Clove is more than just a spice you spit out when you accidentally chew on it. This spice, which is native to South Asia, actually has plenty of health benefits. While it is most commonly used as a flavoring in most Asian recipes, cloves also play a major role in traditional medicinal practices. Even today, they’re widely recognized for their amazing health properties. Here are eight ways eating cloves can benefit your health.
1. It’s A Natural Antibiotic : Studies on the effects of clove have shown that it can kill harmful bacteria. While you shouldn’t replace your antibiotics with clove, they can support your recovery process. Eating cloves regularly can also kill pathogens before they cause you any harm. This makes them a strong preventative remedy against disease.
2. It Protects Your Liver ; Our liver is our body’s main detoxifying agent. However, the more harmful compounds it comes into contact with, the more damage it can incur. Free radicals can multiply in your liver, causing damage to its cells. Cloves fight these free radicals and protect your liver. So if you follow an unhealthy diet or an unhealthy lifestyle, it’s a good idea to eat plenty of cloves to counter the damage caused to your liver.
3. It Might Be An Aphrodisiac : Cloves aren’t just great for your physical health, there’s evidence it might also boost your sexual prowess. In ancient medicine, clove was administered to increase a person’s virility. Modern studies have shown that cloves can increase a man’s testosterone levels, therefore boosting his sex drive.
4. It Helps In Maintaining Good Oral Health: Many forms of traditional Asian medicine recommend chewing on cloves to keep your mouth healthy. Because of their antibacterial properties, they protect your teeth and gums from harmful germs. Chewing buds of cloves has been seen to effectively treat gum diseases like gingivitis. Cloves are also believed to fight bad breath.
5. It Controls Your Blood Sugar Levels: Chronically high levels of sugar in your bloodstream is very dangerous. It can either put you at a high risk for diabetes or worsen your condition if you already have diabetes. Eating cloves after a meal can to some extent regulate your blood sugar levels. It produces a compound which is similar to insulin and lowers your sugar levels.
6. It Can Give You Clear Skin : Cloves can be used internally and topically to cure acne. Eating cloves reduces inflammation and harmful bacteria which are the root cause of acne. It can also be ground into fine powder and added to face packs to apply on affected areas. It can soothe inflamed skin and prevent acne from spreading. Clove oil can also be added to your skin creams to make them more effective against acne.
7. It Prevents Cells From Mutating : When healthy cells come into contact with harmful compounds, their very DNA structure can alter, causing them to mutate.
This is very dangerous because it can lead to the spread of cancer. Cloves contain powerful compounds which protect cells and prevent them from mutating.
This keeps your body healthy and helps prevent cancer.
8. It Improves Digestion
Cloves are a very effective digestive aid.
Chewing on them after a meal can ease digestion and save you from discomfort.
They increase the secretion of stomach enzymes, which helps your food breakdown completely.
This prevents digestive troubles like flatulence, bloating and indigestion.
