Cilantro, the Healthy Aromatic Herb

2. Help Lower Cholesterol

LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, can build up in the walls of the arteries, leading to heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks. Several different chemical compounds in cilantro - linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) - prevent the buildup of LDL cholesterol.

These chemicals interact with the cholesterol in the bloodstream, breaking it down and flushing it from the body as waste. Also, incorporating cilantro into your diet can raise levels of healthy HDL cholesterol, which works as a preventative line of defense against many different cardiovascular conditions.