Let’s break down the difference between coriander & cilantro; people might need clarification on coriander & cilantro. Coriander & cilantro belong to the same plant ‘‘Coriandum Sativum’’, but are distant in taste and uses and have different nutritional ratios. Coriander refers to dried seeds, whereas cilantro refers to the fresh leaves and stalk of the plant. Coriander & cilantro are the ‘‘gift of happiness’’ for Egyptians and a ‘‘gift of god’’ for Hippocrates. The list of miracles coriander and cilantro do is worth considering both nutritionally and medicinally. At the global level, the fresh leaves of this herb are known as coriander leaves, and the seeds are known as coriander seeds.
CORIANDER & CILANTRO IN THE CULINARY WORLD:
Coriander & cilantro are known in the culinary world for their unremarkable contribution to food taste development. Coriander is ground and used as a spice to add an exclusive flavour to the food, and if used after being roasted on low-medium flame, it can magically enhance the aroma. Cilantro is used to make a sauce known as ‘chutney’ (a blended sauce of cilantro leaves, lemon, green chillies, garlic, and mint leaves), the perfect to-go sauce for every Middle Eastern lunch. This sauce adds taste to your table and is a game changer when garnished at the end of the dish, giving out a perfect finish like an unsung hero.
CORIANDER & CILANTRO IN NUTRITIONAL WORLD:
Coriander & cilantro are components of the same plant, but they have different magnificent roles regarding their nutritional and medicinal values. Let’s break down the nutritional difference between coriander and cilantro:
Coriander (dried seeds)
The dried coriander seeds are golden round-shaped pearls known for their nutritional benefits. They contain proteins, fats, carbohydrates, Iron, Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium, Potassium, and many other minerals. In addition to these minerals, these seeds are rich in the supply of Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B3 complex, as well as Vitamin C and Vitamin D (D2+ D3).
- These seeds are the hub of promoting healthy bodily activities, are immunity boosters, and have antioxidant properties.
- Help reduce blood sugar levels.
- The presence of Vitamin A and C is responsible for its immune-booster activity and helps promote healthy skin.
- Coriander seeds also consist of dietary fibres that help in promoting smooth bowel movement.
- Coriander seeds are also suitable for maintaining cholesterol levels in our body.
- The presence of Zn helps maintain healthy enzymatic activity in the body.
- Iron and copper promote healthy blood cell production.
Cilantro (fresh leaves and stalk)
Cilantro refers to fresh, vibrant leaves with a captivating fragrance of 11 essential oils, volatile components, linoleic acid, minerals, and vitamins. The following are the nutritional benefits of cilantro:
- Many studies have shown that cilantro leaves have anti-bacterial properties and help reduce food poison-causing bacteria.
- Cilantro leaves are known to be effective in promoting healthy vision due to the presence of vitamin A.
- These leaves contain a rich quantity of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which help fortify bones. They are also known for their anti-inflammatory properties, which protect bones from arthritis.
- These leaves promote healthy skin, containing Iron and vitamins A and C.
- Dietary fibres in cilantro leaves promote healthy gut and bowel movement.
- These may reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing the (LDL) levels in the blood and maintaining a healthy level of (HDL), promoting healthy circulation.
Coriander and its use in remedies:
The chemical composition of coriander is also responsible for its heroic properties in treating many health conditions traditionally. It is used in traditional remedies to treat bed colds, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. The bioactive components make them physible to cure body aches and rheumatism. Many studies have been done in past decades on the physiochemical properties of coriander. These studies have concluded that coriander seeds and herbs benefit health by having anti-microbial, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and anxiolytic activities.