Nutmeg is a popular spice with a long list of he alth benefits, including the ability to relieve pain, relieve indigestion, relieve insomnia and improve brain function, as well as protect the liver, relieve depression, lower cholesterol, regulate blood pressure.
Nutmeg is a spice that comes from the seeds of the evergreen nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans). It grows in the Maluku Islands in Indonesia.
Nutmeg has a pungent aroma and a slightly sweet taste, which is why it is widely used in cuisines around the world. It is found in many forms such as essential oil, powder, and extract. Ground nutmeg is used in pastries, puddings, confectionery, and nutmeg oil is also made from it. The spice is also a key ingredient in creamy and cheesy dishes.
Value of nutmeg
Although nutmeg is only a spice used in dishes, it can affect your he alth in a variety of ways, mainly through the nutritional content of vitamins, minerals and organic compounds associated with essential oils. These beneficial compounds include dietary fiber, manganese, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, copper, and misalignan, according to the USDA's National Nutrient Database.
So what are the he alth benefits of nutmeg?
Relieve pain
People suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases and diabetes often experience constant pain. Nutmeg oil, derived from the seeds of the nutmeg tree, has proven to be an effective pain reliever, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, US National Library of Medicine.
A 2016 comparison study in rats published in Food and Nutrition Research 2016 found that topical nutmeg oil provided better pain relief than other pain relievers such as diclofenac. The same study shows that nutmeg oil can relieve joint swelling as well as mechanical allodynia - severe pain caused by even a light touch.
Relieves insomnia
For generations, nutmeg has been recommended as a home remedy for insomnia. To do this, add a pinch of spice to warm milk.
In a study by Naidu et al. 251 patients participated. Each of the participants took an herbal capsule containing nutmeg. This happened regularly for 4 weeks. All subjects reported that they began to sleep better at night. An animal study also found that nutmeg extracts help increase the duration of deep sleep.
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Promotes digestion
It is known that nutmeg has medicinal properties. It is used to treat digestive problems such as indigestion and ulcers.
Improve brain he alth
Nutmeg has neuroprotective properties. In a recent study by Dr. Waluga Plaingam et al., these effects of nutmeg essential oil were tested on rats.
Study results show that nutmeg contains volatile oils such as myristicin, eugenol, and elemicin, which helped increase serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in the hippocampus of rats. The hippocampus is an organ located in the brain that is mainly associated with memory and spatial navigation, which is the part of memory responsible for recording and retrieving information.
Therefore, the study concluded that nutmeg oil has a therapeutic effect and serves to prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's.
Oral he alth
A 2012 study led by Shafeie Z shows that nutmeg has antibacterial properties and the potential to inhibit the activity of bacteria such as periodontitis-causing Porphyromonas gingivalis and tooth decay-causing Streptococcus mutans.
What's more, a 2016 study by Wei Kevin Zhang and published in Food and Nutrition Research suggests that topical application of nutmeg oil can relieve toothache.
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Liver protection
Nutmeg is widely used in the treatment of liver diseases. An animal study by Dr. Frank Gonzalez (Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA) and co-authors suggests that myrislignan-rich nutmeg may help treat liver damage.
In the study, mice were injected with thioacetamide (TAA), which is a chemical compound that causes chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis, and then treated with nutmeg. The extracts helped reduce inflammation as well as free radical activity.
Relieves depression
In Ayurvedic medicine, nutmeg has long been valued for healing depression. In a 2012 study by Dr. Deepak Kumar Kajuria and his team at Al Amin College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, India, nutmeg extract was found to exhibit antidepressant activity. In addition, it also has fewer side effects than conventional allopathic drugs.
Regulates blood pressure
The National Institutes of He alth's Comprehensive Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure suggests adding more spices, such as nutmeg, to your diet. The guide also mentions and emphasizes that the food uses less sodium to maintain he althy blood pressure levels.
Destroys cancer cells
A lesser known quality of nutmeg is its potential use against cancer cells. According to a study published in Chemico-Biological Interactions, myristicin, found in nutmeg, has chemopreventive properties. It has been found to cause cell death (apoptosis) in leukemia. This, in turn, may help prevent cancer cell growth and metastasis.