Clove is one of the most common kitchen ingredients that we use in day-to-day life.

There are various benefits of eating cloves everyday. Curious to know about them ?

Karetrip is here to help you know more about it.

But before we move further, let's first understand some details about cloves.

What are Cloves?

Cloves are an aromatic seasoning crafted from the dried blossoms of the clove tree. Historically, spices held immense value, with cloves being no exception, originating from the Spice Islands near China.

They proliferated across Europe and Asia in the latter stages of the Medieval period, becoming integral to regional culinary practices.

Presently, cloves continue to be widely utilized as a favored spice, imparting a delicate, sweet heat to numerous dishes.

What Do You Mean by Ground Cloves?

Ground cloves can be utilized either in powdered form or as whole pods.

Incorporating ground cloves into spice blends and employing whole cloves in cooking can enhance the richness and taste of diverse dishes.

These compact, dark brown capsules are employed in various culinary applications, such as curries, seasoned meats, baked goods, chai, and Chinese five-spice mixtures, while also providing certain nutritional advantages.

Nutritional Value of Cloves

Cloves are plentiful in manganese, an essential mineral crucial for regulating enzymes accountable for bone restoration and hormone synthesis.

Manganese additionally serves as an antioxidant, protecting the body from damaging free radicals, that are unstable particles contributing to molecular damage.

Cloves also serve as an excellent reservoir of:

• Vitamin K
• Potassium
• Beta-carotene
• Eugenol

Per serving, equivalent to one teaspoon:

• Energy: 6 calories
• Protein: Below 1 gram
• Fat: Below 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 1 gram
• Dietary fiber: 1 gram
• Sugars: Below 1 gram

Cloves are a high quality reservoir of beta-carotene that is contributing to their deep brown hue. Carotenes, a set of pigments, play an important role as antioxidants and precursors to nutrients.

These pigments have the ability to convert into vitamin A, an essential element for maintaining excellent eye health.

Benefits Of Cloves

• Powerhouse of Antioxidants

Cloves exhibit a plentitude of antioxidants, encompassing flavonoids, phenolic formulations, and eugenol.

These antioxidative agents counteract oxidative stress, diminish inflammation, and shield cells against harm induced by free radicals.

Consistent intake of cloves can foster general health and welfare by thwarting chronic ailments like cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders.

• Anti Inflammatory Features

The principal component of cloves, eugenol, demonstrates robust anti-inflammatory traits.

It has the power to tackle inflammation inside the body, reducing signs that are associated with conditions which include arthritis, rheumatism, and inflammatory digestive diseases.

Introducing cloves into your nutritional routine could offer innate relief from inconvenience and puffiness.

• Helps in Digestion

Cloves function as a digestive helper, helping in digestion and easing digestive issues such as dyspepsia, bloating, and flatulence. They activate the development of digestive enzymes, improving the breakdown of food for higher performance.

Also, cloves have carminative qualities, which stop gas development in the digestive system, enabling a smoother digestive process and giving relief from post-meal pain.

• The advantages for oral health

Clove oil has a lengthy history of application in dental hygiene products because of its powerful antibacterial and pain-relieving characteristics.

Gnawing on intact cloves or employing clove oil as a mouth rinse can eliminate detrimental bacteria in the oral cavity, thwart cavities, and invigorate breath.

Moreover, cloves effectively alleviate toothaches and gum discomfort, rendering them a precious natural solution for oral health complications.

• Support for the immune system

Cloves' antioxidants aid in improving immune system function by balancing free radicals and strengthening the body's rebellion against infections and sickness.

Continuous consumption of cloves might decrease sensitivity to common issues such as colds, influenza, and respiratory inflammations, while also improving overall immune system efficiency.

• Heart Health Benefits

Cloves might positively impact cardiovascular well being due to their ability to reduce cholesterol range and enhance blood circulation.

The presence of eugenol in cloves has shown an ability to shrink LDL (undesirable) cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while at the same time increasing HDL (beneficial) cholesterol ranges.

