13 Surprising Benefits Of Cloves

[donnay]

13Surprising Benefits Of Cloves

Cloves offer many health benefits, some of which include aiding in digestion, fighting against cancer, protecting the liver, boosting the immune system, controlling diabetes, and preserving bone quality. They also contain anti-mutagenic and anti-microbial properties, along with fighting against oral diseases and headaches, while also displaying aphrodisiac properties.

What Are Cloves?
Cloves are one of the spices indigenous to Asian countries like Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and even areas of East Africa. It is native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia. They are a popular flavoring agent used in a variety of ways across the world, particularly in Asia and cloves form a culinary base in a number of different Asian cuisines.

Clove, just like many other spices originating in Asia, has a great history behind it. During the 13th and 14th centuries, cloves were transported all the way from Indonesia to China, India, Persia, Africa, and Europe. During this time, cloves had a very high price, and thus wars for monopoly over clove production and distribution began. Many wars were waged in order to control the islands of Maluku during both the medieval and modern periods. The Dutch emerged victoriously and held the Maluku islands for a very long time. Today, clove is a very important commercial crop all around the world.

Scientific Facts About Clove

Clove is the dried bud of the flower from the tree Syzygium aromaticum. It belongs to the plant family named Myrtaceae. The plant is an evergreen plant growing in tropical and subtropical conditions. Clove is an herb and people use various parts of the plant, including the dried bud, stems, and leaves to make medicine. Clove oil is also famous for its medicinal properties.

Clove has been used for thousands of years in India and China not only as a spice and condiment but also as a medicine for many ailments. Ayurvedic medicine used cloves for tooth decay, halitosis, and bad breath. In Chinese medicine, clove was considered to possess aphrodisiac properties.

Cloves Nutrition Facts
According to the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, the nutrients found in 100 grams of cloves include 65 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of protein, 13 grams of total lipids, 2 grams of sugars, 274 kcal of energy, and 33 grams of dietary fibers. Minerals in cloves include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, and zinc. The vitamins found in them include vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, and vitamin K.



Bioactive Substances in Cloves

Certain bioactive compounds have been isolated from clove extracts. Some of them include flavonoids, hexane, methylene chloride, ethanol, thymol, eugenol, and benzene. These biochemicals have been reported to possess various properties, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Health Benefits Of Cloves
Health benefits of cloves include:

Better Digestion
Cloves improve digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes. Cloves are also good for reducing flatulence, gastric irritability, dyspepsia, and nausea. They can be roasted, powdered, or taken with honey for relief in digestive disorders.

Antibacterial Properties
Cloves have been tested for their antibacterial properties against a number of human pathogens. The extracts of cloves were potent enough to kill those pathogens. Clove extracts are also effective against the specific bacteria that spread cholera.

Chemo-preventive Properties
Cloves are of interest to the medical community due to their chemo-preventive or anti-carcinogenic properties. Tests have shown that they are helpful in controlling lung cancer at its early stages.

Liver Protection
Cloves contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are ideal for protecting the 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. Clove extracts are helpful in counteracting these effects with its hepatoprotective properties.

Diabetes Control
Cloves have been used in many traditional remedies for a number of diseases. One such disease is diabetes. In patients suffering from diabetes, the amount of insulin produced by the body is either insufficient, or it is not produced at all. Studies have revealed that extracts from cloves imitate insulin in certain ways and help in controlling blood sugar levels.

Bone Preservation
The hydro-alcoholic extracts of cloves include phenolic compounds such as eugenol and its derivatives, such as flavones, isoflavones, and flavonoids. These extracts have been particularly helpful in preserving bone density and the mineral content of bone, as well as increasing tensile strength of bones in case of osteoporosis.

Anti-mutagenic Properties
Mutagens are those chemicals that change the genetic makeup of the DNA by causing mutations. Biochemical compounds found in cloves, like phenylpropanoids, possess anti-mutagenic properties. These were administered to cells treated with mutagens and they were able to control the mutagenic effects to a significant rate.

Boosts the Immune System
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 help in improving the immune system by increasing the white blood cell count, thereby, improving delayed-type hypersensitivity.



Anti-inflammatory Properties
Cloves possess 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 has the ability to reduce pain by stimulating pain receptors.

Cure for Oral Diseases
Cloves can be taken for gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. Clove bud extracts significantly control the growth of oral pathogens, which are responsible for various oral diseases. Cloves can also be used for toothaches due to their pain-killing properties.

