Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a popular spice in baked products, holiday delicacies, ethnic cuisine, and beverages. Nutmeg seeds are ground to make the spice, which comes from a flowering plant in the Myristicaceae family (sometimes known as the nutmeg family) native to Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Nutmeg also contains trace levels of vitamin A, folate, choline, and vitamin C, but not in sufficient amounts to affect your daily vitamin consumption.
Nutmeg has several health benefits in addition to being delicious. However, it would help if you never ate more than what is generally used in cooking. Nutmeg, in big doses, can cause hallucinations, and it’s highly hazardous and can potentially kill you. Nutmeg is extensively used in cooking and baking, and some people get a nutmeg high by inhaling the spice or its essential oil. The use of the chemical in this manner can have catastrophic consequences.
Nutmeg Nutrition Facts
What Is Exactly Nutmeg?
The seed of the evergreen tree Myristica fragrans is used to make nutmeg. A vivid red aril surrounds the core seed, which spice traders refer to as mace. On a sunny beach, you might notice the yellow, peach-like fruits drooping high in the branches of a nutmeg tree. When the fruits are fully mature, they split open, displaying the crimson mace aril, indicating that the spices are ready to be harvested and cured.
Tropical, humid islands with sandy soil are ideal for growing nutmeg trees. The Spice House’s most delicate nutmeg and mace come from Grenada, a Caribbean island where nutmeg and mace are still hand-harvested. Skilled artisans carefully remove the mace’s red shroud and dry it in the sun for two weeks. Mace’s color changes from a bright red to a yellow-orange as it ages. The nutmegs are dried for up to two months on drying racks before another shell layer is removed, and the valuable nutmeg is revealed.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Nutmeg?
Here are some best health benefits of nutmeg:
- Contains Powerful Antioxidants
The seeds from which nutmeg is formed are high in plant chemicals that function as antioxidants in your body, despite their small size. Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells from free radical harm, and these are molecules with an unpaired electron, making them reactive and unstable.
Oxidative stress happens when your body’s free radical levels rise too high. It’s linked to the beginning and advancement of various chronic illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and neurological diseases. Antioxidants destroy free radicals, minimizing cellular damage and maintaining a healthy level of free radicals.
- Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Chronic inflammation has been related to several serious health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Monoterpenes, such as sabinene, terpineol, and pinene, are anti-inflammatory chemicals found in nutmeg. These may aid in reducing inflammation in the body and may be beneficial to persons who suffer from inflammatory diseases.
Furthermore, the spice’s extensive range of antioxidants, such as cyanidin and phenolic compounds, have potent anti-inflammatory activities. In one experiment, rats were given an inflammatory solution before nutmeg oil. Inflammation, inflammation-related discomfort, and joint swelling were significantly reduced in rats who received the oil.
- May Boost Libido
Nutmeg has been shown in animal experiments to improve sexual desire and performance. Compared to a control group, male rats given high dosages of nutmeg extract (227 mg per pound or 500 mg per kg of body weight) had significantly increased sexual activity and sexual performance time. In a similar study, giving male mice the same high dose of nutmeg extract increased their sexual activity compared to a control group.
- Has Antibacterial Properties
Nutmeg has been demonstrated to have antibacterial properties against potentially dangerous microorganisms. Dental cavities and gum disease are caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus mutants and Aggregatibacter.
Nutmeg extract was found to have potent antibacterial activity against these and other bacteria in a test tube investigation, including Porphyromonas. Cavities and gum irritation are known to be caused by these bacteria.
What Does Nutmeg Taste Like?
This versatile spice can be used in several dishes, and it can be used alone or combined with other spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. Its warm, sweet flavor makes it a popular addition to delicacies, including pies, cakes, cookies, pieces of bread, fruit salads, and custards. It’s also delicious in savory meat dishes like pork chops and lamb curry.
To add depth and intrigue to starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and pumpkin, nutmeg can be sprinkled on top. You may also use it in hot or cold drinks like apple cider, hot chocolate, chai tea, turmeric lattes, and smoothies. If using the whole nutmeg, use a Microplane or a grater with fewer holes to grate it. Freshly grated nutmeg is excellent on fresh fruit, cereal, or yogurt.
Can You Put Nutmeg In Coffee?
Nutmeg should be high on your list of things to try if you’re seeking a method to spice up your coffee – literally. Nutmeg is a powerful spice that most people connect with cold, snowy days, but it also tastes excellent in coffee. Purists would scoff at nutmeg in coffee, but they’ll lose out on a delightful surprise that can breathe new life into old beans or add intrigue and depth to your favorite coffee beverage.
Nutmeg is a common ingredient in mulled wine and cider recipes, and it’s one of the flavors associated with autumn in Western culture. Nutmeg is commonly used in spiced rum and punch, and it is the nutmeg that gives them their signature warming tingliness that many enjoy. If you like the flavor and mouthfeel of spiced rum or cider, you’ll probably like nutmeg in coffee.
It may seem counterintuitive that a spice commonly used to season meat may also be enjoyed in coffee, but it’s true. Nutmeg is a versatile spice that, despite its strong flavor, mixes well with the flavors of medium and dark roasted coffee. Turkish coffee is one of the most popular spiced coffees, and some recipes call for nutmeg in the spice mix.
Are There Any Side Effects Of Nutmate?
Though nutmeg is unlikely to cause harm in moderate doses, it can have adverse side effects when taken in large amounts. Myristicin and safrole are two chemicals found in them, and they can cause symptoms including hallucinations and lack of muscle coordination, if consumed in high doses. Nutmeg, it turns out, is sometimes used recreationally to generate hallucinations and a “high” feeling. It’s frequently combined with other hallucinogenic substances, increasing the possibility of harmful side effects.
In fact, between 2001 and 2011, the state of Illinois in the United States documented 32 cases of nutmeg poisoning. The deliberate intake of nutmeg for its hallucinogenic effects was linked to 47 percent of these cases. These hazardous effects are assumed to be caused by myristicin, the significant component of the essential oil found in nutmeg that has potent psychedelic qualities. Nutmeg poisoning can induce dangerous symptoms like agitation, nausea, disorientation, vomiting, and rapid heartbeat. When mixed with other medicines, it can be fatal.
Conclusion
Nutmeg. Nutmeg is a significant ingredient in our virility supplement since it boosts testosterone, improves mood, and boosts male desire. Nutmeg has been claimed to be helpful as a nerve stimulant, aphrodisiac, and general tonic throughout Southern Asia. Nutmeg is high in antioxidants, which can help prevent aging and dangerous illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. Several dental products use nutmeg oil. When ingested in tiny amounts, nutmeg provides a relaxing effect.
It has promoted sleep and de-stressing benefits in various traditional therapeutic techniques. According to Ayurveda, a pinch of nutmeg should be added to a glass of warm milk before bedtime. Nutmeg also includes a mild carcinogen called safrole, linked to an increased risk of cancer, and the Food and Drug Administration has banned it as a food ingredient. Most authorities regard nutmeg to be a pseudo-hallucinogen. Add nutmeg powder or grated nutmeg to your morning coffee for a mild-flavored morning pick-me-up. A pinch of nutmeg in your coffee is beneficial to your health. Nutmeg is used to cure various ailments and its anti-inflammatory qualities aid in pain relief.