5 Health Benefits of Latin America's Favorite Cilantro

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Cilantro has been a mainstay in Latin American cooking and has been used in a variety of Latin dishes as a flavorful herb to elevate one's palate. According to Style Craze, this aromatic herb, which originated in the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, has played a geat part in savory and traditional cuisines.

But apart from its aroma or the kick it gives in any salsa or chimichurri sauce, cilantro is also packed with nutrients that aids the body. Here are five of health benefits of Latin America's favorite cilantro.

1. Controls Blood Sugar and Cholesterol

According to WH Foods, studies (though still early in development) show that coriander triggers the production of insulin, which will lower the blood sugar, which can be very helpful to people suffering from diabetes. Also, the outlet notes that cilantro or coriander may have cholesterol-lowering effects. Citing a study conducted on rats fed with a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, the publication notes that when the animals were given cilantro, the level of bad cholesterol significantly decreased.

2. Cleanses Toxic Metals and Purifies Water

Global Healing Center says that cilantro is a "natural cleansing agent" as it has chemical compounds that can remove toxic metals from body tissues. Medical News Today also cites a study where cilantro has shown to detoxify lead in rats. A CNN report also said that cilantro may be a natural water purifier too because it's a powerful bi-absorbant, which, according to the outlet, are "organic materials often found in plants, that when dried, could replace the charcoal currently used in filters."

3. Fights Salmonella

A study published in Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry in 2004, per WH Foods, said that cilantro contains a compound called dodecanal, which can be an effective way to fight Salmonella. Dodecenal, according to the publication, is usually used in an antibiotic drug called gentamicin. Dodecenal can be found in the leaves and seeds of the cilantro plant.

4. Helps in Digestion

If you have problems in digesting food, Style Craze reports that cilantro can be a digestive aid" because it produces digestive enzymes and juices that prevent you from feeling nauseous. The leaves of cilantro are also rich in fiber, which aids in gastrointestinal problems.

James A. Duke, Ph.D., a former botanist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, per Global Healing Center, suggests drinking tea made from cilantro leaves to help in stomachaches.

5. Helps in Anxiety

Style Craze notes that cilantro has a calming effect that soothes and reduces stress. The publication suggests drinking cilantro juice with cucumber to act as a mild laxative and relaxes your nerves.