How Coriander Helps Promote a Healthy Lifestyle

Coriander and Chronic Disease

Coriander seeds and the leaves (cilantro) contain a number of bioactive components that help combat chronic diseases.

Coriander and Cancer

The biggest risk associated with cancer is its capacity to spread beyond the initial location to other regions of the body. This is known as metastasis or stage 4 cancer. (1) Survival rates at this stage are extremely low, often as low as <1%. Test tube studies of coriander seeds showed that extracts of the seeds inhibited growth of breast, lung, colon, gastric, and prostate cancers. Limiting growth reduces the chance that the cancer can spread to other regions, as the tumor must grow to a significant point at which it can invade other tissues. (2)

  • This benefit of coriander and cilantro is mostly due to the polyphenol quercetin. Quercetin has powerful antioxidant properties that protect your cells from damage. Quercetin consumption has been shown to inhibit growth of all the previously mentioned cancers. (3)

How Coriander Prevents Cardiovascular Disease

Currently, most cardiovascular benefits associated with coriander consumption have been observed in animal models, but the results are promising.

  • Coriander consumption in animal studies showed a reduction in total cholesterol as well as LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. (4) Maintaining low levels of LDL cholesterol is important, as it can get stuck on your arterial walls and block blood flow. (5)
    • This problem can be further exacerbated by a process called oxidation. Presence of oxidated LDL cholesterol is a strong sign of atherosclerosis, a precursor to a heart attack. Coriander consumption has been shown to prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol. (6)

Coriander and Alzheimer's

Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease with no one direct cause. Currently, most research is devoted to slowing the onset and progression of the disease. Coriander contains a powerful plant compound, known as linalool, with great neuroprotective characteristics. Animal studies have shown that mice given linalool extract displayed improved memory, spatial awareness, and reductions in biomarkers of Alzheimer’s, making coriander a promising source for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s. (7)

Coriander Promotes a Number of Benefits

How Coriander Eases Digestion

Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS) is a major issue in America that is rapidly increasing in frequency. Coriander has long been used in traditional medicine to ease upset stomach. One study showed that a group taking a supplement containing coriander improved in a number of symptoms of IBS including bloating and stomach pain. (8)

Antimicrobial Effects of Coriander

Coriander has been shown to help combat foodborne illnesses through its antimicrobial properties. Most notably, coriander protects against salmonella poisoning–one of the most common foodborne illnesses. (9)