Amazing health benefits of cloves
Cloves are mostly used in India to add flavor in tea or in curries as they are delicious but even in India very few people knows its potential health benefits. Cloves contain fiber, vitamins and minerals, for example;
One teaspoon (2 grams) of ground cloves contains:
Calories: 21
Carbs: 1 gram
Fiber: 1 gram
Manganese: 30% of the RDI
Vitamin K: 4% of the RDI
Vitamin C: 3% of the RDI
Fiber prevent constipation, vitamin C strengthen immune system and vitamin K is an important nutrient for blood clotting. Manganese is available in plenty in clove which is an essential mineral for maintaining brain function and building strong bones. In addition cloves also contains calcium, magnesium and vitamin E.
Cloves also contain a compound called eugenol, which act as a natural antioxidant and prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals five times more effectively than vitamin E (which is another antioxidant).
Studies performed on animals confirmed that the compounds in cloves helps in liver health and stabilize blood sugar levels.
Clove may protect against Cancer as the eugenol found in cloves has anti-cancer properties and good for the liver and improve bone density (note excess of clove oil can be dangerous too as eugenol can be toxic in high amount). Cloves have been shown to have antimicrobial properties, as the clove essential oil is effective at killing off three common types of bacteria, including E. coli, a strain of bacteria that can cause cramps, diarrhea, fatigue.
In addition the antibacterial properties of cloves can help promote oral health. People in India often put cloves in mouth to improve the taste n India but they don’t realize it not only improve taste but also prevent gum disease.
However that doesn’t mean that one may take clove in excess. Please note natural herbs or spice even though safe in most cases should be taken in moderation.
Clove Tea:
You can take 3 or 4 whole cloves piece and boil them in water for 5–10 minutes to make a amazing clove tea. To make it more beneficial you can also add basil or tulsi, black pepper, honey, cardamom and cinnamon.
Including cloves in your diet in moderation will improve your overall health for sure.
