Evgeniya Gaeva
Very useful spice!
Bay leaf can not only give a special taste to the dish, but also heal from many diseases – it has been proven for centuries of its use for medicinal purposes. 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 the 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. Increases immunity.
4. Stimulates appetite.
5. Calms the nervous system and strengthens it.
6. Prevents the deposition of salts in the joints.
7. Favorably affects the kidneys and bladder, removing stones from the body.
Contraindications for taking bay leaves
Even this super-useful spice has a fairly wide list of contraindications:
- suspicion of pregnancy, pregnancy, breastfeeding period;
- allergy or individual 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 cooking
This spice is used to flavor cabbage soup, borscht and various soups (meat, fish, vegetable), second courses of meat, fish (boiled, stewed, aspic, pickled herring), seafood (crabs, shrimp, squid, scallops), vegetables.
There are several important nuances when preparing dishes with the addition of bay leaf:
1. Firstly, the laurel should be added 5 minutes before the broth is ready, and 10 minutes before the stews are ready, and removed immediately following cooking is completed – 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, laurel is put in a vegetable broth in a limited amount or not at all, since 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 putting 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, it relieves pain in muscles and joints, soothes coughs, and treats 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:
- Laurel – 30 leaves
- Water – 2 glasses
Cooking process:
Laurel leaves pour water and put on fire. After boiling, leave the mixture for 10 minutes in a saucepan without a lid – the essential oils should evaporate. Next, pour the broth into a thermos for three hours. Remove the leaves from the decoction and pour into a container that must be stored in a cool place.
With a cold recommend breathing over a freshly boiled decoction of bay leaf.
And here is an example of the use of a decoction with arthritis:
Outwardly – 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 treat 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, you need to set fire to a bay leaf in the room and breathe in its aroma for 15 minutes.
How to choose and store bay leaves
In no case do not buy a bay leaf in an opaque package – the likelihood of getting a low-quality product in such a situation increases significantly. In a transparent package, pay attention to the appearance of the leaves – they should be whole, dull, 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 in the market – however, there is a chance to make a mistake there: instead of the product you need, you can get bay cherry. The easiest way to distinguish them is by their aroma – rub the leaf and smell it: the laurel emits a strong and bright smell, while the laurel cherry has almost none.
Dried bay leaves should be stored in tightly resealable containers – tin, glass or plastic, away from other fragrant products. It is better that the container is opaque. The best place to store laurel is the refrigerator.