8 Surprising Health Benefits of Bay Leaves

Bay leaves are more than just a seasoning for soups. They are packed with nutrients that can help your body in many ways. They are known to boost digestion, reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and even manage blood sugar.

What Are Bay Leaves?

You might see many leaves called “bay leaves,” but the real one is called Laurus nobilis. This is the leaf with all the health benefits. The plant is a small tree that originally came from the Mediterranean. People have been using these leaves for thousands of years, all the way back to the Roman times.

While people often add the whole leaf to a dish for flavor, they usually remove it before eating. The extracts from the leaves have a lot of medicinal uses. They’re also popular in aromatherapy and in herbal remedies for skin and breathing problems.

Benefits of Bay Leaves

It’s clear these leaves are powerful. Let’s look at what they can do for you.

1. Help with Digestion

Bay leaves have a strong effect on your digestive system. They can act as a diuretic, helping your body get rid of toxins. They can also calm an upset stomach and soothe issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The unique enzymes in the leaves help your body break down proteins. This helps you get more nutrients from your food.

2. Treat Breathing Issues

The essential oil from bay leaves can be a big help for respiratory problems. You can mix it into a salve and rub it on your chest. Or, you can make a poultice from the leaves and leave it on overnight. The vapor can loosen up phlegm and fight off bad bacteria in your lungs. It’s a great natural remedy.

3. Improve Hair Health

Want to get rid of dandruff and improve your hair? Just steep some bay leaves in water. Then, rub the water on your scalp after you shampoo. The ingredients in the leaves can help to get rid of dry skin and dandruff.

4. Reduce Inflammation

This is one of the most important benefits. Bay leaves contain a special nutrient called parthenolide. When you put it on a sore area, like a joint, it can quickly reduce inflammation. You can also get this effect just by eating the leaves in your food.

5. Protect Your Heart

Bay leaves contain two important compounds: caffeic acid and rutin. Rutin helps to make the walls of your heart and blood vessels stronger. Caffeic acid helps get rid of bad cholesterol from your body.

6. Fight Cancer

Bay leaves have a special mix of antioxidants and other compounds. These help to protect your body from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause healthy cells to become cancerous. Bay leaves are particularly good at preventing this.

7. Lower Anxiety & Stress

The compound linalool is in bay leaves. It can help lower the level of stress hormones in your body, especially when used in aromatherapy. Too much stress can be bad for your health over time. Bay leaves can help you relax.

8. Manage Diabetes

Bay leaves have been directly linked to better insulin function and blood sugar control. If you’re at risk for diabetes or already have it, eating bay leaves regularly can help lower the chance of diabetic episodes.

A Quick Warning Just make sure you’re using real bay leaves from the laurel tree. Some other plants are called “bay leaves” but can be toxic. Also, while allergies are rare, contact dermatitis and eczema have been reported. If you’re allergic to other plants in the Lauraceae family, you might be allergic to bay leaves too.