Medicinal properties of the curry leaf
COMMONLY used as seasoning, this leaf adds a special flavour to every dish. But there is more to the humble curry leaf than simply flavour. Packed with carbohydrates, fibre, calcium, phosphorous, iron and vitamins like vitamin C, A, B and E, curry leaves deliver a range of unexpected other health benefits. ● Helps improve anaemia: Curry leaves are a rich source of iron and folic acid. They can help improve iron and haemoglobin levels. If you are on treatment for anaemia, continue taking your recommended treatment but add an extra dose of curry leaves into your diet.
● Assists diabetes: It helps lower the blood sugar levels, but also keeps it in check for a few days. Curry leaves help blood sugar levels by affecting the insulin activity of the body and thereby reduces blood sugar levels. Also the type and amount of fibre contained within the leaves play a key role in lowering blood sugar levels.
● Digestion enhancer: It is known to help improve digestion and alter the way your body absorbs fat, helping to lose weight. Since weight gain is one of the leading causes of diabetes, curry leaves can help both problems.
● Lowers the bad
cholesterol: A number of research studies show that curry leaves have properties that can help in lowering blood cholesterol levels. Packed with antioxidants, curry leaves prevent the oxidation of cholesterol that forms LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). This in turn helps in increasing the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) and protects your body from conditions such as heart
disease and atherosclerosis. ● Preventing greying: It has always been known to help in preventing greying of the hair. It is also effective in treating damaged hair, adding bounce to limp hair, strengthening the shaft of thin hair, hair fallout and assists in managing dandruff. The best part about this benefit is that you can either choose to eat the curry leaves to help with your hair woes or apply it to your scalp as a remedy (curry leaves ground into a paste with rose water). This can be applied to the scalp and left on overnight. Shampoo the next morning.
Cooppan (MBChB, MD) practises in Morningside, Durban, as an integrative medicine, nutritional and natural medicine GP. He can be contacted on 031 309 3036 or log on to www.drcooppan.com