry leaves are an exceptional source of dietary folate, critical for the development of the fetus during the first trimester. While supplements are often recommended to ensure requirements are met, dietary folate is superior to synthetic folic acid supplements, and luckily curry leaves can supply a massive amount of your daily requirements.
Curry leaves also contain vitamin C, which is problematic in high amounts during pregnancy but you do not have much to worry about if you control your overall intake of this vitamin and take advantage of the generous amounts of folate it contains.
12. Natural Treatment For Diarrhea
Curry leaves are an effective natural remedy for acute non-complicated diarrhea, as it has been shown to effectively stop frequency of bowel motions by virtue of the presence of several alkaloids it contains. For rapid relief from a minor bout of diarrhea you can either grind some of the leaves and consume, or eat a few leaves as is.
13. Natural Remedy For Nausea And Vomiting
Curry leaves can actually be quite useful to women during their first trimester, as it can even help alleviate symptoms of morning sickness and nausea that is common at this time. But it does not have to be limited to pregnancy alone, as anyone can take advantage of what it has to offer any time needed.
14. Reduces Cancer Risk
Curry leaves and turmeric have been studied for years owing to their ability to reduce overall occurrence of cancers in parts of the world where they are consumed most frequently, primarily the Asian subcontinent. The alkaloids present in curry leaves are believed to be responsible for many of its actions on cancer prevention, which include limiting the damage initiated by free radicals or helping to trigger autophagy of early stage cancerous cells.
15. Antimicrobial Properties
Microbes refer to a broad generalization of many different pathogens, which include bacteria, fungi and viruses. As you may have gleamed by now, Curry leaves possess antimicrobial properties, which means that they have a range of activity against a wide spectrum of pathogens. For topical infections, the leaves can be ground and made into a paste which is then applied locally to the affected area.
Likewise, consuming the leaves is a normal practice in many indigenous cultures around the world, and still remain a very effective and go to remedy for many of them to this date.
Conclusion
While consuming a variety of curried dishes is excellent, it is important to realize that curry in that sense is different from the true experience of curry leaves. Curry leaves are devoid of additives and other spices and are loaded with much more of the all-important alkaloids.
[james]https://books.google.co.in/books?id=C0D3z66O8Q8C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf034700%2B
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/govi/pharmaz/2006/00000061/00000010/art00012
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0940299310000709?via%3Dihub
https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/spices-and-herbs/185/2[/james]
