Clove, also known as ‘Laung’, is considered the champion of all spices. Clove is extracted from a beautiful evergreen tree, that is commonly found in Asia. The benefits of cloves are enough to make this spice a constant part of your kitchen cabinet.
Cloves are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. These nutritious values are important to strengthen the immune system, give a boost to the stomach by aiding in digestion, and help reduce inflammation of the skin.
1 teaspoon of clove contains amazing quantities of many minerals and vitamins e.g:
- 30% Manganese
- 4% Vitamin K
- 3% Vitamin C
- Some Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin E
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Health Benefits of Cloves/Laung
You may use ground cloves to sprinkle on different dishes to enhance their ambiance, but do you know the overall health benefits of cloves, and why they should be an important part of your kitchen cabinet? Let’s talk about the amazing benefits of cloves in detail.
Rich in Medicinal Properties
There are many health benefits of cloves that you must know. Living in Pakistan, you must be familiar with the Desi Totkas our grandmothers know. Such as applying a few drops of Clove Oil on the roof of your mouth, you may get relief from a bad headache.
Amazing, isn’t it?
In the same way, If you sniff the spicy aroma of clove, you may get rid of drowsiness and irritability. After a long day of work, when you get home, just sniff some cloves, and you will feel fresh.
Applying Clove Oil on a sore muscle can relieve muscular cramps.
If you get a bad cut on your skin, just mix powdered clove in water to form a mixture, and apply it on the affected area, and you are good to go.
Benefits of cloves sexually are also found, as cloves are regarded as an aphrodisiac. It is used for promoting a healthy sexual desire.
A Precious Anti-Oxidant
It is said that 1 drop of Clove Oil is 400 times richer in antioxidants than goji berries or blueberries. It’s mind-blowing, right?
Our body needs a maximum amount of antioxidants per day, to prevent our cells from dying. Including clove in your diet can improve your overall health by increasing the intake of antioxidants in your blood.
Clove Benefits Blood Sugar Level and Diabetes
Living with Diabetes is a nightmare.
But hey, no worries! You can increase your intake of clove, as it serves as a powerful natural tool to control blood sugar levels. In this way, it can benefit your diabetes.
The ingredients found in Cloves are beneficial in boosting the cell’s ability to use sugar from the blood. They also increase the secretion of Insulin, and Insulin is the hormone responsible for maintaining your diabetes. Cloves can be helpful in keeping in check blood sugar levels if you take a balanced diet along with it.
Works as an Anti-Cancer Agent
Cancer is a life-threatening disease that currently has no permanent cure in sight.
But you must never lose hope. Our Lord has filled His world with wonders of creativity. Take Clove, for example. Its buds have been used since ancient times to treat cancer. Researchers have proved with studies that clove and its chemical components work as a good natural anticancer agent.
But before using any natural ingredient, always consult with the best Oncologist first.
Best for an Upset Stomach
Clove and its health benefits amaze us more and more.
It can cure many stomach problems with great effect. Due to its medicinal properties, it can cure nausea, indigestion, loose motions, and flatulence. Cloves are proven to be useful in relieving the symptoms of diarrhea, gastric irritability, and vomiting.
A Wonder for Your Skin
Ladies! The desire to get flawless skin is first and foremost for you, so pay ATTENTION! The benefits of cloves for the skin are many.
Clove oil has a compound called eugenol that helps in treating acne and getting rid of acne scars. It fights the bacteria that cause acne and helps in reducing redness on your face.
The benefits of drinking clove water on an empty stomach are many. It boosts the immune system, which in turn provides a fresh glow. It removes marks and lightens blemishes.
Benefits of Cloves for Hair
Hair is the natural crown for a woman, an important aspect of overall appearance.
The benefits of cloves for a woman are wondrous, as they can give amazing hair without burning a hole in your pocket. Clove promotes hair growth. It adds a shine to the hair, giving you lustrous hair.
Nowadays, everyone is stressed out for having too much Dandruff in their hair. Cloves have got you covered, as they are rich in antifungal ingredients that can help fight dandruff and get rid of it for you.
Mosquito Repellent
Scientists say that clove oil is an amazing mosquito repellent. If it’s Summer, and you are extremely bugged by the flying bugs, just rub some Clove Oil on your exposed body. In this way, you can repel the mosquitoes as well as, can have the beautiful aroma of Cloves, leaving you mesmerized.
Toothache and Dental Pain
The benefits of cloves for teeth are great. It soothes or relieves pain for dental emergencies. If you have a severe toothache and you can’t immediately go to your dentist, you can just keep some clove under your teeth. It works like magic.
It is also beneficial for sore gums and improves overall dental health.
Culinary Uses
I know you must already be familiar with the culinary uses of Clove, but there can be some more to know!
Besides using it in cooking and garnishing salads, Clove is also used to give a spiced touch to meat products, pastries, biscuits, candies, chocolate drinks, spiced fruits, and drinks. If you have a sweet tooth, and you love cooking, you must add clove to your dishes, to have an amazing spicy aroma of clove.
You can also stud tomatoes, onions, soups, salads, and herbal teas with clove.
You can make an amazing Chai, using clove in the recipe. If you are a Chai lover, and have a habit of trying different sorts of Chai, Cardamom Ginger Chai should be on your list, in which ground cloves are used.
Promotes Bone Health
Rubbing clove oil on your bones and joints can provide relief from the aching pains of rheumatism and arthritis.
Clove is rich in Manganese, which is a mineral involved in bone health and important in bone formation. You can find 30% of Manganese in just 1 tablespoon of Cloves.
Cloves Side Effects
As they say ‘excess of everything is bad’, if you use clove excessively, it can lead to potential side effects. You must know these side effects before using clove for anything.
- Smoke from clove cigarettes causes breathing problems and lung disease.
- Applying clove oil or cream on the face can cause burning and skin irritation. Always do a patch test, If your skin is sensitive.
- If you use dried cloves for teeth, it can cause irritation in the mouth. It can also do damage to dental tissues.
- There is a possibility that clove can lower your blood sugar levels way too much, especially if you are on diabetes medications. Always be careful while using clove with medications.
- The eugenol in cloves can cause allergies. It reacts directly with body proteins and causes contact dermatitis (a common skin irritation) in sensitive people.
As Cloves serve many health benefits, you can ask your dietician about cloves and how much amount you should take every day. Consult the best Nutritionist to know how much of this champion spice is good for your overall health and wellness.