Why you should include Cloves in your Foods and Drinks

Herbs and spices have become very important to our everyday nutrition. This is not just because they add amazing flavors to our food and drinks and take our taste buds to the next level of oomph. However, herbs and spices also play a significant role in promoting health and preventing diseases. They have set places in traditional cuisines all over the world.

Herbs and spices have shown to contain phytochemicals which have powerful antioxidant activities; thus they have a strong role in reducing oxidative stress. This is essential for us to be healthy.

Today I am focusing on a particular spice – Clove.

It is my focus because a number of researches have shown that it has very high antioxidant properties. In fact, some lists place clove as the number one spice in terms of its powerful antioxidant properties.

Some researches also have shown that it may protect against cancer.

What is Clove?

Clove is the flower bud of the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum). Locally, the clove is called Kanafuru in Nigeria. They are usually harvested before the flower opens up.

What Does It ontain?

1 teaspoon of ground cloves contain (according to the USDA National Nutrient database):

Energy  – 6kcal

Protein – 0.13g

Fat – 0.27g

Fibre – 1.38g

Calcium – 13 mg

Iron – 0.25mg

Magnesium – 5mg

Potassium – 21mg

They also contain little quantities of folate, vitamin A, vitamin K, Vitamin E, and sodium.

In terms of phytochemicals, Cloves contain a concentration of Eugenol, which is a compound responsible for its antibacterial and anaesthetic abilities.

Cloves also contain an anticancer agent called Sesquiterpenes.

What are Cloves Used For?

It is a common spice in Asian, African and middle Eastern cuisines. This spice is popular for flavouring meats, curries and for marinading.

In Nigeria, it is a popular component of the Yaji (Suya spices) and it features in the making of Zobo drink (roselle calyx drink /hibiscus drink). It is also used in soups and stews.

In Indonesia, where it is largely produced and exported, cloves are used to make Kretek, clove cigarette, made of tobacco and cloves. However, this cigarette is not regarded as safe because the risk of lung damage is higher than the normal cigarette.

However, cloves have longstanding traditional importance as they have been used in the treatment of different ailments.

In modern day dentistry, cloves are used as a relief for toothache and you can find it as a component of some toothpaste.

It also has preservative properties. As far back as 1980, researches have shown that cloves can prolong shelf-life of open market meats. Fast forward to 2010, the telegraph UK wrote an article about scientists who were looking to see if cloves, having high content of antioxidant activity, could replace synthetic antioxidants used to preserve food.

Any Toxicity?

Eugenol, the compound in cloves that is responsible for its antifungal, antiseptic and anesthetic ability, is said to be toxic even in relatively small quantities. Eugenol, when consumed in high amounts can cause liver damage.

In 2007, a study was carried out by Nwaopara and colleagues on the effect of spices in Yaji (suya spice) on the liver. The results showed that excessively consuming the spices inYaji could cause acute hepatitis. These spices include clove, ginger, black pepper, and red pepper. Please note that the Yaji, when consumed moderately, has beneficial effects on the body (according to a 2013 study by Eruke and colleagues).

How Can You Use It?

Apart from how it is often used in cooking, cloves can also be made into tea, of course using a little quantity due to its strong flavor and toxicity if consumed in high amount.

If drinking it as a tea does not appeal to you, you can include it as a spice to boil your meats and other fleshy foods. You can use it to spice up your regular soups, stews and drinks.

Bottom Line

Optimizing your health is important in these days where the risks of cancers and other chronic diseases are high in many societies of the world. Herbs and spices have shown high antioxidant properties which is important in the prevention of diseases and promotion of health.

Cloves are being revealed as a powerful spice that can improve health and reduce the risk of diseases. Why not include it in your diet? You can easily get it in the African markets and you only need a small quantity at a time.

As always, don’t forget to eat better and live better.

Some notes:

Nwaopara, A.O., M.A.C. Odike, U. Inegbenebor, M.I. Adoye, 2007. The Combined effects of excessive consumption of ginger, clove, red pepper and black pepper on the histology of the liver. Pak. J. Nutr. 6(6): 524-527.

Eruke, O.K., Okechukwu, M.M., and Bassey, E.E, 2013. Effects Of Consumption Of Yaji (Clove, Ginger, Garlic And Red Pepper) On Some Haematological Parameters Of Wistar Albino Rats. Research Journal in Engineering and Applied Sciences 2(2) 120-125.