Aphrodisiac Properties
Spices such as clove and nutmeg have been said to possess aphrodisiac properties, according to Unani medicine. Experiments on clove and nutmeg extracts were tested against standard drugs administered for that reason, and both clove and nutmeg showed positive results.

Cure for Headaches
Headaches can be reduced by using cloves. Make a paste of a few cloves and mix it with a dash of rock salt. Add this to a glass of milk. This mixture reduces headaches quickly and effectively.

Side Effects Of Using Clove
Clove Oil: Clove oils must not be used directly; instead they must be diluted either in olive oil or in distilled water. Clove extract oil is generally considered to be safe, but certain studies have revealed that they possess cytotoxic properties. There are two major components present in clove extract oil; eugenol, and B-caryophyllene. These compounds were particularly effective against fibroblasts and endothelial cells.

Clove Cigarettes: In Indonesia, cloves are consumed on a large scale in the form of cigarettes, popularly known as kreteks. These clove cigarettes have emerged as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes, but research shows that clove cigarettes are actually worse than conventional cigarettes. In the case of clove cigarettes, the amount of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar entering into the lungs was higher than that from normal tobacco cigarettes.

References
http://books.google.co.in/books?id=0q_r9aYSF_MC
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/251.html
http://books.google.co.in/books?id=C0D3z66O8Q8C
https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/261
http://www.relaquim.com/archive/2007/p2007353-47.pdf
http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/27/8/1645
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.09.024
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...19.2010.511216
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf030247q
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1....0017/abstract
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?scri...rm=iso&tlng=en
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np960451q
http://bmccomplementalternmed.biomed.../1472-6882-3-6
http://books.google.co.in/books?id=C0D3z66O8Q8C
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...384.x/abstract
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0091-3057(02)01076-6
http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index...cle/view/71964

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-...esignal20mar18

[acptulsa]

Clove Cigarettes: In Indonesia, cloves are consumed on a large scale in the form of cigarettes, popularly known as kreteks. These clove cigarettes have emerged as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes...

Clove cigarettes have tobacco. The ground cloves are just a flavoring agent. If they lacked tobacco, where would the nicotine come from? Cloves don't contain any. And whether they deliver more tar to the lungs depends on how hard the smoker sucks on them.

So what is the thirteenth health benefit? I only count twelve.

[donnay]

Clove cigarettes have tobacco. The ground cloves are just a flavoring agent. If they lacked tobacco, where would the nicotine come from? Cloves don't contain any. And whether they deliver more tar to the lungs depends on how hard the smoker sucks on them.

So what is the thirteenth health benefit? I only count twelve.

Nutritional.

Cloves Nutrition Facts
According to the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, the nutrients found in 100 grams of cloves include 65 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of protein, 13 grams of total lipids, 2 grams of sugars, 274 kcal of energy, and 33 grams of dietary fibers. Minerals in cloves include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, and zinc. The vitamins found in them include vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, and vitamin K.

[Lamp]

I hate cloves

[dannno]

I hate cloves

You don't like chai tea? Apple pie spice?

[donnay]

I love cloves!

The Health Benefits of Cloves

by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

Cloves are the dried flower buds of the Syzygium aromaticum tree. While the tree is indigenous to the Maluka Islands of Indonesia, cloves are now found in India, the West Indies, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Madagascar. For over 2,000 years, Indian and Chinese traditional medicine has made extensive use of cloves and clove oil. Arabic traders first brought the fragrant buds to Europe in the fourth century. It wasn’t until the seventh and eighth centuries that cloves became popular as a food preservative in Europe. Today, cloves are found in spice racks and grocery stores throughout the world, and a growing body of scientific evidence supports their use as a natural remedy against harmful microorganisms.


Cloves Quick Facts
Scientific Name Syzygium aromaticum
Family Myrtaceae
Origin Indonesia
Health Benefits Antioxidants, Soothes, Resists Harmful Organisms, Digestive Support
Common Uses Cooking Spice and Traditional Medicine
Cloves Resist Harmful Organisms
Cloves contain eugenol, a powerful phytochemical that offers many benefits and is also responsible for cloves’ distinct odor. Research has repeatedly shown that cloves and eugenol are effective at establishing an environment that is resistant to harmful organisms.[1, 2] When Portuguese researchers evaluated eugenol against harmful organisms that target the gut, they observed that eugenol might offer potential as a natural therapy for promoting balance.[3]

