27 Benefits of Bay Leaves for Body Health
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| 26 Benefits of Bay Leaves for Body Health / Pixabay |
Bayleaves are a tree that produces spice leaves which are commonly used as kitchen spices.
In English, the bay leaf, which has the Latin name Syzygium polyanthum, is known as Indonesian bay-leaf or Indonesian laurel.
Bay leaves contain vitamins and good compounds such as vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin C, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids.
The following is presented the nutritional content of bay leaves as follows:
- Energy of 313 kcal;
- 75 grams of carbohydrates;
- 7.6 grams of protein;
- Cholesterol of 0 milligrams;
- 8.3 grams of fat;
- Niacin of 2 milligrams;
- 26.3 grams of fiber;
- Folic acid of 180 micrograms;
- Pyridoxine 1.7 milligrams;
- Riboflavin 0.4 milligrams;
- Vitamin C of 46.5 milligrams;
- Vitamin A of 6,185 International Units (IU);
- 23 milligrams of sodium;
- Potassium of 834 milligrams;
- 43 milligrams of iron;
- Magnesium at 120 milligrams;
- Zinc of 3.7 milligrams; and
- Forfor of 113 milligrams.
All of these nutritional content that makes bay leaves have many benefits for the health of the body.
In a decoction of bay leaves, it is beneficial for the health of the body. The benefits include:
1. Improve the digestive tract
Bay leaves have enzymes with proteins available in them and provide a sense of comfort for those who are on a diet program. In decoction of bay leaves, it is effective to overcome irritation of the colon to reduce the symptoms of celiac disease which is an autoimmune disease due to gluten consumption.
Water decoction of bay leaves can overcome digestive problems, such as flatulence, heartburn, irregular bowel movements and constipation.
2. Lose weight
The combination of bay leaf and cinnamon is believed to help lose weight quickly and burn weakness in the body. Bay leaves contain a diuretic that can stimulate the body to excrete unnecessary fluids quickly.
3. Helps overcome gout
Water decoction of bay leaves can help overcome the problem of uric acid. The flavonoids contained in the stew of bay leaves can reduce uric acid levels in the blood.
4. Lowering blood pressure
The content of flavonoids in bay leaf water can function to lower blood pressure.
5. Lower cholesterol levels
The content of quercetin in bay leaves can function to lower cholesterol in the body. Besides, bay leaf decoction contains caffeic acid which can help remove LDL or bad cholesterol from the cardiovascular system.
6. Treating stroke
The content of bay leaf decoction can also be used to prevent stroke.
7. Cure inflammation in the stomach
Another benefit in bay leaf water can cure stomach inflammation.
8. Heart health
Caffeic acid contained in the stew of bay leaves is an important organic compound to improve heart health. Bay leaf decoction can strengthen the capillary walls in the heart and lower bad cholesterol levels in the cardiovascular system.
9. Relieves stress and anxiety
Bay leaves also contain linalool. This compound can help lower stress hormone levels in the body, especially if used as aromatherapy.
10. Lowering blood sugar levels
The content of flavonoids in bay leaf stew is useful for lowering blood sugar levels which can be a cause of diabetes.
11. Anti-Inflammatory
Another benefit contained in the decoction of bay leaves is to reduce smut. Bay leaves contain a unique phytonutrient, namely parthenolide which can quickly reduce inflammation and irritation.
12. Immune
In a decoction of bay leaves containing vitamins B6, B12, C and D are able to increase immunity. Vitamin C contained in the boiled water of bay leaves is effective in fighting free radicals.
13. Fight free radicals
In addition to having antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties, bay leaves also contain antioxidants that are useful for fighting free radicals and preventing premature aging. Free radicals can be caused by many factors, one of which is air pollution.
14. Maintain nerve function
The content of vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin A, natural antioxidants, dietary fiber and B vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid and riboflavin will help the nervous system function, synthesize enzymes and regulate body metabolism.
15. Ward off Cancer
The content of antioxidants and organic compounds in bay leaves such as phytonutrients, catechins, linalool, and parthenolide, has been shown to restrain the proliferation of cervical cancer cells and help protect the body from the effects of free radicals.
16. Painkiller
The essential oils contained in the decoction of bay leaves named Eugenol and Methyl chavicol are effective for killing bacteria and fungi. Bay leaf decoction is also good for relieving inflammation and pain such as sprains, arthritis and rheumatism.
17. Helps launch menstruation and vaginal discharge
The content in the decoction of bay leaves can help menstruation run smoothly and can also cure vaginal discharge.
18. Maintain dental health
Bay leaf decoction is also thought to be able to maintain dental hygiene and maintain tooth strength.
19. Prevent kidney stones
Bay leaves have a function to reduce urease levels in the body. Unbalanced urease levels can cause kidney stones. So consuming this bay leaf decoction can help overcome kidney stones.
20. Makes sleep better
Consuming a decoction of bay leaves can have a calming effect, and if taken before bed, will help you sleep better.
21. Treat diarrhea
Bay leaves contain ethanol which can slow down the growth of E.coli, Salmonella sp, and Vibrio cholera bacteria. These bacteria are the cause of diarrhea. By inhibiting the growth of these bacteria can help cure diarrhea.
22. Treating wounds
Another benefit in the decoction of bay leaves is to treat wounds. Bay leaves have anti-inflammatory properties so they can help treat wounds.
23. Make hair healthy
The combination of bay leaf with candlenut oil or olive oil, if applied to the hair when it is warm, will help make hair less prone to hair loss and shiny.
24. Reduce dandruff
The mashed bay leaves can be used as an ingredient to get rid of dandruff on the scalp. With a mixture of bay leaves that have been mashed with water to form a paste, applied to the scalp can reduce dandruff.
25. Get rid of body aches
A decoction of bay leaves used for soaking for about an hour can reduce body aches.
26. Get rid of itching
The benefits of decoction of bay leaves that are used to mix water for bathing, can help cure itching in the body.
27. Moisturizing skin
Bay leaves can be useful for moisturizing the skin.
For the use of bay leaf decoction, we can use 10 to 15 bay leaves, boiled with 3 cups of water, so that it becomes 1 cup of water. And the stew of bay leaves is ready to drink.
Hopefully helpful, and thank you.