Myriad benefits of green and red betel leaves that are a pity to miss: uses, side effects, interactions

If you hear the word betel leaf, surely what comes to your mind is a leaf that is often chewed by old people. Then, is it true that green betel leaf and red betel leaf are beneficial for dental health? What are the other benefits of betel leaf for health that you may not have known about? Find out the answer below.

What are the contents of betel leaf?

Betel leaf is classified as a plant that contains a lot of water. About 85-90% of betel leaf consists of water. That's why betel leaf is also low in calories and low in fat. Per 100 grams of betel leaf contains only 44 calories and 0.4-1% fat.

In addition, other betel leaf content is:

• Protein: 3 percent per 100 grams.
• Iodine: 3.4 mcg per 100 grams.
• Sodium: 1.1-4.6% per 100 grams.
• Vitamin A: 1.9-2.9 mg per 100 grams.
• Vitamin B1: 13-70 mcg per 100 grams.
• Vitamin B2: 1.9-30 mcg per 100 grams.
• Nicotinic acid: 0.63-0.89 mg per 100 grams.

Benefits of green betel leaf and red betel leaf for health

Here are all the health benefits of betel leaf:

1. Lowering blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes

Researchers reported that drinking boiled water of betel leaf, or dried betel leaf then ground into a powder, can help lower blood sugar levels in people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Betel leaf also protects liver health.

The benefits of betel leaf for diabetes come from its high antioxidant content which can reduce oxidative stress which causes damage to body cells that triggers an imbalance in the insulin hormone. The same study also reports that betel leaf does not have any side effects to worry about.

Even so, this does not mean that betel leaf is the only diabetes treatment that you must undergo. If you have been prescribed diabetes medications, you should consult your doctor before drinking betel leaf decoction to ensure there is no risk of side effects or interactions that can collide with the drug's action. Dauh betel is only used as a companion treatment for medical drugs to control symptoms, along with changing diet and exercising diligently.

2. Lower cholesterol and blood pressure

As mentioned above, betel leaf is high in antioxidants. In the body, the antioxidant eugenol works against free radicals that trigger oxidative stress that causes various chronic diseases. One of the benefits of betel leaf related to this is to reduce levels of tiglycerides and LDL cholesterol, the bad fats in the body. Betel leaf is also known to help reduce the amount of total fat in the blood.

High cholesterol and triglycerides can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure. Instead, red betel leaves and green betel leaves work to increase good cholesterol in the blood which maintains heart health.

To help with high blood pressure, you can try boiling 3-4 wide red betel leaves and drinking the betel leaf boiled water twice a day.

3. Antidote to cancer

The antioxidant eugenol contained in the decoction of green and red betel leaves can help fight free radicals that trigger cancer in people with type 2 diabetes.

4. Accelerate the healing of burns

Another benefit of betel leaf is that it speeds up wound healing, especially burns. This is still associated with its antioxidant content. A person who has burns also experiences high oxidative stress in his body. Oxidative stress will hinder the wound healing process.

Betel leaf is a wonderful antiseptic, which is also capable of providing double protection from bacterial infections due to its high polyphenol content.

5. Helps reduce depression

Some research shows that betel leaf can help control symptoms of depression in people who have it. One study reported that chewing betel leaf or drinking betel leaf boiled water can trigger the brain to produce more of the happy hormone serotonin.

6. Maintain oral and dental health

The mouth is a part of the body that is susceptible to bacterial growth from what you eat. Chewing the leaves and / or gargling with boiled betel leaf water has been shown to inhibit the growth of oral bacteria. Not only that, betel leaf is also useful for preventing cavities by fighting acids produced by bacteria.

Chewing betel leaves and areca seeds can trigger saliva production. Saliva contains various types of protein and minerals that are good for maintaining strong teeth and preventing gum disease. In addition, saliva also helps clean teeth and gums from food debris or dirt.

7. Maintain the digestive tract

Green betel leaf and red betel leaf are known to help increase mucus production which protects the health of the digestive tract. The production of mucus will prevent injury to the intestinal wall and stomach that can occur for various reasons.

Betel leaf is very effective in reducing stomach pain and relieving the symptoms of GERD and protecting the intestines from harmful toxins and free radicals. Another benefit of betel leaf for the health of the digestive tract is that it normalizes the pH level of the stomach to relieve ulcers, reflux of stomach acid (increased stomach acid), and pain that occurs due to flatulence.

In addition, betel leaf is also useful for increasing the metabolism of the digestive tract to work better when removing all waste material in the body. Chewing betel leaves can increase the production of saliva which can bind and soften food. That way, you can swallow and send food to your digestive tract more smoothly. This certainly helps your digestive system work easier.

