| ≥1 piece |
Native to Asian countries like Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and even areas of East Africa, clove is a spice that offers many health benefits. These benefits include aiding in digestion, boosting the immune system, and controlling diabetes. Cloves also contain anti-mutagenic and anti-microbial properties which may even help fight oral diseases and headaches.
Health Benefits of Cloves
Packed with nutrients and bioactive compounds, it is no wonder that even a small amount of cloves have some interesting health benefits to offer. Let’s take a look at their health benefits.
Can Help Boost Gastrointestinal Health
Cloves are known to have been used in several traditional medicinal cultures as a way to help with stomach issues. According to the book ‘Herbs that Heal: Natural Remedies for Good Health’, cloves have been used to boost digestion and control gastrointestinal irritation. Furthermore, ingestion of fried cloves may even stop vomiting, owing to their anesthetic properties. It can also be an effective agent against ulcers and can be used as a purgative agent. [7]
Antibacterial Properties
Cloves are touted by many for their antibacterial properties against several human pathogens. The extracts of cloves were thought to be potent enough to kill those pathogens.
Can Work As An Immunity Booster
Ayurveda describes certain plants to be effective in developing and protecting the immune system. One such plant is clove. The dried flower bud of clove contains compounds that can help in improving the immune system by increasing the white blood cell count, thereby, improving delayed-type hypersensitivity. [12]
Anti-inflammatory Properties
The spice possesses anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties. Studies on clove extracts administered to lab rats suggest that the presence of eugenol reduced the inflammation caused by edema. It was also confirmed that eugenol can reduce pain by stimulating pain receptors. [13]
Might Help Restore Oral Health
Cloves can be taken for a reduction in gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Clove bud extracts have the potential to significantly control the growth of oral pathogens, which are responsible for various oral diseases, as per a study published in the Journal of Natural Products. They can also be used for toothaches due to their pain-killing properties. [14]
Potentially Helps in Liver Protection
Cloves contain high amounts of antioxidants, which may prove to be ideal for protecting the vital organs from the effects of free radicals, especially the liver. Metabolism, in the long run, increases free radical production and lipid profile, while decreasing the antioxidants in the liver. In such cases, clove extracts may prove to be a helpful component in counteracting these effects with its hepatoprotective properties. [9]
Might Assist in Diabetes Management
Extracts from cloves imitate insulin in certain ways and might help in controlling blood sugar levels. One study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that cloves may have a beneficial effect on diabetes as part of a plant-based diet. [10]
Can Help in Bone Preservation
The hydro-alcoholic extracts of this spice include phenolic compounds, such as eugenol, and its derivatives, such as flavones, isoflavones, and flavonoids. Studies have suggested that these extracts may be helpful in preserving bone density and the mineral content of bone, as well as increasing the tensile strength of bones in case of osteoporosis. More research is needed to confirm the efficacy of these findings. [11]