Clove, wintergreen, cinnamon, and peppermint are just some of the many essential oils that have demonstrated action against harmful organisms, including Candida.[4, 5] An interesting practical application of this benefit is common in Japan where researchers believe that spices like cloves protect seafood dishes against microbes that cause foodborne illnesses.[6]

More than just an annoyance, insects like mosquitoes carry disease. Unfortunately, many bug repellant sprays contain toxic chemicals, such as DEET. According to Duke University, clove oil is a natural insect repellant for those who want to avoid harsh, chemical deterrents.[7] Research conducted by Thailand’s Mahidol University found clove oil to be extremely effective at repelling mosquitoes.[8]

Cloves Have Antioxidant Activity
The oxidative damage caused by free radicals wreaks havoc that can interrupt cellular function and affect your health and how you feel. Antioxidants defend against oxidative damage and spices are among the best sources of antioxidants. Like sage and oregano, cloves contain concentrated stores of antioxidants that encourage normal aging and immune system function and support cellular integrity at its most basic level.[9, 10]

Cloves Support Digestive Health
Clove oil can relieve occasional gas and bloating. It reduces gas pressure in the stomach and supports the proper elimination of waste. It may relieve stomach discomfort and can be effective against nausea, hiccups, motion sickness and vomiting.

Cloves Promote Oral Health
Clove oil, which encourages healthy teeth and gums, is a traditional remedy for relieving toothache, sore gums, and oral discomfort. With an action similar to capsaicin, the eugenol in cloves depresses the sensitivity of receptors that register discomfort. For even more soothing action, cloves contain beta-caryophyllene, which has a fast-acting (but short-lived) effect against discomfort.[10]

Cloves Encourage Normal Blood Sugar
In animal studies, cloves were found to promote normal blood sugar in mice,[11, 12] an effect that warrants further investigation in human trials. It appears one of the many compounds in cloves supports normal sugar formation in the liver.[10]

Cloves Are Ideal for Bone Support
In one study, researchers found that eugenol in dried cloves helped preserve bone density, reduce bone loss, and protect bone tensile strength in mice. This evidence serves as a catalyst for the idea that cloves may have support normal bone health in human.[13] More research is necessary to validate this notion.

Other Benefits of Cloves
In Asia, the incidence of some diseases is lower than in western nations. The culinary styles in Asia also use a heavy hand with spices such as turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. These spices, which can soothe irritation, may support normal brain health even in the face of aging.[14]

Tips for Growing Cloves
Growing cloves is a challenging endeavor, and you’ll need a lot of patience to get to your harvest. Going from seed to the first harvest takes 15 to 20 years. If you’re still determined to grow cloves, make sure you live in a tropical zone—zones 10 and 11 to be specific. Though the tree will grow in subtropical zones, it may not flower, which, unfortunately, means it won’t produce cloves.

To start growing cloves, soak the whole clove fruit in water overnight to remove the fruit flesh from the seeds. The seeds must be moist or come inside the clove fruit to be viable. You cannot grow from dry seeds. After removing the fruit, “plant” the shorn seeds either by barely covering or just leaving the seeds uncovered on top of your germinating medium. Young trees are very thirsty in the first years, so make sure you water often. They should remain in the germinating medium for about six months until they’re hardy enough plant in soil. Finally, plant the seedling in an area where it is protected from the wind.

After planting cloves, you’ll need to water often to keep the plant hydrated and healthy. Around the sixth or seventh year, the tree should yield a few flower buds, but around year 15 you should have enough buds for your first legitimate harvest. To harvest, pick the buds before they open. Once a bud has started turning pink, it’s too late to harvest. Dry your fresh-picked cloves in the sun for a few days until they’ve lost over 50 percent of their weight and turned brown.

Supplementing With Cloves
Cloves have a strong flavor and thorny texture that prevents their enjoyment as a snack food. But, don’t let that keep you from incorporating them into your diet. Try to add clove (and cinnamon) to smoothies or your morning coffee to bump up the flavor. You can also add ground cloves, or clove oil, to empty capsules. Organic cloves are readily available in most grocery stores, spice shops, and online.

Have you tried cooking or supplementing with cloves? What benefits have you noticed? Leave a comment and let us know!

