Health Benefits of Nutmeg

Health Benefits

• One of the components of nutmeg is a compound similar to menthol, which has natural pain-relieving characteristics. Therefore, by adding nutmeg as a spice in your cooking, you can reduce associated pain from wounds, injuries, strains, and chronic inflammation from conditions like arthritis.
• When you grind nutmeg into a powder, it retains its fiber content, which can stimulate the digestive process by promoting peristaltic motion in the smooth muscles of the intestine. In addition, it induces the secretion of various gastric and intestinal juices that ease the digestive process. Since fiber can bulk up the bowel movements, it reduces the frequency and discomfort of constipation and other intestinal issues.
• One of the lesser known benefits of adding nutmeg in any variety to your diet are the various components of its essential oil, called myristicin and macelignan. These compounds have been proven to reduce the degradation of neural pathways and cognitive function that commonly afflicts people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown myristicin and macelignan slow those effects and keeps your brain functioning at a normal, healthy level.
• Nutmeg acts as a tonic in many different ways, and therefore boosts the overall health of your body. More specifically, in terms of the liver and kidney, where many of the toxins are stored and accumulated from the body, nutmeg can help eliminate them. It literally cleans those organs out of all the toxins that may be stored there from alcohol, drugs, pollution, food or natural organic toxins. Furthermore, active ingredients in nutmeg help to dissolve kidney stones and increase overall function and efficiency of the kidney and liver.
• In traditional medical applications, nutmeg was considered the king of spices when it came to oral health. The active antibacterial components of nutmeg means that it helps to fight conditions like halitosis, also known as bad breath. It kills the bacteria that causes this embarrassing condition and generally boosts the immunity of your gums and teeth. This is why nutmeg and its extracts are commonly found in toothpastes and mouthwashes, particularly in organic or herbal varieties.
• For generations, nutmeg has been recommended as a home remedy for sleeplessness and insomnia. A pinch of nutmeg in warm milk always seemed to do the trick. Nutmeg has a high content of magnesium, an essential mineral in the body that reduces nerve tension and even stimulates the release of serotonin which creates a feeling of relaxation or sedation. This serotonin is changed to melatonin in the brain, which is a sleep inducer, relieving people from their problems with insomnia and restlessness at night. Nutmeg also has trace elements of narcotics, which have no dramatic effect unless taken in massive quantities. However, even the small amount can help you release various neurotransmitters than induce relaxation and sleep.
• Another of the lesser known properties of nutmeg is its potential use against cancerous Studies have shown that a certain methanolic compound in nutmeg and its essential oil can actually induce cell death (apoptosis) in leukemia cells, thereby stopping the spread and metastasis of this terrible variety of cancer that commonly afflicts children.

  Nutmeg

  Nutrient	Unit	Value per 100 g
  Proximates
  Water	g	6.23
  Energy	kcal	525
  Protein	g	5.84
  Total lipid (fat)	g	36.31
  Carbohydrate, by difference	g	49.29
  Fiber, total dietary	g	20.8
  Sugars, total	g	2.99
  Minerals
  Calcium, Ca	mg	184
  Iron, Fe	mg	3.04
  Magnesium, Mg	mg	183
  Phosphorus, P	mg	213
  Potassium, K	mg	350
  Sodium, Na	mg	16
  Zinc, Zn	mg	2.15
  Vitamins
  Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	3.0
  Thiamin	mg	0.346
  Riboflavin	mg	0.057
  Niacin	mg	1.299
  Vitamin B-6	mg	0.160
  Folate, DFE	µg	76
  Vitamin B-12	µg	0.00
  Vitamin A, RAE	µg	5
  Vitamin A, IU	IU	102
  Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	mg	0.00
  Vitamin D (D2 + D3)	µg	0.0
  Vitamin D	IU	0
  Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	µg	0.0
  Lipids
  Fatty acids, total saturated	g	25.940
  Fatty acids, total monounsaturated	g	3.220
  Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated	g	0.350
  Cholesterol	mg	0
  Other
  Caffeine	mg	0

  (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

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