This flavorful herb is for more than just soup!
Amongst your dried spices, your kitchen pantry likely has bay leaves. Bay leaves are used widely in cooking, and called for in a variety of soups and sauces. We know they turn the bland and boring into delicious, edible meals, but do bay leaves do anything more?
Stay curious with Proven4! Although our products stick with tried and true formulations to fuel your fitness, we always love exploring ways to take our training to the next level! Explore bay leaves and how they may play a role in your wellness.
Beyond Food
There are so many items sitting in your kitchen right now that play double agents both in cooking and wellness — there’s turmeric, garlic, oregano, etc., but have you ever considered bay leaves?
Bay leaves are available whole and fresh, but they most commonly come dried or ground into a powder.
While using bay leaves for cooking is a staple, there are many unverified claims about bay leaves with varying degrees of proven effectiveness as related to our health. Let’s explore the potential benefits bay leaves may have in supporting our health.
Inflammation Balance
Bay leaves may support inflammation balance in our bodies as a result of more than 80 compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, in addition to a wide array of phytochemicals and flavonoids.
Blood Sugar Balance
Bay leaves may play a role in promoting healthy and balanced blood sugar levels when taken regularly. It was also observed that LDL cholesterol levels decreased in participants who added bay leaves into their daily regimen.
Digestion Support
Bay leaves contain a variety of organic compounds and enzymes that help soothe upset stomachs, defend against kidney stones, ease bloating and gas, and provide other digestive support to enhance the digestion process and improve nutrient absorption.
Heart Health
From potassium to iron, bay leaves are abundant in minerals that support your health. Potassium plays a major role in healthy blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, thus protecting and promoting overall heart health.
Immune Support
Need a little extra boost of vitamin C or vitamin A? If you’re tired of taking pills, why not try getting some added immune support through bay leaves? Steep a bay leaf tea or add some ground bay leaves to your meals for additional support.
Incorporating Bay Leaves
To get the most out of bay leaves for your wellness, try a couple of these uses.
Make a bay leaf tea – It’s simple — drop a few whole, dried leaves in and let it steep for 10 minutes, or, mix dried, ground bay leaf into hot water.
Essential oil diffusion – Grab a bay leaf essential oil and diffuse it to promote immune health.
Use it in food – Beyond soups and sauces, sprinkle ground bay leaves like salt to flavor your meals, or add them to homemade salad dressings, savory baking dishes, etc.
Take a capsule – Go to your local health food store or vitamin shop and try bay leaf in a capsule. Always use as directed on the label and consult your doctor before you begin taking it.
Are You Ready to Try Bay Leaves?
Bay leaves support a myriad of health concerns and may promote immune and heart health and blood sugar and inflammation balance in our bodies. If you try it out, let us know what you think in the comments!
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