This culinary herb is produced from the stalk of the lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon citratus). This plant grows in many tropical climates, most notably in Southeast Asia. It is a common ingredient in Thai cooking and can also be found in dishes from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India.
Lemongrass imparts a flavor of lemon with hints of ginger. It has the same essential oil as lemons and it is often used in herbal teas to give a lemon flavor. Fresh lemongrass can have floral and minty notes as well.
Fresh lemongrass is preferred as it gives a better mix of bright and complex flavors. Dried lemongrass has more of a woodsy flavor. Stir-fries call for finely-diced fresh lemongrass as the dried form will simply dry out more. But dried lemongrass can be used in soups and other long-simmered dishes where it has time to rehydrate.
Nutritional Value:
Macro Nutients:
0.49 g of total Fat.
1.82 g of Protein
25.3 g of Carbohydrate
0 mg of Cholesterol
0.12 g of Saturated Fat
0.031 g of Omega 3
0.14 g of Omega 6
70.6 g of Water
Vitamins:
0 μg of Vitamin A
0.065 mg of Thiamine
0.14 mg of Vitamin B2
1.1 mg of Vitamin B3
0.08 mg of Vitamin B6
2.6 mg of Vitamin C
75 μg of Folate
Minerals:
65 mg of Calcium
0.27 mg of Copper
8.17 mg of Iron
60 mg of Magnesium
5.22 mg of Manganese
101 mg of Phosphorus
723 mg of Potassium
0.7 μg of Selenium
6 mg of Sodium
2.23 mg of Zinc
Uses of Lemongrass:
Many people believe that lemongrass tea offers multiple health benefits, but researchers have not yet conducted enough studies to prove these benefits.
Below are seven health benefits that may result from drinking lemongrass tea.
1) Relieving anxiety: Many people find sipping hot tea to be relaxing, but lemongrass tea may offer further anxiety-reducing properties. Smelling lemongrass may help people with anxiety. Although some people already inhale lemongrass essential oil to relieve stress and anxiety, researchers still need more evidence to be able to confirm this benefit. 2) Lowering cholesterol: According to an article Trusted Source in the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, consuming lemongrass extracts appears to lower cholesterol in animals. The study notes that the reaction is dose-dependent. This means that larger quantities of lemongrass might lower cholesterol further. 3) Preventing infection: According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, study results suggest that lemongrass may have some infection-preventing capabilities. For example, the herb seems to reduce the incidence of thrush, a fungal infection that commonly affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV. 4) Boosting oral health:
In many countries where the lemongrass plant is native to the area, people will take the lemongrass stalks and chew on them as a way to improve dental health and keep the mouth feeling clean.
The Food Chemistry journal published a study confirming these findings. The authors looked at 12 herbs and found that lemongrass herbal extracts were one of the most potent inhibitors of bacterial growth in lab samples. They used bacteria that can cause cavities in the mouth, including Streptococcus sanguinis.
5) Relieving pain:
According to one study Trusted Source, lemongrass may be able to block pain. This means that drinking lemongrass tea could potentially help to prevent a person from sensing pain.
6) Boosting red blood cell levels:
The results of a 2015 study suggest that drinking lemongrass tea infusions daily for 30 days can increase hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count in the body.
The researchers took blood tests from 105 human subjects at the start, and then at 10 and 30 days into the study. They concluded that drinking lemongrass tea boosts the formation of red blood cells.
While they did not identify precisely how lemongrass does this, they did suggest that the tea’s antioxidant properties could play a role.
7) Relieving bloating:
Drinking lemongrass tea can have diuretic effects, which means that it stimulates the kidneys to release more urine than usual.
According to a small-scale study in the Journal of Renal Nutrition, drinking lemongrass tea increases urine output more than other beverages.
This diuretic effect on the body can be beneficial in cases where water retention leads to bloating. This is a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Lemongrass tea recipe:
Lemongrass tea may have many benefits, including relieving anxiety and preventing infection.
It is possible to make lemongrass tea at home. After purchasing the stalks at a grocery store or herbalist, people can take the following steps to brew their tea:
cut the stalks into 1- to 2-inch pieces
boil a cup of water
pour the boiling water over the lemongrass stalks to steep
leave the stalks in the water for at least 5 minutes
strain the liquid from the stalks and pour into a teacup
Adding ice cubes will create a cold lemongrass tea.
Is is OK to drink lemongrass tea everyday?
Lemongrass tea is safe when consumed in small amounts. Drinking too much lemongrass tea can have negative side effects for stomach health and may cause other serious conditions. Avoid these side effects by consuming small amounts of lemongrass tea.
Side effects:
Lemongrass is likely safe for most people when used in food amounts. It is possibly safe when taken by mouth, applied to the skin, or inhaled as aromatherapy short-term for medicinal purposes. Rarely, lemongrass oil might cause a rash of skin irritation when applied to the skin. However, there have been some toxic side effects, such as lung problems after inhaling lemongrass and a fatal poisoning after a child swallowed a lemongrass oil-based insect repellent.
Precautions:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It is likely unsafe to take lemongrass by mouth during pregnancy. Lemongrass seems to be able to start menstrual flow, so there is a concern that it might cause a miscarriage. There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking lemongrass if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
How to grow your own Lemongrass?
Buy a few stalks from the store and place the bulb end in water. Allow it to soak until roots form (this may take anywhere from two weeks to a month). Once your lemongrass has developed roots 1/2 inch to 1 inch long, plant it in your garden or in a pot with lots of rich soil. Lemongrass likes sun and warm temperatures, so if you choose to keep it indoors as a houseplant, be sure to give it a south-facing window. Lemongrass makes a beautiful houseplant or ornamental garden plant that you can also use in your cooking.
Storage:
To store fresh lemongrass, wrap it loosely and place it in the refrigerator. It should keep for a few weeks. You can also freeze the whole stalks, or mince the stalks and freeze them in 1-tablespoon portions to use in your recipes. Dried or powdered lemongrass should be stored in airtight containers away from light and heat.
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