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LEEKS Benefits:
Drawbacks:
In traditional medicine, leeks have been used to treat a variety of ailments, ranging from sore throats to gout and kidney stones. Because they contain potassium - one leek contains the equivalent of an eighth of an adult’s daily needs of the mineral - leeks encourage the efficient functioning of the kidney and are effective as a diuretic. They are also a useful source of folate and one portion of cooked leeks contains almost a third of an adult’s recommended daily intake. As members of the same family, leeks share several of the properties of garlic and onions - including the risk of causing contact dermatitis in susceptible people. Leeks can cause flatulence, although including them in stews, casseroles and soups with added herbs and spices will decrease the affects. The Ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians valued leeks for their therapeutic properties: the Romans used them to cure a sore throat and protect the body from other ailments. Herbal remedies dating back to Roman times draw upon leeks to treat anything from kidney stones to sore throats. Their main drawback is their well documented ability to cause wind - noted in Culpepers ‘Complete Herbal’ in the 17th century. As with onions and garlic, handling leeks can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people - wear rubber gloves while preparing them if you have delicate skin. After trimming and slicing leeks, rinse them well to remove soil trapped in the outer layers. |