Take one step closer to your health and fitness goals when you experience the health benefits of cloves!
Cloves are fragrant flower buds that grow on clove trees. They are native spices to Indonesia but are now cultivated in other tropical countries worldwide.
Cloves are popular spices for cooking and baking because of their strong, warm, and sweet flavor. You will also notice their distinct peppery aroma.
Whenever you make soups, stews, desserts, and drinks, try adding cloves and see how much they improve the quality. Aside from their culinary uses, cloves also have medicinal properties and health benefits to boast about.
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How can cloves improve your diet, lifestyle, and health? All of the answers are right here. You’ll know all about the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, compounds, health benefits of cloves, and so much more!
Cloves Nutrition Facts
It’s always good to use herbs and spices that not only add flavor to your dishes but also give nutrients to your body. There are lots of nutrients you can expect from cloves.
As suggested by Food Data Central, here are the nutrients you can get from one tablespoon of ground cloves:
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Energy | 17.8 kilocalories |
| Carbohydrates | 4.26 grams |
| Fiber | 2.2 grams |
| Calcium | 41.1 milligrams |
| Magnesium | 16.8 milligrams |
| Potassium | 66.3 milligrams |
| Phosphorus | 6.76 milligrams |
| Sodium | 18 milligrams |
| Manganese | 3.91 milligrams |
| Folate | 1.62 micrograms |
| Choline | 2.43 milligrams |
| Protein | 0.388 grams |
Calories
Since cloves are used in small amounts, they won’t add many calories. One teaspoon of ground cloves has just about six calories, which is quite similar to the calories in whole cloves.
Carbohydrates
For every tablespoon of ground cloves, you get about 4.26 grams of carbohydrates. Remember to use just enough cloves for your recipes.
Fiber
While cloves can’t offer the same amount of fiber as fruits and vegetables, you can still get fiber from them. One tablespoon of cloves will give you 2.2 grams of fiber already.
From now on, you can be sure that cloves can add nutrients to your meals!
Vitamins and Minerals of Cloves
Aside from important nutrients, you can also get lots of vitamins and minerals from cloves. Here are the top ones that you’ll get every time you use these spices:
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin C
- Manganese
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Protein
- Vitamin A
Just think about how much better your life will be with these vitamins and minerals from cloves!
Plant Compounds of Cloves
Of course, cloves are not without essential plant compounds. What compounds can you find in cloves? You’ll get eugenol, gallic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, carvacrol, caffeic acid, and acetyleugenol.
- Eugenol: It’s a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that helps with immunity, heart health, and dental hygiene. Eugenol is also a natural analgesic for oral problems.
- Gallic acid: Gallic acid is a compound with lots of health benefits. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties to protect your body from bacteria, freer radicals, and infections.
- Quercetin: You can find quercetin in spices, fruits, and grains. It’s an effective immunity booster and anti-cancer agent. Quercetin can keep you safe from chronic diseases and heart ailments.
- Kaempferol: According to Science Direct, kaempferol is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent. It’s great for your heart, brain, and skin.
- Carvacrol: Most spices, such as oregano, thyme, and cloves, contain carvacrol. It is known to help inhibit microbes, relieve inflammation, alleviate pain, and boost immunity.
- Caffeic acid: You can count on caffeic acid to protect you from heart problems, inflammation, and bacteria. It’s also an antioxidant that can protect your brain.
- Acetyleugenol: Like eugenol, acetyleugenol is primarily found in cloves. It’s an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent that helps with dental, pain, and overall health.
More than the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in cloves, you can trust that its plant compounds also add to how healthy it is!
Health Benefits of Cloves
For the best part, let’s talk about the health benefits of cloves.
Fights infections
There are several reasons why cloves keep you safe from infections.
Cloves have natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral potential. Plant compounds like eugenol help cloves limit the growth of harmful bacteria. Using cloves also lessens the severity of viral infections.
Cloves are especially effective against oral problems like toothaches and gum pain. Tua Saude found that cloves are also effective against fungal infections. Clove oil is also great for faster healing.
Boosts immunity
Did you know that cloves are natural immunity boosters?
Given the many antioxidants in cloves, you can trust that they’ll work wonders for your immunity. They contain vitamins C and E, which reduce oxidative stress and support immune responses.
According to Netmeds, cloves can decrease toxicity in the body, especially in the blood. These spices also increase resistance by activating white blood cells.
Promotes dental health
You’ll undoubtedly smile more when you have cloves in your diet.
Cloves’ antimicrobial properties can inhibit the growth of bacteria that can potentially cause dental plaque and tooth decay. You can also use cloves or clove oil as a mouthwash to reduce the risk of oral infections.
Medical News Today shared that clove oil can lessen tooth pain. Cloves are also analgesics that can protect your gums. In fact, the pleasant aroma of cloves can also freshen your breath naturally!
Improves liver function
Indeed, the liver is a vital organ, so be sure to take care of it with cloves.
Your liver is responsible for filtering the blood that flows inside your body. One of the best ways to improve your liver function is to include cloves in your diet. Cloves are also rich in antioxidants that can eliminate free radicals and toxins.
WebMD mentioned that the eugenol in cloves can prevent fatty liver disease and liver cirrhosis. Cloves also detoxify your liver to eliminate waste products and maintain a healthy liver.
