What Is Nutmeg?
Nutmeg (scientific name-Myristica Fragrans) is a traditional spice commonly used in many baked foods, holiday treats, flavoring beverages, and traditional cuisines. It is used throughout the world This spice is mainly derived or produced from the grinding of the nutmeg seeds. The nutmeg seeds hail from the flowering plant of the Myristicaceae family and are called the nutmeg family of plants. This plant is native to the African, Asian, and Pacific Islands. This spice's history dates back to the days when voyagers found these nuts from the evergreen tree of the Myristica family. This tree is native to Indonesia. Nutmeg nut is in fact similar to that of a nutmeg seed and there is no difference. That is why some people use the term "nut" to describe the seeds. But technically, they are the same dried seeds in fact.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Nutmeg?
Nutmeg is well known in the field of nutrition for possessing antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and analgesic pain-relieving properties. Further, it is also liver-protecting and has possible cancer-preventive properties according to some research. Its use as a flavoring spice in Asian, European, Middle Eastern, and African cuisines has made it a current favorite in the culinary world. Even in traditional American baked goods, one can hope to find trace amounts of nutmeg very commonly. The use of this spice to derive the nutmeg essential oil is not uncommon and that is done to gain a nutmeg high. Using nutmeg essential oil can have serious side effects or repercussions on systemic health that are not recommended by nutrition or health experts.
What Are the Benefits of Nutmeg for Systemic Health?
Nutmeg has had a history of medicinal use for centuries. One serving which is approximately around 1 teaspoon or 0.077 ounces of ground nutmeg can provide nearly 12 calories according to USDA (United State Drug Association) data. Out of these, only four calories come from carbohydrates (approximately 0.035 ounces), protein (0.0035 ounces), and fat (around 0.028 ounces).
Nutmeg can also provide a limited amount of essential vitamin A, folate, choline, and vitamin C. However these are very trace amounts that cannot have any impact on the daily recommended intake of these vitamins.
Minerals in nutmeg are as follows in one serving:
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Calcium - 0.001 ounces.
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Phosphorus- 0.001 ounces.
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Magnesium- 0.001 ounces.
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Potassium - 0.002 ounces.
Further one can find small amounts of sodium and manganese in it as well.
Hence, it may not have a significant impact as such on overall health. In fact, overdosing on nutmeg is linked to detrimental neurologic consequences.
What Is Nutmeg Overdose?
According to published reports, nutmeg poisoning is very rare and even underreported. But it is considered most often as a recreational substance. This can produce acute psychotic symptoms in the user with a detrimental impact featuring hallucinogenic central nervous system symptoms. According to the Natural Medicine Comprehensive Database, nutmeg is probably safe only when it is consumed in amounts typically that one finds in food or the amount one uses for baking and cooking. But overconsumption of nutmeg seeds may prove to be risky. According to health experts, it may also cause gastric discomfort like nausea, vomiting, and cramps apart from the hallucination effect. According to the research by the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, the advice by healthcare providers is that long-term use of nutmeg should not exceed the dose of 0.004 ounces or more on a daily basis. Apart from these, symptoms like mental side effects, dry mouth, dizziness, irregular heartbeat or arrhythmias, and mental agitation have also been reported symptoms of overdosing on nutmeg.
How to Obtain Nutmeg?
Nutmeg can be purchased both in whole or ground form. While ground spice is very commonly available in all grocery stores worldwide. One can even have the option of choosing whole nutmeg seeds to grind yourself. For that one needs to visit a specialty market or purchase it online. The main disadvantage of ground nutmeg is that it can lose its flavor quickly. For that reason, most cooks recommend buying it whole. Whole nutmeg seeds not only stay fresh indefinitely but also one can simply grind them whenever they want to.
What Are the Uses of Nutmeg?
Nutmeg is best used for flavoring sweet dishes like baked goods including apple pie, cookies, and other sweet treats. This spice also works well for flavoring lamb meats or can be added to daily starchy vegetables in meals. There are mainly these sweet spices that are commonly used together in the culinary world which are nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. Also, one can use nutmeg as a substitute for cinnamon or clove. One cannot deny that for the sweet and distinctive taste it possesses. Nutmeg works best even with cheese dishes, eggnog, creamy bechamel sauces, tomato sauces, or even in curries. It can be used in versatile ways in small amounts. One can even experiment with adding a small or moderate sprinkle of these seeds into the egg dishes, or roasted vegetables, or squashing it, which can yield a much warmer and pleasant flavor to the dishes. Nutmeg is also additionally used in preparing warm cocktails and coffee drinks.
Conclusion
The nutmeg spice has a rather sweet taste and can be easily paired with sweet spices like cinnamon, and clove for yielding the ideal flavors. These are used commercially in manufacturing baked goods and it remains a popular favorite in the world of cooking and baking. It is important to note that nutmeg is best used in small proportions. Nutmeg abuse may be common which any user should be wary of while using it. Researchers have observed that nutmeg would be capable of exerting a possible hypnotic or hallucinogenic effect on the nervous system. Case reports also support that nutmeg seeds can be used as psychotropic drugs with harmful consequences.
