Vanilla health benefits include supporting heart health, preventing cancer, reducing inflammation, preventing acne, treating anxiety, has healing attribute, hair care, promoting weight loss, treating respiratory condition, slowing down aging process, and promoting healthy digestion.
In addition to an essential ingredient to enhance taste and aroma of our scrumptious desserts, vanilla has much more in terms of health benefits, which makes it a vital ingredient that you should incorporate in your daily diet. People relish the flavor and mouth-watering smell of vanilla in various parts of the world. However, very few of them are aware of its health and medicinal benefits.
Apart from just a potent baked good, vanilla has an incredible capability to escalate healing, improve acne and hair growth. Not only this, if you are looking for something natural to treat your chronic diseases, vanilla can do wonders to keep your ailments at bay. There are a number of other ways you can add vanilla to your dietary lifestyle if you are not fond of desserts or ice creams. Vanilla-infused teas are becoming popular – particularly to optimize metabolism and digestive function.
What is Vanilla?
Vanilla is a fruit of vanilla genus which has a shape of a pod. It varies in size and length, ranging from 5 to 22 cm. The pod is considered of high quality if it is comparatively larger than other pods. Harvesting vanilla pods take a lot of effort and require precision when it comes to picking them at the right time. The pods are required to be properly ripped to retain their nutrients.
The time-intensive harvesting of vanilla pods pays off when it is widely supplied across the world for its health benefits. This potent ingredient has become a global demand for not only culinary preparation but for natural healing as well.
Nutrient Density of Vanilla
- Energy                         14%
- Carbohydrates            10%
- Potassium 3%
- Vitamin (Riboflavin) Â Â 7%
- Niacin 3%
- Copper       8%
- Manganese 10%
11 Amazing Health Benefits of Vanilla
Listed below are some of the amazing benefits associated with vanilla pods.
1. Support Heart Health
According to many studies vanilla impacts heart health. It helps you reduce LDL cholesterol level-particularly in the blood vessels, steering you clear of coronary heart disease. This property of vanilla greatly benefits people who suffer from chronic heart problems or just have undergone massive heart surgery. Consuming vanilla in an adequate quantity strengthens heart function by preventing atherosclerosis and inflammation.
2. Cancer Prevention
As a powerful antioxidant, vanilla beans participate in the important function of eradicating free radicals from the body. Free radicals, which are also called cancer stimulating agents, are particularly the byproducts of natural cellular activities. Thus, vanilla extracts, with their high concentration and powerful properties as an antioxidant, help prevent detrimental diseases like cancer.
3. Contains Healing Power
Known as a rich antioxidant, vanilla plays an important role protecting bodily tissues and cellular functions. It prevents tissues and cells from breaking down and helps your body stimulate the natural growth process. Moreover, the antibacterial nature of vanilla pods works as an immunity booster that strengthens the healing mechanism of the body to fight off debilitating diseases and to recover from illness and injuries.
4. Reduces Inflammation
For centuries, people have been using vanilla to soothe and reduce inflammation caused due to different reasons. Recent studies particularly linked vanilla with treating and soothing liver inflammation. This natural remedy is considered effective, especially if you have an alcoholic addiction. Vanilla, in this regard, is beneficial to reduce inflammation. It can further help you ease conditions like gout and arthritis.
5. Acne Prevention
Acne is another common skin problem that increases your struggle with a number of beauty products to show their miracles on your face. Vanilla, with its antibacterial nature, is considered beneficial to fight off breakouts. Studies have shown that antibacterial properties of vanilla treat underlying skin infections, remove dirt and escalate skin healing process. Moreover, on applying regularly, it reduces scars and brightens complexion.
6. Anxiety Treatment
Though many people in the world do not believe in aromatherapy, it is still one of the common practices in many diverse cultures to naturally reduce anxiety and depression. Making use of olfactory sense to minimize stress level with vanillin extract is an old tradition. The strong aroma of vanilla is known to have its direct impact on the nerves that induces calmness and relieves chronic stress.
7. Weight loss
In addition to balancing cholesterol level in your body, vanilla extracts help you maintain weight. Some researchers have shown excellent appetite – suppressing qualities of vanilla extract in the recent studies. It stimulates your metabolism for a speedy digestion that helps you reach your weight loss goal.
8. Hair Care
With it’s oil on your counter, no longer do you have to worry about problems like damaged hair or hair loss. The kitchen ingredient also has a slew of beauty benefits and is used widely as an essential hair treatment product around the world. Applying vanilla essential oil on split ends or massaging it on the scalp are the effective ways you can get rid of split ends and strengthen your hair. It enhances blood flow that improves hair growth, making your hair longer and shinier.
9. Healthy Digestion
For many decades, people have been using vanilla for optimizing their digestive function. It doesn’t just calm stress, but relieve nausea and vomiting as well. Vanilla herbal tea, in this regards, is one of the popular natural remedies that instantly soothes gut inflammation and treats other digestion problems like cramping, stomachache, and diarrhea.
10. Anti-aging Benefits
As mentioned before, vanilla integrates rich antioxidants that do not only treat skin damages but prevent free radicals. These properties further slow down aging signs, age spots, and remove wrinkles. Vanilla extracts, for their remarkable beauty benefits, are commonly used in various herbal beauty products in the cosmetic industry. Furthermore, you can apply raw beans of vanilla plants infused with its essential oil to impart a chocolaty fragrance along with the soft and supple skin.
11. Respiratory Conditions
It’s extracts, with its anti-inflammatory properties, are beneficial to treat respiratory infections like cold and cough. It contains an analgesic substance that forms a coating in the throat when taken with lukewarm water. It creates a soothing anesthetic effect that gradually relieves symptoms of a painful and raspy cough. Treating your sore throat, vanilla further eliminates underlying chest infections and illness.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the benefits of vanilla are not confined to just flavoring your desserts; however, the tiny plant has a plethora of health benefits associated with it. An adequate consumption of the vanilla extract can have significant positive effects on your health. The essence of its pleasant aroma has a quality to calm your stress, refresh your mind, and revitalize your energy.
