A flavourful spice costing just 6p a serving could help lower your risk of developing certain serious health conditions. Scientific evidence indicates that coriander seeds may aid in decreasing cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
This could subsequently reduce your risk of associated complications such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Coriander seeds, which are also available as ground coriander, feature prominently in numerous dishes including curries and stews.
The findings revealed that rodents consuming the seeds showed reduced levels of « bad » cholesterol, termed low-density lipoprotein, whilst displaying elevated levels of « good » cholesterol – high-density lipoprotein.
The research noted: « The level of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol decreased while that of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased in the experimental group compared to the control group. »
Furthermore, a 2009 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology discovered that coriander seeds – or the herb’s fruit – could effectively lower blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
The study explains: « These results indicate that coriander fruit exhibits gut stimulatory, inhibitory and hypotensive effects mediating possibly through cholinergic, Ca(2+) antagonist and the combination of these mechanisms respectively.
« Diuretic activity adds value to its use in hypertension. »
As a general guide, a healthy total cholesterol level in the blood should be five millimoles per litre (mmol/l) or below. More specifically, high-density lipoprotein levels should be one mmol/l or higher.
Your low-density lipoprotein reading should be four mmol/l or lower. To establish whether you have raised cholesterol levels, your GP will need to perform a blood test.
If you’re worried about your blood pressure, you can keep track of it using a home monitoring device, or ask a pharmacist or GP to check it for you.
Coriander seeds can be added to dishes whole, or purchased pre-ground in powder form. The leaves of the coriander plant are also widely used as a fresh herb in cooking.
At the time of writing, a 36g pack of ground coriander was available at both Sainsbury’s and Tesco for £1.10, equating to approximately 6p per 6g serving.
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