6 Health benefits of kencur that should not be missed: uses, side effects, interactions

Kencur which has a Latin name Kaempferia galanga L,apparently still a family with ginger or Zingiberaceae. So, don't be surprised if many people often confuse kencur with ginger and galangal because of their almost similar shape. Even though in fact, kencur can bring different benefits from ginger for health. Read on to find out the various benefits of kencur for body health, let's go!

What is kencur?

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Kencur is a type of kitchen spice that has a distinctive aroma that is fresh and pungent. Apart from being used as a flavor enhancer in cooking, the benefits of kencur have also long been recognized as a natural remedy.

This plant originating from Asia belongs to the ginger-ginger family (Zingiberaceae). SpeciesZingiberaceae not only contains kencur plants, but also includes ginger, turmeric, and galangal. Yes, in other words, kencur is actually still a close relative of ginger, galangal, and turmeric.

That is one of the reasons why the basic ingredients of these dishes have almost the same shape, so it is sometimes difficult to distinguish. Kencur plants grow in many tropical and subtropical climates. The distribution areas are generally in Asia, including in Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia.

Kencur plants usually thrive in mountainous areas or lowlands. The best soil structure for planting kencur is loose, aka it doesn't contain too much water.

However, kencur is no less fertile when planted in pots with soil conditions that are not too wet. The meki that you have often used is only part of the kencur tuber, in fact this plant has a complete shape.

Just like most plants in general, kencur plants are also equipped with leaves and flowers. It's just that, the shape and appearance are certainly different from other kitchen ingredients.

What are the chemical ingredients and compounds in kencur?

Besides its distinctive taste and can add to the delicacy of processed dishes, the benefits of kencur don't stop there. Various composition of substances contained in kencur, namely:

• Starch
• Mineral
• Sineol
• Methyl acid cannil and penta additives
• Cinnamic acid
• Ethyl ester
• Borneol
• Kamphene
• Paraeumarin
• Anisic acid
• Alkaloids
• Gom

The content of cineol, methyl canyl acid, penta insults, cinnamic acid, and so on enter into essential oils. Not only that, other chemical compounds in kencur are ethyl p-methoxycinamate, p-methoxistiren, karen, borneol, and paraffin.

Among these chemical constituents, ethyl p-methoxycinamate is the main component of kencur. Meanwhile, for the essential oil content, there are about 2.4-2.9 percent of the essential oil content that makes up the kencur compound.

What is the difference between kencur, ginger and turmeric?

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For those of you who really understand the various types of kitchen spices, of course you are familiar with kencur. However, because there is not only one type of spice, sometimes it makes people confused in distinguishing the various types.

Maybe you are one of those who often find it difficult to distinguish between kencur and various other kitchen spices. Whether it's ginger or turmeric, for example. In fact, each of these spices has its own distinctive shape and characteristics. In fact, the benefits of kencur and other cooking ingredients are not the same.

Here are the differences between kencur, ginger, and turmeric, which you should understand:

1. Shape

At first glance, kencur, ginger, and turmeric look similar. Although both belong to the root plant group, kencur has a distinctive, brownish skin appearance with a pale yellow interior.

In addition, kencur is generally somewhat round and short in shape. While the form of turmeric is just the opposite. If kencur has a shape that tends to be round, turmeric is long with a size that resembles a human finger joint. The color of the inside of turmeric is very different from other ingredients, which is more orange.

Because it has curcuminoids, turmeric will leave a distinctive yellowish color after being handled. Curcuminoids are yellow coloring agents usually found in turmeric and ginger.

In contrast to ginger, which does have a shape that almost resembles a human finger joint. It's just that, the shape of this plant will usually swell in the middle so it doesn't look slender like turmeric.

2. Leaves

Kencur plants usually have 2-4 leaves, or not too many. The shape of the leaves is wide round with the arrangement between the leaves facing each other. While the leaves of the turmeric plant are about 3-8, with a leaf length of up to 70 centimeters (cm).

Unlike the leaf shape of the kencur plant, the size of the leaves on the turmeric plant is elongated and has a sharp tip. For ginger plants, the leaves are pinnate and are somewhat short.

3. Interest

Interestingly, these three kitchen spices also have flowers as a complement to plants. In kencur, the flowers are white and are equipped with 4 crowns. The flower is supported by a stalk that is not too long.

The flower shape of the turmeric plant is not much different from that of the kencur plant. However, the turmeric plant has slightly purple flowers with a size that is also quite small. Another only with ginger plant flowers, which are quite wide and rather large. The flower color of the ginger plant is generally red, with scaly peduncles.

4. Taste

Aroma and taste are one of the striking differences from kencur, turmeric, and ginger. Kencur has a very strong aroma, it can even be a bit overpowering. The distinctive taste of kencur itself is unique, namely there is a bitter, spicy sensation, but feels warm when it enters the body.

Meanwhile, ginger has a predominantly spicy taste thanks to the zingeron compound in it. That is why ginger is often used as a body-warming drink which is good for consumption when the weather is cold.

On the other hand, turmeric does have a taste that is not as strong as kencur or ginger. However, turmeric gives a taste that is quite sweet and not spicy when eaten. Therefore, most people are usually not really aware that they have eaten foods with turmeric in them.

What are the benefits of kencur for health?

