Health Benefits
1. Cloves Aid Digestion – Proper digestion is essential for the breakdown of food into nutrients. Our body uses these nutrients for energy, growth, and cell repair. If the food does not break down into smaller molecules, it hinders the absorption of nutrients by the blood. Regular consumption of 1-2 cloves in the morning enhances the secretion of digestive enzymes, thereby preventing disorders like indigestion and constipation. Moreover, they have an ample amount of fibre which is also beneficial for digestive health.

2. Cloves Boost Your Immune System – An efficient immune system is helpful for the protection of your body from outside forces. These forces include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins, chemicals produced by microbes. Cloves have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and gastro-protective properties. This can help boost the immune system.

3. Cloves Control Diabetes – Cloves have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. They help to keep your blood sugar levels in check. They also promote the process of insulin production for better diabetic control.

4. Cloves Fight Oral Diseases – Eugenol is a chemical found in cloves. Since the nineteenth century, it has found its uses in dentistry because of its anaesthetic and antibacterial properties. To get relief from the affected area, place whole cloves in your mouth for several minutes at a time. As per the study, a herbal mouth rinse with clove, tea tree oil, and basil is perfect for dental health. It also serves as antiplaque and antigingivitis agents.

5. Cloves Treat Headaches – Headaches often happen because of deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or nose bridge. They worsen with sudden head movement or straining. Cloves can ease such throbbing headaches. They do it with their cooling and pain-relieving properties. To treat your headache, crush a few cloves and cover them with the help of a handkerchief. Inhale the smell to put your mind at ease.

6. Cloves Help Lose Weight – Clove lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels and puts less stress on your bones and joints. Cloves help in the stimulation of metabolism. They have anti cholesteremic properties to tone down cholesterol. Furthermore, they increase your metabolic rate when you combine them with pepper, cinnamon, and cumin seeds. Thus, these help you lose weight.

7. Cloves Increase Testosterone Levels – Testosterone is a sex hormone that regulates sex drive, bone mass, and fat distribution in men. In addition, it further enhances muscle mass and strength and the production of red blood cells and sperm. Cloves boost testicular function, which increases testosterone levels. They also enhance fertility. Since they increase the blood flow and body temperature, they stimulate energy and nerve function and relieve stress and anxiety. It prevents quick ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. They help support a good intimate life.

8. Cloves Prevent Cancer – Eugenol in cloves possesses strong anti-carcinogenic or chemopreventive properties. Cloves contain betulinic acid and other triterpenes which fight breast, lung, and ovarian cancer in the early stages only. So, to prevent yourself from cancer, eat more cloves.

9. Cloves Cure Natural Bad Breath – The scientific name of bad breath is halitosis. There is an increase in bacteria and foul odour when food particles break down. So, naturally, this happens in and around your teeth. Cloves clean the tongue, palate, and upper part of the throat by removing the bacteria or decaying matter. They have strong aromatic qualities that alter unpleasant smells in the mouth. A blend of cinnamon oil and clove oil assists the treatment of dental caries.

10. Cloves Relieve Stress – Cloves have anti-stress properties that make you feel relaxed and calm. They are rich in antioxidants to protect your cells against free radicals. Eugenol, found in cloves, is very helpful in reducing oxidative stress.

How to Use Cloves?

You have seen multiple benefits that this powerful ingredient provides. What remains is how to use it for various purposes.

• To flavour food: Cloves go well with many Indian dishes with intense flavours and aroma. Add a few cloves to your chutney and pickles and enjoy the special effects that they provide. For warm and spicy dessert, use crushed or ground cloves.
• With drinks: You can add it directly to your tea and strain it. You can also grind some cloves and use them with any hot beverage.
• As an air freshener: You can make your homemade air freshener with the help of cloves. Just mix 5-10 drops of clove oil in some water. Then pour it into a spray bottle and shake well.
• To cure a toothache: Gargle your mouth with some warm clove water to combat any nasty toothache.

Let’s turn to some of the delicious clove recipes to healthify you.

Cloves: Healthy Recipes

#1 Laung Kadha

Preparation time- 15 minutes

Servings- 4

Ingredients:

• Saunf or fennel seeds- 1 tsp
• Ajwain or carom seeds- 2 tsp
• Laung or clove- 4-6 pieces
• Sabut Kali Mirch or black pepper- 2-4 pieces
• Jeera or cumin- 1 tsp
• Water- 4 glasses
• Jaggery- 1 tbsp

Directions:

1. Gather all the ingredients.
2. Add water and all the ingredients in a container except jaggery.
3. Boil this water on full flame for around 5-10 minutes.
4. Then add jaggery and boil on low flame/simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Continue boiling till it gets reduced to 1.5 glasses.
6. Use half a teaspoon of grated ginger to enhance the flavour.

Your Kadha is ready to heal you!

#2 Clove Tea

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

• Ground cloves- 1 tsp
• Water- 1 cup

Directions:

1. Take one tablespoon of whole cloves and grind it.
2. Add a cup of water to a pan.
3. Then add the cloves and bring it to a boil.
4. Steep it for approximately 3-4 minutes.
5. Let it cool, strain and serve warm.

Benefits:

• Helps in weight loss
• Boosts immunity
• Helps manage diabetes

Drink it early in the morning for maximum benefits.

Cloves: Precautions and Side Effects

There are certain situations when you should use cloves with utmost care. These are as follows:

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding- Cloves are usually used to enhance the taste of certain food items. But there is a lack of evidence to state this use in larger quantities and its effect on pregnant ladies.
• Children: You should never consume clove oil orally. It might cause symptoms of seizures, liver damage, and fluid imbalances.
• Bleeding disorders: Eugenol slows down the process of blood clotting. People suffering from bleeding disorders should not use clove oil. It might lead to unwanted bleeding and can cause other such complications.
• Surgery: Chemicals found in cloves affect blood sugar levels. As mentioned above, they are also responsible for slowing blood clotting. They might disrupt the normal functioning of the body. Hence, don’t use them two weeks before and after your scheduled surgery.

Precautions:

• Do not consume cloves in excess amounts for medicinal purposes. They do not cause any severe symptoms when taken through food. But, the quantities should be limited.
• Clove oil or cream with extracts of clove flower is safe and effective for your skin. However, the frequent oral application should be restricted. It might damage your gums, tooth pulp, skin, and mucous membranes in ways you would least expect.
• You may suffer from breathing problems and lung infections if you inhale smoke from clove cigarettes. These might also happen if you inject clove oil into the veins. Hence, do not make such rash and irresponsible decisions.
• A dried clove has the possibility of causing mouth sensitivity and irritation.