Speaking of herbs, cloves are among the most valuable herbs in this world. The history of cloves could be traced back to hundreds years ago. Most people may not know that cloves are the reasons why some countries should suffered colonialism. It is because benefits of cloves health are so valuable, not only as spices but also herbs and traditional medicine. Today, even modern medication field have found some health benefits of cloves for diabetes.
What Is Cloves?
Cloves are originated from Indonesia especially from Maluku. However, now cloves have been commercially cultivated not only in Indonesia but also in some Asia regions and Africa. Since it is form Indonesia, cloves are among the top Indonesian’s herbs and the health benefits are not something you could question anymore. Cloves are obtained from the flower buds of cloves tree. It has botanical name Syzgium aromaticum. The unique thing about cloves is the flowers are harvested when they have four spreading petals only while the others are still unopened in the center. Before being distributed, cloves will be dried first.
Values of Cloves for Diabetes
When it comes to the list of medicinal plants for diabetes, cloves are among them and when talking about the nutritional values of cloves, this spice is packed with certain vitamins and minerals especially vitamin K. For minerals cloves are rich of zinc, copper and magnesium. Furthermore, antioxidants found in cloves are also essential in optimizing the function of pancreas which responsible to insulin production. The list below will tell you more about the health benefits of cloves for diabetes.
- Lowering Glucose Level
The fact that cloves could help lowering the blood sugar level has been proven scientifically. Some studies, including, research study conducted by Dr. Alam Khan in 2006, stated that diabetic patients who are taking cloves in daily basis were likely able to lower the blood sugar level in the blood stream. There are two reasons that cause that, first is the optimal function of pancreas in producing insulin and cloves contain properties that have function almost similar to insulin in lowering blood sugar level.
- Promotes Healthy Pancreas
Pancreas is the organ that responsible to produce insulin. Patients with type 1 diabetes are suffering from condition whereas pancreas could not produce insulin properly. It means, the level of blood sugar in the blood stream cannot be controlled because there is no enough insulin to break down glucose into glycogen which later stored as fat cells or turned into energy. Cloves contain polyphenol that promotes healthy pancreas and ensures its optimal function.
- Contains Anti-Obesity Properties
Cloves are one of the recommended spices for those who are currently in diet program because it contains anti-obesity properties. One of the causes of type 2 diabetes is whereas a person cannot control their weight. Though pancreas is producing enough insulin but body cannot use it to breakdown blood sugar. Consuming cloves may help preventing excessive weight gain and at the same time treating the symptoms of insulin resistance.
- Manages Cholesterol Level in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Cholesterol is one of the conditions that may put diabetic patients in even worse condition. Cloves contain polyphenols that may help maintaining the level of cholesterol by controlling the production of LDL or bad cholesterol and optimizing the production of HDL or good cholesterol especially in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- Could Imitate the Function of Insulin
One of the amazing functions of cloves for diabetic patients are cloves could intimate the function of insulin in regulating the level of blood sugar. Though initially, cloves were well known as home remedy to diabetes but now even modern medication has been using extract made from cloves to be used as replacement of insulin. It means, cloves are also great to help treating patients with type 1 diabetes.
- Acts As Anti-Inflammation
Inflammation could cause several chronic diseases and one of them is diabetes. Cloves contain anti-inflammatory properties that may help reducing the worst effect of diabetes symptoms. One of the potent anti-inflammatory properties found in cloves is eugenol. The effectiveness of this compound as pain-killing property has been proven through a super intensive animal study.
- Excellent Source of Antioxidants
Diabetic condition could affect immunity system as well and the presence of potent antioxidant like polyphenol may help diabetic patients could cope with their conditions in a better way. Antioxidants are also responsible in maintaining several essential organs, including liver and pancreas that essential in the producing of insulin.
- Improves Appetite
One of the problems that most diabetic patients should face is losing appetite, not because they don’t want to eat but because their diets prevent them to consume their favorites. Well, the best way to deal with diabetes is by controlling the daily diet pattern. However, cloves have unique flavor that may help improving the flavor of a food and as the result significant improvement in appetite as well.
Cautions of Cloves for Diabetic Patients
Though the list of health benefits of cloves for diabetes is quite impressive but still there are some cautions you should aware. You may think they are nothing but still taking them into account is highly recommended.
- If you are consuming cloves for medical reason, you should discuss it with your doctor first to learn about the right dosage because though cloves are quite safe to be consumed in moderate amount but in high dosage could be really toxic.
- As mentioned in the previous point, cloves could be really toxic in high dosage because cloves contain cytotoxic properties especially in the extract oil form.
- There are some types of cloves that are offered in the marketplace but it is better to avoid powdered cloves and instead you better purchase the whole cloves. It is much easier to make sure the quality of cloves in their whole form. Just putting them in the water you could check the quality and the vertically floating ones are the best.
Diabetes is one of the conditions that are not easy to be dealt with yet there is no medication that could cure the conditions completely. Those who have been diagnosed with certain types of diabetes are only able to manage their diet and control their lifestyle but cloves are giving a lot of benefits for diabetic patients and become one of the home remedy solutions that is highly recommended even by the professional practitioner.