10 Amazing Health Benefits of Cilantro You need to know

Cilantro is a very fast growing herb which can be grown just about anywhere. It is a relative of the carrot family and is sometimes called Chinese parsley and Coriander. Cilantro actually is the leaves and stems of the Coriander plant.

It has a very strong unique odor and is relied on heavily for Mexican, Asian, and Caribbean cuisine. Cilantro also resembles Parsley which is not surprising since the two are related. For thousands of years Cilantro has been around, first in Egypt, India, and China and then it was introduced to Mexico and Peru where it is still used with chilies when making masterful food dishes. It has since become very popular in certain parts of the United States as well. Today, Cilantro has lost its popularity in Europe as most Europeans are repulsed by the very smell of it.

Cilantro is a Greek word that means "koris" which in English means bedbug oddly enough because it is said by many that Cilantro smells like a bedbug. The Chinese did not seem to mind because they add Cilantro to their various love potions because to them it symbolizes immortality and has aphrodisiac properties to it. Many also say that it is an appetite stimulant. Cilantro is very easy to find in pretty much any local grocery store or fruit market any time of the year.

Cilantro has an interesting history to it and has showed up many times throughout history. Keep in mind that Cilantro is also in part Coriander, and some seeds were found in King Tut's tomb. It is also mentioned in the Old Testament and was used by physicians dated back as far as Hippocrates. The Ancient Egyptians used Cilantro for such things as headaches and urinary tract infections.

Cilantro can also mask the scent of rotting meat and it was used for that purpose quite frequently by earlier cultures. It would be fair to say that Cilantro is an herbal plant that has two identities since Cilantro is what the plant is referred to in its earliest stages and when it is fully developed it then becomes Coriander. Cilantro grows very quickly but also dies very quickly but it can easy grow in a pot on your windowsill. It is always best to harvest Cilantro before it bolts or blooms. If you wait too long to harvest Cilantro what will happen is that you will be harvesting Coriander because it will then be all seed.

Today, Cilantro can be found just about anywhere in the United States and is a garnish on almost every plate served in an upscale restaurant. The odd thing about Cilantro is that most people either love it or they hate it, usually there is no in between.

Those who hate it claim that it has a soapy taste while those who love it claim that it is a strong taste that Cilantro delivers but they do enjoy it pungency. Cilantro is sold as fresh and if you find it in a dried form do not waste your time with it because drying it causes it to lose its entire flavor.


Ten of these surprising benefits are listed below.

Supports Heart Health

The dietary fiber, essential oils, vitamins and antioxidants which cilantro is rich in make it a great choice if you are wanting to promote heart health. Because of these active ingredients, cilantro can lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and even dissolve cholesterol that has already built up in the arteries, lowering the chance of cardiovascular disease.

Manages Blood Pressure

Because it is high in potassium while still being low in sodium, cilantro can help manage blood pressure. Blood pressure is helped by a high potassium to low sodium ratio and this also helps to control the heart rate.

Soothes Anxiety

Cilantro has muscle-relaxing and sedative qualities which can help to calm your nerves and reduce the damage caused by stress; it also is high in Vitamin B, which helps soothe the mind as well.

Promotes Sleep

Cilantro, being high in both magnesium and Vitamin B, can help promote restful sleep and decrease the possibility of stress-induced sleep disturbances. Magnesium also acts as a natural muscle relaxer and soothes down frazzled nerves.

Improves Digestion

Cilantro can relieve both nausea and indigestion due its ability to increase enzymes in the digestive tract which process foods more easily. This also helps to relieve bloating and flatulence and can also stimulate peristalsis to move food more readily through the digestive tract.

Detoxifies the Body

Cilantro is a “chelation” agent which can remove toxins like heavy metals from the central nervous system and move them into the lymph system, where they are safely removed from the body, thus detoxifying it.

Stabilizes Blood Sugar

Cilantro also possessing “antidiabetic” properties and is thus useful for diabetic patients who want to control their condition naturally. It is able to regulate and stabilize the blood sugar levels due to its potassium-sodium ratio.

Relieves Inflammation

This herb is also a powerful anti-inflammatory. Because of this, it can be useful in relieve the pain, discomfort and/or stiffness associated with inflammatory conditions like arthritis.

Slows the Ageing Process

The powerful antioxidant properties of cilantro can protect the body against the oxidation damage caused by free radicals. This slows down the ageing process and can reduce the chance of developing many chronic diseases.

Kills Microbes

Cilantro also has anti-microbial functions and can be useful in treatment of salmonella poisoning and can also promote good oral health by killing bacteria that cause gingivitis.

So add a little cilantro to your next meal. It is not only versatile and delicious, it will bring with it an array of health benefits, including those mentioned above.

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