Coriander seeds as well as cilantro are known as dhania on the Indian Continent. Coriander leaves are employed as herb to add flavour and garnish food, while the seeds fall in the spice category and can be used whole or powdered. The plant belongs to the carrot family with other members being celery, parsley and cumin. It is one of the most ancient spices known to man. The herb is mentioned in the Bible and its seeds were found among ruins dating 5000 B.C.
Minty Cilantro (Coriander) Juice
Ingredients:
- 2 large cucumbers
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 lemon
- Honey (optional)
Directions:
Cut the cucumbers into large chunks and remove the ring of the lemon. Thoroughly wash the cilantro. Juice everything in turns. If desired add the honey according to taste at the end.
Add-ons
- Carrots
- apples
Nutritional Information
A fifty gram serving of cilantro leaves deliver 15% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, 113% of vitamin A, and 129% of vitamin K. It also supplies riboflavin, niacin and folic acid. In the minerals department the leaves are a good source of potassium, manganese, calcium, magnesium and iron. The tips of stems and leaves are a rich source of the antioxidants like beta-caretone, and polyphenolic flavonoids like kaempferol, quercetin, egignenin and rhamnetin. These phytochemicals along with the essential oils like boreol, cineol, cymene land others provide the leaves with fungicidal, digestive, antispasmodic, analgestic and carminative properties.
Health Benefits of Cilantro & Coriander Seeds
The latest studies show that coriander is beneficial in treating depression, and anxiety due to its anxiolytic and sedative properties. The linalool oil found in the plant helps to detoxify the liver and enhance appetite. It also has blood thinning properties and medicinal teas made with the seeds can be used in treating indigestion.
Cilantro contain antibiotic compound which when tested in a laboratory proved to be twice as effective as the common drug for killing food-borne bacteria, salmonella. The wide ranging anti-oxidants in cilantro help to reduce the risk of oxidative stress in cells that can lead to cancer. The calcium in cilantro is beneficial for healthy bones while studies with mice show the herb to have anti-diabetic properties and help to control blood sugar. Regular juicing and consumption can stimulate the secretion of insulin and lower bad cholesterol. The elevated levels of beta-carotene in cilantro help to improve eyesight and reduce age related eye problems like cataract.
Just one ounce of cilantro juice one its own or mixed with other juices is sufficient to make noticeable improvements in brain function.