Elements Found in Lemongrass

What Is Lemongrass?

• Lemongrass grows in dense clumps throughout tropical and subtropical climates. This tall grass contains a solid, bulbous end near the root and leaves at the top of each stalk. Oil extracted from lemongrass leaves makes this perennial useful for a wide variety of culinary and medicinal purposes.

Essential Mineral Elements

• Used fresh or dried in culinary recipes, lemongrass provides three main essential mineral elements: 53.4 percent potassium, 26.9 percent calcium and magnesium in much smaller quantities. The bulbous portion of the stalk is sliced or pounded for use in cooking to add flavor. Chopped and dried lemongrass provides a dash of lemon flavor and a hint of ginger to many savory meat, poultry and seafood dishes around the world.

Essential Non-Mineral Elements

• Lemongrass contains minute quantities of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon, known as essential non-mineral elements. Oxygen and carbon are essential for the life cycle of all living things. Hydrogen is a second source of energy or an energy carrier when combined with other elements. For instance, hydrogen combined with oxygen produces water; the moisture content in lemongrass.

Trace Elements

• Trace elements in lemongrass include manganese, iron, cobalt, copper and zinc. Also called micronutrients, trace elements are beneficial to the human body in very small quantities. Ingesting large quantities of micronutrients can be toxic. Although approved for human consumption, lemongrass should not be used in excess. An increase in consumption of lemongrass tea led to studies of element content, later published in the International Food Research Journal.

Beneficial Elements

• Beneficial elements found in lemongrass provide healing ingredients when the plant is used for medicinal purposes, such as antifungal ointments for treating ringworm. Lemongrass tea provides relief from indigestion, coughs and other cold symptoms.

  Although sodium and silicon, found in lemongrass, promote plant growth, these two elements are more beneficial for humans than the plant itself. Excessive amounts of sodium cause some health concerns but small amounts of it are needed for improved heart performance, nervous system function and glucose absorption. Sodium is an electrolyte that also helps regulate blood flow.

  A beauty mineral known as silicon is also found in lemongrass. This mineral strengthens connective tissues and bones and improves the condition of nails, hair and skin. Silicon plays an important role in preventing atherosclerosis, insomnia, skin disorders and tuberculosis.