Apart from being a cooking spice, in fact kencur has a variety of benefits that are good for health, including:

1. Treating coughs

The traditional concoction of kencur mixed with salt has long been known as a traditional medicine for cough with phlegm. Drinking this herb is predicted to make breathing easier and help relieve cough with phlegm faster.

Apart from being a cough medicine, it turns out that this herbal ingredient is often consumed by singers before they appear to help maintain the condition of the vocal cords and make the throat feel more relieved, you know! But unfortunately there is no research that proves this benefit.

2. Relieve stress

A study conducted by researchers from the Department of Pharmacy at Jahangirnagar University Bangladesh, found the benefits of kencur. This research shows that the extract of kencur plant, both the rhizome / root and the leaves, has antidepressant properties against the central nervous system which can provide a sedative or calming effect.

The results of these studies also confirm the benefits of kencur for health as a significant sedative effect. That is why many people use kencur as a drug used to reduce the effects of stress, anxiety, anxiety, and depression.

However, this research still requires further research on the benefits of kencur for the health of the human body.

3. Treating diarrhea

Still from the results of previous research published in the International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, they found interesting things. The study states that kencur extract contains considerable amounts of cytotoxic and antibacterial substances.

On this basis, kencur is believed to be one of the most effective treatment options for diarrhea. This is evidenced by research conducted on experimental animals which were divided into 2 groups. Both groups were given castor oil by mouth (orally) to cause diarrhea.

In fact, experimental animals that received kencur extract showed signs and symptoms of diarrhea that were mild, and even gradually disappeared. Meanwhile, other experimental animal groups that did not get kencur extract experienced persistent diarrhea symptoms. For example, stool tends to runny, abdominal pain, and frequent bowel movements.

4. The basic ingredients of herbal medicine

In Indonesia, kencur is the main ingredient used to make herbal medicine, whether it's traditional or modern factory-made herbal medicine. This herbal drink is often called kencur rice which is made from a mixture of rice, kencur, tamarind, and brown sugar.

The benefits of kencur which are processed into herbal drinks are useful for increasing appetite, overcoming digestive problems, stomach aches, shortness of breath, colds, and also headaches.

But unfortunately again, research on the benefits of kencur is still minimal.

5. Prevent dental caries

The antimicrobial properties present in kencur have amazing benefits. This content can help inhibit the development of bacteriaLactobacillus acidophilusin the body.

The reason is, if allowed to increase in number, these bacteria can cause tooth decay, such as dental caries. This disease, which is usually experienced by children, will cause tooth decay due to cavities, infection, and toothache.

What are the benefits of kencur in cooking?

Generally, kencur is used as a base for adding flavor to processed pecel, ointment, karedok, or even seblak. The addition of kencur which is ground together with various other spices, aims to make the food taste fresher when eaten.

Not only that. Kencur can also be mixed with chili sauce so that it gives a fragrant aroma when eaten. Not limited to food, you can also use kencur in processed drinks that will give a warm sensation in the throat.

Kencur processed recipe

Source: Okezone

In order to get the optimal benefits from kencur, there are various choices of kencur preparations that you can try. Whether it's processing it into lunch and dinner, or as a thirst quencher. To simplify the manufacturing process, here are some kencur recipes that you can try at home:

1. Kencur shot recipe

The combination of kencur added with ginger is believed to help smooth the digestive system, as well as increase endurance. In order to create a more neutral flavor, it's okay to add other natural flavors to your glass of kencur shot.

Here, you can use a mixture of lemon juice or lime juice, combined with real honey. If you want it to be less spicy, adding a little water can help neutralize the taste of this drink.

Materials needed:

• 50 gr kencur
• 50 gr ginger
• ½ cup of lemon juice
• ½ cup honey
• 100 ml of boiled water

How to make:

1. Peel the kencur and ginger, then grate until smooth.
2. Squeeze using a fine sieve, until it produces the juice.
3. Put the juice in a glass, then add honey and lemon juice.
4. You can add enough boiled water, to remove the spicy and bitter taste from the ginger and kencur.

2. Kencur rice recipe

Even though the name is kencur rice, this one drink also involves various other basic ingredients in it. There are turmeric, ginger, tamarind, palm sugar, and pandan leaves that will help make this herbal medicine delicious.

Besides being delicious and making the body warmer, kencur rice drink is also believed to have good benefits. For example, as to cure colds, and even help increase appetite in children. No need to be confused about how to make it, you can immediately try this kencur rice recipe.

Materials needed:

• White rice 50 gr
• 1 medium sized kencur
• 1 small turmeric
• 1 medium ginger
• 2 tbsp tamarind
• 260 grams of brown sugar
• 2 pandan leaves
• Boiled water to taste

How to make:

1. Soak the rice in clean water for about 3 hours.
2. Boil boiled water with kencur, turmeric, ginger, tamarind, pandan leaves, and palm sugar. Stir well and cook until all the ingredients are cooked and boiling.
3. After a little cool, filter the cooking water.
4. Mash the dregs of kencur, turmeric, ginger, and tamarind that were previously boiled, together with the soaking white rice until smooth.
5. Strain and squeeze the results of the collision until the water comes out, try to dry it completely.
6. Make sure the drink tastes perfect before serving it.
7. Serve the kencur rice directly, or add it with ice cubes.

Good luck with the various benefits of kencur that are good for the body, yes!