References (14)
He M, Du M, Fan M, Bian Z. "In vitro activity of eugenol against Candida albicans biofilms." Mycopathologia. 2007 Mar;163(3):137-43. Epub 2007 Mar 14.
Pinto E, Vale-Silva L, Cavaleiro C, Salgueiro L. "Antifungal activity of the clove essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum on Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species." J Med Microbiol. 2009 Nov;58(Pt 11):1454-62. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.010538-0. Epub 2009 Jul 9.
Machado M, Dinis AM, Salgueiro L, Custódio JB, Cavaleiro C, Sousa MC. "Anti-Giardia activity of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil and eugenol: effects on growth, viability, adherence and ultrastructure." Exp Parasitol. 2011 Apr;127(4):732-9. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.01.011. Epub 2011 Jan 25.
Chaudhari LK, Jawale BA, Sharma S, Sharma H, Kumar CD, Kulkarni PA. "Antimicrobial activity of commercially available essential oils against Streptococcus mutans." J Contemp Dent Pract. 2012 Jan 1;13(1):71-4.
Chami N, Bennis S, Chami F, Aboussekhra A, Remmal A. "Study of anticandidal activity of carvacrol and eugenol in vitro and in vivo." Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2005 Apr;20(2):106-11.
Yano Y, Satomi M, Oikawa H. "Antimicrobial effect of spices and herbs on Vibrio parahaemolyticus." Int J Food Microbiol. 2006 Aug 15;111(1):6-11. Epub 2006 Jun 22.
Shapiro R. "Prevention of vector transmitted diseases with clove oil insect repellent." J Pediatr Nurs. 2012 Aug;27(4):346-9. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2011.03.011. Epub 2011 May 25. Review.
Trongtokit Y, Rongsriyam Y, Komalamisra N, Apiwathnasorn C. "Comparative repellency of 38 essential oils against mosquito bites." Phytother Res. 2005 Apr;19(4):303-9.
Blomhoff R. [Antioxidants and oxidative stress]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2004 Jun 17;124(12):1643-5. Review.
"Herbs and Natural Supplements, volume 1, 4th edition: Braun & Cohen." 2014. Print. 11 Jan. 2017.
Kuroda, M, et al. "Hypoglycemic Effects of Clove (Syzygium Aromaticum Flower Buds) on Genetically Diabetic KK-Ay Mice and Identification of the Active Ingredients." Journal of Natural Medicine (2012): 394–399. Web. 11 Jan. 2017.
Sanae, F, et al. "Effects of Eugenol-Reduced Clove Extract on Glycogen Phosphorylase B and the Development of Diabetes in Db/db Mice." Food & function. 5.2 (2013): 214–9. Web. 11 Jan. 2017.
Karmakar, S, et al. "Clove (Syzygium Aromaticum Linn) Extract Rich in Eugenol and Eugenol Derivatives Shows Bone-Preserving Efficacy." Natural Product Research 26.6 (2011): 500–9. Web. 11 Jan. 2017.
Yoshifumi, Irie. "Effects of Eugenol on the Central Nervous System: Its Possible Application to Treatment of Alzheimers Disease, Depression, and Parkinsons Disease." Current Bioactive Compounds 13.4 (2017): n.pag. Web. 11 Jan. 2017.

https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/...its-of-cloves/

[Lamp]

You don't like chai tea? Apple pie spice?

No I hate it when nobody bothers to remove them after using them as a flavoring.

[acptulsa]

Nutritional.

A hundred grams? Good Lord. You could spice enough ham and beans and pumpkin pie to feed a battalion for a week and that would be too much.

[donnay]

A hundred grams? Good Lord. You could spice enough ham and beans and pumpkin pie to feed a battalion for a week and that would be too much.

Six and a half tablespoons of ground cloves equals 100 grams. 100g = 3.527396oz. Lots of good recipes out there for ground cloves.

It's a great parasite intestinal cleanser too.

I use cloves in my Elderberry syrup that I make to help build up my immune system during cold and flu season.

[acptulsa]

Six and a half tablespoons of ground cloves equals 100 grams. 100g = 3.527396oz. Lots of good recipes out there for ground cloves.

It's a great parasite intestinal cleanser too.

I use cloves in my Elderberry syrup that I make to help build up my immune system during cold and flu season.

One teaspoon of cloves in a pot of ham and beans is enough to ensure you can't taste the ham.

[donnay]

One teaspoon of cloves in a pot of ham and beans is enough to ensure you can't taste the ham.

But just think how healthy you are.

[acptulsa]

But just think how healthy you are.

I'm how healthy I am because I make ham and beans I can actually eat. If I needed massive doses of cloves, that would taste good to me. Apparently my body prefers I get my actual bulk nutrients from the ham and beans and squash and peppers, not the spices.

