16 EXCELLENT HEALTH BENEFITS OF LAUREL - NUTRITION - 2025

The health benefits of laurel range from fighting bacteria, helping with digestive problems, relieving respiratory problems, stopping tumor cell growth and more that, based on scientific studies, you will learn about below.

The bay leaf comes from a tree that grows between five and ten meters in height, its growth rate is quite slow and it is suitable for sandy, clayey and heavy soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light forests) or without shade. This type of plant can tolerate strong winds, but cannot be exposed to the elements of the sea.

Fresh bay leaves are strongly aromatic, but also quite bitter, although with a proper drying procedure the bitterness is significantly reduced and the flavor improves.

High-quality bay leaves are easily recognizable not only by their strong aroma, but also by their bright green color. The greener the color, the better the quality.

This herb is highly resistant to pests and diseases, which is why it is used as an insect repellent and also protects nearby plants from the presence of these elements.

Bay leaf became a popular spice in Roman cuisine, and later in Western countries, being used in soups, stews, sauces, pickles, and sausages. Various fish dishes benefit greatly from bay leaves. In contrast to most spices, these can be cooked for a long time without losing much of their aroma.

Health benefits of laurel

1- Fight fungi

Researchers at the Federal University of Paraíba in Brazil, carried out a study to demonstrate the effectiveness of bay oil as a fungal killer, especially candida, and at the end of their study they were able to demonstrate its antifungal activity.

2- Lowers cholesterol

Italian scientists conducted research to test the benefits of using bay leaf in meals, and their results underscore that dietary treatment with bay leaves lowers cholesterol.

In this list you can find other good foods to lower cholesterol.

3- Stops the growth of tumor cells

A team from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Calabria in Italy, carried out a study to see if the essential oils of some spices, including bay leaf, could be effective in the process of inhibiting tumor cells. Scientists concluded that they can slow growth.

In this article you can find other foods to prevent cancer.

4- Fight bacteria

The University of Monastiren in Tunisia conducted a study to investigate the chemical composition and antibacterial effectiveness of laurel essential oils.

The results suggest that laurel is able to inhibit bacteria quite effectively, so it could have, for example, a promising role in the prevention of oral diseases.

5- Helps with digestive problems

Bay leaves have been used in folk medicine to treat diarrhea, however their effectiveness had not been proven, until researchers from the Hashemite University in Jordan conducted a study in which they demonstrated their effectiveness in treating diseases of the tract digestive.

6- Treatment for dermatitis

Laurel appears to have been traditionally used to treat skin conditions, although without any scientific basis. In 2013, researchers from Seoul National University suggested in a study that bay leaves might be effective in treating dermatitis.

7- Powerful gastric protector

A study carried out at the University of Bologna in Italy, evaluated the effectiveness of the gastric protection of bay leaves and obtained positive results, since thanks to the application of extracts of this herb, gastric damage was significantly reduced.

8- Benefits in type 2 diabetes treatments

Bay leaves had previously been shown to improve insulin function but human research had not yet been conducted until the Beltsville Center for Human Nutrition Research in the United States conducted a study to determine whether bay leaves they can be important in treating type 2 diabetes.

Study results revealed that bay leaves lowered glucose in people with type 2 diabetes, however they suggest further research to confirm these findings.

9- Relief for respiratory problems

At the University of Okayama in Japan, a study was carried out to verify the effectiveness of the essential oil of laurel in some problems of respiratory origin, obtaining as a result the relief of respiratory conditions when applied in the form of a balm and rubbed on the chest.

Also, thanks to the antibacterial qualities already mentioned, it appears that inhaling laurel vapors can loosen phlegm and eliminate dangerous bacteria that get trapped in the airways.

10- It can have an anticonvulsant effect

Bay leaf essential oil has traditionally been used as an antiepileptic remedy in traditional Iranian medicine.

For that reason, the University of Tehran evaluated the anticonvulsant activity of this spice through a study that concluded that it does protect against seizures that were induced by electroshock. Despite these positive indicators, further studies are required.

11- Useful for the treatment of pancreatitis

In the Department of Medical Sciences of the University of Ciudad Juárez in Mexico, the properties of laurel essential oil for the treatment of pancreatitis were studied, yielding very promising results.

12- Helps improve testicular functions

Due to the properties that this species possesses, several researchers in Nigeria studied the benefits of laurel to help improve testicular function and suggest that it is useful for these types of treatments.

13- Effective mosquito repellent

A study carried out in 2005 identified the insecticidal activity of several essential spices, including bay leaf, proving to be effective as a repellent against mosquito bites.

14- Improves the conditions of Alzheimer's patients

In order to present an alternative and natural approach, studies were conducted in Italy and Germany that sought to measure the performance of bay leaves in Alzheimer's patients. The results allowed us to observe the powerful efficacy of the extracts of these leaves in reducing the neurodegeneration caused by this disease.

