Curry Leaves: 10 powerful health benefits, medicinal uses and how to consume them
Rich in essential oils, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, curry leaves are a potent natural remedy for ailments ranging from diabetes and infections to hair fall and indigestion.
Are curry leaves good for you? Nutritional value and health benefits
Curry leaves are low in calories yet remarkably rich in nutrients, making them a valuable addition to a balanced diet. Just 100 grams of curry leaves provide approximately 830 mg of calcium, which supports bone and dental health. They also contain 57 mg of phosphorus and 44 mg of magnesium, minerals essential for maintaining strong bones, muscle function, and metabolic processes.
With 6.4 grams of dietary fibre and 6.1 grams of protein, curry leaves aid digestion and contribute to muscle repair and immune function.
Additionally, they are a great source of micronutrients, offering 7560 µg of carotene (a precursor to vitamin A for eye and skin health) and 4 mg of vitamin C, known for its antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. This nutrient-dense profile explains why curry leaves are highly regarded in both culinary and medicinal traditions.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
The Most Successful Way of Intraday Trading is "Market Profile"
TradeWise
Learn More
Undo
10 amazing health benefits of curry leaves
Curry leaves for diabetes
management
Curry leaves contain carbazole alkaloids and antioxidants that exhibit hypoglycaemic effects. According to a
study
, these compounds can enhance insulin activity and reduce blood glucose levels. Curry leaves also slow the breakdown of starch into glucose, supporting stable blood sugar. Consume fresh leaves on an empty stomach or add them to herbal teas or juice.
Hair and scalp health
Curry leaves are rich in beta-carotene and proteins that strengthen hair follicles, reduce hair fall, and delay premature greying.
Their antifungal and antibacterial properties also help fight dandruff and scalp infections. Boil curry leaves in coconut oil, cool, strain, and massage into your scalp weekly.
Promotes digestion and gut health
Traditionally used to treat diarrhoea and nausea, curry leaves have carminative and anti-dysenteric properties. They stimulate digestive enzymes and reduce bloating and flatulence. Chew a few fresh leaves with a drop of honey or add them to meals daily.
Aids in weight management
The leaves act as a natural detoxifier, flushing out toxins and improving fat metabolism. A
study
found that mahanimbine, an alkaloid in curry leaves, reduces LDL cholesterol and body fat. Boil 30-40 curry leaves with mint, cinnamon, and lemon. Strain and add honey and sip it warm.
Prevents anaemia
Curry leaves are a good plant-based source of iron and folic acid, both essential for red blood cell production. Regular consumption may help combat symptoms of anaemia like fatigue and weakness.
Boosts eye health
Packed with vitamin A and beta-carotene, curry leaves help protect the retina and prevent conditions like dry eyes, night blindness, and macular degeneration.
Strengthens immunity and fights infections
Their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties protect against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Studies show curry leaves may be effective against E. coli and Candida albicans.
Supports heart health
Curry leaves contain antioxidants that lower oxidative stress and protect the heart.
Mahanimbine, found in the leaves, helps reduce cholesterol, prevent plaque formation, and regulate blood pressure. It supports cardiac muscle health and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Cognitive and neurological benefits
Bioactive compounds in curry leaves are believed to protect brain cells by reducing oxidative damage. Some animal studies suggest potential neuroprotective benefits in conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia, thanks to enhanced levels of glutathione and SOD enzymes in the brain.
Respiratory relief
With expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties, curry leaves can ease symptoms of bronchitis, sinusitis, and sore throats. They help clear mucus from the respiratory tract and soothe irritation.
How to consume curry leaves daily
Chew them raw on an empty stomach: One of the easiest and most effective ways to benefit from curry leaves is by chewing 5–10 fresh leaves first thing in the morning. This can help regulate blood sugar, boost digestion, and support detoxification.
Drink curry leaf juice: Blend 30–40 fresh curry leaves with a little water, lemon juice, and honey for a cleansing and metabolism-boosting morning tonic. You can also add mint or cinnamon for added benefits.
