Vanilla pods, typically found in tropical regions across the globe, are used to make natural vanilla extract, which is extensively used to flavour foods and drinks. Medicines and perfumes also make use of this ingredient. Meanwhile, as a result of its labour-intensive production, vanilla is one of the most costly spices in the world.
Its unique taste and fragrance are created by hand-pollinating vanilla blooms then drying and conditioning the pods. Besides, synthetic vanilla is manufactured from wood pulp and coal tar since natural vanilla extract is costly and in great demand. Also, natural vanilla has more health advantages than artificial vanilla, which is less expensive. As such, aphrodisiac and gas relief are only two of the many medicinal benefits of vanilla bean paste that have been discovered in ancient cultures across the globe.
Health benefits that have been linked to both the taste and scent of vanilla includes:
Contents
1. It Calms You Down
Preterm infants who are exposed to vanilla before and during a blood test have a soothing effect. Vanilla has also been shown to reduce the crying of babies. Adults might also benefit from the relaxing properties of vanilla as well. For instance, sleep apnea, a problem in which breathing regularly stops and begins while you’re asleep, may be alleviated to some extent with this treatment since it reduces startle reflexes.
2. Inhibits Sugar Absorption
If you’re trying to cut down on your sugar consumption, vanilla in the form of vanilla bean paste is a great option. As a sugar alternative, vanilla may help you maintain a balanced blood sugar level and improve your overall health.
3. Dental Pain Is Relieved
Vanilla extract has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. As such, you can put a few drops of vanilla essence on a cotton ball and dab it on the sore spot in your mouth for an alternate treatment.
4. Reduce Anxiety and Stress
Mood-lifting vanillin found in vanilla is a powerful antidepressant ingredient. And because of its intoxicating scent, vanilla is well-suited for use as a stress-relieving treatment. Moreover, it has been shown that drinking vanilla flavoured milk or water may help alleviate tension and improve mood. Its lovely and calming scent helps to relieve stress and relax the mind. Also, aromatherapy using vanilla essential oil is effective in the treatment of anxiety and depression.
5. Relieve Vomiting and Nausea
Vomiting sickness may be alleviated by adding a few drops of vanilla essence to milk or water. This is because vanilla’s scent has been shown to relieve nausea and other stomach-related symptoms. Moreover, it is a remedy for stomach aches and vomiting. Also, herbal tea prepared from boiled dry vanilla beans in water has been shown to help alleviate stomach cramps and pain.
6. Antioxidant Qualities
Vanilla is a potent antioxidant that may treat most ailments caused by free radical oxidation of interior cells. As a result, it improves immunity, shields the body from carcinogens, repairs cellular damage, and guards against a wide range of illnesses and disorders. Also, it removes free radicals from the body and protects against colon and prostate cancer.
7. Maintain a Healthy Menstrual Cycle
Vanilla may be used to treat various menstruation-related issues, including irregular menstrual cycles, discomfort, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and more. And as a result of its high magnesium concentration, vanilla may help alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as mood swings and despair.
Vanilla’s calcium content helps relieve menstruation cramps and irregularity. Menstrual cramps may also be eased by consuming vanilla extract.
8. Inflammatory-Fighting Qualities
Adding vanilla to your diet might help alleviate symptoms of inflammation, and the liver, skin, and the rest of the body may benefit from this treatment. Meanwhile, the chemical vanillin is responsible for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Besides, it has been used for millennia to heal wounds and inflammation and has been shown to have calming properties. However, applying vanilla extract directly to open wounds might cause burning and discomfort. As such, vanilla water or vanilla bean powder may help relieve inflammation.
Author Bio:
Ellen Hollington is a freelance writer who offers to ghostwrite, copywriting, and blogging services. She works closely with B2C and B2B businesses providing digital marketing content that gains social media attention and increases their search engine visibility.