Cilantro against Heavy Metal Toxicity, and Other Benefits
Cilantro, also called coriander or Chinese parsley is an aromatic and flavourful herb that is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients. Whilst it is widely known for its culinary properties, cilantro does have a wide range of health benefits. It can aid digestive disorders, heart disease, fatigue and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.
Aside from these, cilantro is also effective at chelating numerous heavy metals from the body – according to studies.
Cilantro against Lead Build-up
In 2001, Japanese researchers investigated the effects of cilantro on lead deposition. They administered cilantro via gastric intubation in male mice suffering from high levels of lead in their system. Another group of mice were dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) – a known chelating agent – as a control. After 25 days, the subjects were tested for lead. Results showed that both the cilantro and DMSA groups had significantly reduced level of lead in their femur. They also had less severe lead-induced injury in the kidneys. Furthermore, those who were given cilantro increased their urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). The researchers concluded that cilantro contained substances that had a suppressive effect on lead deposition. Such findings were published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Cilantro has also been shown to help prevent the build-up of aluminium and mercury in the body. In another study, Yoshiaki Omura, a doctor and the director of Medical Research at the Heart Disease Foundation in New York, accidently arrived to this conclusion. He kept finding that antibiotics were ineffective at treating eye infections. In his robust research, he found that infection seemed to hide in parts of the body that had large concentrations of heavy metal. And since heavy metals are excreted by the body through urine, Dr Omura tested the urine of his patients. When one patient exhibited increased levels of mercury in his urine after consuming a meal containing cilantro, the doctor began to test the herb for its possible chelating properties. His findings suggest that the herb ‘accelerated’ the removal of heavy metals through urination, allowing antibiotics to bust off the infection effectively.
Heavy metal poisoning is rampant because most foods, medications and supplements are contaminated. It is a major cause of hormonal imbalances, cancer, thyroid problems, neurological disturbances, learning problems, depression, food allergies, parasites and many other health problems.
Other Health Benefits of Cilantro
Adding cilantro in your diet may also protect you from Salmonella – a type of bacteria that cause foodborne illness. According to a 2004 study reported in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, coriander provides a natural means of fighting salmonella.
This phenomenal herb is packed with vitamins A, K, & C, minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium, and has more antioxidants than most fruits or vegetables. It also contains an anti-bacterial compound called dodecenal which has the ability to kill salmonella bacteria and prevent salmonella poisoning. It is known to be beneficial for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Viral and Bacterial Infections, Hepatitis, Colitis, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, Autism, Tourette syndrome, Infertility, and Bell’s Palsy.
Cilantro may also aid in the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as Fibromyalgia, Addison’s disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, IBS, Multiple Sclerosis, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Furthermore, it is effective in reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol.
Adding cilantro in your dishes is one great way to enhance flavour. But aside from this, you are also nourishing your body and boosting your health.
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