Brew as herbal tea: Boil curry leaves with tulsi, ginger, and a pinch of cinnamon to make an immunity-boosting tea. Drink this warm to help with respiratory health, digestion, and fatigue.
Use dried powder in food or remedies: Dry the leaves in shade and grind into a fine powder. Add this to chutneys, spice blends, or tooth powders for antioxidant support, oral hygiene, and gut health.
Add to meals daily: Incorporate curry leaves into your dals, sambars, tempering (tadka), or stir-fried dishes. Cooking with them regularly enhances both flavour and nutrition.
Use in DIY hair oil: Boil curry leaves in coconut oil until the leaves turn crisp. Cool and strain the oil, then massage into the scalp weekly to reduce dandruff, hair fall, and greying.
Curry leaves may be small, but their benefits are mighty. Whether you're managing blood sugar, improving digestion, or caring for your skin and hair, incorporating these aromatic leaves into your daily diet can make a lasting impact on your health. Backed by both tradition and science, curry leaves are truly nature's multi-tasking herb.
Also Read:
5 everyday foods you should never feed your child, according to science
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
12 minutes ago
- India Today
Can an Indian version of Mediterranean diet protect your heart? AIIMS finds out
Doctors and researchers are testing a new diet plan designed especially for Indians suffering from heart by the popular Mediterranean diet, this Indian-adapted version could be a way to offer simple, local, and effective strategies to protect the heart, especially at a time when India faces a high burden of cardiovascular Indian Adapted Mediterranean Diet (IAMD) is now in its third phase of testing through a clinical trial involving 140 patients at the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, and funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).advertisement Developed by experts at AIIMS and The George Institute for Global Health, with help from researchers in the US, the diet uses Indian ingredients to recreate the health benefits of the original Mediterranean diet, known for its heart-protective and anti-inflammatory details of the IAMD have been published in the peer-reviewed journal BMC THIS DIET MATTERSCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and one of the leading causes of death in India. CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrow or blocked due to plaque buildup (sticky, waxy substances made of cholesterol, fat, calcium, protein in the blood or even waste products from cells).This can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and even heart risk factors contribute to CAD like poor diet, lack of physical activity, obesity, and family history. Multiple studies show that changing the way we eat can lower the risk and help prevent future heart problems. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and one of the leading causes of death in India. () 'The first phase was about the development of the diet,' Dr. Ambuj Roy, professor of cardiology at AIIMS Delhi, who is leading the trial, told 'We explored what the Mediterranean diet is and whether we could create equivalents within the food constraints here in India, while retaining its anti-inflammatory properties.'ADAPTING THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET FOR INDIAThe traditional Mediterranean diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, olive oil, and herbs like rosemary and thyme. These foods are linked with lower rates of heart disease and better overall for Indian patients, eating olives and fava beans isn't practical, or affordable. That's why the researchers created a local version of the diet using ingredients easily found in Indian of farro and bulgur, they used broken whole wheat and Basmati rice. Mustard and peanut oil replaced extra virgin olive oil. Herbs like tulsi (holy basil), ajwain (carom seeds), turmeric, and nutmeg were used in place of Mediterranean vegetables were swapped thoughtfully. 'We supplemented green leafy vegetables with Indian greens like bathua, chaulai, fenugreek, and radish leaves,' said Dr. Suparna Ghosh Jerath, a nutrition researcher at The George Institute and part of the IAMD THE DIET PLANSThe team from The George Institute didn't just stop at picking the ingredients. They built detailed seven-day diet plans that matched the calorie needs of different people. These included five calorie options: 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, and 2000 kcal diet was split into six meals a day - three main meals and three smaller ones. Meals were built to balance nutrients, with 15% from proteins, 25–30% from fats, and 50–53% from carbohydrates. The traditional Mediterranean diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, olive oil, and herbs like rosemary and thyme. ( advertisement"We developed 7-day diet plans tailored to each individual's calorie needs and gave them these meal plans. For now, we are experimenting with North Indian cuisine. As you know, food habits change every 100 kilometres in India. So, we do plan to extend this to other parts of the country—South Indian, Eastern, and Western cuisines," Dr. Roy researchers provided a detailed matrix representing recommendations for the Mediterranean Diet, the Indian counterparts, their availability and acceptability, and the adaptations based on the North Indian food environment. Except for quinoa, cannellini, and fava beans, the whole grains and legumes found in the MD were also present in North Indian whole wheat and local rice varieties (Basmati) were substituted for bulgur and farro, respectively, and maize flour was added instead of virgin olive oil was partially replaced with the more culturally acceptable and available mustard and peanut oils. Some condiments and spices in the MD, like thyme, rosemary, and marjoram, were supplemented with other herbs and condiments used in Indian cuisine, such as Indian basil (tulsi), carom seeds (ajwain), turmeric (haldi), Nutmeg (jaiphal) and mace (javitri).advertisementSimilarly, the green leafy vegetable list was supplemented with Chenopodium Album (Bathua), amaranthus viridis (Chaulai), fenugreek leaves (methi), and radish leaves (mooli ke patte).The team has already applied for grants to expand this work into other regions of INFLAMMATION WITH DII SCORESThe researchers also used a scientific tool called the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), pioneered by Dr. James Hebert of the University of South Carolina, to check how much inflammation each diet could cause or plays a big role in heart disease, and diets that reduce inflammation can help protect the heart. Inflammation plays a big role in heart disease, and diets that reduce inflammation can help protect the heart. () Most Indian diets studied in CAD patients had DII scores between -1.8 and 3.8, with a median score of 1.1, which is slightly pro-inflammatory. The adapted Mediterranean diet, however, scored between -7.8 and -8.4, which is strongly anti-inflammatory.'We tried to make the recipes highly anti-inflammatory by including foods known for such properties,' said Dr. Jerath. 'For example, if we prepare dal and add garlic tadka and spices, it becomes more anti-inflammatory because of the properties of these ingredients.'advertisementMAKING THE DIET PRACTICAL AND AFFORDABLEA common worry about healthy diets is affordability. Many believe that plant-based diets rich in nuts, seeds, and oils are too expensive for the average Indian household.'When we talk about nuts and oils, there's a perception that this kind of diet is for the rich. But we've tried to divide the portions and design recipes in a way that even people from humble backgrounds can follow," Dr. Jerath added that it's not just about copying the Mediterranean diet, but making it culturally relevant and accessible. 'We didn't just copy the Mediterranean diet. We looked at Indian equivalents like whole grains and pulses and built from there.'FROM HOSPITALS TO HOMESThis study isn't just about feeding hospital patients. The researchers hope to eventually promote these diets at a community level.'We need to engage with community health workers and create an impact once we find that it's effective,' said Dr. Jerath. 'We focus on promoting traditional diets, especially in rural areas, things like consuming unpolished rice, whole grains, vegetables from kitchen gardens, and using natural farming methods.'She added that people have moved away from home-cooked food and rely more on processed food from the market. This shift has contributed to poor health HAPPENS NEXTCurrently, the third phase of the trial is underway at AIIMS Delhi. So far, 115 patients have been recruited. The plan is to recruit a total of 140 patients, who will be followed for six months. While the study is not large enough to test for major heart health outcomes, it is designed to measure dietary changes, anti-inflammatory effects, and improvements in health underway, the results from this trial could help shape future dietary guidelines for patients with heart disease and encourage more widespread adoption of healthier eating habits rooted in traditional Indian Dr. Roy summed it up, "It's not just the ingredients that matter, but the quantity, portion, intensity, and lifestyle factors that come with it."- Ends
Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
Cardiac arrest in a 9-year-old? Rajasthan girl collapses while opening lunchbox, dies within minutes. Doctors suspect this...
