Cloves are brown in color, and their size can vary from place to place.
Cloves have a host of benefits that one cannot miss out on. They are not only used for flavor but also for their anti-bacterial properties due to the presence of fatty acids.
Originated in the spice islands of Indonesia, cloves are flower buds of the myrtle family that are typically used as a spice in the southeastern part of Asia. These flower buds have a mammoth amount of health benefits such as vitamins, antioxidants, and traces of protein that one must not miss out on in their food.
Cloves are used to treat several metabolic syndromes, such as diabetes, and also help reduce fat. The presence of several acids in cloves helps to reduce weight.
The essential oil helps to build your health, provides immunity, and adds daily value to your system. Cloves are nothing less than a superfood.
So, cloves should be in all your food. It not only makes the food tasty but also helps your health.
If you liked our suggestions for cloves nutrition factsthen why not take a look at potatoes nutrition facts and pomegranates nutrition facts.
Health Benefits Of Cloves
Cloves help to soothe Parkinson's Disease, which is is a nervous disorder in which the body fails to control its movements. The disease has no cure yet, but if cloves are included in the diet, it helps to control it.
The presence of eugenol in cloves allows the spice to help patients with Parkinson's disease. This particular chemical compound in cloves also helps to reduce stress and also helps reduce stomach colic.
Clove tea and other clove-related foods are highly recommended for diabetes patients. It is made by infusing boiling water with some whole cloves. You can add other spices such as cinnamon to this tea, but please avoid ground cloves while making this tea.
Also, try to avoid any processed sugar with this tea. To cut the bitterness, honey can always be a sugar substitute. This tea has gigantic health benefits.
It also helps to reduce stomach ulcers and improve digestion. This is why cloves are used to make ancient Chinese and ayurvedic medicines. Here are more clove facts that will give you a clear idea about the spice.
These brown pods are full of antioxidants that help to fight and remove free radicals. Removal of free radicals reduces the chances of cancer and lets the body fight disease-causing germs. These antioxidants in cloves also help to control blood sugar levels and other chronic diseases. The antioxidants in the cloves are five times more beneficial than vitamin E.
Cloves help to reduce toothaches. Clove oil is an essential oil that reduces gum swelling and its antimicrobial dietary fiber helps kill germs that are causing the pain. Other than that, clove oil helps to soothe skin irritation caused by plants like poison ivy and poison oak.
This oil is also used by women across the globe as a moisturizing agent. It is said that the essential oils of clove help to regenerate cells. The presence of mg, vitamin, iron in these oils makes the skin shiny and provides the right amount of hydration.
Fatty Acids In Cloves
Cloves are considered a natural healing agent for the presence of a wide range of nutrients such as sodium, vitamin, calcium, potassium, iron. These nutrients, along with some essential oils, make cloves such a superfood. Given below is a list of nutrients and their amounts present in cloves:
A flower bud of clove contains more than 4% vitamin K, 30 % manganese, around 3 % vitamin C and a little bit of calcium, potassium, fats, and protein. Cloves have very little carbohydrates in them.
This carbohydrate in cloves is essential for the development of the flavor of the spice. Adding this to your food will not only enhance the flavor of your food but also provide daily value for your diet.
Medicinal Properties Of Cloves
Cloves, or Syzygium aromaticum, contain several nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B, folic acid, calcium, sodium, and many more that are essential for your body. It is advised to have a couple of cloves every day to get your daily dose of vitamins.
The dietary fiber in cloves improves liver function along with another metabolic syndrome that is stated above. Thus, all the nutrients such as vitamins, protein, and fat are available in these flower buds and so they must be included in our daily diet.
The pantothenic acid in cloves can potentially help in the treatment of certain stomach ailments, so they can easily be a part of your daily diet. Spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon share the same flavor profile as cloves even though they have completely different nutrients.
The nutrients in clove, along with those in cinnamon, ginger, and peppercorns, help to reduce inflammation.
How To Use Cloves
Cloves are not so difficult to use in your food. It can be a bit tricky, but it is extremely simple. Whole cloves can be used to temper the oil for curries. One can also put them as a whole into stews. Using ground cloves is a bit delicate.
Cloves are bitter and a bit spicy, so while using ground cloves, one has to be careful about the taste. There is no recommended amount for ground cloves, but it is always better to add a little at first and gradually increase the amount if required.
Carbohydrates like rice also go very well with cloves. This spice has wide availability, so it won't be difficult to find. Spices like cinnamon and cardamom are also used with cloves as their combined flavor profile gives a flowery fragrance to the foods.
Ground Vs Whole Cloves
In southeast Asia, cloves are considered essential when cooking food. Both whole and ground cloves are used in curries. The whole one gives a sense of depth to the dish, whereas the ground one provides an ardent aroma. These fatty acids, along with the antioxidants, make it a superfood.
The condition of the spice only matters during cooking. Whole or ground cloves have the same nutritional value. Clove in Southeast Asia has usually been used as a whole spice to temper the oil.
But while making food like hot chocolate or banana cake, one will find it easy to use the ground one. If there is unavailability, ground cloves can be used in curries. Spices like bay leaf, cumin seed, and galangal go well with clove.
There are plenty of side effects of too much consumption listed below:
Extreme consumption of anything is not good for anybody. Similarly, there will be harsh consequences if you exploit the use of this spice. One can experience reproductive problems if this spice is eaten in large amounts. People have experienced inflammation and irritation as well, but clove overdose is not fatal.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for cloves nutrition facts, then why not take a look at nuts nutrition facts, or olives nutrition facts
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Bachelor of Science specializing in Computer Science
Christian MbaBachelor of Science specializing in Computer Science
Christian Mba is an experienced blogger and content writer with over a decade of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Nigeria and has a keen interest in Python programming. Along with his writing and blogging expertise, he is also an SEO specialist with more than six years of experience. Chris, as he is commonly known, has a passion for music and enjoys playing the piano.
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