The benefits and harms of nutmeg, reviews

Nutmeg is called the core of the fruit of the nutmeg tree. This tree has been growing for almost a hundred years, and the first 40 years of its life actively bear fruit. In just one year, it is able to produce more than 10,000 fruits that look a little like apricot. After full ripening, these fruits burst, and the core appears.

The nut itself is essentially the seeds inside the seed. To get it, these bones are well dried in the open sun, and then cleaned. The resulting core is carefully dried over the fire until it becomes dark. To get a quality nutmeg, you need to use fruits that bloom for 3-4 months. The finished nut will be round or oval in shape, small in size 2-3 cm. Round types of nutmeg have a more intense smell and taste than oval.

The use and magical properties of nutmeg were known to ancient people in Rome and Greece. It was used as a food supplement, as a medicine, or as a pleasant flavor. The first records about it date back to the first century AD, but everywhere it began to be used only about 1000 years ago.

In Europe, it gained distribution much later, after the colonization of the Portuguese. In particular, it was on one of the colonized islands that muscat trees actively grew, which ensured its widespread distribution. Until about the 19th century, Holland and Portugal were the only suppliers of spice, and kept the price level for this spice very high. But after they began to grow nutmeg plantations in India, Ceylon and Latin America, the price of this spice plummeted.

If possible, buy nutmeg in the kernels - so it will retain much more beneficial properties and its rich, amazing taste. If you don’t have the opportunity to buy whole nutmegs, choose their ground version or buy in closed airtight containers. Give preference to well-established manufacturers.

Beneficial features

Muscat fruit has a lot of useful properties: they contain a huge amount of vitamins and minerals, as well as essential oil and pectin. If you use them in small doses, their pronounced positive properties will become noticeable. But do not abuse the nut, as it has a serious stimulating and tonic effect on the nervous system and heart.

In eastern medicine, it is used to treat men with the problem of rapid ejaculation, as well as a cure for impotence and other disorders of intimate life. Ground nutmeg is believed to act as an aphrodisiac, enhancing sexual desire and arousal.

If you use the minimum dose, you can normalize sleep and somewhat calm the nervous system. Often it is added to massage oil, hot tea is made - these means can stimulate the immune system and treat colds in the early stages.

• stimulates the immune system
• improves blood circulation,
• helps the digestive system
• contributes to the improvement of arthritis,
• saves from rheumatism,
• strengthens hair and nails,
• prevents the spread of the virus in the body,
• has an anti-inflammatory effect,
• improves potency in men
• helps with autoimmune diseases.

From the tincture of nutmeg with the addition of sunflower oil make a special massage paste, which is used to treat osteochondrosis and arthritis. To do this, warm paste should be used as a compress, which is applied to the sore spot. Then you need to wrap this place with polyethylene, cover it with a warm cloth and leave it before it cools.

It is excellent for those with bowel problems, such as constipation or diarrhea. It saves from loss of appetite, as it stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, and also reduces gas formation.

To treat the gastrointestinal tract, you need to take a little nutmeg and dry ginger, add yogurt and water in equal proportions. Yogurt can be replaced with kefir or fermented baked milk, if you prefer their taste. As a result, you should get about a glass of the mixture that you need to drink in one go. The effect will become noticeable in 2-3 hours, perhaps later, if before that you had lunch and dinner.

Medical use

Nutmeg perfectly helps to cope with various diseases, it is used as a supportive treatment. For example, it is used in treatment, since it is able to normalize blood circulation. Including its use can relieve migraines or just headaches, as well as tidy up blood pressure. For example, some people with severe migraines use express treatment using a paste of a mixture of milk and nutmeg. To do this, you need to take fresh and very high-quality cow's milk, add ground nutmeg into it and apply this product on the forehead, waiting until the pain disappears.

Even in antiquity, nutmeg was used even for the treatment of toothache, as well as for getting rid of muscle pain. It has been used for various nervous disorders due to its stimulating effects. In any case, nutmeg with regular use only benefits. And also its regular use in small quantities helps cleanse the liver and kidneys. It also cleanses the blood and helps to remove various kinds of poisons and toxins from the body. In addition, the substances contained in nutmeg are able to cheer up and stimulate the appetite of adults and children.

For women

Nutmeg is often used by women suffering from mastopathy. For supportive treatment, there is no need to cook anything special, you just need to use nutmeg as you wish. It will be ideal if it is added to dishes without heat treatment. It is best used in combination with fresh vegetable salads.

With lactation, the benefits of nutmeg are invaluable, if a woman has problems with lactation, it stimulates the production of milk, which will be enough to feed the baby.

It’s more useful and tastiest to make a kefir-based cocktail: you need to mix nutmeg with kefir, add a little dill and a small pinch of nutmeg and drink as much as you like in the absence of an allergic reaction.

Even a serious problem such as varicose veins will help get rid of nutmeg. To help, you need to take the powder, add a glass of boiling water, a little honey and insist for 10 or 15 minutes. It is recommended to cook it once, without heating, and drink 2 times a day. It is advisable to do this in the morning half an hour before meals, and after dinner after half an hour.

