We are always talking about the benefits of eating seasonally. Eating what is fresh and in the stores keeps your diet varied and the cost of your groceries down! It can help you meet your nutritional needs,encourage you to try new healthy things and make cooking more fun when you use ingredients you don’t usually reach for.
Today, we’re talking about the joy of a seasonal flavor: cloves! Cloves are a distinctly fall and winter spice. The taste is comforting and warm. It’s perfect in baked goods, and whole cloves can be steeped into a rich, spicy tea!
Cloves are rich in compounds that can increase insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar. So in addition to tasting of fall, theycan aid your health.
Cloves are made from the dried flower of the clove tree. They can add a depth of flavors, so while they are usually used in baking, they also help season meat and curries. They are high in manganese, vitamin K, potassium,beta-carotene and eugenol. While you never use enough spice for it to have a large impact on your macros, cloves have an equal amount of carbs and fiber, so they have no net carbs.
Cloves contain compounds that fight inflammation. Some people use cloves to manage the symptoms of arthritis. The antioxidants in cloves can lower the risk of heart problems, blood sugar concerns and some cancers. The antioxidants can also boost the immune system. That’s essential during cold and flu season! Cloves can also reduce the risk of ulcers and aid liver health. Clove oil can also help tooth pain and other dental concerns. Plus, cloves can aid digestive health and boost enzymes that absorb nutrients.
In animal studies, clove oil has improved bone mass. The eugenol and manganese appeared to improve the formation of bone. However, that hasn’t been studied in humans.
The eugenol in cloves can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, for some people.That can be dangerous. So, keeping an eye on your blood sugar when enjoying cloves is important. Swallowing pure clove oil is toxic, can harm your liver and can make you seriously ill.
Cloves can interact with blood thinners and some blood sugar medications.As a quarter teaspoon in a cookie mix, it’s probably fine, but before you start drinking clove tea or adding it to all your fall recipes, you should speak to your doctor about whether cloves may interact with your current routine. Even natural spices can interact with prescription medications, so we always recommend speaking to your doctor before making changes to your diet or exercise routine.
Banner image: Eva Bronzini via Pexels
