Health Benefits of Nutmeg
The health benefits of nutmeg are many. Nutmeg is much more than that rich, fragrant accompaniment to cinnamon in desserts. Any cook knows that a little pinch of this pungent spice goes a long way, and in terms of health benefits, it effects are far-reaching. From oral health to cancer prevention benefits, this Indonesian native has been cultivated for thousands of years and prized both for its sultry spice, fragrance and medicinal qualities. New frontiers of research have found just how beneficial this spice can be for health. (Source)
Nutmeg for Oral Health
The mouth doesn’t just benefit from nutmeg’s sweet-spicy taste; the spice has actually been found to be beneficial to oral health due to its antibacterial effects. One study tested the effects of nutmeg extract on Streptococcus mutans, the main oral pathogen that causes dental caries, and found it to have a marked inhibitory effect on the pathogen. (Source)
Nutmeg for Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Nutmeg’s antimicrobial activity is also responsible for its ability to interfere with colon cancer cell activity, as was found in one study. In the study, mice were treated with nutmeg, which reduced levels of uremic toxins and decreased formation of intestinal tumors. (Source) Nutmeg contains high amounts of eugenol, a compound that has been studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity, among other effects. Several studies have found the compound to induce apoptosis on cancer cells. (Source) One study in particular found eugenol to produce apoptosis in melanoma cell lines and to have antiproliferative effects on skin tumors in mice. One study found eugenol to have antiproliferative effects against bone cancer cells, while yet another study discovered that eugenol blocked DNA fragmentation involved in leukemia cancer cell lines due to its antioxidant activity. (Source)
Nutmeg for Inflammation
Nutmeg has also been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory and pain-reduction effects in medical research. One study found nutmeg extract to reduce swelling in paws of rats, while reducing inflammation and pain in mice. (Source) In another study, nutmeg compounds were found to have strong inhibitory effects on the production of nitrous oxide, which demonstrated nutmeg’s potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. (Source)
Nutmeg for Brain Health
One of the health benefits of nutmeg is as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disorders, due to its content of macelignan. One study examined the effects of this compound on the inflammatory processes involved in Parkinson’s disease, which is characterized by the degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Macelignan was found to have protective effects on these neurons. (Source)
Nutmeg for Liver Health
One of the health benefits of nutmeg is liver support. Nutmeg has been found to have significant protective effects on the liver, as was found in one study. In the study, 21 spices were administered to rats with liver damage and assessed for their hepatoprotective effects. Out of all the spices tested, nutmeg exhibited the strongest protective effects on the rat livers. (Source)
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
Nutmeg, 1 Tbsp (7g), ground
Calories: 37
Total Fat: 3g
Total Carbohydrate: 3g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 2g
Thiamin: 2% Daily Value
Vitamin B6: 1%
Folate: 1%
Calcium: 1%
Iron: 1%
Magnesium: 3%
Phosphorous: 1%
Potassium: 1%
Zinc: 1%
Copper: 4%
Manganese: 10%