6 Surprising Health Benefits of Cloves
Clove
is a multifunctional spice with sweet taste and unique fragrance. Cloves are
often used as a barbecue marinade to add flavor to warm drinks and enhance the
aroma of cakes. But obviously, the nutrients of cloves are also good for
health. What are the benefits of cloves?
The content of essential nutrients
in cloves:
Although the stature is short, don't underestimate the nutritional content of cloves. 1 gram of fiber and carbohydrates are found in a teaspoon of cloves which contains 21 calories of energy. One teaspoon of cloves can also meet the daily needs of manganese, 4% vitamin K and 30% of vitamin C. Clove also contains calcium, magnesium and vitamin E, but the content is very small. These important vitamins and minerals contribute to the health benefits of cloves.
The health benefits of cloves
1. Prevent Cancer
Cloves are rich in antioxidant eugenol, which can resist free radicals in the body, thereby triggering the development of cancer. In addition to eugenol, cloves also contain vitamin C as an antioxidant, which helps neutralize free radicals. According to reports, the antioxidants in cloves are five times more effective than vitamin E and other types of antioxidants.
The accumulation of free radicals in the body can damage the DNA code and cause oxidative stress, leading to various chronic diseases. It starts from arthritis, heart disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, high blood pressure, peptic ulcer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, and causes aging.
2. Kill the bacteria that cause disease
Clove has antibacterial properties and can prevent infection. A study showed that clove essential oil can effectively kill E. coli, causing stomach cramps, diarrhea and fatigue.
Clove also helps maintain oral health by preventing the growth of two types of bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease (gingivitis).​​​ If you don't want to chew cloves, you can use a mouthwash containing clove extract to get this effect.
3. Improve liver health
Not only can it protect the body from cancer, the eugenol in cloves can also help improve liver health.
An animal study in mice reported that clove oil can improve liver function and reduce inflammation. Other studies conducted on humans have found that taking eugenol supplements for a week can reduce GST levels, an enzyme that is usually a manifestation of liver disease.
However, remember that if consumed
in high doses, eugenol may become a liver poison. A case study showed that 5-10
ml of clove oil in children can cause severe liver damage.
4. Maintain healthy bones
Bone loss increases the risk of osteoporosis. Well, an animal study reported that the active compounds in cloves have been shown to help maintain and increase bone density.
The manganese content in cloves also contributes to the bone formation process, which is very important for bone health.
5. Treat heartburn
Heartburn is most often caused by
the depletion of gastric mucus, which is affected by various factors, such as
stress and infection.
An animal study has shown that clove
essential oil can increase the production of gastric mucus, which can prevent
the action of gastric acid and at the same time prevent gastric acid from
eroding the stomach wall.
6. Control blood sugar levels
Studies have shown that the
compounds in cloves can help control blood sugar. Other studies have studied
the effects of cloves and Nigerian extracts, the compounds in cloves, human
muscle cells and diabetic mice.