When you’re restocking your spice rack, you’re probably making sure the basics like garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and turmeric are covered. Of course, salt and pepper are also on the to-buy list.
However, there’s another thing that this list is missing and it’s cloves! They’re abundant in nutrients and can do so much for your health.
Cloves are flower buds that grow from a tropical evergreen tree that’s native to Indonesia. Cloves have been used for centuries in different cuisines and they’re also popular in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine because of their pain-reducing properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and the ability to soothe the digestion.
Clove Water: What Is It & How Does It Improve Your Health?
In one tablespoon of ground cloves, you get the following nutrients:
- 18 calories
- 4 g of carbohydrates
- 2.2 grams of fiber
- .15 grams of sugar
- .4 grams of protein
- 1.3 grams of fat
- 40.5 mg of calcium
- 9 mcg of vitamin K
- 1.9 mg of manganese
Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, registered dietitian and the founder and director of Real Nutrition notes that drinking clove water has plenty of health benefits, particularly for gut health.
Clove water is water steeped with cloves and it’s praised as a natural remedy for optimal hydration, better digestion, removal of bacteria, and stronger immunity. It may also lower the gas formation and better the digestion rates.
It’s the ideal morning drink to get the body energized and working optimally.
How to Make Clove Water at Home?
You will need:
A handful of aromatic cloves
2 cups of water
Prep:
Bring the water to a boil. Add 10 whole cloves. Boil them for 5 to 10 minutes and then leave them to steep for 5 minutes.
Strain the liquid into a cup and enjoy it warm.
The 5 Health Benefits of Drinking Clove Water
- Packed with antioxidants
Cloves aren’t just rich in vitamins and minerals, they also have antioxidants. These compounds reduce oxidative stress associated with chronic illnesses.
Cloves are also packed with eugenol, a compound that acts as a natural antioxidant.
This is why adding clove water to your diet along with other foods and drinks rich in antioxidants may better your overall health.
- Destroys bacteria
Cloves have antimicrobial characteristics and they may help cease the spread of microorganisms like bacteria. In a study, clove essential oil destroyed three types of bacteria, including E.coli which causes food poisoning.
The antibacterial characteristics of cloves may better your oral health and contribute to healthier gums and reduction in plaque and bacteria.
Along with regular brushing and oral hygiene, drinking clove water may benefit your overall oral health.
- Balances the blood sugar levels
The compounds inside cloves may regulate your blood sugar levels.
Studies have concluded that cloves elevate the intake of sugar from the blood into the cells, better insulin secretion, and enhance the functioning of insulin-producing cells.
Insulin is a vital hormone for the transportation of sugar from the blood into the cells and it’s vital to maintain balanced blood sugar levels.
- Strengthens the bones
Low bone mass happens to 43 million older adults in the US alone.
It increases the risk of osteoporosis which may elevate the risk of fractures and breaks.
It’s good to know that clove water may help because some of the compounds found in cloves preserved bone mass in studies done with animals.
Clove extract high in eugenol bettered different markers of osteoporosis and strengthened bone density and strength.
Cloves also contain manganese, a vital mineral for bone formation and bone health.
- Anti-cancer properties
There’s research that indicates that certain compounds inside cloves may help against cancer. In one study, clove extract stopped tumor growth and encouraged cell death in cancerous cells.
The eugenol inside cloves was found to possess anticancer properties as it encouraged cell death in cervical cancer cells.
However, as eugenol is toxic in high amounts, it’s important to know that clove oil overdose may lead to liver damage, particularly in kids, so make sure you’re always using it with caution!
Sources: