Nutmeg is an amazing spice that can add an incredible depth of flavor to many dishes. It has a sweet, nutty taste that can really transform a dish. It is often used in baking, but can also be used in savory dishes like stews, curries, and casseroles. A versatile spice that can be used either ground or grated. It is also a great source of antioxidants and can help reduce inflammation in the body. In this post, we’ll explore the many uses, from its culinary applications to its potential health benefits. We’ll also provide some tips for using it in your cooking. So get ready to learn about this amazing spice and see what it can do for your dishes!
Nutmeg Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
A spice that has a fragrant aroma and a warm, sweet taste. It is often used to flavor dishes such as soups, stews, curries, and desserts. Rich source of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, making it a nutritious addition to your diet. A one-teaspoon serving contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, and folate. Additionally, it is a good source of dietary fiber, protein, and healthy fats. It also contains compounds such as myristicin and macelignan, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nutritional value per 100 g nutmeg:
- Biotin: 0 µg
- Calcium: 160 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 57 g
- Chloride: 67 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Choline: 0 mg
- Chromium: 0 µg
- Copper: 0.3 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 10 g
- Energy (Calories): 383 kcal
- Fat: 7.4 g
- Iodine: 0 µg
- Iron: 4.6 mg
- Magnesium: 150 mg
- Manganese: 0.5 mg
- Molybdenum: 0 µg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.3 mg
- Phosphorus: 91 mg
- Potassium: 630 mg
- Protein: 6.8 g
- Saturated fat: 3.2 g
- Selenium: 0 µg
- Sodium: 41 mg
- Sugars: 0 g
- Vitamin A: 0 IU
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 1.3 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 0 µg
- Vitamin B12: 0 µg
- Vitamin C: 2.6 mg
- Vitamin D: 0 IU
- Vitamin E: 0.6 mg
- Vitamin K: 0.2 µg
- Water: 3.2 g
- Zinc: 0.6 mg
Nutmeg in India
A tropical evergreen tree native to Indonesia. The brown, wrinkled fruit contains a kernel which is covered by a bright red membrane. It is the seed of the nutmeg tree, which is an evergreen with spreading branches and very dense foliage, reaching to a height of 66 feet or so. A native of the Molucca Islands of Indonesia, it is now cultivated in many tropical regions, but is produced commercially mainly in Indonesia and the island of Grenada in the West Indies.
- Scientific Binomial: Myristica fragrans
- Common English: Nutmeg / Mace
- Ayurvedic: Jaatiphala / Jaatishasya / Maalatiphala
- Unani: Jauzbuwaa / Bisbaasaa
- Sanskrit: Jatiphala
- Hindi / Urdu: Jati-phal / Jayaphal
- Bengali: Jayaphala / Jatiphala
- Marathi: Jaiphal / Jayaphala
- Telugu: Jaji kayi / Jajikaya
- Tamil: Jathikkai / Saadikai / Saadippatthiri / Jaadippatiri / Cati-k-kay
- Gujarati
- Kannada: Jaji kayi
- Malayalam: Jathikkai
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
There are very few remedies that uses nutmeg as main ingredient. A pinch in enough to cheer up the household with its aroma and to treat the disease along with other herbs. Very little nutmeg is needed to lend its slightly sweet, spicy flavor to milk based sauces, or in brewed drinks like eggnog, mulled wine, and mulled cider. Medicinally, it is used to treat nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. A small teaspoon of grated nutmeg will send diarrhea packing quickly. Unfortunately it tastes rather ghastly.
- Headaches: For minor headache. Levigate some part this fruit along with little water to form a paste. If whole fruit is not available then take 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder in your palm, and add sufficient water to make a paste by rubbing your hands together. Apply the paste to your forehead. Leave it on for about half an hour and then wash it off. This should help to soothe a vata-type headache.
- Insomnia: Nutmeg is calming and sleep inducing, making it an excellent remedy for insomnia and other sleep disorders. To assure a peaceful sleep at night, drink half cup of warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg powder before going to bed. OR A fine paste made of nutmeg powder mixed with an equal amount of ghee can be applied around eyes and on forehead before bed to help you fall asleep.
- Nausea: For nausea and vomiting, try a tea made from 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and a pinch of nutmeg steeped in a cup of hot water will be quite soothing.
- Colitis: With apple it makes a simple and beneficial remedy for colitis. Eat cooked apples with a pinch of nutmeg. Peel a couple of apples, remove the seeds, and cook. Make them into a pulp, and add 1 teaspoon ghee and a pinch of nutmeg. This will help to pacify the irritation of colitis and ulcerative colitis.
- Pimples: An old folk remedy for healing pimples is to use a mixture of spice and honey on them. Combine 1 teaspoon powdered nutmeg and 1 teaspoon honey, and apply it to the pimple. Leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off. There’s no proof that this helps, but honey does have antiseptic properties.
- Diarrhea: For diarrhea in babies, a simple domestic remedy is to mix 1 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon ghee, a pinch of nutmeg, and a pinch of saffron.
- Oil from nutmeg spice is a gentle purgative, externally stimulant in rheumatism and sprains.
- Digestive Aid: Nutmeg strengthens the heart and eases menstruation. In small quantities, it acts on the stomach, improving digestion and appetite, while dispelling flatulence or acid stomach. Nutmeg has been used to ease kidney trouble. Nutmeg is good in the treatment of headaches, heartburn due to indigestion, nausea, kidney dysfunction, nervousness and stress.
Side Effects and Precautions
Large doses of nutmeg can be toxic. Eating as few as two nutmeg kernels can cause death. Use only in the medicinal amount. Consult a physician before using nutmeg medicinally. Pregnant women and people in high pitta condition should avoid nutmeg. Nutmeg has hallucinogenic properties. More than 5 g powdered nutmeg or mace can cause acute panic, anxiety, coma, dizziness, double vision, drowsiness, loss of memory, excessive thirst, hallucinations, headache, liver pain, nausea, stomach pain, even death.