pumpkin spices

The leaves are changing, and that can only mean one thing: it’s Pumpkin Spice season! Coffee, muffins, cakes, candy, and even candles have embraced the seasonal favorite, but is there more to the combination of spices than the extra-special flavor in our baked goods? You just might be surprised by some of the medical benefits of the famous pumpkin spice:

Allspice

  • May benefit digestion and aid stomach cramps
  • High in antioxidants
  • Shown to neutralize free-radicals (which cause cell damage)

Cloves

  • Numbing agent: Cloves produces a mild numbing effect, which explains why it’s
  • included in some over-the-counter oral hygiene products
  • Good source of manganese, vitamin K, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, and calcium

Nutmeg

  • Pain relief from a variety of injuries or conditions like arthritis
  • Shown to maintain brain functioning
  • Oral Health: antibacterial properties lead to nutmeg’s inclusion in various oral hygiene products
  • Sleep aid: Often used as a home remedy for insomnia, stimulates the release of serotonin, which leaves you feeling relaxed or sedated

Ginger

  • Relieves gastrointestinal stress
  • Reduces nausea and vomiting
  • Shown to have cancer-fighting properties

Cinnamon

  • Shown to improve blood sugar management in Type 2 diabetes patients
  • Anti-clotting properties
  • Good source of manganese, fiber, and calcium
Medical benefits of Pumpkin Spice