Bay Leaves, why you should use them
@GardenGerty (169489)
United States
September 17, 2022 3:11pm CST
About three weeks ago @muchtosay wrote a discussion talking about omitting bay leaves from her cooking because they do not add much flavor.
I did some research, to know why I had been told they were good for you. I learned that they are especially effective against e. coli, a food borne illness that is present almost everywhere and often makes people sick. Also effective against the ever present Staphylococcus aureus which is the bacteria currently in hubby's blood stream. The one that could go to his heart.
So using bay leaves can help keep you healthy. It is not so well studied but also may be effective against type 2 diabetes, which I have.
So I boiled a bay leaf in a coffee cup of water, covered the top of it and let it infuse while we went to get hubby's Rocephin shot (given for Staph aureus). I added that lightly flavored clear water to his lemon tea mix and made him a nice glass of it with ice. He says he likes it, I think it tastes a little herby and he said it tastes a bit medicinal, but he likes it.
He has always liked the various herbal teas I made for him. I hope it helps him get better soon.
In my many years of cooking, I have mostly omitted bay leaves in any recipe that called for them. Honestly I don't taste or smell a difference whether I use...
20 people like this
18 responses
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
6 Oct 22
We are using in our cooking for it has an aromatic effect in our foods but we're not aware that it has a medicinal or therapeutic or healthful benefits to the consumer.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
12 Oct 22
Most of your herbs and spices are beneficial for your health as well as being tasty. That is why people have used them for years and years.
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@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
14 Oct 22
@GardenGerty That's very true. Probably it originated or practice by Chinese cuisines.
@BarBaraPrz (51834)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Sep 22
That's interesting. My mother used bay leaves in her stews and soups, so I did too. But I haven't made stew in ages and got out of the habit of adding bay leaves, maybe because I couldn't open the jar... I haven't noticed any difference, either.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Their flavor is not very strong. I have not always used them but as I said in @muchtosaysmilepie's discussion I have always put them in the dry goods, just one leaf on top, to prevent infestations.
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@BarBaraPrz (51834)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Sep 22
@GardenGerty Where did you learn to do that? I've never heard of it.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Anna, that is awesome. I was wanting to research whether or not a Bay Leaf tree would survive in my climate. It would be worth having one.
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@LadyDuck (502622)
• Italy
18 Sep 22
@GardenGerty Those trees are not at all demanding and they survive under the snow. We had a drought this year and the trees are green and healthy as they have always been.
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Best is it's good for him. I hope he gets cured. Herbs, U like them too. I got diabetes 2, also... going to research it. Thanks lots for tip!
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Bay leaves cooked in your meats, stews and other simmered dishes certainly will not hurt you. They have not done as much research on diabetes, but I am going to use them more myself because I have type 2 diabetes.
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@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
18 Sep 22
@GardenGerty
Me too. I already put sprinkles of tumeric in my coffee with just a few specs of ground black pepper flecks which works to give best results, for anti diabetes 2 help.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Hubby has enjoyed my herbal teas in the past, and the flavor is so mild it really is not noticed. I had not thought of putting it in my coffee, but I may try it.
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@porwest (112864)
• United States
18 Sep 22
@GardenGerty I mean, why not, hey? Even though I prefer my coffee black.
@celticeagle (189915)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Sep 22
I use them in certain things I cook. I think they do add flavor. Maybe not to such things as @muchtosay is cooking. If it rids our bodies of these bacterias I am all for it.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
17 Sep 22
Many soups, stews and roasts call for bay leaves. Hubby likes herbal teas and I was glad to read this about bay leaves.
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@celticeagle (189915)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Sep 22
@GardenGerty ........A great find. I use bay leaves in some soups. I really like the difference in flavor.
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Very good idea Heather..Oh yes there are so many things good for us.
Also Oregano oil is antifungal.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Yes, and I believe Oregano oil is what is in original Listerine mouthwash. Hubby puts that on his nail fungus.
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@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
18 Sep 22
@GardenGerty Oh I didnt know that was in Listerine how about that..yes good for nail fungus
@LeaPea2417 (40037)
• Toccoa, Georgia
18 Sep 22
That's interesting, never knew bay leaves can help prevent e coli.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
I think over the ages, before there was refrigeration, our ancestors learned that it helped them stay well to cook with various herbs and spices.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
So many of the herbs traditionally used in our cooking have health benefits as well as flavor. I see you said you would omit them. . . is that what you meant to type?
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@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Sep 22
@GardenGerty No, I meant I won't be omitting them so often. I keep doing that lately. Putting do instead of don't or can instead of can't and it alters the meaning totally. So annoying. 
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Used in long simmered dishes they are terrific. The flavor is mild. One website describes it as a cross between mint and spicy.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
It can be part of your home medicine supply. There were also places that talked about topical uses for them and I may be trying some of those.
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@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
18 Sep 22
@GardenGerty I use bay leaves occasionally but I’ll use them more often.
@LindaOHio (222586)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Thank you for the information about bay leaves. I hope they help Bob.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
It was good to see him really enjoy his lemon iced tea with bay leaves in it.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
17 Sep 22
Many of our herbs and spices have additional health benefits for us.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
It will keep him hydrated because he likes it. If it kills the bacteria that is even better.
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@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
18 Sep 22
I've always used bay leaves in spaghetti, chili, stews, and soup. Didn't know they had health properties, sure hope it's a little extra help to your husband.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
Those are the traditional uses, though I had not thought to put it in chili. As Anna said, it was to help keep illness away before we had refrigeration.
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@Deepizzaguy (122232)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Sep 22
Thank you for sharing the bay leaves since they are useful in keeping all of us healthy.
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Sep 22
I am glad it is one useful thing I have in my cupboard.
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