15- It is antidepressant

Laurel has been used in traditional Mexican medicine to alleviate diseases related to the central nervous system, for that reason several universities in the same country carried out a study in which they were able to verify that the essential oil of laurel has antidepressant properties.

16- Rich source of vitamins and minerals

Vitamin C

Fresh bay leaves provide 46.5 mg or 77.5% of the daily requirement for every 100 grams of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is an antioxidant, immune stimulant, helps healing, and is antiviral.

Folic acid

They contain approximately 180 mg or 45% of the recommended values ​​daily per 100 grams. Folic acid is used to treat anemia, reduce strokes, reduce heart disease, improve fertility, among others.

Vitamin A

Laurel contains 206% of the recommended daily levels per 100 grams of vitamin A, a natural antioxidant that improves night vision. It is also important for the maintenance of the mucosa and the health of the skin.

Laurel is a rich source of other vitamins such as pantothenic acid, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and niacin. This group of B complex vitamins helps regulate metabolism and the good function of the nervous system.

This noble spice also contains minerals such as manganese, potassium, iron, copper, calcium, zinc, selenium and zinc.

Potassium is an important component of cells and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Iron is essential in the production of red blood cells.

Contraindications

Bay leaves are generally very safe when given short-term, but used for very long periods can be unsafe.

If the whole leaf is consumed, there is a risk that it remains lodged in the throat, of having difficulties to pass to the digestive tract, or of causing intestinal ailments.

Overuse of this herb could interfere with blood sugar control, so you should have medical supervision if you have diabetes and use bay leaf as a medicine.

It is recommended to stop using bay leaf at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Caution should be exercised when obtaining bay leaves, as bay leaves are often toxic to humans if used accidentally.

Nutritional information

A serving of (100 grams) of bay leaf contains:

• 313 kilocalories of energy (15.5 percent DV)
• 74.97 grams of carbohydrates (57 percent DV)
• 7.61 grams of protein (13 percent DV)
• 8.36 grams of total fat (29 percent DV)
• 26.3 grams of dietary fiber (69 percent DV)
• 180 micrograms folates (45 percent DV)
• 2,005 milligrams niacin (12.5 percent DV)
• 1,740 milligrams of pyridoxine (133 percent DV)
• 0.421 milligrams riboflavin (32 percent DV)
• 6185 IU vitamin A (206 percent DV)
• 46.5 milligrams vitamin C (77.5 percent DV)
• 23 milligrams sodium (1.5 percent DV)
• 529 milligrams potassium (11 percent DV)
• 834 milligrams calcium (83 percent DV)
• 0.416 milligrams copper (46 percent DV)
• 43 milligrams iron (537 percent DV)
• 120 milligrams magnesium (30 percent DV)
• 8,167 milligrams manganese (355 percent DV)
• 113 milligrams phosphorus (16 percent DV)
• 2.8 micrograms selenium (5 percent DV)
• 3.70 milligrams zinc (33 percent DV)

Fun facts

1. The laurel has been used to flavor food since the times of the ancient Greeks.
2. Caution should be exercised when obtaining bay leaves, as bay leaves are often toxic to humans if used accidentally.
3. In ancient Greece and Rome this herb was used for winners' crowns. The champions of the Olympic games wore laurel wreaths.
4. The word "baccalaureate" comes from "laurel berries" and means successful completion of studies.
5. One way to identify bay leaf is to rub the leaf and smell the characteristic sweet aromatic tone.
6. Although native to the rocky shores of the Mediterranean, laurel is surprisingly easy to grow in the Pacific Northwest.
7. Bay leaf is one of mankind's oldest spices used to add flavor and aroma to food.
8. Turkey is one of the main exporters of bay leaves along with countries such as France, Belgium, and Italy.
9. Some people belonging to the Elizabethan era believed that pinning bay leaves to the pillow on the eve of Valentine's Day helped them see their future spouse in dreams.
10. In legends, the laurel is considered as the tree of the Sun god, under the celestial sign of Leo.

Recipes

Beet and bay soup

It is an easy recipe to prepare and can be a special starter for your meals.

Ingredients:

• 4 large beets
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 4 cups of vegetable broth
• 5 bay leaves, halved
• 1 pinch of ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ black pepper to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 pinch of ground cumin
• 1 pinch of dried tarragon

Preparation

• Preheat the oven to 190ºC.
• Wrap the beets in aluminum foil.
• Bake the beets for about 1 hour, until soft.
• Let cool and then peel off the skin and cut into small pieces.
• Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat, and place the onion, garlic porridge and garlic until the first is translucent, for about 5 minutes.
• Pour in the vegetable broth, and mix with the beets, bay leaves, cinnamon, salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, cumin and tarragon.
• Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until flavors are well blended (20-25 minutes).
• Put the mixture in parts in the blender and add the liquid that is necessary to make the puree. Once done, add to the mixture again.