If your child normally tolerates nuts and is not allergic, while his teeth are being cut, you can add a little nutmeg to his food, but not more than a tenth of a gram. Give your child a mixture of nutmeg, milk and honey, and it will act as a sedative. Then the unpleasant symptoms that occur when the teeth are cut will decrease and the child will stop giving up food and become more calm.

Grated nutmeg is also perfect for those who suffer from gas and bloating, as well as with noticeable colic. It also helps babies sometimes, adding a very small amount of spice to various dishes. The main thing is to add it little by little, as the child may react poorly to the nut.

Cooking use

Due to aroma and spicy taste, such a spice as nutmeg is mainly added to desserts, most often to various pastries such as cakes, pies or cookies. It is also great as an additive to cottage cheese or chocolate, but in general chocolate and nutmeg are considered just the perfect combination, and also a powerful aphrodisiac.

If you like nuts, pay attention also to the beneficial properties of peanuts and Brazil nuts.

True gourmets even add nutmeg to soups, poultry, game or meat dishes, as well as vegetables. It also goes well with side dishes, and lovers of nutmeg add it to the compote. It goes well with tomatoes, so it is often added to tomato sauce or ketchup, including in factory production.

Nutmeg also goes well with wine and drinks from it, as it conveys its spicy nutty flavor to them. Often it is used in combination with milk, especially in cocktails. For true lovers, it is added in very small quantities to canned fish, as well as combined with curry. Nutmeg is very widely used in the factory production of meat dishes, including sausages or smoked meats, as well as for fish for conservation.

Essential oil with a pronounced pleasant aroma is also made from nutmeg. It is most often used for aromatherapy, as well as in perfumery and to tint a pleasant smell. In small quantities, it is added to tobacco for cigarettes, cigars or pipes, making it more enjoyable. The peels from this nut are used to make nutmeg essence, which is popular in Europe for making various kinds of nutmeg sauces and additives, as well as in the production of cheese.

Storage and use

It is very important to know that nutmeg should only be used as a seasoning in small quantities. Use no more than 1 core per day as a food supplement. If you exceed the recommended amount, you may have a rapid heartbeat, headache, or even vomiting. From large doses, the gastrointestinal tract as a whole, as well as the pancreas, can be affected. Walnut is carefully crushed using a grater, or grind.

Nutmeg is usually sold in the form of whole kernels, because after grinding it leaves the flavor very quickly, so you need to grind it immediately before use. It is also desirable to store it in whole form, and not in powder form. Nutmeg massage oil is often used to massage the body for colds, especially the throat. In addition, with regular use, it is able to help with some benign tumors, including because it stimulates the action of the immune system. He is also able to localize malignant tumors, helps in the treatment of tuberculosis or staphylococcus.

Hazardous properties

In addition to its undoubted benefits, nutmeg has dangerous properties. In particular, it contains in very small quantities a substance that acts as a drug and a mild hallucinogen. This does not mean that nutmeg is a drug or can have such a special effect, but if you eat several kernels in a thermally unprocessed form, you may get very severe food poisoning. The effect of it is individual and can simply result in feeling unwell, and end up with nausea, cramping, heart palpitations and disorientation.

Nutmeg oil is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women because of its stimulating effect, for the same reason it should not be consumed with epilepsy and with individual intolerance to the components.

At the same time, a fresh product, among other things, can give the effect of drug intoxication, accompanied by hallucinations. In cases of eating a very large amount of fresh nutmeg, allergy sufferers may experience a severe coma or even death. If you notice at least one of these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

How it looks and where it grows

It is an evergreen tree with spreading branches. Fruits up to 40 years, lives more than 100 years. The height reaches 9–11 meters. Fruits are yellow and orange, with a core. The edible part of nutmeg is in the photo.

The core of the bone is an oval of brown color, reaching 3 cm in length, 2 cm in width, and weighing up to 5 g. It grows in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Grenada and Africa. At the moment, Indonesia comes first in terms of imports.

The chemical composition and calorie content of nutmeg

• essential oil (5-15%),
• fatty oil (40%),
• pigments
• starch,
• pectin,
• saponins
• protein substances.

The main elements of essential oil:

Due to the large amounts of myristicin in the substance, spice can be beneficial and not harmful: it can cause hallucinations, convulsions, lethargy and even loss of consciousness. Allowed dose is 30 grams.

The calorie content of nutmeg per 100 grams is 525 kcal.

Proteins - 6-7 g, fats - 40-50 g, carbohydrates - 49 g.

What is nutmeg useful for the body

It is worth noting the beneficial properties of spice.

• It contains vitamins A, B2, B6, PP, C, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron and calcium.
• In addition, the composition contains substances that stimulate the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
• It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties.

Details about the useful properties of a valuable tool will tell the video:

Can pregnant and lactating

In addition to good, the muscatel can cause harm. Not recommended during pregnancy, during lactation. Many experts advise generally to refrain from use during these periods. If there is a need for nuts, it is better to give preference to walnuts, cedar or hazelnuts. They will not harm the unborn baby, but the benefits from them are tangible.

