New Delhi: Betel leaves, popularly known as ‘paan, has retained an essential place among Indians, especially Hindus. Not merely a mouth freshener, paan is used in all important occasions and Hindu rituals.
Ideally, paan is made by wrapping tobacco, slaked lime and areca nut in betel leaf. Since tobacco and areca nuts are known to cause serious health issues like mouth and stomach cancers, it is better to chew paan without such harmful ingredients.
However, not many of us are aware of the fact that betel leaves offer myriad curative and healing health benefits. Here are a few of them:
- Chewing betel leaves prevent oral cancer by maintaining the levels of absorbic acid (an antioxidant that reduces free radicals in the body) in the saliva.
- Chewing paan takes a lot of effort which in turn stimulates the release of saliva, thereby enhancing the process of digestion.
- It also helps in destroying bad breath, which causes bacteria. When wrapped up with spices like fennel, cardamom and cloves, it makes for an excellent mouth freshener.
- Betel leaves can be a highly effective solution for those who are trying to lose weight. Not only it aids in reducing body fat but also catalyses the metabolic rate of the body.
- Surprisingly, betel leaves, when applied on wounds, can also be an excellent healing agent.
- It is also known to possess aphrodisiac properties that will make the process of sexual intercourse more enjoyable. This is the reason why it is offered to newlyweds.
- Betel leaves are widely used in treating boils and blisters. They help in removing the wart permanently without leaving any scars.
- Its analgesic properties help in reducing headache and provide relief in cough.
