Bay leaf: benefits and harm, bay leaf decoction, seasoning – October 12, 2022

Very useful spice!

Bay leaf can not only give a special taste to the dish, but also cure many diseases – its use for medicinal purposes has been proven for centuries. Sport24 understands why this spice is so good.

Composition and calorie content of the product (per 100 grams of product)

Fats – 8.36 g.

Proteins – 7.61 g.

Carbohydrates – 74.97 g.

Water – 5.44 g.

Ash – 3.62 g.

Calorie content – 313 kcal.

Benefits of a bay leaf

It should be noted that bay leaf contains many useful elements: vitamins B, C, A, PP, copper, selenium, potassium, manganese and iron. Thanks to them, the spice can bring serious benefits to the human body:

1. Bay leaf has strong antiseptic properties.

2. Promotes the removal of toxins from the body.

3. Boosts immunity.

4. Stimulates the appetite.

5. Calms the nervous system and strengthens it.

6. Prevents the deposition of salts in the joints.

7. Affects the kidneys and bladder favorably, removing stones from the body.

Contraindications for taking bay leaves

This very useful spice also has a fairly extensive list of contraindications:

• suspicion of pregnancy, pregnancy, lactation period;
• individual allergy or intolerance;
• pathology of the liver and kidneys;
• diabetes;
• poor blood clotting;
• constipation;
• pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• constipation;
• ulcer of the stomach or duodenum.

Application in the kitchen

This spice is used to flavor cabbage soups, borscht and various soups (meat, fish, vegetables), main courses of meat, fish (boiled, stewed, aspic, pickled herring), seafood (crabs, shrimps, squid , scallops), vegetables.

There are several important nuances when preparing dishes with the addition of bay leaf:

1. First, bay leaf must be added 5 minutes before the broth is ready and 10 minutes before the stews are ready and removed immediately after cooking is complete, otherwise it will start to taste bitter.

2. Secondly, bay leaves are not added to the chicken broth, otherwise the broth will lose its taste and aroma.

3. Thirdly, bay leaf is put in a vegetable broth in limited quantity or not at all, as the soups on this broth are flavored with vegetables.

It is also worth considering that no more than 1-2 leaves are taken per liter of liquid. And before you put the bay leaves in the dish, you need to rub them together, the aroma will become more saturated.

Application in traditional medicine

Bay leaf is considered an effective anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant, relieves pain in muscles and joints, soothes cough and heals a runny nose. It is also used to relieve pain in arthritis, inflammation of the facial nerve, colic.

How to prepare a decoction of bay leaves (applied externally and internally)

Ingredients:

• Bay leaf – 30 leaves
• Water – 2 glasses

Cooking process:

Bay leaves pour water and set fire. After boiling, leave the mixture for 10 minutes in a saucepan without a lid: the essential oils should evaporate. Then, pour the broth into a thermos for three hours. Remove the leaves from the decoction and pour it into a container that must be kept in a cool place.

With a cold advises to breathe over a decoction of freshly boiled bay leaves.

And here is an example of the use of a decoction with arthritis:

Externally – 2 times a day on inflamed joints for 10 days.

Internally – 50 ml 3 times a day for 10 days (you can add honey to taste).

To cure these and other diseases with a decoction of bay leaves, you should seek the advice of a doctor.

Bay leaf in aromatherapy

Laurel is often used in aromatherapy as a sedative and relaxing agent. To relieve tension and overwork, it is necessary to set a bay leaf on fire in the room and breathe its aroma for 15 minutes.

How to choose and store bay leaves

In no case do not buy a bay leaf in an opaque packaging – the probability of getting a low-quality product in such a situation increases significantly. In transparent packaging, pay attention to the appearance of the leaves – they should be whole, opaque, without spots and approximately the same size. Also take a look at the expiration date: it should not exceed 12 months.

It is best to buy bay leaves on the market, however, there is a chance you can make a mistake there: instead of the product you need, you can get bay leaf. The easiest way to tell them apart is their aroma – rub the leaf and smell it – bay leaves give off a strong, bright smell, while bay cherry has almost none.

Dried bay leaves should be stored in tightly resealable containers – tin, glass or plastic, away from other scented products. It is better that the container is opaque. The best place to store bay leaves is the refrigerator.