Is nutmeg useful for weight loss

Spice will not help to lose weight especially. The best way is moderate activity, sports and proper nutrition. You need to balance the diet in accordance with your daily needs for protein, fats and carbohydrates and go in for sports, or at least go out for a walk in the fresh air.

A healthy product will be a great addition to low-calorie vegetable salads, stewed vegetables, rice, soups.

The large amount of magnesium contained in it will help to reduce cravings for sweets, which is very important for sweets, who have stepped on the path of proper nutrition.

The healing properties of nutmeg

The healing properties of the core of the nutmeg are extensive. But do not forget: nutmeg will not cause harm only when used in moderation.

A harmless dose for an adult is 30 g: 1 nut - approximately 5 g.

Benefits of use:

• Favorably affects the nervous system, improves sleep, arouses appetite and strengthens the immune system.
• Improves the general condition with arthritis, varicose veins, rheumatism, migraine.
• Due to its beneficial properties and low glycemic index, nutmeg in diabetes mellitus is acceptable.
• At the beginning of a cold, it strengthens the immune system, stimulating it to actively fight the virus (tea with the addition of a pinch of chopped fruit).
• It is proved that due to the content of magnesium and potassium, pressure and heart rate are stabilized.
• It normalizes the digestive tract, helps with diarrhea and constipation, reduces gas formation.
• It positively affects the digestion process, increases appetite.

The use of nutmeg in cosmetology

The fragrant product is popular in the manufacture of perfume compositions. A warm woody and spicy note gives an oriental touch to perfumes and eau de toilette. More often used in men's perfumes. Equated to aphrodisiacs.

Manufacturers of selective (niche) perfumes use spice to create exclusive compositions.

Many famous aromas include a spicy woody note: Polo Double Black Ralph Lauren, Organza Givenchy, Bleu de Chanel and others.

Spice is used in the production of anti-cellulite, anti-aging cosmetics: creams, lotions, wrap masks. Thanks to the beneficial properties warming up and stimulating blood circulation, cosmetics based on muscatel are an excellent assistant in the fight against the problem.

If you pay attention to the composition of toothpastes, then you can find nutmeg oil and there. Antiseptic properties help fight bacteria by eliminating bad breath.

Masks and face scrubs

A scrub based facial scrub is pretty simple.

• olive oil (base),
• nut fruit
• natural coffe.

Preparation and use:

1. Add coffee grounds to the base.
2. To warm.
3. Rub the nutmeg core into the mass.
4. Apply to the skin and clean it with circular soft movements.

This recipe is contraindicated for sensitive skin and allergies.

Ground Nutmeg for Hair

The beneficial properties of ground nutmeg are used to treat alopecia and to accelerate hair growth.

1. Take jojoba oil, olive or burdock as a base.
2. Add 5-10 drops of essential nut oil.
3. Rub the resulting mass with soft massaging movements into the base of the hair.
4. Put on a hat, wrap your head in a warm towel and hold for 15–20 minutes.

In the process, slight tingling may be felt. The result of the mask is strengthening and shine of the hair without harm to the scalp. Допускается использования как эфирного масла, так и натертой массы.

Nutmeg essential oil: benefits and uses

The beneficial properties of nutmeg oil are expressed in warming, softening and antiseptic properties.

It is used for inhalation, air disinfection, filled with aromaculones. In addition, they include cosmetics, tinctures and compresses.

For aromatization and disinfection - 4–5 drops per 20 square meters. m. premises.

For taking baths - 2 drops.

The benefits of nutmeg with milk

Nutmeg with milk at night is especially useful after a hard day. The milk is warmed up a little (it can be chilled), a little grated nut fruit is added.

The drink helps to relax the body, provide good sleep, relieve anxiety and headache.

Muscat milk is recommended for gastrointestinal problems, sleep disorders, colds.

Nutmeg Harm and Contraindication

Walnut spice can transfer its beneficial properties to the body, and can cause irreparable harm to it.

It is contraindicated for allergies, epileptics, people with severe mental disorders, women during lactation, pregnancy.

Pregnant women should not use the fruits of myristicism, since the body's reaction can be unpredictable, up to the threat of premature birth.

Another limitation is children's age. Children are not advised to eat spice raw, only as part of food dishes in strictly limited quantities.

Carefully combine the spice with strong alcohol and drugs. It’s better not to allow this.

Since the fetus has a direct effect on pressure, it should be consumed in small doses. With excessive accumulation in the body, it can cause tachycardia, heart attacks, and high blood pressure.

How to choose and store nutmeg

• Qualitative are the cores of light brown and brown.
• In diameter - 1.5–2 cm, oval.
• The fruits should be strong and not have visible damage, dots, holes, dents, mold.

Store nuts in a dry place, in an airtight container or in a tin can. So beneficial properties and wonderful smell will be preserved for a long time.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of nutmeg are a very important issue. The product has gained high popularity for a reason. You can fall in love with the spicy aroma of incredibly delicious culinary dishes with this spice, and useful properties will help strengthen immunity and improve well-being. But do not forget about moderation in use in order to avoid harming the body.