Here's why you should start including bay leaves or 'tej patta' in your diet

Alisha Alam | Sep 1, 2019, 22:00 IST
We're sure that as kids you might have noticed your mom adding certain whole spices and herbs to the food she cooks. One of those happens to be the tej patta. Bay leaves, more commonly known as tej patta are used widely in Indian culinary dishes. Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, this herb is full of essential nutrients and minerals like vitamins A and C as well as folic acid. And if that wasn't enough, it also boasts a variety of health benefits.



From preventing digestive problems to protecting the heart and even acting as a stress buster, these leaves can come to your rescue for multiple health problems. Such are its benefits that diabetics who consumed tej patta reported better insulin levels. A study found that diabetics who consumed bay leaves reported not just lowered glucose levels but also improved cholesterol levels.



For the study, a number of participants were divided into four groups. While three groups consumed 1, 2, or 3 grams of ground bay leaf per day for 30 days, the fourth group consumed placebos. It was found that the three groups that consumed bay leaves had lower glucose levels and improved cholesterol profiles. If you're wondering how you can add bay leaves to your diet, here's what you can try.



Most people tend to use whole bay leaves in their foods, but then the leaf is usually discarded before consuming the food. Because of this, you'll hardly gain any nutritional value from the leaves. The best thing to do is put ground bay leaves in your food or crumble them up and put them in the food. This way you'll get at least some of its nutritional benefits. Stay tuned for more updates.

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