Pandan or screwpine is an aromatic plant that is praised for its sweet and floral fragrance and its versatility.
Its leaves are spiky and they grow in fan-shaped bunches, in tropical climates. Some varieties have fruits that look like red-orange pinecones. There are more than 600 types of it, although not all of them are edible.
It’s commonly used in the south and southeast Asian cuisines; however, the interest in pandan is rising in the west as well, mostly because of its potential health benefits and culinary use.
The plant can be found locally or in specialized markets all over the world. The leaves are usually sold fresh or frozen and they measure around 12 to 20 inches.
The fruit and leaves of pandan are a real culinary delight and they’re usually boiled, juiced, used for flavoring or wrapping meats, etc.
The fruit can be boiled or ground into a nutritious paste that’s commonly consumed in various parts of the world.
The Best Healing Properties of Pandan
- It may help relieve arthritis pain
Arthritis is a common issue for millions of people globally and its common symptoms are stiff and painful joints.
In Ayurveda, pandan leaves mixed with coconut oil are often used as a topical application to alleviate the ache.
The healing effects are believed to be a result of the oil in its leaves which may have the power to reduce inflammation.
However, this is based on results done in lab mice and more research done with humans is needed to find out if the same effect would happen as well.
- May improve your oral health
Chewing pandan leaves may help freshen the breath thanks to the pleasant aroma it releases.
A lot of non-western medicinal practices also recommend this method to relieve bleeding gums.
- It may help balance the blood sugar
Pandan may be of aid in balancing the blood sugar levels.
In a study, 30 healthy adults drank pandan tea from leaves following a standard blood sugar test.
The participants who consumed the tea recovered better from the test than the ones who consumed only hot water.
More Research Is Pivotal
Since pandan hasn’t been studied thoroughly for its use in humans, the side effects and possible interactions with meds remain unknown.
Pandan fruit pastes may also contain a lot of sugar as well as other pandan-flavored desserts, candy, and processed foods and they may provide only a few or no benefits at all.
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