Nutmeg beneficial properties and contraindications

Nutmeg has a specific taste and aroma. It is not eaten like regular nuts, but is used as a spice in the preparation of various dishes. The beneficial properties of nutmeg are due to its rich composition, which allows it to be used for the treatment and prevention of certain diseases.

The nut is useful for both women and men. It can be given to children to eliminate digestive disorders and improve sleep. However, before consuming this spice, you need to find out in what cases it is contraindicated, and what quantity is safe for health.

Composition and calorie content

Nutmeg contains the most potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. It also contains iron, sodium, copper, manganese and other beneficial trace elements.

The product is rich in folic acid, which is responsible for the production of amino acids, normal heart function, cell growth, and proper functioning of the immune system. It also contains vitamins such as niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin A, beta-carotene, and fatty acids.

Chemical composition of nutmeg:

100 g of nutmeg contains about 550 kcal, but during the day a person usually eats no more than one gram of spice. Therefore, talking about calorie content will not be entirely appropriate.

The composition of BJU in 100 g is as follows:

• Proteins - 5.84 g.
• Fats - 36.31 g.
• Carbohydrates - 49.29 g.

The spice contains 20.8 g of fiber, 2.99 g of sugar and 6.23 g of water.

Attention: One nut weighs from 3 to 7 grams, depending on the size. During the day, you are allowed to eat no more than 1 medium-sized kernel.

Benefits for men

The benefits of nutmeg for men lie in its ability to increase potency, improve erectile dysfunction, and prevent premature ejaculation. The components present in its composition increase potency and act as an aphrodisiac.

The increase in potency is partly due to the calming properties of the spice. Some pharmacological preparations containing nutmeg are prescribed in cases where a problem with potency has arisen as a result of constant stress, mental or physical overstrain, or chronic fatigue syndrome.

The nut is also capable of producing the following effects:

• Anesthetic. The spice relieves muscle and neuralgic pain, which often occurs in the stronger sex after intense physical exertion.
• Detoxifying. For men who smoke, this spice will help remove toxins and thereby improve the overall condition of the body.
• Antitussive, anti-inflammatory. To get rid of a cough caused by smoking or a cold, you can make a warm compress from ground nuts.
• Treats acne, irritation. For teenagers and men suffering from acne, the spice will help quickly get rid of the problem thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. To do this, you need to add a small pinch of nutmeg to your food every day, or apply a mixture of nutmeg powder and honey to the inflamed areas of the skin. Using this mixture you can speed up the healing of cuts and irritations that occur after shaving.
• Improves brain function. Consuming a pinch of ground nuts during mental exhaustion and stress helps improve brain function. For men over 50 years of age, this product is recommended to be included in the diet to improve memory and mental activity.
• Normalizes blood circulation in the scalp and activates the activity of hair follicles. This property allows the spice to be used for baldness in men.
• Perfectly masks the smell of fumes after a festive feast.

What is useful for women

The nut also brings no less benefits to the fair sex. Its beneficial properties for women are as follows:

• It has a pronounced antioxidant effect, thereby preventing premature aging, protecting against chronic diseases, and reducing the risk of malignant cell degeneration.
• Reduces pain during menstrual periods.
• Calms, reduces increased irritability, prevents the development of chronic depression, improves mood.
• Improves sleep. This effect is due to the high content of magnesium, which relieves nervous tension and activates the processes responsible for the production of serotonin. It is this hormone that helps improve sleep and relax the body.
• Gives the skin of the face and body elasticity and firmness, smoothes out wrinkles. Improves blood circulation in epidermal tissues and activates collagen production.
• Improves nutrition of hair follicles, prevents hair loss, stimulates their growth.

In cosmetology, as a rule, nutmeg oil is used. Many manufacturers use it as the main ingredient in the production of body and face creams and shampoos. If desired, a pinch of ground nutmeg can be added to homemade hair or face masks.

For both women and men, nutmeg will help reduce blood pressure, eliminate bad breath, improve memory, and get rid of diarrhea, cough, pain and acne.

Important: The nut is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women.

Possible harm and contraindications

Nutmeg is beneficial for the body of women and men, but its uncontrolled use harms the normal course of metabolic processes and can lead to other serious problems in the body.

Important!

A high concentration of nutmeg in the body can cause a heart attack, tachycardia, and a sharp jump in blood pressure. Loss of coordination, dizziness and other symptoms of food poisoning are also possible.

The harm of the product is due to its composition, which includes toxic and hallucinogenic substances. In large quantities, they cause a feeling of euphoria, hallucinations and narcotic convulsions.

The maximum dosage is three nuts per day. Exceeding the norm is fraught with coma and death.