Also, cloves possess antiplatelet traits that could help in thwarting blood clots and reducing the possibility of coronary heart attack and cerebral hemorrhage.

• Blood Glucose Level Regulation

Studies indicate that cloves could assist in regulating blood sugar levels and enhancing insulin sensitivity, offering advantages for individuals with diabetes or those susceptible to the condition.

Cloves contain components that augment glucose metabolism and diminish insulin resistance, potentially leading to improved control of blood sugar levels over the long term.

• Alleviation of Discomfort

Cloves possess inherent analgesic characteristics, rendering them efficacious in alleviating pain and unease. In case if applied externally as clove oil or consumed, cloves can offer relief from head pain, tooth pain, muscle distress, and joint discomfort.

Their method includes numbing the afflicted area and reducing infection, presenting a safe and natural substitute to traditional over-the-counter pain alleviation methods.

• Respiratory Well-being

Throughout the historical periods, cloves have been employed traditionally to deal with respiratory ailments like coughs, colds, asthma, and bronchitis.

The expectorant and bronchodilator features of cloves help in reducing mucus, opening air passages, and giving relief congestion, thereby improving breathing easiness. Everyday intake of clove-infused teas, syrups, or inhalants can be advantageous for respiratory well being.

• Potential for Cancer Prevention

Certain research indicates that cloves might harbor anti-cancer attributes, attributable to their elevated antioxidant levels and capacity to impede the proliferation of cancerous cells.

Eugenol and other bioactive constituents present in cloves have showcased anti-neoplastic effects in preliminary studies, hinting at their prospective involvement in mitigating cancer risk and supporting treatment efforts.

Although further investigation is warranted, integrating cloves into a well-rounded diet could aid in reducing the overall risk of cancer.

• Enhanced Liver Performance

Cloves might additionally support optimal liver functioning. Certain studies indicate that eugenol present in cloves could potentially alleviate indications of liver cirrhosis and hepatic steatosis.

• Diminished Ulcer Risk

Several studies suggest that cloves could aid in shielding the stomach from ulcers. The majority of ulcers stem from the thinning of the protective mucus layers lining the stomach.

Preliminary findings indicate that consuming cloves in substantial quantities may bolster this mucus, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing ulcers and assisting in the healing process of existing ulcers.

Advantages of Clove Oil

Across diverse historical time periods, people have shifted to clove oil to get relief from dental discomfort. Certain beauty and pharmaceutical items leverage eugenol for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral features.

• Clove for Tooth Pain

When you consider the time period that is as early as 1649, clove oil has been deployed to alleviate toothache uneasiness, a habit that continues till today, greatly due to the existence of eugenol. Eugenol functions as a natural anesthetic, giving comfort from pain.

However, while clove essential oil is effective in managing pain, there is insufficient evidence to support its bactericidal properties against the underlying causative bacteria.

• Addressing Dental Erosion

Certain acidic foods and drinks can damage the tooth enamel, the tough outer coating of teeth. Studies suggest that eugenol present in clove oil, when administered to teeth, would possibly counteract or reduce these impacts.

However, further investigation is required to thoroughly investigate clove oil as a remedy or preventive measure for tooth enamel erosion.

• Clove Water

Moreover, few people steep cloves in water to create clove tea or clove-infused water. However, there is no proof to show its health merits. Furthermore, since it's hard to gauge the eugenol content through this process, there may be potential danger of taking an excessive and risky amount.

• Allergic Reactions

Even when applied topically or orally, eugenol has the potential to elicit allergic responses.

Allergies to cloves can manifest as skin irritation, itchiness, inflammation, swelling, and respiratory issues like sneezing or respiratory distress.

How To Use Cloves In Your Diet

Cloves provide a nutritious enhancement to your meals. Here are some methods to incorporate this aromatic spice:

• Incorporate powdered cloves into pumpkin pie recipes.
• Infuse cloves into chai lattes for added flavor.
• Utilise whole cloves in pickling blends for zesty pickled goods.