All year round I use nutmeg whenever I make French toast because YUM. And around the holidays, I sprinkle some in drinks because YUM … but that's about it. It wasn't until recently that I discovered that nutmeg has great health benefits, which means I'll be sprinkling this delicious spice on things more often. You will too once you find out all the good it can do.
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Here are five fantastic health benefits of nutmeg:
1. Good for digestion. Even when grated, nutmeg keeps its fiber content, which helps stimulate your metabolism to promote better digestion and is helpful in preventing constipation.
2. Pain relief. One of the compounds in nutmeg, menthol, helps relieve pain. For the pain relief benefits of nutmeg you can either take it orally or apply it topically in the form of an essential oil to a wound.
3. Better sleep. Nutmeg has magnesium which is crucial when it comes time to get some shut eye as it helps you relax.
4. Keeps you smart. The myristicin in nutmeg protects your brain from degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
5. Makes you even prettier. Mix a little nutmeg with water to form a paste, apply it to your face and let it sit for about 20 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing off. It will exfoliate and help your skin look clearer and also helps with any acne pain you may be experiencing.
Easy ways to incorporate nutmeg into your diet include adding it to your smoothies, putting it in pancakes or French toast or sprinkling a small amount into drinks like coffee or hot chocolate.
It's SUPER important to keep in mind that a little nutmeg goes a long way. A sprinkle is enough. Some people try to ingest the spice two tablespoons at a time in an effort to get high and live to regret it when they have a two day nutmeg hangover. Just don't, okay?
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