Ingredient Spotlight : Curry Leaves - Murraya Koenigii
Murraya Koenigii grows widely in India and other parts of Asia and has been long used in traditional medicines and in culinary preparations. The plant extracts include flavonoids, coumarins and alkaloids, and the plant alkaloids seem to hold the secret to the medicinal properties. Let us explore the properties of this fragrant culinary ingredient:
Research shows that in rat models curry leaves help regulate cholesterol and glucose levels.
Curry leaves have natural antioxidant properties that have been observed when administered to animal models. Curry leaves have been shown to have natural nephroprotective (kidney) and pancreatic beta cell protective factors.
Curry leaves may also have natural anticancer and anti-tumor properties : Extracts from this plant in experimental models seem to decrease the growth of cancer cells by decreasing proteasome activity.
Curry leave extract also have natural properties that help facilitate wound healing by stimulating collagen.
Curry leaves seem to have natural antiviral and anti-diarrheal properties.
We need to be aware that oxidative stress and damage are the major pathways for the pathogenesis of chronic disease processes like diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and cancer.
Curry leaves are a fragrant herb steeped with medicinal properties and benefits that we should take advantage of. We must remember that we view this as a herb and not a a substitute to traditional medicine.Intake of the right foods, exercise and work/ life balance can help us achieve optimum health. So eat mindfully and stay balanced in your life to live long and strong!
