Beat acne, heart disease, diabetes and bad breath with cloves

Cloves are small nailed shaped flower buds that are dried. They have a sweet, somewhat penetrating flavor. Cloves can be bought whole or ground. Ground cloves are commonly used in baking. Cloves are native to Indonesia.

clove can do much more for your body than simply make food more palatable. Here are the top 8 reasons to add clove to your daily diet.

==>Lowers Blood Sugar level. According to a study conducted by Dr. Alam Khan in 2006, clove can lower your blood sugar levels and keep diabetes under check. This spice works by inducing an insulin-like activity in the body that helps beat insulin resistance. The study also showed that eating clove on a regular basis can help in keeping diabetes at bay.

==> Can relieve acidity
For people with acidity, clove can be a life saver. Not only does it improves digestion but also coats your stomach and throat with mucus that can significantly reduce the symptoms of acidity.

Tip: In case of acidity, chew on clove right after a meal. You should ideally drink only water and avoid eating anything sweet or aerated while chewing on clove.

==> Can lower your cholesterol levels

It is believed that adding about 10 grams of clove powder in your daily meal can protect you from the ill effects of high cholesterol.

Tip:  You could add a teaspoon of clove powder to your daily meals or chew it whole after every meal.

==> Maintains your overall oral hygiene
Clove oil or clove itself contains potent anti inflammatory components that help reduce the swelling around an infected tooth.
 It not only kills harmful bacteria present in your mouth, but also helps to numb out the pain that you experience.

Tip: If you suffer from a toothache, try applying some clove oil or chewing on a whole clove for instant relief from the pain.

==> Helps you breathe free
Clove is packed with a number of amazing components and one of the most important one is eugenol. Known to have expectorant properties, eugenol plays a key role in relieving a congested chest or sinuses.

Tip: Crush three to four pieces of clove, add one black pepper and a little bit of tulsi to the mix. Add about 200 ml of water, and boil till it is half its quantity. You may add a small piece of ginger to this solution. Once the decoction is ready, strain it and drinkit with a little honey to get rid of congestion.

==>Can relieve joint pain
Laung is known to have a pain-killing effect and can beat inflammation as well. The spice is known to spread a warm sensation over the applied area and hence, helps in relaxing the affected muscles.

Tip: All you need to do is roast few cloves on a pan and wrap them in a soft cloth. Apply this to the aching joint while it is still warm. Re-heat the contents when it becomes cold.

==>Beats a sore throat
The main function of clove in remedying sore throat is that it acts as an anti-bacterial agent and helps beat the pain associated with a sore throat. It also helps soothe the itchy feeling you experience during a sore throat.

Tip: Take a pod of clove and add it to a spoon of honey. Let it remain in the honey for about 8 hours and slowly swallow the honey.

==>Gives you clear skin
If you are sick of using various creams to get rid of blemishes, your kitchen might hold clue for the same. Clove acts as an instant natural remedy to get rid of blemishes and pimples, because of its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also prevents blemishes or marks that usually appear after a pimple has subsided.

Tip: Crush few cloves in a mortar and pestle, add one table spoon of honey and two teaspoon of lemon to the mixture. Now apply this paste on your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes. You can wash off the paste with cold water after the stipulated time to get clear skin.