Current:Home > StocksIs nutmeg good for you? Maybe, but be careful not to eat too much.-LoTradeCoin
Is nutmeg good for you? Maybe, but be careful not to eat too much.
View Date:2024-12-23 23:49:54
It’s that time of the year!
Sweater weather. Campfires. Spooky movies. And, importantly – pumpkin spice.
One cannot go wrong with pumpkin spice mixed into coffee or baked into a favorite pie. But what makes pumpkin spice so special? Many contend that it is the nutty flavor that comes from nutmeg.
Nutmeg is integral to the pumpkin spice that brings so many of us joy in the fall and winter months – but what does it do for our health? We spoke with Mary Sabat, MS, RDN, LD, a nutritionist and owner of BodyDesigns to find out everything you need to know about one of your favorite spices.
Is nutmeg good for you?
It's good for the soul – yes.
Sabat says, “Nutmeg is a versatile spice that adds a warm, nutty flavor to both sweet and savory dishes.”
The body? There is some evidence that it may be beneficial, but more research is needed to know the full extent of its effect on humans.
What are the good and bad effects of nutmeg?
Nutmeg’s most promising benefit is that it contains essential antioxidants. “It contains antioxidants that can help combat oxidative stress,” Sabat says.
Chronic oxidative stress can damage our DNA, which can ultimately lead to serious health issues. This is why it is vital to consume foods (or spices) that are dense in antioxidants – the anecdote to oxidative stress.
There is also some evidence that nutmeg-based essential oils can combat inflammation. The oil contains something called monoterpenes, which shows some potential for the treatment of inflammation.
How much nutmeg is safe per day?
It can be tempting to start the day with a pumpkin spice latte with a loaf of pumpkin spice bread. And then maybe later, enjoy a chai tea and finish up the day with a slice of pumpkin pie. Even in these amounts, nutmeg is likely not harmful – but you may want to be careful.
Sabat warns, “Consuming large amounts of nutmeg can lead to hallucinations, nausea and other health issues. It should be used sparingly.”
The American College of Emergency Physicians writes that there has been an increase in emergency room visits due to social media users participating in a “Nutmeg Challenge,” to try and achieve a “natural” high. They say that some symptoms of nutmeg toxicity include:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain)
- Mouth dryness and pupil involvement (dilation or constriction)
- In severe cases, seizure, hallucination, confusion, tachycardia, and hemodynamic instability (unstable blood pressure.)
When eaten normally, nutmeg is not likely to cause any harm, and you may even get some health benefits. But at the very least, it will make you feel warm and cozy!
Pumpkin spice is the flavor of fall.But what is it? And where did it come from?
What are antioxidants?And how to make sure you get enough in your diet.
veryGood! (54645)
Related
- Song Jae-lim, Moon Embracing the Sun Actor, Dead at 39
- Fantasy football rankings for Week 3: Running back depth already becoming a problem
- Comedian Gary Gulman hopes new memoir will bring readers 'laughter and nostalgia'
- The 20 Most-Loved Home Entertaining Picks From Amazon With Thousands of 5-Star Reviews
- Dozens indicted over NYC gang warfare that led to the deaths of four bystanders
- Mexican railway operator halts trains because so many migrants are climbing aboard and getting hurt
- Adele fuels marriage rumors to Rich Paul: See their relationship timeline
- Maryland officials announce $120M for K-12 behavioral health services
- Spirit Airlines cancels release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
- Fan's death at New England Patriots-Miami Dolphins game prompts investigation
Ranking
- Kathy Bates likes 'not having breasts' after her cancer battle: 'They were like 10 pounds'
- Prince Jackson Details Dad Michael Jackson’s “Insecurity” About Vitiligo Skin Condition
- 2 Massachusetts moms made adaptive clothing for kids with disabilities. They hope to bring it to the masses.
- California mother's limbs amputated after flesh-eating bacteria infection linked to fish: Report
- Mississippi governor intent on income tax cut even if states receive less federal money
- West Point sued for using 'race-based admissions' by group behind Supreme Court lawsuit
- Cheryl Burke Says She Has a Lot of Years to Make Up for Relationship With a Narcissist
- Prosecutors set to lay out case against officers in death of unarmed Black man in Denver suburb
Recommendation
-
Smithfield agrees to pay $2 million to resolve child labor allegations at Minnesota meat plant
-
15 Things Under $50 That Can Instantly Improve Your Home Organization
-
Colombian leader summons intense oratory for a bleak warning: that humanity is making itself extinct
-
Khloe Kardashian Details Cosmetic Procedure That Helped Fill Her Cheek Indentation After Health Scare
-
Noem’s Cabinet appointment will make a plain-spoken rancher South Dakota’s new governor
-
Supporters of reparations for Black residents urge San Francisco to push forward
-
Sikh separatism has long strained Canada-India ties. Now they’re at their lowest point in years
-
Kevin Costner and ex Christine Baumgartner reach 'amicable' divorce settlement