From its oil, leaves, flowers and roots, the clove has countless benefits for your body — used both for wellbeing and to add colour and variety to food. Here are its benefits and how to use it.
The clove spice, obtained from the Syzygium aromaticum tree, belongs to the Myrtaceae family. Used by Chinese emperors and the ancient Romans, this wonderful spice was once as precious as gold — and it seems to have lost none of that value today.
Thanks to its tannins, flavonoids, triterpenoids and essential oils, the clove has antioxidant, antiseptic, local-anaesthetic, anti-inflammatory, calming and anti-bloating/gas effects. Because it contains essential oils like eugenol, it has a sweet, aromatic scent and taste. Its anaesthetic and antiseptic qualities mean this valuable spice is often used for oral and dental health. If you'd like fresher breath, try popping a few cloves in your mouth.
Cloves are just as helpful for digestion. Used with food or after eating, cloves help you digest by increasing bowel movement and the release of digestive enzymes. If you have serious indigestion after meals or chronic constipation, you'll see real benefit from eating cloves regularly.
Alongside minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and magnesium, this remarkable spice also contains vitamin A and beta-carotene. With its antioxidants and flavonoids, it strengthens your immunity and may help support the body's protection against certain cancers, such as lung and oral cancer. Rich in vitamins K, B6, B1, B3 and C, it also supports the clearing of cell-damaging free radicals. Cloves help steady blood sugar and reduce sweet cravings too — make room for this wonderful spice in your daily diet to help protect your health.
Use cloves in your cooking and desserts if you like, or add them to drinks like tea, coffee and water. People who struggle to drink water because of the taste can add 1–2 cloves to make it easier. In the morning, prepare a mix of 500 ml of just-boiled water with 3–4 cloves and 2–3 slices of lemon or orange; once it cools to room temperature, drink it on an empty stomach to help steady your blood sugar through the day, ease digestive troubles, support the body's clearing of toxins, and curb sweet cravings.
The amount you eat matters a great deal. Eating too much clove in food can cause gastrointestinal upset and disturbances in the central nervous system. People with conditions like stomach ulcers, reflux, gastritis, ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis should avoid this spice, as it can worsen symptoms. Because it can cause miscarriage or bleeding, we strongly advise pregnant women not to chew cloves. Adults should take care not to eat more than 2–5 grams of clove a day.