Coriander (or Cilantro) is a delicious Asian spice which is packed with lots of lovely nutrients. It’s full of fibre and minerals such as magnesium, iron and manganese, as well as Vitamins C, K and lots of B vitamins. It belongs to the family Apiaceae, which includes celery, parsley and carrots.
Here are a few benefits you may receive from including it in your diet:
1. Coriander has warming properties, which assists those people who are intolerant to the cold. If you feel worse for cold weather, or catch a cold easily, then coriander will give you a boost.
2. Improved digestion: if you experience indigestion, nausea, bloating, poor appetite or flatulence, coriander will help settle and support digestive function. Helpful for a sluggish gut too!
3. Menstrual pain: Coriander seeds may support regulation of your cycle. They add warmth, and so may assist reducing period pain.
4. Improved Detoxification: Our body is bombarded by chemicals everyday (on our food, in cosmetics, plastics, toiletries and cleaning products to name a few.) Coriander can support liver and bowel function, therefore improving energy, assisting better sleep and supporting clearer skin. Great benefits all round!
5. Heavy metal removal: Lead accumulates in the body from hair colourings, lipsticks and other cosmetics, as well as lead crystal, drinking water from pipes made form lead and certain industries. Mercury sources include large fish and shellfish, dental amalgams (silver fillings) and from some vaccines. Lead and mercury adversely affect the nervous system, so symptoms of toxicity including fatigue, irritability, moods swings and headaches. Coriander has the ability to shift both of these toxic substances out of the tissues for elimination. If you’re concerned about heavy metals in the body, your health care practitioner can do a hair mineral analysis for you.
But I can’t eat Coriander!
Many people are quite sensitive to coriander (you know who you are!) Reactions such as skin irritation, stomach upset and even sun sensitivity can occur. This can also happen if you eat too much. So how much is a safe amount to eat? If you love it as much as I do, you can eat 1/4-1/2 cup of fresh leaves per day. Use small amounts of ground or whole seeds and add it to curries, or mix the leaves and stems into a pesto, guacamole, smoothie or add it to salads. Yummy! Wishing you great health. xx