Confused about bay leaf tea benefits? Here's all you need to know - 24 Mantra Organic
Confused about bay leaf tea benefits? Here's all you need to know - 24 Mantra Organic
Let’s Add More Flavor And Benefits With Bay Leaves In Tea
Health and Nutrition
22.03.2021
Bay leaf is a standard ingredient in many slow-cooking dishes such as pulao, biryani, stews, and soups. However, very few people use it to make tea. Organic bay leaf is a dense, aromatic herb full of nutrients that help in weight loss, aid digestion, lower stress, and prevent chronic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes [1].
If you don’t have the time or the patience to prepare these time-consuming preparations, then you can consider having bay leaf tea. There are multiple bay leaf tea benefits, which we will explore in this article, along with the recipe of bay leaf tea.
Organic bay leaves come from the Laurel tree, an evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family. It contains around 2% of essential oil, which primarily contains cineole. Bay leaf has a smooth, velvety texture when fresh, while dried leaves have sharp edges and light green colour.
Nutritional value of bay leaf
Organic bay leaves are used in several different ways, including as a diuretic. That is because this herb is packed with essential vitamins and minerals as well as dietary fibre and folic acid. Below is the nutritional value of organic bay leaf.
Nutrient: Bay Leaf
Serving size
100 grams
Calories
313
16%
Protein
7.61 g
13%
Carbs
74.97 g
57%
Vitamin C
46.5 mg
78%
Total Fat
8.36 g
29%
Cholesterol
0 mg
0%
Niacin
2.005 mg
13%
Folate
180 mcg
45%
Calcium
834 mg
83%
Iron
43 mg
537%
Magnesium
120 mg
30%
Phosphorus
113 mg
16%
Potassium
529 mg
11%
Sodium
23 mg
2%
Zinc
3.70 mg
33%
Copper
0.416 mg
46%
Manganese
8.167 mg
355%
Selenium
2.8 mg
5%
Vitamin A
6185 IU
206%
Pyridoxine
1.70 mg
133%
Dietary Fiber
26.3 mg
69%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie need
Since organic bay leaves are an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, it promotes general health and overall wellbeing [1].
Benefit #2. Reduces stress
Regularly having bay leaf can reduce stress levels and can be an effective, natural way to treat migraines. Researches are trying to conclusively prove how having bay leaves might be a natural treatment of brain disorders such as epilepsy [2].
Benefit #3. Aids digestion
One of the most common bay leaf tea benefits is the herb’s ability to digest food and calm indigestion [1]. Bay leaf contains enzymes that breakdown protein and increases metabolic rate.
To realise bay leaf tea benefits, here is a simple, aromatic recipe:
Ingredients:
16 oz water
3 bay leaves
Juice of 1 large or 2 small lemons
Method:
Mix all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil
Add honey or sugar, if required
Let the mixture simmer for a couple of minutes
Turn off the heat and strain the water in a cup
There you have it, a comforting beverage for any time of the day. The aroma that the leaves exhume is calming, while the essence of the spice makes it delicious.
Bay leaves side-effects
While we’ve discussed bay leaf tea benefits, some side effects cannot be overlooked. Organic bay leaf and its extract are generally safe for people. However, consuming the whole leaf by mouth is dangerous and unsafe. That is because the human body cannot digest bay leaf, and it can pierce the throat or intestinal lining.
Bay leaf is also believed to slow down the central nervous system and, therefore, its consumption should be stopped at least two weeks before any surgical procedure. Other side effects of bay leaves include redness of the skin or allergic reactions and diarrhoea if eaten in excess.
So there you go folks, that was our take on bay leaves tea and its benefits. Hope you found it helpful.