Many parts of the clove plant, including the dried buds, stems, and leaves, are used to make medicines. Clove oil has long been used in traditional medicine for its beneficial effects. These involve flavoring baked goods with spices, seasoning pot curries and meats, and imparting flavor. It is a common spice in cooking and is valued for its flavor and sweetness.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Cloves?
It is not surprising that even a modest amount of cloves has some remarkable health benefits to offer given that they are nutrient- and bioactive-rich. Let’s examine the health benefits of cloves.
1- May Lower Cancer Risk:
Clove extract, according to a study, can inhibit the growth of tumors and cause the death of cancer cells. Clove’s anti-cancer properties and capacity to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer are attributed to eugenol. Also, a good source of antioxidants is cloves. Antioxidants prevent cancer and reduce inflammation. Another study revealed that clove extract is toxic to breast cancer cells.
2- Boost Digestion:
Eugenic acid and catholic acid, two essential oils found in cloves, aid in digestion. By promoting an increase in digestive enzymes and motility, clove helps to lessen the production of excess digestive gases that would otherwise result in bloating and gas in the stomach. Furthermore, cloves relax the gastrointestinal tract’s smooth lining, reducing nausea, vomiting, and stomachaches.
3- Might Enhance Dental Health:
Cloves’ eugenol is known to soothe tooth irritation. You might be able to manage the pain because the chemical is anesthetic and has antimicrobial effects. One simple way to treat a toothache is to put a few whole cloves in your mouth and moisten them with saliva. You can cut the cloves with your teeth. The pain Is fought by the oil that is released. A full clove can be used for 30 minutes before being thrown and the procedure is again with a different one.
4- Blood Sugar Level and Diabetes Benefits:
Cloves act as a potent natural tool for blood sugar regulation. It can help with your diabetes in this way. The components in cloves are helpful in enhancing the cell’s utilization of blood sugar. Also, they enhance the release of insulin, which is the hormone in charge of keeping your diabetes under control. If you combine cloves with a balanced diet, they can help maintain blood sugar levels under control.
5- Relieve Stress:
Cloves have stress-relieving properties that make you feel at ease and peaceful. They include a lot of antioxidants that protect your cells from harm caused by free radicals. Eugenol, a compound found in cloves, is very helpful in reducing oxidative stress. Making a cup of clove tea with basil, cardamom, and honey calms the senses, reduces stress, and eases muscle pain. Due to their calming effects on the mind, massages with clove oil are highly popular since they relieve mental tiredness, exhaustion, anxiety, and tension.
6- Ability Of Liver Protection:
High levels of antioxidants found in cloves may prove to be beneficial for protecting the liver in particular from the effects of free radicals. In the long run, metabolism lowers the liver’s antioxidant levels while raising the formation of free radicals and altering the lipid profile. Clove extracts may be useful in certain situations because of their hepatoprotective characteristics, which can assist to offset adverse effects.
7- May Strengthen Bones Health:
There are phenolic components such as eugenol and its derivatives like flavones, isoflavones, and flavonoids in the hydro-alcoholic extracts of this spice. According to studies, these extracts may help maintain bone density and mineral content while also improving the tensile strength of bones in osteoporosis cases. The effectiveness of these findings needs to be confirmed by other research.
8- Relieve Headaches:
Headaches frequently result from persistent, deep discomfort in the cheekbones, nose bridge, or forehead. When you strain or move your head quickly, they get worse. Such terrible headaches can be relieved by cloves. They achieve this by lowering body temperatures and reducing pain. Using a handkerchief, apply some crushed cloves to your headache. For mental relaxation, breathe in the aroma.
9- May Help Weight Loss:
Along with weight loss to a healthy weight, there are many health advantages. For instance, it relieves pressure on your bones and joints and decreases cholesterol and blood sugar levels. According to a study, cloves benefit from metabolic boosting. They reduce cholesterol via having anti-cholesteric effects. Further, they increase your metabolic rate when coupled with cumin, pepper, and cinnamon seeds. These hence help with weight loss.
10- Benefits Of Cloves For Skin:
Eugenol, a substance found in clove oil, aids in curing acne and removing acne scars. It helps to reduce facial redness and kills the germs that cause acne. There are several advantages of drinking clove water first thing in the morning. It strengthens the immune system, which results in a youthful glow. It eliminates imperfections and lightens marks.
11- Benefits Of Cloves For Hair:
Hair growth is promoted by clove. You get glossy hair since it gives your hair a shine. Nowadays, having excessive dandruff in one’s hair causes worry in everyone. Because they are packed with antifungal compounds that can help combat dandruff and get rid of it for you, cloves have you covered.
12- Natural Cure for Bad Breath:
Bad breath is known medically as halitosis. When food particles decompose, microbial growth and foul odors increase. This consequently occurs naturally in and around your teeth. Cloves eliminate bacteria or decomposing materials from the tongue, palate, and upper region of the throat. They have strong aromatic qualities that alter unpleasant flavors in the mouth.
How to Use Cloves?
Cloves are a popular spice used in cooking and baking to add a warm, sweet, and slightly bitter flavor to dishes. Here's how to use cloves:
1- Whole Cloves: Whole cloves are typically used in savory dishes like stews, soups, and sauces. They are also used in making spice blends like garam masala and pumpkin pie spice. To use whole cloves, simply add them to your dish while cooking and remove them before serving.
2- Ground Cloves: Ground cloves are used in sweet baked goods like cakes, cookies, and pies. They are also used in spice blends like pumpkin pie spice and mixed spice. To use ground cloves, simply add the desired amount to your recipe.
3- Clove Oil: Clove oil is used in aromatherapy and can be added to massage oils and diffusers to create a warm, spicy aroma. To use clove oil, add a few drops to a diffuser or mix with carrier oil for massage.
4- Clove Buds: Clove buds are the unopened flower buds of the clove plant and are used in the same way as whole cloves. They have a stronger flavor than whole cloves and are often used in pickling and preserving.
When using cloves in cooking, it's important to remember that a little goes a long way, as the flavor can be quite strong. To ensure the best results, it's always a good idea to start with a small amount and add more as needed. Cloves can be used whole, ground, as oil, or as buds in savory dishes, sweet baked goods, aromatherapy, and spice blends. Because the flavor can be quite powerful, use it cautiously.
What Are The Side Effects Of Cloves?
Cloves are generally safe when used in small amounts as a spice in food, but they can have side effects when consumed in large amounts. Some possible side effects of consuming large amounts of cloves include upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. Clove oil is also not recommended for internal use as it can cause serious side effects such as toxicity and burning sensations in the mouth and throat. Also, clove oil should not be applied to the skin undiluted, as it can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some individuals. It's important to consult a healthcare professional before using clove supplements or oil, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking prescription medications.
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