Curry leaves, known as kadi patta in hindi, "Karapincha" in Sinhalese is one of the common
seasoning ingredients that is added to almost every dish to enhance its
taste and flavour.
Here are some of the benefits of Curry leaves.
1. Helps keep anaemia at bay
Kadi patta or curry leaves are a rich source of iron and folic acid. Interestingly, anaemia is not only about the lack of
iron in your body
but also about the body’s inability to absorb iron and use it. This is
where folic acid comes into play. Folic acid is mainly responsible for
iron absorption and since
kadi patta is a rich source of both the compounds it is your one-stop natural remedy to beat anaemia. Here is how
eating beetroot can help fight anemia.
Tip:If you suffer from
anaemia, eat one date (
khajoor) with two
kadi patta leaves on an empty stomach every morning. Here are
few diet tips to beat anaemia and increase hemoglobin
2. Protects your liver from damage
If you are a heavy drinker, eat a lot of fish or indulge in other
activities that could be damaging your liver, then you must eat curry
leaves. This is because, according to a study published in Asian
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research[1],
curry leaves were protect your liver from oxidative stress and harmful
toxins that build-up in your body due to the presence of kaempferol, a
potent antioxidant.
Tip: Heat one spoon of homemade ghee, add the juice of a cup of
kadip atta,
some sugar and freshly powdered black pepper (kali mirch). Make sure
you heat this mixture slightly (and not overheat it) as Kaempferol boils
at a very low temperature.
3. Maintains your blood sugar levels
A study published in the
Journal of Plant food for Nutrition[2],
found that curry leaves lower your blood sugar levels by affecting the
insulin activity. Apart from this, the presence of fiber in the leaves
plays a significant role in controlling your blood sugar levels.
Tip: To help keep your blood sugars under check, you should ideally add
kadi patta to all your meals. Alternatively, consuming fresh curry leaves on an empty stomach every day might do the trick as well.
4. Protects you from heart disease
Did you know that curry leaves have properties that can help in lowering one’s blood
cholesterol levels? Well, as per a study published in the
Journal of Chinese Medicine [3],
curry leaves prevent the oxidation of cholesterol as it is packed with
antioxidants. This in turn increases the amount of good cholesterol
(HDL) and protects you from
heart disease and
atheroscleros
5. Helps with digestion
Curry leaves are known to be carminative in nature and thus, is
highly effective against indigestion. Once ingested, it helps in the
digestion process along with aiding in excretion.
6. Relieves the symptoms of diarrhoea
Even though curry leaves have mild laxative properties, it is a great remedy for diarrhoea. This is because
kadi patta contains
carbazole alkaloid that posses anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory
properties which in turn help in combating an upset stomach.
Tip: If you suffer from diarrhoea gently crush some
kaddi patta into a ball (the size of a berry), and drink it with some buttermilk. Do this twice to thrice a day for relief.
7. Can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy
According to a study [3], curry leaves have the amazing ability to
protect the body from the ill effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
It not only protects the chromosomes from damage but also protects the
bone marrow and halts the production of free radicals in the body.
8. Reduces congestion in the chest and nose
If you suffer from a wet cough, sinusitis or chest congestion,
kadi patta is a very effective home remedy to relieve the symptoms.
Tip: To relieve congestion, take a spoon of powdered
curry leaves and add a spoon of honey to it. Make it a paste and eat
this solution twice a day.
9. Treats and prevents skin infections
Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? But it is true.
Kadi patta contains
very strong antioxidant properties in addition to powerful
anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiprotozoal properties. This makes it a
great home remedy to deal with common skin infections like acne and
fungal infections of the nail that are often difficult to treat.
10. Accelerates hair growth
Kadi patta has always been known to prevent greying of the
hair due to the presence of various nutrients in the body. But it also
very effective in treating damaged hair, adding bounce to limp hair,
strengthening the shaft of thin hair, hair fall and treats dandruff.
Tip: To help strengthen your hair and fight dandruff, add the juice of
kadi patta, to 100ml of coconut oil. Heat this oil till it turns blackish and apply it to your scalp regularly. Read about
causes and solutions – premature greying of hair
Around 16.3% of the children and adolescents belonging to 2-19 years age group in Sri Lanka is obese according to the Director of National Poisonous information Center in Colombo National Hospital and Consultant Physician Dr.Waruna Gunathilake.