In a deeply heartbreaking incident from Rajasthan's Sikar district, a nine-year-old girl tragically collapsed and died at school, reportedly of a cardiac arrest. The child, identified as Prachi Kumawat, was a Class 4 student at Adarsh Vidya Mandir in Danta-Ramgarh. According to a TOI report, Prachi was opening her tiffin during the school's lunch break on Tuesday morning when she suddenly fainted in the classroom. It was around 11 am, and all the students were seated and eating when the incident occurred. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence Digital Marketing Product Management MBA others MCA Degree healthcare Others Finance Technology Healthcare PGDM Design Thinking CXO Data Science Leadership Data Analytics Cybersecurity Data Science Public Policy Management Project Management Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details "She was just opening her lunch" School principal Nand Kishore said Prachi had just started to open her lunchbox when she collapsed without warning. Alarmed classmates alerted the staff, who rushed to her aid and immediately took her to Danta-Ramgarh Government Hospital. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Doctors there administered CPR, oxygen, and emergency medication to revive the child. While there was a moment of hope, she was soon referred to SK Hospital in Sikar for more advanced treatment. However, on the way, her condition deteriorated further. The principal said she went into shock while being moved to the ambulance, and by the time they reached the hospital, she was declared dead on arrival. No pulse, no blood pressure Dr Subhash Verma of Danta-Ramgarh hospital confirmed that Prachi was unconscious, not breathing, and had no detectable pulse or blood pressure when brought in. He added, 'Her heart had stopped by the time we examined her.' Live Events While no post-mortem examination was carried out, both the school authorities and the treating doctors suggested it was likely a cardiac arrest, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed. Prachi was cremated on Wednesday. Her family, devastated by the sudden loss, has not issued any statement. Incidents of young children suffering heart attacks are rare but not unheard of, raising concerns over early cardiac issues in younger age groups. The entire school community, shaken by the tragedy, held a short memorial in her honour. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
KUHS declares 2025 BSc Nursing results for multiple semesters at kuhs.ac.in
KUHS announces BSc Nursing June and May 2025 results online at KUHS BSc Nursing Result 2025: Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) has declared the 2025 examination results for multiple BSc Nursing degree programmes. The results were officially released on July 17, 2025, and are now available on the university's website — Students who appeared for these examinations can check their marksheets online by entering their hall ticket or registration number. The latest release includes the results for the Fourth Year BSc Nursing Degree Supplementary Examinations held in June 2025, the Sixth Semester BSc Nursing Degree Special Supplementary Examinations conducted in May 2025, and the Fifth Semester BSc Nursing Degree Regular and Supplementary Examinations, also held in May 2025. These results apply to students enrolled in the 2021 scheme and other applicable schemes. KUHS has provided course-specific result links on its portal to enable easy access to individual scorecards. Other results declared earlier this week In addition to the nursing results released on July 17, KUHS had earlier declared results for several other undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. On July 16, 2025, the university published the results for the First Year BPharm Degree (S) Examinations conducted in June 2025 under the 2010 and 2012 schemes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Learn More Undo It also released the results for the Third Year Pharm D Degree Supplementary Examinations held in May 2025. Students from the pharmacy and pharmaceutical science streams can now view and download their respective marksheets through the official website. Furthermore, on July 15, 2025, the Second Year MPT Degree Supplementary Examinations results were announced. These examinations were conducted in June 2025 for students pursuing postgraduate studies in physiotherapy. All results are available online and can be downloaded directly from the KUHS results portal. How to check KUHS UG and PG results 2025 online Students can follow these steps to check and download their marksheets from the official KUHS website: Step 1: Visit the KUHS official website at Step 2: Click on the 'Results' section available on the homepage Step 3: Select the course and examination from the displayed list Step 4: Enter your registration number or hall ticket number in the input field Step 5: View your result and download the marksheet for future use Direct link to check and download the KUHS result 2025 Direct result links and verification KUHS has published direct links for each declared result to simplify access for students. These links allow candidates to download their individual scorecards without navigating through multiple pages. Students are advised to verify the course title, semester, scheme, and examination month before downloading their marksheets. Any discrepancies must be reported immediately to the university's examination office for correction. KUHS continues to update its results section and recommends students check the portal regularly for future announcements. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
