Cilantro is an annual herbaceous plant of the umbrella family. This spicy-aromatic herb is primarily widely known as seasoning, especially in the eastern kitchen. In cooking, the plant itself is used, which is called cilantro, as well as seeds (coriander). Fresh green cilantro is added to salads, soups and meat dishes, and seeds are an excellent seasoning for meat, fish, pickles, marinade and even bread.
Useful properties of cilantro
Kinza is known to people more than 5000 years. Initially, it was used for medicinal purposes, and as a condiment began to be used much later. Cilantro contains vitamins P, B1, B2, beta-carotene, rutin, a large amount of vitamin C. The leaves of the plant contain essential oils, trace elements (in particular magnesium, iron, manganese), pectin, tannins. Also useful properties of cilantro are due to its constituent amino acids: stearic, linoleic, ascorbic, oleic, palmitic, isooleic, myristic.
Kinza has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antimicrobial, soothing, anti-carcinogenic properties. Stimulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine glands. In addition, coriander is considered a natural aphrodisiac and used to be a part of various stimulants.
Therapeutic properties of cilantro
In folk medicine, coriander is widely used for the treatment of a number of diseases:
- Cilantro is useful for the digestive system: it improves the functioning of the stomach, helps reduce pain with gastritis, neutralizes diarrhea and indigestion.
- Promotes elimination of toxins , slags and parasites. In particular, the benefits of coriander in the fight against salmonellosis, due to the content of the natural antibiotic - dodecene, have been proven.
- Has diuretic and disinfectant properties. Stimulates the work of the kidneys.
- Favorably affects the cardiovascular system: it facilitates the purification of blood vessels, better supply of cardiac muscle with oxygen, stimulates blood circulation.
- Infusions of cilantro are effective in nervous disorders, obsessive fears, depression.
- Due to its anti-inflammatory properties it can be used for fever and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
- The use of cilantro in food helps to fight skin diseases: psoriasis , dermatitis, various rashes.
- Compresses from mashed leaves of cilantro are effective in erysipelas, dermatitis and other skin diseases. Such compresses help to remove inflammation, prevent irritation, burning and other symptoms.
- The juice of cilantro strengthens the gum, eliminates their bleeding, heals stomatitis.
- Washing with cilantro concentrate favorably affects the skin, making it more elastic and velvety.
Contraindications to the use of cilantro
Despite the numerous useful properties of coriander, there are contraindications. Preparations based on coriander are not recommended for pregnant women and during breastfeeding, people who have suffered a heart attack or stroke, suffering from thrombophlebitis. With cholecystitis, coriander is not contraindicated, but caution should be exercised. But even in the absence of obvious contraindications in the use of coriander in food should not be abused, otherwise instead of the expected benefit can cause harm to the body. On average, a day can eat about 35 grams of greens or up to 4 grams of seeds. Excess of this dose can cause sleep disturbance, menstrual cycle failure, nervous disorders.