Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family of Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands (or the Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice. Cloves are available throughout the year due to different harvest seasons in different countries and are mostly harvested in their immature stage and then dried (Wikipedia).
Naturally, cloves are known as a sweet and aromatic spice and are mostly used in traditional medicine, Indian cuisine, and baked gingerbread.
Research in animal studies has it that the compounds in cloves may have several health benefits from supporting liver health to stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Cloves Nutrition Facts
According to the USDA, Food Data Central, nutrients in cloves include;
carbohydrates, protein, energy, and dietary fiber while the minerals are potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium.
The vitamins found in them include vitamin E, folate, and niacin. They also contain phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin A and K.
important nutrients in Cloves
Clove can also be used in manufacturing toothpaste, soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, and cigarettes because of its significant nutrients. [1]
How to make a cloves tea
- One spoon full of whole cloves
- One cup of water
Steps…
Add a cup of water and add cloves in a pan, then allow to boil. Turn off the flame after 3-5 minutes. Add honey to your cup of tea, this section is optional except you choose to make it sweet.
Cloves tea are mostly enjoyed in the morning while making sure you don’t take it in excess because excess intake of clove tea might harm your health. If you are undergoing any kind of medical treatment then make sure you consult your physician before making clove tea a part of your diet. [2]
Benefits of Clove tea
1. Oral infusion
For a long time, the drinking of clove tea has been used to soothe abdominal pain. Clove tea contains significant qualities that work well with those that suffers stomach upset. Cloves promote blood flow, saliva production and gastric secretions to increase digestion. Clove tea has also been used to kill intestinal parasites and works equally well at killing bacteria and fungus infections.
Basic Active ingredients: The basic active ingredient in cloves is eugenol, an essential oil, which is responsible for the distinctive aroma of cloves.
Eugenol is still used in the perfume industry, cigarette industry, pharmaceuticals, pest industry, modern dentistry, and majorly in food preparation.
Chemically, eugenol has antiseptic and anesthetic properties. It is possible to over ingest eugenol. Clove oil in large doses is both nephrotoxic (poisonous to kidneys) and hepatotoxic (poisonous to the liver). Safe amounts are less than 1,500 ppm (parts per million). Lethal doses of eugenol are 3.752g per kg body weight. [3]
2. Regulate Blood sugar
According to official and private statistics, the rate of diabetes patients in our country has increased in the last decade, in which our country has become the world’s largest diabetes capitol. Unfortunately, people who are getting infected every year, most of them are under 40 years of age.
In such a situation, regular intake of clove tea is the best remedy that can keep the body in a healthy condition. Because nigreasin is present in this elemental element, after entering the body, increases the efficiency of insulin so much that blood sugar levels do not get the chance to go out of control. [4]
3. Helps to Soothe arthritic pain
If you are suffering from arthritis it would be perfect to try ice-cold clove tea compress for effective relief. As cloves are known to be powerful analgesic agents, applying cold compresses with its tea relieves joint pain, muscle pain, swelling and ligament injury. Apply the compress for 15-20 minutes twice or thrice in a day to get relief from arthritic pain.
4. Kills intestinal parasites
Clove tea has been used for centuries to kill intestinal parasites. The presence of anti-inflammatory compounds in clove is responsible for clearing parasites from the body and relieve its symptoms, namely abdominal pain and upset stomach. [5]
5. Infection treatment
For ladies who are suffering from vaginal yeast infections, clove tea could be douched every day for approximately 5 days. In addition, for those with fungal infections of the bowel, an enema preparation manufactured to the specifications of the douche may be used in the same way (daily for 4-5 days).
6. Antiseptic Qualities
Cloves tea also offers several high antiseptic qualities. It can help to avoid bacterial infections and may also enhance dental hygiene simply by restricting bacteria within the mouth too. The volatile oils which are contained in this tea assist to clean the body and may also be utilized topically to help heal exterior wounds. Using cooled clove tea to the skin might help protect cuts, scrapes, along with other wounds from bacterial infections. [6]
7. Liver protection
The liver is a very vital organ in the body, protecting the liver should be a priority because of its important functions. Cloves are fairly rich in antioxidant which helps the body to prevent roaming radicals. Cloves protect it against the increase in radical and lipid production which might be a result of metabolism.
8. Anti-carcinogenic
Recent studies have shown that clove contains a very high anti-carcinogenic substance which can help protect the body against the growth of cancers. This was applied significantly to lung cancer and the result have shown that cloves tea can stop it completely.[7]
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