This means that consuming betel leaves can help you avoid constipation and diarrhea. Betel leaf also stimulates the intestines to absorb nutrients and minerals essential for a healthy body.

8. Increase energy

Chewing betel leaves and areca seeds in particular is known to increase energy. This is because betel nuts contain various active substances that work similarly to nicotine, alcohol and caffeine to stimulate the body to produce the hormone adrenaline. The increase in the hormone adrenaline makes you more focused and alert and more energized.

9. Treating nosebleeds

You must have been very familiar with the benefits of this one betel leaf since childhood. The way betel leaves work to heal nosebleeds is similar to how these leaves heal burns.

The antioxidant tannins in betel speed up the body's response to healing wounds, by clotting blood more quickly and closing tears in blood vessels in the nose.

Not only that. A study reported in the Phyto Journal found betel leaf also boosts the immune system. The stronger your body's power, the faster the wound or inflammation can heal.

10. Drugs for inflammation of the prostate

Red betel leaves, in particular, can be used as an alternative to treat prostate inflammation problems. Red betel leaves contain antioxidant tannins and saponins, as well as the active substance hydroxychavicol which helps repair cells in the prostate gland so that they can return to normal function.

The trick is to boil 3 to 5 pieces of young red betel leaves and drink the betel leaf boiled water 3 times a day.

11. Cough medicine

Red betel leaf decoction is believed to be able to relieve coughs. The reason is, red betel contains vitamins B and C and alkaloids that relieve inflammation in the throat that causes coughs and an itchy throat.

To treat coughs, you can process red betel leaves by:

• Prepare 5 pieces of red betel leaves that have been washed clean
• Boil 300 ml of water for 15-20 minutes
• Drink 1 time a day

Is it true that there are benefits of betel leaf for femininity?

Many cleaning products advertise the benefits of betel leaf for femininity. However, the vagina does not actually need to be cleaned with feminine soap, vaginal douche, or rinsed with natural betel leaf boiled water. The reason is, your vagina already has its own automatic cleaning system.

Cleaning the vagina is enough to do once a day by rinsing it with a washcloth soaked in water and neutral soap (not scented and not made from harsh chemicals), or wash it with your hands. the next step is enough to keep your feminine area always dry and clean, and wear underwear that is not tight, and also make sure the material can absorb sweat properly.

If you want to wash your vagina with feminine soap containing betel leaf, make sure that the product also contains povidone iodine and is not fragrant. Clean the vaginal area from front to back to prevent germs from the anus from entering the vagina. And when you are menstruating, you should regularly change your sanitary napkins at least 2-3 times a day.

Are there any benefits of betel leaf for the face?

Sometimes, some people use betel leaf stew as a rinse when washing their face to get the benefits of betel leaf for the face. This is because betel leaves contain antioxidant chavicol, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial substances that can treat inflamed acne and the itching sensation on the face that may be caused by it. The benefits of betel leaf for the face are also reported to be able to deal with dark spots.

In addition, the antimicrobial content in betel leaf is believed to help treat allergies, itching, and body odor. To use it, crush a few betel leaves and extract the juice. Then, mix it with a little turmeric. After that, you can apply it around the acne or itchy body. However, it's good to consult a doctor and herbalist for further use.

Chavicol in betel leaf is also often used to treat inflammation, such as arthritis and orchitis.

Even though there are many benefits of betel leaf, be aware of the dangers too

The benefits of betel leaf have the potential to maintain a healthy body. However, public health experts and reports from various medical studies have begun to raise concerns about the various dangers of betel nut.

Too often chewing has been found to have a high risk of triggering oral and throat cancer, said the official media release from the World Health Organization. This is because the mixture of betel leaf, areca nut, lime, and tobacco which is usually chewed is carcinogenic (triggers cancer). This conclusion was obtained based on research from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in South and Southeast Asia, where the population is still often chewing.

The ingredients used for chewing are also harsh, which can cause mouth sores. Especially if chewing has become a habit that cannot be stopped. The bad effects also appear more quickly and are difficult to handle. If it is severe enough, this condition causes the mouth and jaw to feel stiff so that it is difficult to move it. Until now, there is no medicine that can cure oral mucosal lesions. The treatment offered is only able to relieve the symptoms that appear.

Finally, the benefits of betel leaf are also not completely safe for pregnant women. Several studies have reported that beteling can cause genetic changes in fetal DNA that can harm the uterus, just as smoking can cause fetal defects. Pregnant women who betel also run the risk of giving birth to babies with under normal weight. Therefore, WHO and public health experts urge pregnant women not to betel.