Fun fact- cilantro and coriander come from the same plant.
Coriander often refers to the dried seed or ground spice obtained from the fruit of the plant.
Cilantro is the the common name for the fresh green leaves of the plant.
Note for recipes, in some countries, the fresh leaves can be referred to as coriander.
Nutrition Profile:
Cilantro and coriander contain:
- Antioxidants
- Iron
- Calcium
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin C
- Folate
Health Benefits of Cilantro:
Although few human studies have been done, animal and lab research shows numerous health benefits including:
- Antibacterial effects
- Antidiabetic effects
- Antimutagenic effects
- Antioxidant effects
- Antiparasitic effects
- Antiplatelet effects
- Improved memory
- Decrease blood pressure
- Decrease cholesterol
- Decrease anxiety
- Decrease depression
- Chelation effects
- Ultraviolet (UV) protective effects
- Improve digestion
How to add to your diet?
- Make a salsa with fresh cilantro.
- Use fresh cilantro as a garnish for salad, stir fries, curries, soups and stews.
- Use fresh cilantro to finish vegetable dishes.
- Season vegetables prior to cooking with dried coriander.
- Make a marinade for meat, poultry and fish using either fresh cilantro or dried coriander.
- Add flavor to Taco Tuesday! Garnish your dish with fresh cilantro!
Try out a few of my recipes that use fresh cilantro or ground coriander!
Recipes:
References:
Singletary, Keith PhD Coriander: Overview of Potential Health Benefits, Nutrition Today: 5/6 2016 – Volume 51 – Issue 3 – p 151-161
Zhang CR, Dissanayake AA, Kevseroğlu K, Nair MG. Evaluation of coriander spice as a functional food by using in vitro bioassays. Food Chem. 2015 Jan 15;167:24-9. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.06.120. Epub 2014 Jul 5. PMID: 25148954.
Sahib NG, Anwar F, Gilani AH, Hamid AA, Saari N, Alkharfy KM. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.): a potential source of high-value components for functional foods and nutraceuticals–a review. Phytother Res. 2013 Oct;27(10):1439-56. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4897. Epub 2012 Dec 19. PMID: 23281145.
Jabeen Q, Bashir S, Lyoussi B, Gilani AH. Coriander fruit exhibits gut modulatory, blood pressure lowering and diuretic activities. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Feb 25;122(1):123-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.12.016. Epub 2008 Dec 25. PMID: 19146935.
Natural Medicine Database. Accessed June 2021.
This article is for information purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult with your medical provider prior to any lab testing, diet changes or new supplement/medication.
Do you live in TX, CA, GA, NC or OH? Looking to improve your health through culinary medicine? Message me for information about my consultation services. @neversayneverwellness@gmail.com