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What are the benefits of bay leaf and why is it brewed?
29.04.2023 11:15
A plant from the Mediterranean called laurel is now included in the list of spices in cuisines around the world.
The aromatic plant enriches dishes and has healing properties in folk medicine.
What exactly is the bay leaf good for, why should it be brewed, and what harm can it cause? This article will tell you about it.
Bay leaves and its beneficial properties
The leaves can bring invaluable benefits to the body when used both internally and externally. Its active essential oils are able to warm the body, removing natural deposits.
Vitamins such as water-soluble group B, A, D, C, E have a beneficial effect. The oil is rich in minerals, including selenium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, potassium and much more. During a detailed study of the plant, scientists discovered tannins, flavonoids, pectins, esters, resins, alkaloids.
Having such a rich composition, bay leaf can reduce the risk of developing pathologies of blood vessels, liver, heart, kidneys, respiratory tract, and diabetes.
Speaking of the latter, scientists studied the effect of bay leaf on people with type 2 diabetes and found that the plant reduces blood glucose levels by 26% and cholesterol levels by 40%. In addition, the subjects' "good" cholesterol levels improved by 20%.
Bay leaf and its benefits when brewing
Bay leaf infusion can be used externally. It is often used to rinse hair to strengthen it. The infusion should be cooled well, diluted with a little water and after washing, poured over the hair, massaging the head.
Bay leaf and its negative impact on the body
Since the plant has a strong cleansing effect, it should not be used by pregnant and lactating women, as well as internally by children and elderly people with chronic diseases. An overdose of the plant can cause stomach pain, digestive problems, exacerbation of pathologies, nausea and vomiting. In case of individual intolerance, bay leaf can be life-threatening.
Bay leaf is an aromatic plant widely used in folk medicine and cooking. However, it has significant contraindications that must be remembered when using it.
