Bay leaf

Health Benefits:

Aids in digestion
Detoxifying effects
Increases stamina
Provides energy
Relieves heartburn

Nutrition:

Serving size: 1 tbsp crumbled; Calories: 6; Fat: .2g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Carbs: 1.4g; Fiber: .5g; Sugars: 0g; Protein: .1g; Potassium: 0%DV; Vitamin A: 2%DV; Vitamin C: 1%DV; Calcium: 1%DV; Iron: 4%DV

Did You Know?

• Boil a few bay leaves for ten minutes, soak a cloth in the water, and then place it on your chest to alleviate congestion!
• Make your pearly whites clean and pristine by brushing with crushed bay leaves every three days.
• Bay leaves can act as an inset repellent - simply put some in a bowl to ward off unwanted insects! You can also grind some bay leaves and oil into a paste and put it on insect bites and stings to relieve pain.

Ways to Eat:

• As flavoring in soups
• Cut a potato in half, add a few bay leaves, wrap it all together in some foil to cook for a delicious baked potato - just make sure you take the leaves out before you eat.
• Boil water with bay leaves and use it when making mashed potatoes - again, just remove the actual leaves before you mash the potatoes!

Farming Trivia:

• Bay leaves can be harvested almost anywhere any time!
• It's a common misconception that bay leaves are toxic - they're not! Othe laurels are toxic, but not the kind we get bay leaves from.
• The leaves, though, are extremely tough! That's why they're generally taken our prior to consumption.