[specsaregood]

There is only 1 type of clove I'm consuming.



And consume a lot of it I do.

[donnay]

There is only 1 type of clove I'm consuming.



And consume a lot of it I do.

Yum!

[Lamp]

I like garlic

[donnay]

I like garlic

That's good, we know you are not a vampire then.

[dannno]

That's good, we know you are not a vampire then.

[Zippyjuan]

Six and a half tablespoons of ground cloves equals 100 grams. 100g = 3.527396oz. Lots of good recipes out there for ground cloves.

It's a great parasite intestinal cleanser too.

I use cloves in my Elderberry syrup that I make to help build up my immune system during cold and flu season.

100 grams is almost a quarter of a pound. That is four of these every day:

[specsaregood]

Yum!

DW, just put that in lieu of tomato sauce on some homemade pizza -- with broccoli and sausage. yum, indeed.

[donnay]

100 grams is almost a quarter of a pound. That is four of these every day:

Who said every day?

[acptulsa]

No I hate it when nobody bothers to remove them after using them as a flavoring.

The horror! The inhumanity!

And I suppose removing them yourself required you use so many calories that you starved to death?

Who said every day?

If you're depending on it for your nutrition, you had better choke down more than that every day. Even that much too much only nets you six grams of protein.

[donnay]

DW, just put that in lieu of tomato sauce on some homemade pizza -- with broccoli and sausage. yum, indeed.

Double Yum!

You need to get one of these...

[donnay]

Clove cigarettes have tobacco. The ground cloves are just a flavoring agent. If they lacked tobacco, where would the nicotine come from? Cloves don't contain any. And whether they deliver more tar to the lungs depends on how hard the smoker sucks on them.

kretek
[kree-tek]
Spell Syllables
Word Origin
noun, Slang.
1.a cigarette made of Indonesian tobacco and cloves.

If you're depending on it for your nutrition, you had better choke down more than that every day. Even that much too much only nets you six grams of protein.

*SIGH*

Incorporating it into your diet is good--there are many ways you can do it.

[acptulsa]

*SIGH*

Incorporating it into your diet is good--there are many ways you can do it.

Thank you for confirming what I said about clove cigarettes, which still contradicts your article.

And I just had clove, thank you very much. Simmered the ham bone for hours with clove, thyme, garlic and pepper, among other things, before adding navy beans and squash (and the ham). Did I not mention that recipe above? I also refuse to make pumpkin pie without it.

But you said it was useful for nutrition. And I still say you can't choke down enough of the stuff on a dare to stay alive on its nutritional value. Tell me I'm being unrealistic.

[Lamp]

Jeez what the $#@! is your problem? Its none of your business who likes or doesn't like cloves. It's perfectly natural not to.

[Zippyjuan]

Who said every day?

To achieve the nutritional benefits your OP article claims, that is what it says your dose should be.

Cloves Nutrition Facts

According to the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, the nutrients found in 100 grams of cloves include 65 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of protein, 13 grams of total lipids, 2 grams of sugars, 274 kcal of energy, and 33 grams of dietary fibers. Minerals in cloves include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, and zinc. The vitamins found in them include vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, and vitamin K.

Normal consumption amounts will be too small to have any impact on your overall health (but may help foods taste good).

[acptulsa]

To achieve the nutritional benefits your OP article claims, that is what it says your dose should be.



Normal consumption amounts will be too small to have any impact on your overall health (but may help foods taste good).

Now you're just as bad as that article is. Just because you have to choke down a six month supply to get six lousy mg of protein does not mean it has no other health benefits besides nutrition. As a matter of fact, I don't believe anyone has done a definitive, double-blind study to determine what clove is and isn't capable of doing. So, you can't definitively say what its impact on overall health may be.

[Zippyjuan]

Now you're just as bad as that article is. Just because you have to choke down a six month supply to get six lousy mg of protein does not mean it has no other health benefits besides nutrition. As a matter of fact, I don't believe anyone has done a definitive, double-blind study to determine what clove is and isn't capable of doing. So, you can't definitively say what its impact on overall health may be.

Which would make the claims unsubstantiated.

[acptulsa]

Which would make the claims unsubstantiated.

Huh, ya think?

Like your claims that the Fed monkeying with the money supply ever ameliorated the effects of a recession are unsubstantiated? Just pretty much exactly like that?

Care to ask me whether I think it's more likely that cloves have unsubstantiated health benefits or the Fed actually lessens recessions and helps them end more quickly?