Also, with excessive consumption of nutmeg fruits, the following may occur:

• nausea and vomiting;
• convulsions;
• decreased concentration;
• increased sweating and heart palpitations;
• pain;
• mental side effects, hallucinations;
• loss of consciousness.

Despite its beneficial properties, nutmeg has contraindications. It is prohibited during pregnancy, as it can cause sharp contractions of the uterus and lead to premature birth and miscarriage. The toxic substance miracistin can cross the placenta and harm the baby.

Nutmeg is also contraindicated in the presence of conditions such as:

• allergic reactions;
• epileptic seizures and serious mental disorders;
• breastfeeding period;
• childhood.

Important!

Nutmeg powder is a natural antibiotic, so doctors prohibit using it with alcohol and certain medications.

Can it be given to children?

Nutmeg has astringent properties, so its use for diarrhea helps normalize stool. And the components included in its composition improve digestion. The spice can be used to relieve diarrhea in children.

To prepare the medicinal composition you will need:

• 0.5 cups of yogurt.
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.
• ¼ teaspoon ginger.

All ingredients are thoroughly mixed and the resulting product is given to the child 2-3 times a day, 3-4 tbsp. spoons. Children 6-7 years old can be given a paste of crushed banana and a pinch of ground nuts. The spice is contraindicated for children under 6 years of age .

Do not overdo it with nutmeg for children, as in large quantities it has psychotropic properties. Do not give this spice to children on a systematic basis.

If a child has trouble falling asleep, then before bed it is recommended to give him 0.5 glasses of warm milk with the addition of a small amount of this aromatic spice.

Use of nutmeg in folk medicine

Due to its rich composition and ability to have a positive effect on the functioning of many organs and systems of the body, nutmeg is actively used in folk medicine.

Important: For serious illnesses, any home remedy, including nutmeg, can only be used for preventive purposes, or as an additional therapy to the main treatment prescribed by a doctor and only in consultation with him.

Diarrhea, indigestion

To prepare the medicine you will need:

• 100 g of boiled water.
• 100 g curdled milk or yoghurt.
• 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg.
• 0.5 teaspoons of ginger.

The resulting composition is taken 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. As a rule, after 2-3 applications there is a significant improvement in the condition. However, to achieve lasting results, it is recommended to use this mixture for at least 3-4 days.

Insomnia

If you have insomnia, it is not at all necessary to resort to the use of expensive medications, which, moreover, can have a lot of contraindications and side effects. A natural and safe remedy against sleep disorders is prepared from 1 glass of warm milk and 0.5 teaspoon of nutmeg powder. If desired, you can add natural honey to the milk to taste. For adults, it is recommended to use this remedy 15-20 minutes before bedtime.

Arthritis, rheumatism

In case of severe pain caused by rheumatism or arthritis, the following remedy helps:

• Ground nutmeg - 0.5 cups.
• Olive oil - 200 g.
• Anise oil - 100 g.

All components are mixed well, heated in a water bath and applied to the sore spot, secured with a bandage with a cellophane layer.

For arthritis and rheumatism, you can also rub a medicinal paste made from ground spices and sunflower oil into sore spots. The paste is mixed to the consistency of thick sour cream and must be heated before applying to the skin.

Headaches due to colds

As a rule, the cause of a headache during a cold is the accumulation in the body of a large number of toxins and waste products of pathogenic microorganisms. Since nutmeg has strong detoxifying properties, if you experience severe headaches, you can drink a glass of warm water with 1/3 teaspoon of ground nut. To improve the taste, it is recommended to dissolve a spoonful of honey in water.

To eliminate headaches, you can additionally soak a napkin in a mixture of warm milk and ground nuts and apply it to your forehead for 20-30 minutes.

Multiple sclerosis

In multiple sclerosis, the sheath around nerve fibers is damaged. Dying nerve tissue is replaced by scars and connective tissue. In medicine, this process is called demyelination. You can stop it using a folk remedy based on nutmeg.

To prepare it you will need:

• Purified alcohol (200 ml).
• Flaxseed oil (200 ml).
• Ground nutmeg (0.5 cups).

The listed ingredients are mixed and placed in an airtight container. The product is infused for a week at a temperature of 20-25 degrees, and then taken 10-15 ml three times a day 2-3 hours before meals.

Memory impairment

For memory problems, it is recommended to use a medicine made from the following components:

• Wine (Vermouth, Madeira or Cahors) - 1 l.
• Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp. spoon.
• Anise seeds - 1 tbsp. spoon.
• Ground nutmeg - 1 tbsp. spoon.

The resulting product is infused for 2 weeks and consumed 50 ml 3 times a day. Instead of wine, you can use cognac, the tincture of which is consumed 25 ml three times a day. Visible benefits from using this medicine can be noticed after 2-3 weeks.

