The nutritional value of tej patta can be better understood from the following list of nutrient content available in 100 g of bay leaves:

Tej patta is rich in essential oils and antioxidants, offering several health benefits from promoting digestion to augmenting heart health. It has been used for ages in treating common cold, finding use in both medicinal and culinary forms. Take a look at the different health benefits that this plant has to offer:

Improves Digestion

Tej patta impacts the gastrointestinal system in a positive way by lowering toxicity in the gastric system and avoiding damage to the system. Bay leaves are rich in volatile compounds that soothe IBS or Irritable Bowel System and treat upset stomach.

Adding this spice on a regular basis to your food will enhance the flavour of the dish as well as provide you respite from gastrointestinal infections, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, flatulence and constipation.

Provides Remedy from Respiratory Issues

Tej patta is full of potent antibacterial activities that can effectively fight off bacterial infection and cure various respiratory issues. Tej patta extract is rich in essential oils and poultices from these leaves can be applied topically on the chest overnight to treat respiratory problems.

The phlegm can be loosened up by inhaling the vapour, which also helps ease the congestion in the lungs, improve lung power and overcome breathing problems and asthma symptoms.

Manages Diabetes

Evidence shows that tej patta benefits for diabetes can be experienced if an individual suffering from this chronic disease consumes 1 to 3 grams of this spice extract regularly for 30 days.

Daily consumption of tej patta extract can effectively bring down triglyceride levels, blood glucose levels and cholesterol in individuals with diabetes. The powerful polyphenols present in bay leaves can control the blood sugar level spike and improve insulin function to prevent diabetes in individuals.

Boosts Heart Health

The presence of organic compounds like rutin and caffeic acid in tej patta supports optimising cardiac muscle activity and heart function.

Additionally, bay leaves add strength to the capillary walls, naturally increasing HDL cholesterol levels and lowering LDL cholesterol levels. Tej patta is highly beneficial in helping you avert strokes, heart attacks and other heart-related diseases.

Tej Patta Benefits for Hair

One of the major benefits of tej patta water is that it can be used to wash hair after applying shampoo to get rid of head lice and dandruff. This spice extract contains hair-friendly nutrients that stimulate voluminous hair growth and strengthen hair follicles.

Moreover, it aids in eliminating harmful free radicals, which make hair brittle and weak, resulting in continuous loss of hair. Bay leaves contain essential vitamins for renewing hair cells, promoting hair growth and preventing hair fall.

Combats and Eases Stress

Stress is a common issue that influences the well-being of an individual negatively, and adding tej patta to your every day diet can contribute to managing stress better.

Bay leaves contain the essence of linalool to lower stress hormones in the system, especially during aromatherapy, which can prove quite beneficial in relieving stress. Tej patta also has the potential to calm you down and fight against anxiety and depression.

Potentially Fights Cancer

Studies are being conducted on the anticancer properties of tej patta. The presence of antioxidants and organic compounds like catechins, phytonutrients, parthenolide and linalool help in preventing the effects of cancer-causing free radicals on the body, lowering the risk of colorectal and breast cancer development.

Tej Patta Water for Weight Loss

You can drink tej patta water for weight loss. The natural enzymes present in bay leaves contribute to breaking protein and speeding up digestion and metabolism.

Simply add bay leaves to the water and bring it to a boil. Let the aroma of bay leaves mix with the water and let this water cool down. You can strain the water and drink it empty stomach in the morning by adding some honey to the drink. This simple drink of tej patta water is known to help reduce those extra pounds.

Tej Patta Masala Chai

A fun way to lose weight using tej patta is by preparing this tea. Tej patta chai also helps in regularising bowel movements and lowering cholesterol levels. Moreover, it encourages satiety, curbing your hunger pangs, thereby lowering your calorie intake.

-Ingredients

• 1 cup of milk

• 2 cups of water

• ½ teaspoon of tea leaves

• ½ inch of ginger

• 1 bay leaf (dried)

• Honey (to taste)

-How to Prepare

Step 1: Pour water into a pan and boil it.

Step 2: Add tea leaves and continue to boil the water for up to 5 minutes.

Step 3: Add the bay leaf and ginger slices to this boiling mixture.

Step 4: Pour in the milk and allow the mixture to steep in the milk for 5 minutes.

Step 5: Switch off your stove and strain the tea into a cup, and serve it with some honey for sweetening.

Tej Patta Kadha

Bay leaf is loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols that protect the body from infectious pathogens and lower inflammation. Turmeric fights against viral infections and boosts the immune system, while ginger offers relief from seasonal colds and coughs as well as sore throats.

-Ingredients

• 2 to 3 bay leaves (dried)

• 2 ginger slices

• 1 bark of cinnamon

• 6 pepper balls (black)

• ¼ teaspoon of turmeric

• Honey (to taste)

-How to Prepare

Step 1: Boil water (4 cups) in a pan on low flame.

Step 2: Add the spices and steep for 15 minutes.

Step 3: Make sure the essence of all the spices is completely soaked into the water.

Step 4: Switch off your stove and strain the mixture into a cup. Add honey for taste.

• Use tej patta sparingly, as it offers an assertive flavour.

• Make sure to take the bay leaves out before consuming a drink or serving a dish because tej patta is not meant to be eaten.

• Add tej patta towards the end of the cooking process to get a mild flavour, as its flavour intensifies if you add it towards the starting of your cooking process.

• Store bay leaves in an air-tight container as this spice loses its aroma and flavour if exposed to air for long periods of time.

Some of the tej patta side effects that you may experience are allergic reactions when applied to the skin and sleepiness when taken in large quantities.

Also, tej patta should not be consumed directly as it can lodge in your throat or cause harm to your intestines.

Tej patta is an aromatic spice that is commonly used to provide a savoury flavour to enrich the taste of dishes like biryanis, soups, stews, etc. However, it has also been given much value for ages for the therapeutic benefits it offers. Bay leaves contain antioxidants, iron, Vitamins A and C, magnesium, zinc, calcium and selenium, along with beneficial volatile oils.

Tej patta can effectively bring down your cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels as well as help you manage your weight. Simply, add 2 to 3 bay leaves to your dishes on a regular basis and you will witness a healthy version of yourself in some time.

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Which vitamin is bay leaf rich in?

Bay leaf is loaded with Vitamins A and C, and it also includes minerals like iron, magnesium and calcium.

How to eat tej patta?

It is not recommended that you eat a whole tej patta in its intact form. It is not possible to digest the bay leaf, which is why it remains intact when passing through your digestive system. Consequently, the leaf can either get lodged into your throat or pierce your intestine lining. However, it is safe to eat tej patta in powder or capsule form.

What food is bay leaf good for?

Consuming bay leaf in plain form may not impart any taste, so adding bay leaf to stews, soups or any other slow-simmered food item will bring out the flavour of this spice.

Are bay leaves good for your diet?

Since bay leaves are naturally rich in a variety of minerals and vitamins, adding these leaves to your diet can help improve your body’s immunity and bone health and contribute towards other health benefits mentioned above.

Can tej patta be applied to the skin?

Bay leaves contain Vitamin C, and essential oils made from this spice can be applied on the skin as it contains anti-viral properties. Its wound-healing properties and natural antioxidants eliminate free radicals from the body.

Does bay leaf negatively affect the kidneys?

No, on the contrary, tej patta can improve your kidney health. These leaves act as diuretics to stimulate urination, thereby lowering the toxicity in your body.

Disclaimer: This is a general guide on the Health Benefits of Tej Patta. This article is in no way a substitute for professional medical advice. It should not be treated as health advice. You are advised to consult a qualified health professional in case of health issues in severe forms.