Nutrition and Nutmeg (Jathikai)

The nutmeg fruit, in fact, is a drupe, about the size of an apricot, when ripen splits up to a single, centrally situated oval shaped kernel known as "nutmeg spice."

The hard brown seed from the tropical evergreen nutmeg tree has a warm, spicy sweet flavor. The dried lacy membrane around the nutmeg seed is called as Mace. Both nutmeg and mace are used for cooking purposes.

Nutmeg, otherwise called as Jathikai in southern language is not only known for its popular spice but also for many health benefits. This aromatic spice keeps the immune system strong. Some of the minerals found in nutmeg are calcium, potassium, iron, and manganese. 

During ancient times, Roman and Greek civilizations used nutmeg as a certain type of tonic. This nutmeg tonic helps to get rid of fatigue, stress, anxiety or depression. 

Nutmeg and its oil were being used in Indian and Chinese traditional medicines for health issues related to the nervous and digestive systems.

A glass of milk added with a pinch of nutmeg powder will relax you and helps to sleep better.

Just applying a few drops of nutmeg oil on the skin or a little amount of nutmeg, grated into soup or sauce do a wonderful magic on your health. 

To get relief from muscle pain, aching joints, sores, arthritis, and other ailments, apply nutmeg oil on the affected areas.

Nutmeg helps to boost one’s appetite. It also provides relief from digestion problems such as diarrhea, bloating, constipation, and so on. By removing the excess gas from the intestines, nutmeg oil relieves stomach aches.

Jathikai effectively treats bad breath or halitosis with its antibacterial properties. It is also used as a remedy for toothaches and gum problems.

Nutmeg is useful for liver disease and dissolving kidney stones.

Skincare is one of the priorities of everyone, especially woman. Nutmeg acts an important role in skin care. 

Apply a paste of nutmeg powder with honey on the acne marks which helps to reduce the scars and make it less noticeable. A scrub made from and orange lentil powder and nutmeg powder helps to remove blackheads.

In most of the Asian countries, the spice is used as an ingredient in curry powder to marinate vegetable and meat dishes.

Remember nutmeg while you think about skin and health care 

Research by NatturaBio.

Health and Cloves (Grambu)

Cloves are nothing but the dried aromatic flower buds of a tree. We call it as Grambu in Tamil.  Cloves may look tiny, but really they are gigantic in health and nutrition.  They are very good sources of minerals and are packed with antioxidants. Cloves are antibacterial, anti-fungal, analgesic, and antiseptic and are used in Ayurvedic medicines.

Cloves are used for cooking purposes as a flavouring agent. Interestingly, they go well with both the sweet and spicy dishes.

                                 

The clove oil that is made from stems, leaves, buds have healthful properties and is used in the manufacture of toothpastes, mouth wash, soaps, and perfumes.

The use of Grambu for toothache is a general home remedy in India.  Just keeping and pressing a clove bud at the site of an aching tooth reduces the pain.

Cloves are excellent in curing joint pains, asthma, headache, cough, skin problems, vomiting, nausea, abdominal gas, diarrhea, and other problems related to the digestive system. Grambu is also useful for diabetic care.

In the Netherlands, cloves are used in many dishes and cuisines.

Cloves are used with cinnamon and cumin in various culinary dishes in Mexico.

In Europe, cloves are added to prepare famous mulled wines.Cloves are used to make a very popular cigarette in Indonesia. One can also get the clove cigarettes in the United States and they are very popular in the Indonesian and Indian communities there.

The essence of cloves has been used to manufacture a particular kind of perfume in China.

One can apply clove oil to get relief from insect bites. To get rid of bad breath, just put a clove in mouth. 

Those who suffer from acidity can suck a clove to alleviate the uneasiness. While massaging clove oil on sore muscles, it reduces inflammation. The scent of cloves keeps some insects away from home. They also repel the mosquitoes and so, it is considered as a natural insecticide.

Clove is an herb and we use the leaves, stems, dried flower buds, and oils to make medicine. Other herbs are used with the cloves to produce herbal medicines. 

  Research by NatturaBio