Decreased sexual activity in men

Problems associated with weakened sexual activity in men are treated with tincture:

• 1 cup nutmeg powder.
• 1 cup ginger, minced in a blender or grated.
• 0.5 cups crushed anise seed.
• 1 liter of alcohol, vodka or moonshine.

All components are placed in a glass container, shaken and left to infuse for 7 days. Every day you need to shake the mixture in the jar. After a week, the finished medicine is filtered and taken 25 ml three times a day.

Hand tremors

For involuntary hand trembling, a healing tincture is prepared, which includes:

• Sage leaves.
• Nutmeg.
• Rosemary.
• Cloves (spice).
• Ginger.

All components are taken in equal proportions, thoroughly crushed and placed in an airtight container. Then, using a scale, weigh out 50 g of the mixture and pour 500 ml of vodka into it. The product is infused for 35-45 days, and then used to rub the lower extremities.

Tip: When preparing remedies for treatment at home, it is better to purchase whole nuts and then grind them in a coffee grinder or using a grater. The spice, which is sold in the store in the form of ready-made powder, has a less pronounced aroma and healing properties.

The shelf life of a whole nut is about 9 years, and peeled and ground nuts can be stored for several months. Each manufacturer indicates on the packaging how long the product can be stored.

Where is nutmeg added?

The use of this seasoning is so diverse that it is simply impossible to count all the options and types of dishes to which a note of nutmeg is added.

But we will try to list the most popular uses of nutmeg for culinary purposes:

• sweet pastries and confectionery;
• chocolate;
• vegetable soups and broths;
• white cabbage dishes;
• mushroom culinary compositions;
• sauces;
• coffee, cocoa, hot chocolate, tea, warm milk;
• mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips;
• pasta dishes, Italian pasta.

The spice in question is often added to these and other culinary masterpieces. The seasoning is also widely used in folk medicine, cosmetology, and aromatherapy. Notes of nutmeg can be distinguished in a lot of fashionable perfume compositions.

How to replace nutmeg

This seasoning has quite significant and common contraindications. And therefore, people often have to refuse to use nutmeg. But what can replace it?

You can replace nutmeg with the following spices:

• white pepper;
• ginger;
• cloves;
• cinnamon;
• a combination of grated walnut kernels and cinnamon.

Of course, the dish will not be lost if this famous spice is not added to it. It may not be possible to reproduce the desired flavor note. But if the reason to stop eating nutmeg is serious, then there is nothing to do. And if you simply couldn’t buy the seasoning, you should carefully study the composition of the spices in the mixtures. Very often, nutmeg is included in multi-component seasonings.

Nutmeg is diverse and attractive for cooks and traditional healers. It’s not for nothing that the spice has been popular for more than several hundred years. This is a really good seasoning that can and should be used to decorate dishes and obtain some positive (medicinal, cosmetic) effect. The main thing is to approach such questions competently, having studied all the necessary information.

Other Applications

Regular consumption of the spice can stop the process of baldness, reduce the risk of developing cancer, and prevent viruses from damaging the body during a flu epidemic.

Nutmeg helps improve the condition of veins and reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Essential oil obtained by extracting the leaves of the nutmeg tree and the fruits themselves is used in the manufacture of perfume, aromatic oils, and cosmetics.

In cooking, the spice is added to baked goods, meat, curd masses, alcoholic drinks, candies, and cocktails. Nutmeg is also used in the preparation of rice, fish, mushroom dishes, and sauces. The spice improves the taste of sausages, mustard, chocolate and cocoa-based sweets.

Since nutmeg has a specific taste, it is used only as a seasoning for various dishes. When used as a medicine, it is very difficult to swallow even a pinch of ground spice, so it is usually added to kefir.

A healing drink with kefir and a small amount of ground spice helps:

• Improving the digestibility of proteins, fats and vitamins.
• Normalization of digestion due to the beneficial complex effects of E. coli and nutmeg on the gastrointestinal tract.
• Prevents the formation of fats, which allows the drink to be used by those wishing to lose weight.

Nutmeg essential oil. Benefits and Applications

Essential oils are obtained by squeezing ripened nuts followed by steam distillation. The resulting substance has a number of useful properties:

1. Heals minor injuries on the skin.
2. Suppresses the growth of fungi.
3. Eliminates the main signs of inflammation, such as redness and itching.
4. Stimulates the regeneration of dermal cells, promotes rapid hair growth.
5. Stops minor bleeding.
6. Reduces the severity of pain due to inflammation of the joints.
7. It is actively used in the production of perfumes, candles, and soap.

The extract obtained from nuts contains substances that have a beneficial effect on certain organs and systems.