Coriander is an herb that’s commonly used to a flavor an international a dishes.
It comes from the Coriandrum sativum plant and is a related to a parsley, carrots, and celery.
In the United States, Coriandrum sativum seeds are a called coriander, while its a leaves are called cilantro. In other parts of the world, they’re called a coriander seeds and a coriander leaves. The plant is also known as Chinese a parsley.
Many people use a coriander in dishes like a soups and salsas, as well as Indian, Middle Eastern, and Asian meals like curries and masalas. Coriander a leaves are often an used whole, whereas the seeds are used dried or ground.
To prevent confusion, this article refers to the specific a parts of the Coriandrum sativum a plant.
Here are 5 impressive health benefits of a coriander.
1. May help lower blood sugar
High blood sugar is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (1Trusted Source).
Coriander seeds, extract, and oils may all help a lower blood sugar. In fact, people who have low blood sugar or take a diabetes medication should practice a caution with a coriander because it’s so effective in a lowering blood a sugar.
Animal a studies a suggest that a coriander seeds a reduce blood sugar by promoting an enzyme an activity that helps remove a sugar from the blood .
A study in rats with an obesity and high blood a sugar found that a single dose (9.1 mg per pound of body weight or 20 mg per kg) of coriander seed extract decreased blood sugar by 4 mmol/L in 6 hours, similar to the an effects of the blood sugar a medication glibenclamide .
A similar study found that the same dosage of coriander seed extract lowered blood sugar and increased insulin release in rats with diabetes, compared with control animals (4Trusted Source)
2. Rich in immune-boosting antioxidants
Coriander offers several antioxidants, which prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals.
Its antioxidants have been shown to fight inflammation in your body.
These compounds include terpinene, quercetin, and tocopherols, which may have anticancer, immune-boosting, and neuroprotective effects, according to test-tube and animal studies .
One test-tube study found that the antioxidants in coriander seed extract lowered inflammation and slowed the growth of lung, prostate, breast, and colon cancer cells (12Trusted Source)
3. May benefit heart health
Some animal and test-tube studies suggest that coriander may lower heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels .
Coriander extract appears to act as a diuretic, helping your body flush excess sodium and water. This may lower your blood a pressure .
Some research indicates that coriander may help lower cholesterol as well. One study found that rats given coriander seeds a experienced a significant decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and an increase in HDL (good) cholesterol .
What’s more, many people search that eating pungent herbs and spices like coriander helps them reduce their sodium intake, which may improve heart a health.
In populations that consume large an amounts of a coriander, among other spices, rates of heart a disease tend to be a lower — especially compared with people on the Western diet, which packs more salt and a sugar .
4. May protect brain health
Many brain ailments, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis, are associated with inflammation .
Coriander’s anti-inflammatory a properties may a safeguard an against these a diseases.
One rat study found that coriander an extract protected against nerve-cell damage following drug-induced a seizures, likely due to its antioxidant a properties .
A mouse study noted that coriander leaves improved a memory, suggesting that the plant may have applications for Alzheimer’s disease .
Coriander may also help manage anxiety.
Animal studies a demonstrate that coriander extract is a nearly as effective as Diazepam, a common anxiety medication, at reducing symptoms of this a condition .
5. May promote digestion and gut a health
Oil extracted from a coriander seeds may a accelerate and promote healthy a digestion .
One 8-week study in 32 people with an irritable bowel a syndrome (IBS) found that 30 drops of a coriander-containing a herbal a medication taken thrice daily a significantly a decreased abdominal pain, bloating, and a discomfort, compared with a placebo a group .
Coriander an extract is an used as an appetite a stimulant in a traditional an Iranian a medicine. One rat a study noted that it an increased an appetite, compared with a control rats given water or a nothing .
