Growing your own plants is not only eco-friendly, but it can also help to enrich your life in several ways. Cilantro is one herb that offers plenty of amazing benefits for both the environment and for you personally.
From supporting local wildlife to providing delicious aromas around your home, there’s no denying that cilantro holds its own when it comes to long-term rewards. Here are seven invaluable benefits of growing your own cilantro right in the comfort — and convenience — of your very own backyard!
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Attracts Beneficial Pollinators
If you’re looking for ways to make your garden a haven for pollinators, look no further than growing cilantro! Not only does it add the perfect zingy flavor to your favorite recipes and dishes, but its tiny blossoms attract beneficial bees that help with pollination.
When harvesting cilantro, do not take all the foliage off the plant. This will ensure that you leave some bloom behind that can attract those helpful bees. Plant your cilantro in an area that gets plenty of sun and keep an eye out for any flowering. Allow the flowers to stay so they can support pollinators while ensuring that harvesting is still possible. Just pick the leaves earlier before the plant has a chance to bolt and you’ll still get the maximum flavor!
Contains AntibioticsÂ
Did you know that cilantro may contain an all-natural antibiotic? It’s true! The leaves of cilantro actually have dodecanal, which is showing promise as an effective alternative to pharmaceutical antibiotics in the fight against salmonella.
That being said, if you are experiencing symptoms of salmonella or food poisoning, please contact poison control or your health care specialists.
May Help Diabetes
Studies at the National Center for Biotechnology Information have shown that cilantro extracts could protect liver function and exhibited hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant efficacies in diabetic rats. These results suggest that adding cilantro to your diet may help manage the symptoms of diabetes by helping to regulate blood sugar levels, improving lipid metabolism, and providing powerful antioxidants.
Adding more of this leafy green herb to your meals or creating herbal teas with it can be easy. It’s a simple way to incorporate these benefits into your lifestyle.
Chock Full of Nutrients
Cilantro is so much more than a flavorful herb to add to your cooking. This outstanding plant has many of the essential nutrients that can help keep you healthy and energized!
Cilantro is an excellent source of potassium, Vitamins A, K, and E, calcium, folate, iron, and fiber. Just two teaspoons of seeds pack in over two grams of fiber, while four ounces of their leaves contain 3 grams of fiber.
Not only does having cilantro at your fingertips give your meals a delicious boost in flavor, but you’re getting valuable nutrition as well.
Can Aid With Various Ailments
Cilantro is a powerhouse of health benefits that Indian cultures have been using for centuries in traditional holistic medicine.
Studies by the National Center for Biotechnology Information have shown that it can be effective in treating flatulence, indigestion, and insomnia. Additionally, because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it can reduce inflammation and protect against disease.
Cilantro Is Delicious
Cilantro is an incredibly versatile and delicious herb that adds a wonderful flavor to many dishes. Whether you add it as a finishing touch or cook with it, you can use cilantro in so many ways. Its unique taste makes it a popular choice for adding some extra zest to guacamole, soups, salads, and more! Plus, its freshness adds an amazing aroma and intense flavor that can turn any ordinary meal into something special.
Even if you’re not a fan of its taste on its own, cook it in combination with other ingredients like lime juice, garlic, or chili peppers. Takes your cooking to a whole new level of deliciousness. Cilantro is definitely one herb worth getting creative with in the kitchen.
Add this herb to your indoor kitchen garden and reap the benefits!
Can Act as a Diuretic
Cilantro is a great way to add some flavor to your favorite dishes and it could also have diuretic effects!
Studies show that infusing liquid coriander extract (through the veins of rats) resulted in similar mechanisms as those found through medications like Furosemide. Additionally, other studies using the extract found diuretic properties lowered blood pressure in various animals.
Be aware, there is limited research in this process so the best way to get your daily dose of cilantro is by cooking it. It is not currently recommended as a supplement.
Chill-antro
Growing your own cilantro has manifold health benefits for anyone looking to improve their diet, starting with being a natural diuretic and containing powerful antioxidants. You can use this amazing herb in so many dishes, as well as helping to attract necessary pollinators.
You won’t regret getting up and being productive when you see all the healthy deliciousness you can come up! Cooking meals is about to get much more rewarding with cilantro from your very own plant.
Leave a comment below and share this post with your family and friends so more people can start taking advantage of this wonderful herb!
