13 Health Benefits of Lemongrass YOU NEED TO KNOW
www.epicnaturalhealth.com/13-health-benefits-of-lemongrass-you-need-to-know/ If you enjoy cooking your own recipes, you may have seen lemongrass floating around in a few of them recently. Although you might be more familiar with it as a candle scent, lemongrass is actually a natural herb that we’ve been using in our cooking for as long as records date back. You’re most likely to find it in sweet teas and Thai dishes, as well as dishes including meat, seafood, and vegetables. It can be tempting to simply cut out lemongrass and other “finicky” ingredients that add flavour but not substance to a dish, but by doing so, you’re really missing out on what the herb has to offer. Found in Asia, Africa and Australia, lemongrass is a fantastic source of nutrients that can help with everything from weight loss to cancer treatment. It’s likely that you’ve tried lemongrass before if you’re a fan of dining out. It’s distinctive for its citrusy, lemony flavour, which is derived from the stalk of the plant. While the flavour won’t overpower your dishes, it gives a tangy kick that’s similar to that of the juice of a lemon or lime. But aside from its delicious flavour, there are so many reasons to incorporate lemongrass into your diet. Stay tuned to listen out for the top 13 health benefits of lemongrass. No1 Boosts immune system and aids in weight loss Lemongrass is a low-calorie herb, which makes it ideal for including in your diet if you’re watching your weight. If you opt for lemongrass tea, you’ll find it a satisfying beverage that fills you up, keeping you fuller for longer and making you less likely to reach for a sugary snack instead. Because it’s also a natural diuretic, over time, lemongrass will help you to lose some water weight. Lemongrass contains polyphenols, a category of compounds found in lots of plant foods, that we know to increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation. Both of these contribute to weight loss. There’s even some evidence to suggest that lemongrass may be able to boost metabolism and directly assist in weight loss. No2 Kills cancer cells A recent study has found that lemongrass contains a number of important antioxidants, which may be able to fight off free radicals in the body. Free radicals attack cells, damaging them and causing them to divide unnaturally, which can eventually lead to cancer. It’s thought that lemongrass may be able to not only fight off the cancer-causing free radicals in your body – and therefore inhibiting the early stages of cancer, especially that of the liver – but it may also induce cell death in cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. Even more interestingly, some studies have also shown how lemongrass extracts might be effective as a nontoxic alternative to cancer treatment. Research in this area is still lacking, but it’s promising to think that we may be able to naturally treat cancer with lemongrass one day. No3 Improves digestion Finding a natural remedy for stomach cramping and other digestive issues can be difficult. Luckily, lemongrass is a solution that actually works for the majority of people. It has a number of anti-inflammatory properties that make it ideal for settling the stomach and aiding in digestion. A component called citral, found in lemongrass, helps food to digest quickly and effectively, which is why lemongrass tea is favoured as an after-dinner drink. No4 Cures stomach disorders We’ve talked about lemongrass for digestion, and on a similar note, studies have also shown that lemongrass can help to cure stomach disorders and treat gastric ulcers. Impressively, research suggests that lemongrass can play a big part in fighting the infections caused by various harmful pathogens. It’s also effective in preventing gastrointestinal disorders and reducing inflammation, which may help relieve pain from gastric ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, nausea and stomach aches. No5 Treats cough and cold symptoms There are many natural remedies out there for coughs and colds, but none quite so effective as lemongrass. Because lemongrass is a natural immunity booster, it might help you to ward off coughs and colds in the first place. But if you do find yourself feeling under the weather,
