Wellness
Your body
Conditions
Guides
…
Cilantro is a polarizing herb. People either love it or hate it.
For many, a sprig of cilantro can add much-needed flavor to a salad or in homemade guacamole. For others with a certain gene, it just tastes like soap.
"It is estimated that four to 14 percent of the U.S. population has this genetic variation, making cilantro taste like soap," Brooke Baevsky, a private chef and CEO of In the Kitchen with Chef Bae, previously told marthastewart.com. "For everyone else, the leafy green tastes like a fresh herb."
But, eating cilantro can provide you with some surprising health benefits. For one, including it in your diet can help to reduce inflammation that may result in autoimmune, neurodegenerative, gastrointestinal, and heart diseases, as well as certain cancers.
Together, inflammatory diseases account for more than half of all deaths globally, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Cilantro's use dates back thousands of years and across cultures. The herb is polarizing, but its health benefits may not be (AFP via Getty Images)
Rich in vitamin C, the plant, which produces coriander as well, has compounds that researchers say act as antioxidants.
"Due to the bioactivities of coriander extract, this herb can be considered a valuable functional food against obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes," Italian researchers said in a 2023 study.
It can also fight high blood sugar, which is one of the causes of inflammation. If you have diabetes, high blood sugar can trigger an immune response that damages tissues, nerves, and the heart.
"Type 2 diabetes and inflammation are intricately connected, with each condition exacerbating the other," the University of Utah explained.
Other research has pointed to cilantro as an effective tool for delaying epileptic seizures.
"Specifically, we found one component of cilantro, called dodecenal, binds to a specific part of the potassium channels to open them, reducing cellular excitability. This specific discovery is important as it may lead to more effective use of cilantro as an anticonvulsant, or to modifications of dodecenal to develop safer and more effective anticonvulsant drugs," explained Dr. Geoff Abbott, a professor at U.C. Irvine, explained.
While cilantro is a boon for the brain, it also comes with potential positive mental health effects.
Researchers have found eating cilantro can stave off inflammation that may lead to cancer and disease. Another study from U.C. Irvine said cilantro could be effective at delaying seizures (Getty Images)
One animal study suggests that it may be as effective as Valium at reducing symptoms of anxiety. Although, more research is needed to understand how that may manifest in humans.
Cilantro has been consumed for at least 8,000 years, and was found in the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamen. One of the oldest known herbs, its was used in Chinese potions, who believed it to provide immortality, according to the University of Wisconsin.
While eating cilantro may not make you immortal, Abbott said it also has reported anti-bacterial effects.
"And, the best part is it tastes good!" he exclaimed.
Your body
Wellness
Conditions
Treatments
General
Healthcare
Advertise
About our ads
Licensing
Careers
Help
Sitemap
Follow us on
© 2026 Yahoo. All rights reserved.
If you haven’t tried the DASH diet before, now’s the time.
Menopause masking has always existed, but we're finally putting attention to how dangerous it can be for our health. Learn what it is and how to avoid it.
Yes, you are more prone to heat-related illnesses when wearing dark colors, but your clothing's fit, fabric and your hydration level matter just as much, if not more. Experts say that dark colors do absorb more solar radiation than light colors, which means the fabric itself can get hotter when you're in direct sunlight. The CDC says those illnesses can range from heat cramps and heat exhaustion to heat stroke, which is a life-threatening emergency.
Avoid foodborne illness by cooking these foods thoroughly before you dig in.
Dietitians share how to order a satisfying restaurant meal that supports weight-loss goals without making dinner out feel restricted.
The former star Tennessee Titans player told 'Good Morning America' that he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. The incurable disease has moved fast. While Johnson can no longer speak, he said his mind is still "sharp."
A copperhead concealed in leaves near a backyard walkway or trail edge can be especially easy to miss.
A new study from the Keck School of Medicine at USC found a revelation regarding fish oil supplements. Here's the researchers' findings.
For guys trying to lower cholesterol, the focus is usually on eating better, exercising more, or losing weight. But there's another daily habit worth paying attention to: how you make your coffee. The difference comes down to two naturally occurring compounds in coffee beans, called cafestol and …
The experts reveal the root cause of breakouts in your 30s, 40s, and beyond—plus how to treat acne effectively.
Screaming into a pillow sounds ridiculous, but experts say there's real science behind why it works.
You've likely heard some version of the warning that alcohol kills your gains. Like most sweeping fitness claims, that one deserves a closer look. Alcohol doesn't directly erase muscle, but it does interact with the biological and behavioral processes that determine how well your body responds to …
Stomach ulcers are extremely common in the U.S., with healthcare providers treating an estimated four million cases each year. The two leading causes are long-term use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, and H. pylori infection. NSAIDs work by blocking the production of …
One of the more common arguments against direct abdominal training is that heavy compound lifts such as squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses provide enough stimulus for the core that direct ab work is unnecessary. It's true that the abdominal muscles forcefully contract to create trunk stiffness …
The hope is to catch it earlier & get more personalized treatment options.
Plus, what they use instead.
As the U.S. and Canada prepares for a "heat dome," why does hot weather feel so much worse when humidity is high? The answer lies with sweat.
These trainer-approved swaps can save you money, space and buyer's remorse.
Industrial activity adds a lot of mercury to the environment and the animals we eat, but how does what's expelled from a coal plant make it into our food?
Illnesses can include heat stroke, heat exhaustion.
Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound are already changing the way doctors treat obesity and diabetes. Now, researchers are asking a much bigger question: Could these medications also help you live longer? According to The New York Times, early research suggests the answer could eventually be …
Foam rolling has become a fixture of gym culture, performed before workouts, after them, and on rest days by the particularly committed. It takes up considerable floor space in warm-up areas and is marketed through vocabulary that includes releasing fascia, breaking up adhesions, and improving …
If it feels like your waistline keeps growing with age, even though your workouts and diet haven't changed, you aren't imagining it. A 2025 study published in Science, may explain why. Researchers from City of Hope discovered a previously unknown type of stem cell that appears with age and rapidly …
Hot and humid conditions are expected throughout the week, with heat warnings and advisories being issued. One thing to note is that even if it's 90°F, the heat index, or feels-like temperature, may be a bit hotter depending on the dew point. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 700 people in the United States die from extreme heat each year. Most heat-related deaths and illnesses are also preventable.
Less is often more, according to a leading dermatologist. The post Why overdoing skincare does more harm than good appeared first on Talker.