Reduces ulcers
Instead of enduring the discomfort from ulcers, avoid them altogether with the help of cloves.
Ulcers are painful sores or lesions that can enter the digestive tract or skin. There are peptic and oral ulcers, and cloves in your meals can reduce the risk of ulcers.
Healthline shared that cloves are especially effective against stomach ulcers. Their anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective properties can surely keep you safe from ulcers for a long time.
Strengthens bones
Take better care of your bones with cloves.
When you have a diet that’s rich in nutrients to strengthen bones, complement it with these spices. Cloves have manganese that can protect and maintain your bones.
MedicineNet revealed that a teaspoon of cloves can already provide half of the recommended daily manganese intake. Cloves also improve the body’s absorption and use of calcium.
Relieves inflammation
Inflammation is linked to many health problems, but you can prevent it by eating cloves.
Two of the compounds in cloves, eugenol, and kaempferol, are powerful anti-inflammatory components. They also reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and other symptoms. The antioxidants in cloves also help fight against inflammation.
In Health, it was shown that up to 90% of clove oil is actually eugenol. By including cloves in your diet, you can protect yourself from inflammation and its concerning symptoms and consequences.
Regulates blood sugar
Lower your blood sugar levels with the natural benefits of cloves.
When you have low blood sugar levels, you are safer from diabetes and other health problems like diabetes. Seasoning your dishes and drinks with cloves is a great way of keeping your blood sugar in check.
An article in NDTV shared that cloves promote insulin production to control diabetes. In effect, you will have higher energy levels, better mental health, and less weight gain.
Prevents cancer
Cloves have numerous compounds that have anti-cancer properties.
You can count on vitamin C and eugenol works great for preventing different kinds of cancer. The anti-inflammatory potential of cloves also helps inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Since cloves detoxify your body, you will surely be safe from carcinogens and other harmful substances. The National Institutes of Health are hopeful that cloves are the future of cancer treatment in medicine.
Are you looking forward to experiencing these life-changing health benefits of cloves?
Storing Cloves
How do you plan on storing your cloves?
Always store cloves in a cold and dry place, in a container to prevent air from entering, and away from sunlight and heat. Moisture, light, and heat cause cloves to become less potent.
I suggest using a dark container to protect the cloves from further exposure to light. The proper containers can also prevent the loss of flavor from cloves.
Whole gloves have a longer shelf life than ground gloves because their flavor is more intact. Before you store the cloves, check for any signs of moisture. Constantly check the cloves for any spoilage.
Side Effects of Cloves
No matter how much flavor cloves add to your recipes, you must use it in moderation. Using too many cloves can lead to the following side effects:
- Gastrointestinal discomfort: an upset stomach
- Allergic reactions: an intolerance towards cloves
- Skin irritation: redness and itching
- Oral irritation: burning sensation in the mouth
- Blood thinning: higher risk of bleeding
- Seizures: electric activity in brain cells
- Liver damage: an impairment in liver function
When using whole gloves, it is safe to consume about two cloves. On the other hand, Dr. Axe suggests using one teaspoon of ground cloves each day.
Conclusion
How close can you get to a healthier version of yourself with cloves?
Cloves are truly life-changing in culinary use and health. They also add a warm, intense, pleasant, sweet, spicy, and mildly bitter flavor to dishes and drinks, ensuring the best quality.
Once again, these are the health benefits of cloves you need to know:
- Relieves inflammation
- Boosts immunity
- Reduces ulcers
- Improves liver function
- Prevents cancer
- Regulates blood sugar
- Strengthens bones
- Promotes dental health
- Fights infections
Keep your cloves fresh by storing them in a container in a dry and cool area. Two whole cloves or about a teaspoon of ground gloves are safe to use to season your dishes and improve your health!
Suggested Recipes
Taste how much better these recipes will be with cloves:
- Clove Oil
- Clove Water
- Sorrel Drink
- Smoked Mackerel Stew
- Jollof Rice
- Grilled Croaker
- Hibiscus Lemon Tea
- Chicken Gizzard Stew
- Roast Chicken
- Turmeric Tea
- Zobo Drink
- Chicken Curry
- Grilled Salmon
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the health benefits of cloves?
Indeed, with the many nutrients, vitamins, and minerals of cloves, you can expect that they have plenty of health benefits to offer. Here are the positive effects you can experience from cloves:
- Regulates blood sugar
- Improves liver function
- Strengthens bones
- Boosts immunity
- Promotes dental health
- Relieves inflammation
- Reduces ulcers
- Fights infections
- Prevents cancer
What are the benefits of drinking clove water?
Drinking cloves water is a fantastic way to improve digestion, relieve inflammation, and boost immunity. The antioxidants in cloves water also protect you from various health problems.
Clove water also has anti-inflammatory properties that help manage pain and soreness. It’s also guaranteed to be good for teeth and gums.
What are the side effects of cloves?
Using too many cloves can cause side effects, including gastrointestinal discomfort, skin irritation, seizures, liver damage, and oral irritation.
What are the benefits of cloves to a woman?
Women can make the most out of cloves because of their benefits for the female body. Cloves can alleviate menstrual pain, balance hormones, strengthen bones, boost immunity, promote digestion, moisturize the skin, and improve oral health.
