10 Astonishing Health Benefits of Coriander

What is Coriander?

A good cousin with parsley, Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), or Chinese parsley, is known under the name of cilantro in North America, and dhaniya in India. You may know it from your kitchen, and think it’s only a condiment, but coriander is a champion as a medicinal herb, as well. Curious what nutrients it contains and what health benefits it has? Then keep on reading.

Coriander grows in sunny regions like North America, Asia, Europe, and North Africa. While the dry seeds have an amazing, unique and delicious flavor (tart-lemony), the green leaves and stem (used in some famous dishes like guacamole) have a soapy taste, to some. But don’t let the taste fool you, it has so many properties that you will want to use it immediately.

Coriander has been used as a carminative herb (to ease digestion) for over 5,000 years, in India and China. It was so widely known and used in ancient times that in the texts of the great Greek physician Hippocrates, the father of medicine, in Egyptian papyri, and even in old Sanskrit manuscripts. Romans brought coriander to Europe and the colonizers to North America.

What Nutrients Does Coriander Have?

First of all, I want to bring up the unique aromatic flavor of coriander seeds. It comes from the essential oils (citronellol, linalool, geraniol, camphene, terpene), oleoresins, and fatty acids (linoleic acid, oleic acid, petroselinic acid, palmitic acid).

Also, coriander seeds are an excellent source of minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper) and electrolytes (potassium, sodium). They also have many flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, rhamnetin), carotenoids, coriandrin, and phenolic compounds (caffeinic acid and chlorogenic acid).

A superhero in this combination is vitamin C, which exists in a high amount in the dry coriander seeds (21 mg of vitamin C at 100 g of seeds). They also contain many vitamin B (niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin), vitamin A, and vitamin K.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Coriander

Not relying on ancient folk medicine only, science has conducted its research on coriander in the last decades, and the results are astonishing. Coriander has antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, analgesic, digestive, anticonvulsant, sedative, anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antihistaminic, hypoglycemic, anxiolytic, hypolipidemic, and even anticarcinogenic properties.

1. Digestion Aid

Coriander seeds give a unique taste to your food and, at the same time, they help your digestion. Flatulence, indigestion, slow metabolism, are some of the problems that your digestive system may fight with and that coriander can treat.

Due to its antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, coriander treats diarrhea, indigestion, and other intestinal problems, while the volatile oils help regulate the enzymes and digestives juices in the stomach. Coriander stimulates digestion and the bowel movement as well.

Coriander can be soothing for abdominal spasms and pain with irritable bowel syndrome. It also prevents nausea and vomiting (just like ginger).

2. Regulates Cholesterol

Linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and vitamin C all work together to monitor cholesterol levels in the blood. They reduce the triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, which accumulate on the inner walls of the arteries leading to many cardiovascular problems (atherosclerosis, heart attacks, etc.).

At the same time, coriander increase the so-called “good cholesterol” (HDL), which fights against many health problems.

3. Diabetes Hope

Several studies have shown that coriander regulates the secretion of insulin and lowers blood sugar levels. Moreover, it improves the metabolic rate of the carbohydrates, increases hypoglycemic action, and protects the arteries from atherosclerosis.

The essential oils in the seeds have a double effect on diabetes, as they enhance the secretion of insulin from the pancreas and trigger insulin-like activity at the cellular level. These increases effectively mean that the right amount of insulin is released into the blood to be metabolized and then converted to energy, which then lowers the sugar levels in the blood. That is why it is recommended from the early stages of diabetes, especially diabetes type II.

4. Regulates Menstrual Problems

Hormonal imbalances may cause nasty menstrual problems like back pain, abdominal cramps, bloating, headaches, irritability. Coriander governs the balance between estrogens and progesterone. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Spleen-Stomach meridian (which also regulates the pancreas) transforms the food you consume into energy. When you have poor digestion, the fire of metabolism is low. Resulting in not enough energy in your body. This meridian is responsible for the production of progesterone and thyroid hormones. When there is an imbalance, menstrual problems occur.

Coriander will heat the body, increase the fire of metabolism, and increase the productions of hormones, thus normalizing the production of hormones in your body. When the endocrine system functions normally, the menstrual cycle returns to normal as well.

Other problems created by this imbalance in the Spleen meridian are anemia, blood sugar problems, candida, indigestion, diarrhea, weight gain, abdominal cramps, sluggish metabolism, fatigue, memory loss, and irritable bowel syndrome. These are precisely the type of problems that coriander can solve. Interesting, isn’t it?

5. Fights Microbial Infections

Many skin problems, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, hives, and dermatitis, are inflammatory conditions. Coriander contains cineol, linoleic acid, and other compounds that reduce inflammation and swelling.

Also, the antibacterial, antiseptic, disinfectant, and antioxidant properties of coriander prevent and treat skin infections.

Many people (especially women) struggle for years with drug-resistant yeast infections. Studies show that the use of coriander may help them get rid of Candida for good, because of its antifungal properties. Coriander essential oil has a fungicidal action against various strains of Candida.

Coriander essential oil also proved effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria related to food poisoning and other types of infections.

6. Natural Anti-Histaminic

Anti-allergic medicines, such as antihistamines and corticosteroids, have an array of adverse side effects and cannot be taken in the long run. That is why many allergic people turn to natural remedies.

Coriander is one of Nature’s antihistaminic herbs, and it works against seasonal allergies, hay fever, pollen allergy, and food allergies.

7. Better Bones

Coriander contains calcium, and many antioxidants, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, and carotene. Making it a good option as daily intake, particularly for people who have osteoporosis, joint problems, and premenopausal or menopausal women.

8. Oral Health

Oral hygiene is essential. However, a nutrient-deficient diet, the preponderance of acidic foods, and sugary drinks can cause many oral problems. Difficulties such as mouth ulcers, gum diseases, infections, and bad breath.

Coriander has been used for centuries as a breath refresher after meals, and people chewed its leaves.

Due to its antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal properties, coriander is excellent in preventing and treating mouth ulcers, inflamed and bleeding gums, bad breath, gingivitis, and infections.

9. Neuroprotection and Improved Memory

Research shows a connection between many neurodegenerative diseases. Conditions such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, multiple sclerosis, meningitis, and brain tumors to a form of chronic inflammation.

Coriander, along with other anti-inflammatory herbs (turmeric, clove, ginger, and cinnamon) have proven to reduce inflammation and thus, prevents neurodegenerative diseases.

Also, a recent study revealed that mice fed with fresh coriander leaves for 45 days showed to improve memory. Plus, they reversed the memory deficit caused by drugs like diazepam.

10. Anti-Cancer and Antioxidant Power

Coriander seeds are a rich source of antioxidants. Vitamin A, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, and antioxidant has shown to protect from lung and cavity cancers. The phenolic compounds (catechin, alkanols, apigenin, linalool) defend the body against free radicals.

Coriander extract inhibits DNA damage, kills cancer cells, and prevents metastasis (the spread of cancer cells to other regions of the body). Doctors have seen positive results in treating some types of breast and prostate cancer. Tested against a chemotherapeutic drug, it showed antitumor effects, but unlike the chemotherapy, it didn’t cause hepatotoxicity (didn’t induce toxicity in the liver) which is fantastic. Coriander killed cancer cells, without being toxic with the rest of the body, like chemotherapy does. It had an antioxidative effect on the liver.

Use Coriander In Everyday Life

After reading all these surprising things about Coriander, I think that, by now, you are a fan of this incredible herb already. You can use it daily as fresh leaves, dried seeds, essential oil, extract, or natural supplement.