Cloves

7 spices that heal

Besides imparting complex flavours into food, some spices also have medicinal properties. Here are 7 spices that can be used to minimize symptoms and even treat some basic health problems.

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Cloves

Cloves are native to eastern Indonesia and were probably the first breath fresheners. In China, during the Han dynasty, courtiers would chew on cloves to sweeten their breath before addressing the emperor.

Among more than a thousand foods studied at the University of Oslo, cloves contained the most antioxidants per gram, with as little as 1g (about ½ teaspoon) of cloves containing about the same antioxidants as ½ cup of berries.

Cloves are still a useful addition to your spice medicine chest. They can be used to calm bloating and flatulence—fruit stewed with a pinch of cloves not only tastes good, but is also a digestion-calming dessert.