Clove Health Benefits, Nutrition and Spice Facts

Health Benefits of Clove Spice


Cloves have many health advantages, when used internally and topically. The spice is loaded with therapeutic value as it is antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic. Below are some of the contributions of cloves in protecting you and taking care of your wellbeing. 

  • Promote Digestion

    Cloves are effective to treat digestive tract ailments. They are good at healing flatulence, nausea and boosting metabolism. You can also see their health effects at curing diarrhea, vomiting and gastric irritability as well as other sickness of the digestive system.
     

  • Wonderful Anti-Inflammatory

    Scientific studies have found cloves to be enriched with eugenol, an essential oil with anesthetic effect. It is an excellent remedy to relieve toothaches. Due to its analgesic property, it is useful in alleviating pain from sore gums.
     

  • Great Antiseptic

    Another health purpose of using clove is the antiseptic property it contains. Clove oil has medicinal properties, which provides aid to heal cuts, wounds, burns and fungal infections. That is why it is an important ingredient in products like dental cream and mouth wash.
     

  • Effective Antispasmodic

    The merits of cloves can be extended to their antispasmodic benefit. When applied topically, they help recover muscle spasms.
     

  • Improve Respiratory Conditions

    In aromatherapy, clove oil is used to assist people with respiratory ailments such as colds, cough bronchitis, sinusitis and asthma.
     

  • Other Health Properties of Cloves

    Besides the health facts mentioned above, cloves have many more other therapeutic effects. They are able to enhance blood circulation and purify blood. They are also used to make insect repellant to prevent insect bites. In Asia, cloves are used to treat diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and cholera. 

Overview and Facts about Cloves


Clove Spice

Cloves (scientific name Syzygium aromaticum) are the dried flower buds from a plant in the myrtle family. The plant can grow to between 4 to 9 m and it has white and red flowers.

The spice contains a sweet and pungent flavor and is commonly used in baking. Oil extracted from cloves is well-known for its antiseptic property and is frequently used to relieve toothache. Cloves are also made into clove cigarettes (known as kreteks) when mixed with tobacco. However, smoking clove cigarettes, according to World Health Organization, is as deadly as smoking ordinary cigarettes. The spice is also available in capsule form as a supplement. 

Clove Nutrition Facts and Calories
 

Nutrition Information of 1 tablespoon (6 g) Ground  Cloves
Calories 21 kcal
Total Fat 1 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 16 mg
Total Carbohydrates 4 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 0 g

 

Clove Recipe


5-Spice Powder Recipe

Ingredients:
  • 10 ml Szechuan peppercorns
  • 8 star anise
  • 3 ml ground cloves
  • 15 ml ground cinnamon
  • 15 ml ground fennel seeds

Preparation:
Roast the peppercorns in a dry skillet over medium heat about 2-3 minutes or until aroma is released. In a blender, combine the roasted pepper with the star anise. Strain. Add in the remaining ingredients, then grind until very fine. 

Clove Side Effects


Cloves are usually safe when consumed in food amounts. Frequent and long-term use of clove oil in the mouth may damage the tooth pulps and gums. Intake of too much eugenol may slow blood clotting. Dried clove may lead to mouth irritation and dental tissue damage. Children should not take clove oil orally, while pregnant women and breast-feeding mother should not take cloves more than food amounts.
 

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