Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice. Cloves are available throughout the year due to different harvest seasons in different countries.

Species: S. aromaticum

Genus: Syzygium

Family: Myrtaceae

8 Surprising Health Benefits of Cloves:

Cloves are the flower buds of the clove tree, an evergreen also known as Syzygium aromaticum (1Trusted Source).

Found in both whole and ground forms, this versatile spice can be used to season pot roasts, add flavor to hot beverages and bring spicy warmth to cookies and cakes.

You may know cloves as one of the main ingredients in gingerbread baked goods or a staple spice in Indian cuisine.

In addition to their sweet, aromatic flavor, cloves are known for their potent medicinal properties.

In fact, animal studies have found that the compounds in cloves may have several health benefits, including supporting liver health and helping stabilize blood sugar levels (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

This article reviews 8 of the most impressive health benefits of eating cloves.

Contain Important Nutrients :

Cloves contain fiber, vitamins and minerals, so using whole or ground cloves to add flavor to your food can provide some important nutrients.

One teaspoon (2 grams) of ground cloves contains (4):

Calories: 21

Carbs: 1 gram

Fiber: 1 gram

Manganese: 30% of the RDI

Vitamin K: 4% of the RDI

Vitamin C: 3% of the RDI

Fiber can help prevent constipation and promote regularity, vitamin C may help strengthen your immune system and vitamin K is an important nutrient for blood clotting (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

Meanwhile, manganese is an essential mineral for maintaining brain function and building strong bones (8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

In addition to the nutrients listed above, ground cloves contain small amounts of calcium, magnesium and vitamin E (4).

High in Antioxidants"

As well as containing several important vitamins and minerals, cloves are rich in antioxidants (10Trusted Source).

Antioxidants are compounds that reduce oxidative stress, which can contribute to the development of chronic disease (11Trusted Source).

Cloves also contain a compound called eugenol, which has been shown to act as a natural antioxidant.

In fact, a test-tube study found that eugenol stopped oxidative damage caused by free radicals five times more effectively than vitamin E, another potent antioxidant (12Trusted Source).

In addition to eugenol, ground cloves contain vitamin C.

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant in your body and helps neutralize free radicals, which are compounds that can build up and cause harmful oxidative stress (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).

Including cloves in your diet along with other antioxidant-rich foods can help improve your overall health.  Cloves Spices for sale online in Kenya