We have all heard of allspice and we know, that it is a spice. However, have you ever wondered what its benefits and useful properties are? We will now talk about this and more specifically about what allspice tea can be good for. Yes, you read that right - allspice tea.
Allspice is made from the dried fruit of a tree called Pimenta dioica. For this reason, you can most often find it under the names Jamaican pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta or pimento. The birthplace of allspice is Central America, as well as parts of the Caribbean and Mexico.
It is called allspice, because the dried fruits of allspice are brown in color and have a specific aroma, which is a mixture of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. When the fruit of the tree ripen, they are picked and left in the sun to dry. When dry, they can be made into a spice or allspice essential oil can be extracted from them.
Composition of allspice
The compounds contained in allspice are being studied for use in the treatment of cancer and hypertension. And here they are:
- Eugenol - This compound can also be found in clove oil. It has antioxidant properties and helps with pain;
- Quercetin - This is a flavonoid, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps reduce inflammation, has the power to kill cancer cells and helps prevent cardiovascular disease;
- Gallic acid - This is a type of phenolic acid has the properties to fight cancer and viruses. This acid has been extensively studied as a possible treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease;
Benefits of allspice
One of the most important healing properties of the aromatic spice is that it helps with severe pain, because it has a pain-relieving effect and boosts the blood circulation. Allspice has other healing properties and they are:
- Protects the gastrointestinal tract;
- Helps to improve our mood;
- Helps eliminate infections caused by fungi;
- Helps to normalize blood pressure, when it is high.
Allspice has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It has the ability to help with severe pain, by relieving it in some parts of the body. The active ingredients of allspice contain chemical compounds, which are ideal for the treatment of arthritis, gout, muscle pain and even hemorrhoids.
Allspice helps for better and easier digestion. The organic ingredients of allspice have a calming effect. This makes them ideal for soothing the stomach, which in turn leads to better digestion.
The contained in allspice eugenol, quercetin, tannins and some other chemical compounds help the body fight free radicals. The large amount of vitamins A and C have strong antioxidant properties. Potassium, which is contained in allspice, helps a lot for heart health, because it is a vasodilator, which means that it removes most of the tension in the cardiovascular system. This, in turn, accelerates the blood flow through the "rested" blood vessels and reduces the pressure on the arteries of the heart. This reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and consequently prevents the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Benefits of allspice tea
Allspice tea helps a lot with colds, pain during the menstrual cycle for women, as well as for an upset stomach. In Jamaica, they traditionally drink hot allspice tea for colds and flu. In Costa Rica, allspice is used to treat diabetes, flatulence and digestive disorders. In Cuba they drink it as a refreshing energizing drink and in Guatemala they use crushed in a mortar allspice, when they have external injuries, joint and muscle pain.
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