Awesome Health Benefits of Cilantro

November 6th, 2018 by Loretta Lanphier, NP, BCTN, CN, CH, HHP

Awesome Health Benefits of Cilantro

Not many people are aware of the many excellent health benefits of cilantro or its history of use. In the USA, cilantro and coriander describe two parts of the same plant, Coriandrum sativum, which belongs to the Apiaceae family. In the beginning, the herb was grown in what is now present-day Greece. Utilized by the ancient Egyptians and Romans, makes cilantro of the oldest known herbs in history. As an added FYI, most people don’t know that cilantro is both a herb and a spice.

Cilantro is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Just a small amount of cilantro provides the total daily value of vitamin A and K. It is also rich in vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. Studies prove cilantro to have antiseptic, antifungal, antioxidant, disinfectant, and antibacterial properties. Cilantro also aids in cleansing the body of toxic metals, especially aluminum, by supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes. Compounds found in cilantro leaf attach to toxic metals and release them naturally from your system. These benefits are had by consuming the raw leaves or ingesting concentrated extracts.OxyBalm Ozonated Olive Oil

Awesome Health Benefits of Cilantro

Adding cilantro to recipes doesn’t just enhance the flavor but can also provide some fantastic health benefits as well.

  • May prevent cardiovascular damage
  • Anti-diabetic activity
  • Strong antioxidant
  • Benefits digestive system
  • Anti-inflammatory benefits
  • Rich in phytonutrients
  • Good source of dietary fiber
  • Good source of calcium
  • Lowers levels of LDL (“bad” cholesterol)
  • Increases levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol)
  • Reduces feeling of nausea
  • Heavy metal cleanser
  • Improves quality of sleep
  • May lower blood sugar
  • Decreases oxidative stress
  • Antifungal properties
  • Antibacterial properties
  • Antimicrobial properties
  • Contains nine antibiotic compounds
  • Promotes healthy liver function
  • Stimulates endocrine glands
  • Rich in silica (effective for detoxing aluminum)

Beware that using cilantro for health may have certain side effects, such as allergic skin reactions, skin irritation, photosensitivity, and inflammation. Always consult a knowledgeable healthcare practitioner before using this herb to treat any health concern.

How to Grow Your Own Cilantro

In addition to the excellent health benefits of cilantro given above, if you’re interested in growing cilantro at home, below are some helpful tips.

  • Cilantro is a cool-season vegetable that reaches its full potential when you sow it in spring or fall.
  • Cilantro can withstand a high frost and grow in temperatures of 14 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 to -5 degrees Celsius), although the plant dies once the ground freezes. Cilantro can also be grown in warm temperatures during the high summer.
  • According to Grow It Organically, the trick to growing the best cilantro is to fool the plant into thinking it’s perpetual spring or fall. To do this, make sure to give the plant a regular and steady supply of water and mulch the soil to maintain a cool surface. Cilantro takes a longer time to “bolt” (sending up a flower stalk) if you provide an optimal environment for it to grow.
  • Healthy soil is also crucial if you want to grow your own cilantro. Ideally, loose and sandy loam would work best for this herb. Feel free to add aged manure or high-quality compost to the soil bed since this can speed up the plant’s growth and yield better herbs.
  • It takes six to 12 weeks for a cilantro plant to grow. Grow It Organically suggests planting small patches of the herb every two to three weeks throughout the growing season if you want a steady supply of cilantro. Certain factors such as age, heat, and dryness can result in bolting. While the plant is still edible, the leaves become finer and harder to harvest even if it has bolted.

How to Buy Cilantro

If you haven’t used cilantro in any of your recipes yet, now is an excellent time to begin.

Buy the freshest cilantro leaves you can find (if you’re not growing your own), either from an organic farmer or at a local farmer’s market. Cilantro that is organically grown has an intense and refreshing flavor and contains many vitamins and antioxidants without the added risk of pesticides and chemicals.

Look for fresh cilantro with vibrant green leaves without any indication of spoilage or yellow discoloration. Also, look for firm stems. After getting your cilantro home, wash it first in purified water and remove roots and old or bruised leaves. To store your cilantro, place it inside a zip pouch or wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel in your refrigerator. Try to use your cilantro as soon as possible since it can lose its flavor and nutrients if kept for too long.

To prepare cilantro for recipes, start with a clean chopping board and a sharp knife. You will need only the cilantro leaves for your recipes, so separate them from the stems with your knife, remembering to cut the plant gently. If you use a dull knife or over-chop, it can bruise the herb causing its unique flavor to spill onto the chopping board.

Awesome Health Benefits of Cilantro

Cilantro Pesto Recipe

Ingredient List

1–2 organic garlic cloves
raw pine nuts or raw sunflowers seeds
1 cup packed fresh organic cilantro leaves
some fresh parsley (optional)
1 jalapeno pepper or chili pepper/powder
2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice
6 tablespoons olive oil (cold press, extra virgin)
¼ tsp cumin
Himalayan salt & ground pepper to taste

Directions

Put the cilantro & olive oil in a blender & process until cilantro is completely chopped. Add the rest of the ingredients & process to a lumpy paste. (You may need to add a touch of hot purified water) It freezes well, so you can make several batches at once. Avoid contacting cilantro with metal cookware or utensils.

Cilantro Pesto Recipe: http://ybertaud9.wordpress.com

How to Keep Cilantro at Your Fingertips

To preserve fresh cilantro and to have it available at any time, you can prepare cilantro oil.

The first step is to quickly blanch a bunch of fresh cilantro (be sure it is adequately washed) by dipping it in boiling water and then patting dry. Add all of the cilantro (including the stems) to a high-powered blender (I recommend using a Vitamix) and top with organic olive oil or ghee.

Blend until smooth. Pour into ice-cube trays and freeze overnight. In the morning, remove the cilantro from the trays, and store it in zip-type bags in the freezer. Whenever you need a boost of flavor from fresh cilantro, it’s literally at your fingertips!

Recipes Using Cilantro

Blackened Jalapeno and Avocado Veggie Dip

Simple and Easy Pico De Gallo Recipe

Organic Seven Layer Salad


Research and Resources

Loretta Lanphier is a Naturopath Practitioner, Board Certified Traditional Naturopath, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Practitioner, and Certified Clinical Herbalist as well as the CEO/Founder of Oasis Advanced Wellness in The Woodlands TX. She studies and performs extensive research in health science, natural hormone balancing, anti-aging techniques, nutrition, natural medicine, weight loss, herbal remedies, non-toxic cancer support. She is actively involved in researching new natural health protocols and products. A 21-year stage 3 colon cancer survivor, Loretta can relate to both-sides-of-the-health-coin as a patient and practitioner regarding health and wellness. “My passion is counseling others about what it takes to keep the whole body healthy using natural and non-toxic methods.” Read Loretta’s health testimony Cancer: The Path to Healing. Loretta is a Contributor and Editor of the worldwide E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician of choice.

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