Cloves are one of the Ayurvedic herbs with many benefits for the body. They consist of dried flower buds of the Syzygium Aromaticum tree. Besides being used as a spice, cloves have been used for years as a medicine for many diseases. Traditionally, they are applied in the treatment of tooth decay, digestive problems, bad breath, and even as an aphrodisiac. They are particularly beneficial as a detoxifying agent for the body.
When did cloves originate?
Cloves originated in the 3rd century BC. The Chinese emperor used them to freshen his breath. By the 1st century AD, the Romans began using them, and by the end of 176 AD, the valuable spice had reached Egypt. Omani sailors, who traveled from India to Africa, developed extensive trade in cloves. The health benefits of this exotic plant began to be recognized by an increasingly larger part of the world.
Until recently, cloves grew on several Moluccan islands, including Moti, Makian, Ternate, Bacan, and Tidore. It is believed that the oldest clove tree is on the island of Ternate (350-400 years old).
Nutritional content of cloves
Besides adding flavor to certain types of food such as tea, soups, desserts, etc., cloves display an excellent nutritional profile, including numerous essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers. They are low in calories, making them ideal for weight loss. Moreover, they provide a sufficient amount of fibers to facilitate smooth digestion. Cloves are a rich source of manganese, a key micronutrient for optimal brain function and bone strengthening, along with calcium and phosphorus.
With their high content of vitamin K, cloves help in the rapid blood clotting in case of injuries, and the vast reserves of potassium are valuable for maintaining normal blood pressure and preventing hypertension. Cloves also contain many compounds with potent antioxidant properties, namely vitamin C, vitamin E, eugenol, flavonoids, and gallic acid, which eliminate harmful free radicals from the body. This prevents the risk of cancer, strengthens the immune system, ensures optimal metabolism, and improves the condition of the skin and hair.
How to incorporate cloves into our daily diet?
Cloves, also known as “Laung” or “Lavanga,” have been an integral part of Indian cuisine for ages due to their incredible minty aroma and slightly spicy taste, in addition to the countless health benefits they offer. Indians use them in traditional recipes either as whole buds or ground into a fine powder. How to incorporate this spice into food can be found in any guide to cooking Indian dishes.
Ground cloves are often a part of the usual Indian spice mixes, such as garam masala, goda masala, and chettinad masala. Dried buds or ground are also used in making clove tea, warm drinks, and desserts. In small quantities, they are added to meat curries and soups, giving them an invigorating aroma and a mildly sharp taste.
What are the health benefits of cloves?
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Acts as a detoxifier
Cloves have a strong diaphoretic effect, making them excellent for detoxifying the body of toxins and aiding in sweating out fevers.
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Boosts immunity
The remarkable component eugenol in cloves is especially effective against many harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The antiviral and blood-purifying potential of cloves reduce toxicity in the blood and enhance disease resistance by stimulating white blood cells.
Cloves envelop immunity, soothe sore throats, and maintain a healthy digestive system. Hot drinks served with crushed cloves can be a delight for your taste receptors. Moreover, they alleviate symptoms of cough, cold, and other health conditions.
A drop of oil or a pinch of ground cloves in your favorite drink can relieve stress. As cloves possess anti-stress properties, incorporating this product into your diet will make you feel relaxed and calm.
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Purifies the blood and stimulates circulation
Adding cloves to your daily diet triggers metabolic activity and regulates body temperature. (And since it boosts metabolism, you can also use cloves for weight loss). Loaded with antioxidants, cloves can purify the blood and give your skin an inner glow. If you feel stressed, rub some warm clove oil onto your head, neck, and back for immediate relief and mood improvement.
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Aids digestion
Cloves improve digestion by stimulating enzyme secretions and enhancing intestinal peristalsis. Cloves are best used to alleviate flatulence, stomach irritability, dyspepsia, and nausea.
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Controls diabetes
Cloves are most suitable for people with high blood sugar levels. Studies have found that they improve insulin sensitivity and aid the effective functioning of insulin.
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Good for bones and joints
The flavonoids and eugenol contained in cloves are hydroalcoholic compounds that beneficially affect joints and bones, increasing their density. Therefore, if you have osteoporosis, be sure to regularly include cloves in your diet.
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Reduces body pain and inflammation
The eugenol contained in cloves acts as an anti-inflammatory and relieves body pain. This is due to the stimulation of pain receptors in the body. Clove oil or extract provides relief for arthritis, inflammation, and general pain.
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Alleviates toothache
Clove oil is an effective remedy for toothache, inflamed gums, and mouth ulcers due to its bactericidal properties. According to the American Dental Association, clove oil is approved as a dental anesthetic.
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Prevents cancer
Consuming cloves may reduce the risks of the proliferation of cancer cells in the body. To protect against cancer, eat more cloves, as the eugenol in cloves possesses strong anticarcinogenic properties and helps control lung cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer in their early stages.
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Eases breathing
Patients suffering from bronchitis or asthma are often advised to inhale the scent of cloves for immediate relief. Place some cloves on a hot plate and inhale these vapors to open up blocked respiratory pathways and ease breathing. Tea blended with clove oil clears the respiratory pathways. Just two drops of clove oil in the tea are enough to feel the positive effect. And for soothing a sore throat, it’s good to chew on a piece of clove.
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Relieves stomach ulcers
The compounds in cloves can also treat stomach ulcers, also known as peptic ulcers. These ulcers are painful and form in the mucosa of the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum. They affect stomach health by reducing its protective lining due to genetics, stress, or infections.
Cloves produce essential oil in our body. This way, they increase the production of stomach mucus. It becomes a barrier to the eroding action of hydrochloric acid on the stomach’s mucosa. Moreover, cloves can also cure stomach ulcers.
How to use cloves as an Ayurvedic food?
The spice clove undoubtedly has a positive effect on our health when used regularly. We can buy it in the form of whole cloves, which we can grind at home. This way, we’ll be sure that our spice is fresh and of the best quality. It is also sold in powder form in packets.
It is often used together with dessert spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Alternatively, it is frequently used in curries and rice pilafs.
Two homemade recipes for dishes with cloves
- Homemade Mix for Desserts and Sweet TreatsYou can easily prepare a fragrant mix at home to use in making cakes, sweet treats, and various other desserts. Preparing it is more than easy. Get yourself packages of ground spices from the store – cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, as well as allspice, ginger, and coriander.
Mix two tablespoons of each spice in a suitable container and stir well to blend the aromas. You can add double the amount of allspice and nutmeg. Then, store the resulting mix in a jar or another airtight container, and you can use it for a long time. Add it mainly to winter sweets – cakes, pumpkin sweet bread, strudels.
- Apple and Pear Dessert with Sugar and Clove SyrupPrepare a cake batter from 4 eggs, a cup of flour (tea cup) with one baking powder in it, and a cup of sugar.
In a rectangular or round baking dish, caramelize one and a half cups of sugar. On top, arrange 6-7 pcs. of apples cut into cubes and pour one cup of water over them. Put them in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes until they soften.
The pre-prepared cake batter is poured into the baking dish over the apples and returned to the oven for another 30 minutes of baking or until done.
The syrup is boiled on the stove, made from one cup of sugar, two cups of water, add 7-8 grains of clove spice. Pour the syrup over the baked dessert, following the principle: hot syrup – cold sweet, or vice versa.
In conclusion, it can be said that the benefits of cloves for our health are undeniable. This common Asian spice also has many healing properties, which once again prove the Ayurvedic significance of herbs and their long-term effects.
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